Page 45 of Wolf Unseen

Raquel tittered, but Haley remained silent, busy staring at the bloody spot where the honey badger shifter died.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that.” I’d met more than a few males in my time who believed no meant yes, so I understood what she was going through.

She huffed out a sigh and half smiled.

“I’ll be alright. It’s just a lot, you know? Tonight was supposed to be fun, but I’m kinda over it now.”

Kasia moved closer and pulled the smaller female into her arms for a hug. I’d have done the same if I wasn’t certain the females would misinterpret my action.

How I wished I could admit I wasn’t male. It would make life much easier right now. At least it would if Tobias wasn’t staring at me from several feet away.

He spotted me glaring in his direction and melted into the crowd.

What was the asshole’s problem?

I hoped he wasn’t growing suspicious of me after learning my wolf was female.

“Let’s head back to school,” Kasia said to her friends. “Haley’s had enough, and to be honest, so have I.” She turned to me. “It’s been a pleasure, Riley. You got a number so we can keep in touch?”

I blinked in surprise. “Um, yeah?”

“Let’s have it then. You can be our new gay BFF.”

“But I’m not—” I began before realizing I needed to stop dropping myself in the shit. It was bad enough Tobias knew my wolf was female without the females finding out too. While I didn’t think they would betray my trust, I also didn’t know them.

Maybe in time, if we became friends, I would reveal my female self. Tamara had given me a pendant imbued with magic that I could wear to nullify the glamour. It was a fail-safe for when I wanted to change my appearance to avoid being spotted.

Once I figured out what had happened to Lorna, I planned to leave this school and disappear. Nobody would find me if they were busy searching for a male, not a female.

Kasia handed me her phone so I could add myself as a contact.

“Thanks, babe.” To my surprise, she hugged me tight enough to crack a few ribs and then ruffled my hair. “You’re a cutie, Riley. It’s a real shame you’re not into females.” Her cheeky wink had me blushing, even though I was absolutely not into her in that way.

The others all hugged me in quick succession and then hustled off toward the parking lot.

“Made some new friends?” Tobias asked, materializing next to me the moment the females left.

“None of your business.” My inner wolf grumbled as he watched the females sashay into the trees. “They’re only into cat shifters,” I added. “In case you want to use me to get into their pants.”

But to my surprise, Tobias just grinned. “No need for jealousy, cute stuff. I’m only interested in wolves.” He winked. “One in particular.”

My wolf howled and whined as he walked away, desperate for something we couldn’t have. No matter how badly we wanted it.

26

Tate

The moment I crossed into pack territory, a familiar mix of anxiety and adrenaline surged through my veins. The wintry air made my breath steam when I wound down the window to clear my head. Always essential before I saw my father.

The rutted track wound through the tall pine trees, climbing higher until the valley stretched out below, the lake glittering in the late afternoon sunlight.

Montes pack lands covered tens of thousands of unspoiled forest and alpine pastures where our wolves could run free without fear of being shot by human hunters.

My grandfather had made a deal with a local coven back in the day. In return for supplying muscle and game deliveries, the coven’s witches had buried ward stones at intervals to protect the boundaries around our property. Thanks to magic top-ups every few years, the invisible barrier had kept humans away ever since.

Mom appeared the minute I pulled up outside the stone-and-timber house where my father, the current pack alpha, lived and worked. To my relief, there was no sign of my father’s truck, or that of his beta, Callum.

I prayed they stayed away for a while longer so Mom and I could catch up without my father monitoring her every word.