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From what I’d observed of this haven he’d created, all the other shifters were relaxed about their wolves. They went on monthly Full Moon Howls and united as a community. Jealousy erupted inside me. They were comfortable in their own skin, and I couldn’t imagine what that would feel like. To wake up every morning and not loathe who you were. To not have the fear that today was the day you’d prove yourself a monster and kill some innocent bystander.
That was what I confronted daily upon waking, and I was sick of it. It made me believe that I’d never move on and live a life. That I’d only rage against myself until the day I died. I hated it. That was no way to live.
I hesitated to open my mouth because what I’d say next could potentially change the rest of my life forever. No matter how done I was with my past, it didn’t make things easier.
Avoiding his eyes and hating the vulnerability in my voice, I said, “I’d like to try to find that balance with my wolf…if you’ll help me, please.”
An inelegant squeak fell from my lips when I suddenly found myself in Ridge’s lap, straddling him. I buried my head into his neck and sighed when he kissed my head several times.
“You have no idea how happy you just made me.” He sounded giddy as his hands roved over my back, and my body went slack at his attention.
I licked my lips at the arousal in his scent. Unable to help myself, I rubbed against the bulge in his pants. The desire to curl around him and kiss him was consuming my thoughts. His caresses began to get needier, and my core tightened a little, needing some attention, but I immediately sat back and eyed Ridge. His lust-filled eyes watched me closely.
“I’d like to try to find balance with my wolf, but you still need to tell me more about the murder case before we do that. That was part of the deal.”
It was hard to keep restraining myself from ravaging him right there in the kitchen. Ridge ended up being the one with the stronger resolve, as he gripped my outer thighs and lifted me off his lap, placing me firmly back in my seat. His hands trailed over my body longer than necessary, so a thrill spiked up my spine that he also wanted more of the naughtiness we could get into. I loved feeling so desired. So wanted.
“You’re right. It was the deal.”
He pushed away from the counter, went to the fridge, and started pulling out his rabbit food.
“So, what we know so far is that there were no witnesses who saw Phil going into the bar. Most of the humans were asleep, and many of the shifters were still out running. Not too many of them pass up the monthly group run. It’s as essential to a shifter as breathing.”
He grabbed some saucepans and a wok, started cooking veggies he had already cut up, then reheated his rice in the microwave.
I listened intently to what he had to say while I devoured my food and started eating Ridge’s portion, too. I wasn’t offended that he didn’t like it. He’d taken a couple of bites, but the look on his face was priceless enough to make me satisfied he’d at least tried for me. It was a memory I could call on when I needed to laugh.
His grotesque look at watching me eat it was yet another bonus, but it didn’t slow him down.
“The murder was made to seem like it was a shifter who killed him, but there were so many out and about during the night of the Full Moon Howl that it’s difficult to pinpoint who it could be. We shifters are rarely in town during the full moon because the pull to shift and run is far too strong. We wouldn’t be around town because we’d rather be in the woods. It’s second nature for us to be there.”
Ridge pursed his lips as he added shredded chicken to his yummy-smelling stir fry.
“The only other thing I can think of is that it’s a shifter from another pack or a rogue, but Clawson received a nonsensical text from the deputy around the time of his estimated time of death.”
I raised a brow.
“It said to meet him at the bar. There was an emergency, but he didn’t say what was happening. Clawson had no idea what Hill was going to tell him. It was also a strange time for Hill to have texted him because he knew Clawson would be out running. Both Clawson and I like to be at the runs to keep everything in order.”
“Why do you need to keep things in order?”
He sniffed. “Zander.”
“Ah.” Yeah, enough said.
“Hill knew that Clawson wouldn’t get the text until after he shifted back. It’s not like we manage our cell phones in our wolf forms.”
I smiled at the image of a wolf trying to navigate a cell phone with its paws and snout.
“It does seem strange,” I said. But it was also strange to me that a human was okay with shifters and didn’t worry about one of them being his boss.
Ridge served up his plate after everything was cooked, sitting back next to me. Now was a good time to tell him about my discoveries.
“So, I did a little of my own sleuthing after I left you at the diner.”
Ridge growled, his eyes scoping out my body from top to bottom. A blush cascaded over my cheeks at the memory of our heated moment. He smirked and took a bite of his food. I carried on, hoping my flaming libido would fade.
“The Greenthornes are in therapy with Lola, which, with everything I learned about them, is probably the best thing for them. They’re messed up.”
