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I shivered, holding my arms and trying to drown out the lovely jazz music my sister had insisted on playing. She deserved to have her happiness and I was in no mood to play maid of honor. The damning events had taken a significant toll, and not only on my physical body but my heart and soul.
I’d pushed Max away, fearful of what I was becoming, terrified that I’d succumb to some desire to kill people. Eat them. I half laughed at the thought. I’d read everything I could find on the Wolfen, although there was very little on the internet. They weren’t true werewolves, or so Max had told me.
Then what the hell were they? Even all the memories of what my grandmother had told me didn’t seem real.
“Do you think red roses or white?”
Somewhere in my mind I heard Celia’s question, I just found it difficult to respond.
“Or how about black?” she added.
I finally bit back a moan before forcing a chuckle and turning in her direction. The look on her face was the same as she’d given me every time before. “I like black. Black is perfect.”
“In your world,” she huffed, reaching for her glass of champagne. “The last time I checked, we were supposed to be celebrating.”
Celebrating. As if I felt any desire to. “Of course. What was your question again?”
Celia lifted a single eyebrow them patted the cushion on the sofa beside her. “Get your ass over here.”
I found it difficult to drag myself away from the window. The damn case had been blown wide open, several highly respected people arrested for what was little more than a Ponzi scheme. While my father’s name had been mentioned for indictment, there’d been no push to arrest him. The poor sucker had been blackmailed by a true monster, falling into an abyss after further being pushed by several prominent citizens. I rubbed my eyes, trying to keep from laughing at the ridiculous nature of the reason my father would continue to be a free man.
He’d been blackmailed by a wolf, the threats horrible and extreme. I understood his fear, his loss of sleep and sanity. How could there be wolves living as humans issuing threats in a savvy manner?
At least the proposed development for Roselake was off the books—so to speak. The various investors had distanced themselves given the murders. Sadly, Kelly Industries stock had taken a significant hit, my father losing a good portion of his fortune. Even the majority of the board members had resigned. The fiasco was a terrible blow for the city.
Even the medical examiner had been indicated, although her involvement was little more than faking a few tests. Her very sick daughter had been threatened by Tyler in his disgusting drive to take over the world.
Or at least the Wolfen.
I shifted closer, my feet heavy, finally sitting down beside my sister. Celia had asked very few questions, commenting little on the fact I’d healed from my significant injuries within days. She’d merely remained by my side in the hospital along with my mother, fawning over me as the two women usually did when I was sick or had fallen into some level of despair.
This was entirely different and I had no words to explain anything I’d been through.
Celia grabbed the bottle of champagne, topping off both glasses. The hard thud as she placed the heavy crystal back onto the table was an indication of her mood. “Take a glass. We are freaking celebrating whether you like it or not.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I laughed as I grabbed the glass, lifting it into the air. “I’m very glad that Zane is such an incredible man.” I’d been completely wrong about him and was happy to admit it.
She moved her glass from one hand to the other before even clinking together the crystal stems. “You’re miserable.”
“I’m… fine.” I realized my hand was shaking even offering the words.
“No, you’re not. You’re my big sister and I know you better than anyone. I realize you’re worried about Dad, but he’ll regroup. He always does. You need to concentrate on you.”
“Celia, I’m working on finishing the case and trying to move on.”
She tipped her head in my direction, her face scrunching. “You miss Max. You need Max. He was the only person, the only man to make you happy in your entire life.”
His face shifted into my mind; the dominating yet gorgeous smile, the way his eyes raked over me the moment I walked into a room. “We’re not good for each other.”
“In what language?”
“You don’t understand.”
Celia took a gulp of her champagne, keeping her face tilted away from me as she spoke. “Because he’s Wolfen?”
I was floored beyond belief, words stuck in my mouth for a full five seconds. “How… do you know that?”
She glanced in my direction. “Father. He told me some things I didn’t believe. Then I started paying attention and reading. When you almost died yet miraculously healed within days, I knew. Max turned you.”
