Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,64

make sure of it." Then she headed toward the door.

I just pressed my hands over my mouth and let out a heavy sigh. "If Ian doesn't kick that bitch out of this pack, I'm going to end up doing it myself." And I groaned. "I just have to find my flip flops, because I'm a Latina momma, and I can do this."

"Flip flops?" Ashley asked.

I shrugged. "Pretty sure everyone I know had their mother use one on them at some point. It's like the unofficial weapon of desperation."

"No," Ashley said. "Use your heels. At least then you'd have a pointy bit."

"Not the same," I assured her. "But if Karen comes near me again, I might just have to try. Fucking bitch!"

"In more ways than one," Ashley agreed. "I'm going to go call my dad, because I have a feeling he'll love to hear all about this."

And he would definitely do something. That was the part she didn't say, but I knew it. It also made me feel a lot better. I was just sick and tired of being unable to handle all of this myself. What Karen didn't realize was that she was only making me more convinced that I should turn sooner rather than later. Three months of learning a new body was a lot less time than three years of waiting for Gabby to grow up. If I was going to have to spend those three years paranoid, then was I honestly making the right decision to wait?

But was I strong enough? More than that, was I actually brave enough to do it?

CHAPTER 19

It was just after noon when I saw Elena jogging across the street towards her house - alone. I'd been about to make a quick sandwich for myself, but changed my mind, wondering what she was thinking. Grabbing my coat, I hurried back outside and made the short trip to her place, tapping at the door even as I opened it to let myself in.

"Elena?" I called.

"One sec!" she yelled from her bedroom.

"You know you're not supposed to run around outside without someone to keep Karen away," I called back.

Then I peeled off my coat and hung it on one of the stools at the bar and headed into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I scanned the contents to see what I could make us for lunch. There wasn't much on the quick and easy list, but she had leftovers for what looked like tacos. I started pulling that out, put the meat in the microwave to warm it up, and went to the pantry for tortillas.

"Seth?" she asked.

I leaned back. "Sorry, was heating up your leftovers for lunch. Soft tacos?"

"Thanks," she said. "I thought Ian had dealt with Karen. I mean, I assumed that's why she's changed her tactics."

Having just found the package of tortillas, I grabbed them, but the sound of that woman's name made me want to scream. "What did she do this time?" I grumbled.

Elena was getting plates for us. "She told Andrea Pearson that I think I'm too good to talk to most people in the pack. Andrea told Kim. Kim told Ashley and me. Pax was there."

I just groaned. "She's trying to undermine your position, so Pax is probably talking to Ian. And no, you still shouldn't take any risks. Yes, Ian put pressure on her, but she's already proven not to care, and that woman is clearly bat-shit crazy. Granted, I went to buy a few things this morning, so I spent a couple of hours at the hardware store. I'll probably hear all about her bullshit this afternoon."

"So I'm going to the run," she said, almost like a declaration.

I couldn't stop the smile from taking over. "Really?"

"Is that a big deal?" she asked.

"No, not really," I admitted, "but it is a pack gathering. I also..." I paused, changing my mind. "Forget it."

"What?" she asked. "Help me out here?"

"You've only ever seen me as a wolf once," I explained. "But that one time, when you saw me, you looked like you approved. Like it didn't bother you that I get kinda short and hairy at times."

"I like the grey on your back," she said, turning her attention to putting tortillas on plates. "Spicy or mild?"

"Spicy," I decided. "You also curl up with Lane, Ian, and Trent when you sleep. I mean, when they're wolves."

"And neither you nor Pax have come over that way," she reminded me.

I just shrugged. "It's not as easy for me to sleep the whole