Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
The farther we walked from the house, the longer my mental list of things I’d overlooked grew. I’d been so focused on…well, just Sam, that I’d ignored everything else. Things I’d been thinking of before he’d broken into my bedroom and changed my world.
“Are you going to tell me why we’re power-walking back toward town?” Sam asked after we passed the barn.
“Is this far enough that no one can hear us?” I asked, pausing.
When he nodded, I let out a calming breath.
“We need to talk.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” His fingers tightened on my hand, and I resisted his attempt to pull me close.
“Wait. I’m serious. This needs to be a non-hugging talk. Please.”
He tilted his head at me. “You don’t feel mad or scared. What’s wrong? Is it about having a wedding? We don’t have to.”
“No, I think your mom’s right. We do, and we need to talk about it, but that’s not why we’re out here. Sam, I was so wrapped up in you, the idea that you actually wanted me, that I wasn’t thinking about anything else.”
“You’re cute, and you’re starting to worry me.”
“Sorry. I’m not trying to.”
“Cute comes naturally for you, and it’s making it really hard not to hug you right now.”
I blinked at him, torn between giving him the hug I could feel he wanted and sticking to the conversation. As my will to talk weakened, I blurted everything out.
“What’s our mortgage payment? Electric? Water? Sewer? I’ve seen how you eat. How will adding another person to the household affect the budget? I have no idea how much you make or how much I’ll need to make to cover what you can’t. Throw in a wedding, even a small one, and—”
He crushed me in a hug. I breathed in his scent, loving it and the feel of his strong arms anchoring me.
“I’m not afraid, Sam. If my mom could do it alone and raise me, I know we’ll be fine. It’s just…we haven’t talked about the more serious stuff yet.”
“Like where you’re going to put your books and which side of the bed is yours?” he asked.
His amusement teased my mind, and I poked his side.
“I’m serious. Forever with you sounds amazing, but it’s not just a dream anymore. Not when we’re talking about a wedding in two months. It’s a reality that comes with responsibilities I can’t keep ignoring.”
“You haven’t been ignoring responsibilities,” he said, burying his face in my neck.
His breath warmed my skin a second before he lightly nipped me. The sensation set fire to my insides and robbed me of thought. I gripped his sides, arching my neck to give him better access.
“You’ve been accepting your new role and mine.” He kissed where he’d nipped. “Faster than I’d hoped. What we feel for each other is what’s real and important. The rest isn’t.”
“Pretty sure keeping your house is important,” I insisted even as I pressed closer.
He nipped me again.
“The house is paid off. We won’t lose it.”
That shocked me until I remembered he’d said his parents had helped him.
“We should still talk about paying them back. If not all of it, then at least some of it.”
He pulled back and smiled at me, one side of his mouth lifting just a little higher than the other. I instantly forgot what we were talking about.
“Clarity, I paid for the house. I’ve been working since I was fifteen, remember? While living at home and saving everything I earned. And no, I didn’t spend everything. We still have a safety net. And I’m still working. We’ll be fine. I promise.”
“What about me?”
“What do you mean?”
“How do I contribute? Where do I fit in?”
He hugged me again.
“You do what makes you happy and contribute in a way that works for both of us. It’s not something we need to figure out right this second. We have time.”
I relaxed into his hold, relieved our finances weren’t an immediate concern.
“What about how I fit into the rest of your life?” I asked.
“I really wish claiming came with a side of mind-reading. I’d give anything to be in your head right now.”
He rubbed his hands down my back, warming me, and I realized I’d walked out without a jacket. Sam was keeping me plenty warm with the hugging, though.
“No mind-reading needed. You’re pretty much all I think about, which is why I’m first asking about all of this stuff now.
Once we’re fully mated, where do I fit in the pack?
I know you can talk to the pack leader in your head and the Elders, but will I?
And who is your pack leader? Do I need to meet them first? ”
He kissed my temple.
“My dad never wanted to be a part of a pack. So we’re a family pack. Just him and me. I can’t talk to Mom through any link because she’s not a werewolf. But once you and I are mated, I’ll be able to talk to you through our link.”
I was kind of relieved that he would be the only one in my head.
“Is there anything else you want to know before we head back? You’re getting cold.”
“Do you have a preference about the wedding? Where? How big? Who should be there?”
“As long as you’re there and willing to say yes to forever, that’s all that matters to me.”
I looped my arms around his neck and tipped my head back for a kiss, which he gave.
“As long as you’re there, that’s all I need, too.”
Mirae and Jene sat across from me and filled me in on what I’d missed from Friday’s winning game. Len, who’d once again been the star player, was being stopped by teammates on the way to the table.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Jene said. “You looked a little pale Friday.”
