~ RIG ~“Did you bite her?” Charlie deadpanned, taking a potato chip from the bowl on the coffee table in the packhouse.“Hilarious,” I drawled. I had no idea why the human mythologies thought a human could be changed into a wolf through a bite. New wolves were only created through reproduction—which was why those in power focused so obsessively on breeding and the continuation of our lines. “But I’m serious, something’s happening to her. It’s got to be related to that thing that bit her. The question is, is it permanent, or temporary?”“Pretty sure only time is going to tell that,” Charlie said with a shrug. “Unless you’re planning on hanging around with her for twenty years… does it matter?”I gave him an unimpressed look even as my stomach clenched and a thrill raced through me at the idea of Cara in twenty years. Or forty. Hell, if we were lucky, decades more. I wouldn’t weaken until I was ninety or so. Modern wolves lived longer than our ancient ancestors—being apex predators wou

~ CARA ~I sucked in a breath and raised one hand to fend the dog off. “Please, I’ll leave. I didn’t mean to—”But the animal licked its lips and dropped its ears, even its hackles went down.I blinked as it gave a tiny whine that reminded me of something, but there was no time to think as it dropped its head and tail and took a careful step toward me… submissive?I stared as it glanced up at me, then back down and took another step, then another, licking its lips.I didn’t move. Didn’t even breathe. But the dog just kept coming closer, still licking and making that whine again, until it stood at my side, then nudged its thick skull under my hand and went still.

~ RIG ~I stood in the middle of my room, arms folded, glaring, as Natalie greeted Charlie, then walked in like she owned the place.I closed the door—the only way to be certain our conversation wouldn’t be overheard. I’d had the room soundproofed before we moved in so I could have privacy—then turned to face her, my back to the door.“What?” I bit the word off.Natalie raised an eyebrow. “It’s nice to see you too.”“Cut with the crap, Natalie, why are you here?”“Your dad is getting suspicious,” she said promptly. “At the party this weekend we have to make it look like there’s something goin

~ CARA ~My eyes flew wide in concern. Rig’s head was buried in my shoulder, his shoulders rising and falling quickly with his panting breaths that I could feel against my neck.“Do what?” I pleaded, trying to pull up his chin, still arching against him.Then, though he’d resisted my efforts to lift his head, he lifted it on his own, his eyes glinting, his chest still heaving.“Don’t make me be the one to remind you… your first time should be special... with someone special... right?” he said.It could have been bait. It could have been resentment. But there was none of that in his tone. His

~ CARA ~“Do you have any dresses that are formal?”I stood in the doorway to Meg’s room, heart fluttering in panic.Meg gaped at me. “I have like one, but I don’t think it would fit you in the chest and besides, I don’t think peach is really your color.”I slumped. “You’re right. I didn’t think about that. Damn. I didn’t think about any of this. I’ve only got ninety minutes. I’m going to have to tell Mack I can’t go.”“Rig should have been the one to ask you, anyway,” Meg said, her forehead furrowed.“Wait—what?!”A