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6
By the time I walked back through the door to Maria’s place, the sun was beginning to dip in the sky again. I’d spent the entire day wandering the town, and up into the woods. My skin was coated in sweat, and I was exhausted.
Maria darted out from the kitchen, eyes wide. “Where have you been all day? I thought you’d stop by the shop or something at least. You look like shit.”
I gave her a deadpan stare. “Thanks.”
“Seriously, Eve. Where have you been. I was worried. After what Adrian did at training…”
“I went for a run this morning and ended up at Annie’s house,” I said, shuffling past her into the living room. “It was a mess. Ronnie destroyed everything, and I got upset.”
“You’ve been at Annie’s this whole time?” She asked, following behind me.
I shook my head. “No. I ended up talking to Jamie, and then I left and…just kept walking. I needed time to think and process. I don’t know. All I know is I’m in desperate need of a shower, a change of clothes, and a long nap.”
“Well, you can shower, but you can’t nap. Our guests will be here in about three hours,” she said.
“Shit,” I groaned. “I forgot about that.”
“No worries. I already moved your bags into my room, so go take a shower, get changed, make yourself pretty and I’ll set up. There will probably be about twenty or so wolves coming. It’ll be fun.” She smiled, turning back to the kitchen.
I rolled my eyes but faked my tone. “Sounds great. I’ll be done as soon as I can.”
She waved me off, and I wandered down the hall into her bedroom. Everything inside smelled thick with herbs and candle wax. I wrinkled my nose, and I just walked into the bathroom, stripping off my clothes.
The massage of the shower head eased the tension in my shoulders, and I nearly fell asleep beneath the steady stream of hot water. Scrubbing my fingers over my scalp cured my headache. It was glorious, but I knew I couldn’t linger. Maria wasn’t shy. I had no doubt she’d come yank me out of the shower by my hair if she had to. Nothing would disrupt her party, not even the guest of honor.
Back in the bedroom, I dried my hair, and pulled fresh jeans, and a tank top from my bags. I slipped them on over my favorite black bra and matching thong and sighed. Parties were not my thing anymore, not by a long shot, but at least I’d look good. Not that there was anyone I wanted to impress.
A stray thought crossed my mind as I dried my hair. A memory really, of Jamie sitting in the backyard at Annie’s. His eyes…the way he’d challenged me to go running with him. It reminded me of waking up in the woods in his arms, and the way he’d looked still half asleep after the change.
Would he come to the party? Did I want him to? My heart started to race, and my skin itched. I needed another drink. Something deliciously strong, and a lot of it. Checking the time, I saw I’d only waisted one hour out of the three.
Slipping out into the hall, I could hear Maria moving things around, and I padded out to find her setting bowls out on the breakfast bar.
“Chips and dip?” I asked, stepping up around to stand opposite her in the living room.
She gave me a once over. “Seriously?”
“What?” I frowned looking down at my outfit. “What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with my shirt?”
“No, I mean seriously. You took a shower, changed your clothes and you look like your ready to walk a runway. What the hell?” She pouted. “You’re not even wearing make-up.”
“Okay, first of all, I do…not,” I said. “But thank you. Second, how can I help with the set up? If you’re expecting the pack to show up here, we’re gonna need to make some space. You know how wolves get when they’re confined.”
“Oh honey, they’re not all squeezing in here. This little hovel of mine is a lot cooler than it looks.’ She picked up the chip bowls. “Follow me.”
“Where?” I asked, trailing after her.
“It’s out back, open the door,” she said gesturing to the sliding glass.
I snorted and pushed it open for her. She stepped out, and as I followed, I was assaulted by the sounds of a radio pumping a popular song and a large wooden patio that stretched out into a massive backyard.
“Wow,” I said looking around. This would be plenty of room for the pack to come and have a party. “I had no idea you had this kind of space back here.”
‘It’s why I bought the place. I’ve got a house length between me and my neighbors, who both just so happen to be wolves in the pack, so they took their fences down, and we share the space for pack events.”
“Awesome.” I nodded.
