Bagels. Fresh, doughy circles that smell like poppy seeds, onion, and salt.
Drool collects in my mouth.
“Thank you,”I say, then do my best with my limited vocabulary to ask what I’m wondering.“But why? Why bring me breakfast today?”
He never has before, and he had to have only just regained his human form a few hours ago.
Thad stares at me for a moment from his seat at my tiny kitchen table. He clears his throat and speaks carefully, along with his hand motions. “I worry about what Cory did to you.”
I flinch, his observation like a punch to the gut. But the blow is softened by the fact that I’m sure Thad wasn’t trying to upset me by bringing up my ex. This wolf actually cares.
“He can’t do anything anymore,”I reply, my gestures hard and fast.
Thad nods, still watching me with curious eyes. “Do you hate all wolves now?”
Bobbing my head side to side, I answer with the tease of a smile, “Some aren’t too bad.”
Thad. Tanya. Courtney. Warner. My list of wolves who seem like decent people keeps growing, the longer I live here. But are they outliers?
Thad grins wide again, and I snort. Then I notice the rapid twitching in his leg and the repeated drumming of his fingers on my tabletop.
Post-full-moon jitters. It takes wolves some time to come down from that high.
“You’re too excited to stay inside.”I point at his leg as proof.“Grab chairs. We’ll eat outside.”
Somehow, Thad’s lips stretch wider, and he lifts the two chairs with ease, maneuvering them down the hall and out the front door.
A little while later, after bagels are sliced, toasted, and smothered in cream cheese, Thad and I devour the food until only crumbs remain while our steaming mugs of coffee sit balanced on my porch rail.
The morning air is chilly, so I pop inside to grab myself a thick blanket. Thad waves off my offer to get him one too, not that I’m surprised. Werewolves run hot. I’m comfortable enough with the fleece blanket over my shoulders and a hot cup of coffee in my hands. But I do put the drink down when Thad starts up with some questions.
“How are you?”he asks, still speaking along with his signing.
“I’m fine.”The response is automatic.
Thad leans closer, making sure to meet my eyes. When he signs this time, his hands move with more force, demanding sincerity.“No. How are you? Really?”
Again, I get the urge to tell him I’m fine. That there’s nothing wrong. I left the bad place and the bad man, so everything is fixed.
But then I realize that Thad is someone I can be fully honest with. He knows about Abigail Green. He knows I know about werewolves. He’s seen who I was and who I am now. Thad might be the person who knows the most about me in the world. The idea is strange. But also freeing.
So, I give him an honest answer.“Tired. Stressed. Feeling strong though.”
“Does the full moon bother you?”
I chew my lip, then sign, “Yes,” while wearing a scowl.
He nods in return, understanding how much I wish it didn’t.
“Time helps,” he says.
That’s when I find myself flipping the tables, studying Thad. He might not have gone through what I did, but I’m betting a wolf unwelcome in the pack had a pretty shitty experience in Bear Valley too.
“You?”I ask, pointing to his chest. “How are you?”
He doesn’t offer up his handsome grin, but there’s still a positive tilt to his mouth.
“Better. Happier. Still not perfect.” His voice is soft on the words, and I wonder if the volume change is because he can’t hear himself or if it reflects a new sense of peace the wolf has found here.
