Page 48 of Monster. Me.

"That's not what I meant. I mean I'm magical too."

The beta studies me carefully.

He's still skeptical, his brows furrowed.

Well, I already said it, maybe I can do it too? For the first time in front of a complete stranger.

Staring into his eyes, I raise one hand and partially shift it. Claws slide from my fingertips, and a layer of fur appears along the back of my hand before I immediately pull the transformation back.

Renato Santoro’s face lights up instantly.

"Ohhhh!"

The tension drains right out of him, like somebody letting the air out of a balloon.

"Whew. Then we're not going to have any problems." He nods happily. "Everything's fine. We all have our secrets, and none of us want people talking about them."

"Exactly," I agree. "Couldn't have said it better myself. Secret for a secret."

A moment later, the other alpha walks around the truck.

Human again.

He doesn't say a word.

He just looks at me with an odd calmness in his eyes. They're the kind of color that looks like deep forest green mixed with the brown of old tree trunks.

"Thanks for the help," I mutter, though I'm not really sure what else to say. Then I make a zipper motion across my lips. "My mouth's shut."

I start to turn away, but the beta pushes several business cards into my hand.

"If you ever need help, give us a call. My nephew, Mauro, and I live in Rainbow Springs."

Then he lowers his voice.

"There are more people like us there. Like you, too."

It sounds a little awkward, but whatever.

"Uh, okay. Good to know. Thanks."

I take the cards and slip them into my pocket.

"Have a good day."

With that, I head back toward my car, which is now sitting peacefully in the middle of the road as if it had never fallen into the ditch at all.

Then again, strange things exist in this world.

I know that better than most.

Who were they, exactly? Some kind of family of forest… what? Dryads? A Leshy kinship? Tree spirits? Or some strange druids? Hell if I know.

Lately I keep running into magical ABOs everywhere I go. First at the costume shop, then—possibly—at the funeral, now out here in the woods. At this point I am starting to think I must be some kind of magnet for them.

◆◆◆

When I get back to my room, Rupert isn’t there. Could he actually still be at Pedro’s birthday party? I take a shower, grab a quick bite in the cafeteria, and wait a little longer, but he doesn’t show up, so I head to the club.