Wolf Bonded (Wolfish 1)

Well, that’s good to know at least. Now I don’t need to worry about being murdered by Romulus.

Not that I knew to worry about that until tonight.

My life is ridiculously out of control at this point. I guess this does explain why that girl in the woods was acting so concerned and aggressive. She’s probably from one of those “full-blooded” packs that Romulus is referring to. She probably suspected the boys of trying to turn me into a werewolf.

I wonder what she would have done to me if they hadn’t been around to protect me.

Probably exactly what Romulus was planning.

“So,” I say, not knowing what else to ask or how to move on from here. “What happens now?”

Romulus laughs, and I realize I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh before.

“You go to high school, be a teenager. Spend time with my sons, or don’t. That’s up to you. They’ll keep you safe. And Sabrina,” he says, becoming more serious now. “I know I couldn’t stop that from happening, even if I wanted to, but believe me when I say that the safety of my pack comes before all else. I won’t let anyone jeopardize that, not even you. Not even the bond.”

There’s a moment where I think he’s going to say something more. It’s right there, in his eyes, something he isn’t telling me. But then it passes. That light in his eyes dies, replaced by an unfeeling coolness that seeps into his voice.

“You can’t tell anyone what we’ve told you here tonight. No one. Do you understand?”

I nod my head. Not that anyone would believe me if I did.

27

Marlowe

When the night finally draws to a close, I’m honestly surprised Sabrina is still here with us.

Rory might have convinced her to come inside earlier, after Lydia so helpfully broke the unfortunate news of our entanglement, but I don’t quite think he’s convinced her to stay. She’s grown increasingly quiet as the night wears on until she stops talking entirely.

It must be well after midnight now.

I’ve moved so close to Kaleb throughout the night that our shoulders now touch, pressing together to form the perfect place for Sabrina to rest. I catch a whiff of her shampoo, of lilacs and raspberries, from where her head lays nestled up between us.

Her body feels almost cold compared to mine. Her skin, delicate and fragile, lets off the tiniest hint of heat with every flutter of her closing eyelids. To everyone else, she might just look tired, just grateful to have a shoulder to lean up against, but I know otherwise.

I know, when she finally gets to her feet and stretches her slender arms up above her head with a muttered excuse about not staying out too late—for her mother’s sake—that something’s still wrong.

“I really should be going,” she says again, another pantomimed yawn turning into a real one. I have to fight the urge myself. It’s the middle of the month, close to the new moon.

None of us has much energy tonight.

But still, I expect to feel Rory or Kaleb stiffen at her words. Surely, they sense thing same thing I do.

Or maybe not.

Kaleb is currently so excited, his body buzzing with the lingering remnant of her touch, and Rory …

Rory is locked in this never-ending battle of self. He’s taking this all worse than anyone.

The only exception, of course, being Sabrina.

Something’s still on her mind.

And if I leave it to fester, this might be the last night I get to hold her close.

The kind thing to do would be to let her leave. Let her mind wander and her fears, her uncertainties, take hold. They’re justified, after all.

But as much as the sweet smell of her shampoo might fill my lungs with each breath, it isn’t enough to mask the scent of the bond. For whatever reason, the rest of my family, my pack, has skirted around this issue all night. It’s some sort of clever dance they’re doing. They tell her one piece of information, one vague half-truth, and then withdraw … leaving her floundering.