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“Will what? Disapprove?” He shrugged. “Some will. It’s not like I’m trying to work my way up the political ladder, so it’s a non-issue.”
I still didn’t understand and didn’t want to ask what the hell he was talking about. One: how did he know that Kelly was his mate? I mean, my wolf yipped mate every time Luca came near me, but I wasn’t hopping on the love boat with him. And could he take Kelly as a mate without enormous consequences or not? This was important information that I desperately wanted to know, but the need to keep my lips sealed remained deeply engrained, so I kept my mouth shut. Still, I wondered why Caroline hadn’t explained this to me? Oh yes, she told me to stay away from other shifters if I wanted to stay alive and that was the end. Discussion closed.
“Does Kelly know?” I asked.
Do you ever have those moments where you feel on the verge of chaos? That’s me right now. Not only was I worried about someone finding out about me, but I also didn’t want Kelly to get into hot water for mating a shifter. For so long, I had enjoyed my circle of safety. After arresting or killing bad guys, I visited Mickey’s or hung out with Kelly. On rare occasions, I sought out a one-night stand to help burn off the excess energy, but that’s it. My social life was literally nonexistent. In the span of thirty minutes, I felt like a newborn calf trying to stand on shaky, unstable legs.
“No, and I would appreciate you not telling her. It’s not easy for humans to decide their fate so quickly, so I will date her properly.”
After taking a deep breath, I slowly exhaled. This was a clusterfuck of monumental proportions. “Fine. I won’t tell Kelly. But if you hurt her, I will hunt you down, cut off your dick, and stab you through the heart. Got it?” Hopefully, he could see that I meant every word that left my lips, even if my world was currently topsy-turvy. I would do anything to protect Kelly.
After a beat of intense silence, Brian barked out a laugh. “Got it.”
“Good, now tell me how to find this library. Unfortunately, I don’t know territories.”
His smile suddenly vanished, his eyes studying me with uncanny scrutiny.
“How is it that you know nothing about shifter history? You know nothing about the packs close by, and you smell different. What are you hiding, Ivy?”
Could he hear my heart kick to a rapid beat? See panic hidden underneath my calm exterior? Why had I allowed him to stay this morning? Oh right…Kelly really wanted him here. My eyes slid briefly toward the empty hall, wishing I could hide in my bedroom. His questions made me feel like I was twelve years old again, and I hated the fear Caroline had pounded into my head. I never liked being put on the spot, so I fumbled over an explanation for myweirdness. “Nothing, I…I…”
Kelly picked that moment to waltz back into the room, pointing her finger at Brian. “I heard that, and don’t ask. Ivy is off-limits. Understand?”
My savior. I almost deflated into a heap right there on the spot. Even though I wasn’t the touchy-feely type, I wanted to throw my arms around her neck and give her a giant hug.
The curiosity brightened his eyes as he surveyed me a little too long for my liking. Finally, he said, “I’m heading back home. You’re welcome to follow me to the library. It’s on the way.”
“Ah…thanks.”
Kelly hip-bumped me. “I’ll come with you. This all sounds so fascinating.”
Brain started, “You can’t….”
“Great!” I interrupted. “I could use the help.” Brian sighed, but the look he gave had me doubting my decision about taking Kelly along. Hmm…. but I couldn’t tell her no.
Even though she was three years younger than me, we shared a bond of bad foster care experiences. But where Caroline had found me, Kelly bounced from house to house. Until her last home, she had lived through verbal abuse, physical abuse, and going hungry as punishment. When the foster dad tried to add sexual abuse to her list of bad experiences, she ran away. At fifteen, I rescued her from the streets.
Rescue probably wasn’t the correct term. I had just left Caroline’s home and been on my own for about two months. As far as income, money was nonexistent, but Caroline had given me enough to pay three months’ rent and buy a little food until I could find a job. One late night, I was walking the street of downtown Brighten when I witnessed Kelly fighting with two men in a dark alley. She threw a weak punch, making them laugh and mock her. The larger, bulkier man snatched her wrists and shackled them behind her back. The tall one with a long bread ripped open her shirt, taunting her as he copped a feel of her exposed breasts. She squirmed but was no match for either of them.
My blood boiled as the need for vengeance clouded my vision. I didn’t think, I reacted and attacked bready first, sweeping his legs out from under him and then breaking a few of his teeth with the heel of my boot. Kelly used the distraction to elbow the other guy in the ribs after he loosened his hold on her. I gave him a punch to the jaw that his human bones couldn’t withstand. He fell with a thump.
Both men were sprawled out cold, but Kelly didn’t care. She stomped each of their junk, putting all her anger into it. I knew from that moment that we would be best friends, despite the three-year age gap.
It didn’t take long for her to realize that I was different. It could have been my gray eyes that sometimes glowed. Or the natural silver streaks in my hair. Instead of being shocked or angry, thinking I was lying to her, she wanted to see my wolf. That day changed my life forever. Kelly wanted to know everything about the supernatural world, and I had someone to talk to—confide in. And I felt less alone, something I didn’t realize I needed. And then I took a job with The Agency. Kelly was eager to help, so I taught her how to fight.
Since that day in the alley, we’ve been best friends and roommates. And now, she was more than capable of taking care of herself.
After a quick shower, I threw on some clothes and grabbed my keys. Kelly had changed her clothes too, and as the three of us left my apartment, I followed behind Brian and Kelly in my yellow 1999 Chevy Impala. The interior was torn, but the car ran, and I bought it cheap at a whopping $500.
Brain slowed in front of a three-story brick building that looked unassuming. No outside sign announced that this was indeed a library. So, when he pulled his blue pickup truck into the parking lot, I parked in the space next to him. He looked uneasy when Kelly slipped out of the passenger’s seat.
“Be careful,” he told her. Then, looking at me, he gave me a pointed stare that said,Take care of Kelly.I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something I would later regret. But unfortunately for him, Brian didn’t tell me what to do, and Kelly was my friend long before he came into the picture.
I glanced at the building, then said, “See you later, Brian.” He tapped the steering wheel several times, sighed, and then drove away.
Kelly smiled as she watched his truck disappear. “He really didn’t want me to come, did he?”
“Apparently not,” I said distantly as I stared at the double glass doors. Magic pulsed around them, feeling both foreign and non-threatening.
