“Depends on the situation, but usually human form.”
Rachel looked at the clock. Almost midnight. She yawned. “I’m ready for bed.”
“Are you sure you want to be alone?”
“Yes. I plan to sleep until my appointment tomorrow. Darius wants to give me a follow up physical.”
“I’ll take you.”
“Actually, I told him I’d see him sometime in the early afternoon.”
“That’s cool. After breakfast, we’re planning a surprise baby shower for Mia. You’re welcome to join us. We’ll be upside.”
“The ranch house?”
“Yep. Breakfast will be served as well.”
“I’ll come by.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Cricket took out a cell phone. “I got you a mobile and added a playlist for you, including all the Beatles music.”
During her training, Rachel had shared her likes, including the Beatles. “Wow, first a coat and now a phone. Thanks.” She cocked her head, mimicking a common werewolf gesture. “Are you sure I’m allowed to have a phone?”
“Rylee gave her okay. Just don’t call 911 or any other human outside our pack. I installed your father’s number, mine and a few other people you might want to call like Rylee and even Mia.”
“Agreed. I’ll only call Rylee in case of an emergency.” As much as Rachel would have loved to talk to Maggie, she’d ask too many questions and the last thing she needed on her conscious was her friend’s death. She scrolled. “Who is CW?”
Cricket smiled. “Shh. Chernobyl Werewolf. Our secret. I just thought you might want to tell Lev how bad you feel about the break up.”
“If I do, Rylee will have your ass.”
“Probably, but don’t worry about it.” Cricket put her mug on the counter. “Just promise you won’t beg him to come back. It will just make things a million times worse for him. Who knows? The lab might figure out a way for you to be with—Russian bear,” she said with a Russian accent.
“Sounds hopeful.”
“Oh, and when you come upside wear your new coat. You will look cute.”
Cute for who? “If you say so.”
Cricket left and Rachel sighed in relief. No way in hell was she breaking up with Lev unless it was face to face. She got ready for bed, fluffed the pillow and lay in the Lev-sized bed; she hit play on her new phone’s playlist. The first song to come on was the Beatles, “Back in the USSR.” Rachel rolled her eyes. Very funny, Cricket. Still, she didn’t skip it. Instead, she fantasized about being with Lev as he took on a tour of the Kremlin. Holding her pillow as if it was her big bear of a man, she fell into a deep slumber.
Lev narrowed his eyes at Lunara as she stood before them, the king and esteemed members of the council. In an ancient ceremony, she’d spent the entire night communing with the dead. Chandra, the blonde alpha princess and her human pet, Professor James Clayworth sat behind Lunara at a table that held ancient manuscripts and leather-bound books. The tall raven-haired wolf shaman looked pale. Her experience visiting the afterlife even left a scent of decaying corpse. Yet, no other werewolf reacted to the odor. Perhaps, he detected it because of his enhanced sense of smell. A reminder of the enemy beta’s bite that triggered a rotting infection as he healed.
Lunara briefly locked eyes with him, before addressing the pack. “I have traveled the beyond and connected with Svetlana’s restless soul. She is dead. Murdered.”
The audience murmured. Some claimed justice, others in shock and yet others doubting the word of the shaman. Lev knew she spoke the truth.
King Conan stood. “Murdered? By the rogue pack?”
“Yes.”
“What did you see while in your trance?” asked the king.
“Blood, blood moon and bones.”
The king furrowed his brows. “Explain.”
Lunara’s breathing grew rapid as if recovering from a sprint. Suddenly, her body convulsed, but just as quickly returned to normal. Her eyes darkened to black and she fixed her gaze on Lev. She pointed at him and spoke in Russian. In Svetlana’s voice, she said “Your precious mate will meet the same end.”