Thinking back to what had just happened, it was understandable. Not only had I faced an Urbat alone, but I’d also witnessed Sam in his other form for the first time. Definitely needed a redo on that part. Not the scary chase, just the furry shift.
“She’s smiling,” Mirae said. “I think something happened after she left with a certain someone.”
They both grinned at me and leaned in, hinting that I should tell them what.
Thankfully, Len’s timely arrival saved me from having to answer.
He sat with a sigh and turned toward me. “So, what did Sam think of the game?”
Jene coughed a laugh.
“Are you trying to steal Clarity’s new boyfriend?” Mirae asked with a smirk.
Len gave her a dry look. “I’m trying to recruit for a community football team. Just because I’m graduating doesn’t mean I have to stop playing.”
“I’ll mention it to him,” I said.
Len nodded, looking pleased. “Give him my contact info, and let him know he’d need to commit by spring. If I can’t pull together a team here, I’ll try joining the team in the next town over.”
“Ugh. Spring is so far away,” Jene said. “I wish I was graduating at mid-term like you, Clarity.”
“And miss five more months of this fine institution’s lunches?” Mirae asked, pointing to her soup and salad.
I hid my grin with a bit of my sandwich.
“What are you going to be doing after graduation?” Len asked.
Knowing this was the perfect time to prepare everyone, I shrugged and said, “Probably getting married.”
Mirae’s squeal drew everyone’s attention. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. So is he. We just clicked. And my mom likes him, too.”
“Because he’s amazing or because he lives next door and you won’t be going far?” Jene guessed.
I chuckled and shrugged again.
“Wow,” Len said next to me. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. Nothing’s official yet. We just talked about it this weekend.”
“Well, remember us when you start thinking about invitations,” Mirae said.
“I will.”
The rest of the day passed in a blur, and Sam was waiting for me outside when I walked out.
Mom had officially handed over pickup duty to him after speaking with his parents about the thing that killed Mr. Clint.
She’d felt better about everything once she heard it never struck twice in the same place and that they were watching for other Urbat.
Apparently Ever wasn’t a threat because she was female—which I thought was rude until they explained that only male Urbat stole werewolf potential mates. They didn’t care about human ones.
Satisfied that I was safe, Mom had also given me permission to spend time at his house after school so I could start thinking about what we needed before I moved in.
Honestly, all I needed was Sam.
He opened his arms when I ran toward him and caught me in a hug. I hugged him back.
“Anything interesting happen today?” he asked.
“Yeah, Len asked what you thought of the game on Friday and wants to know if you’d be interested in joining a community football team with him.” I pulled back to look up at Sam. He was frowning a little.
“That’s probably not a good idea,” he said.
“Not true. I think it’s a great idea. Make some friends. Get to know people and let them get to know you a little.”
He nodded thoughtfully and walked me to my door. I could tell he was still thinking about it when we parked in his driveway.
No, our driveway.
I looked over at Mom’s house, feeling a little weird about the adjustment. It was good. Exciting even. But still so different. Almost unreal.
“Ready to pick out your side of the bed?” Sam asked, somehow sensing my mood as he opened my door.
“Side? I was planning on doing my best impression of a blanket and sleeping on you.”
His pupils dilated, and he took my hand.
Grinning, I let him pull me through the front door.
He pinned me to the wall and kissed the breath right out of me.
If not for Mom making him promise not to take things too far until after the wedding, I doubted he would have let me surface for air.
“You’re going to drive me crazy in the next few weeks, aren’t you?” he said, breathing heavily against my neck.
“Yep. And remember that it’s too late for you to change your mind. No take-backs on your bite. You’re mine forever.”
He kissed me again and had more restraint than I did because we actually managed to talk about a few things—like where we’d put my bookshelves and what type of cookware we wanted—before it was time to go over to Mom’s for dinner.
He stayed late again, giving Mom the chance to listen in on our wedding thoughts. After he left, she hugged me.
“From where I’m standing, you look happy and ready for the next phase of your life. Is that how you feel?”
“It is. I told my friends that I’m probably getting married soon, and no one seemed surprised, even though it’s only been a few months.”
“That’s because you grew up with me. I’m not the norm. Most people want to get married and start a family.”
“But at my age?”
“Yeah, even before the werewolves came out, high school sweethearts were tying the knot and starting their lives after graduation. Maybe it wasn’t as prevalent as now, but it happened even back then.
And if you pay attention over the next few months, I bet you’re going to see a lot more couples in school as mid-term graduation approaches.
Yours won’t be the only invitation going out. Just the earliest.
“Now, did you make a list? Gabby said his family is big, so we need registry options.”
I grabbed the packed lunch Mom had left on the counter and locked the door on my way out. Not only had Mom handed off picking me up to Sam, but dropping me off, too. Sam didn’t mind. Actually, he liked it a lot, and without having to worry about me, Mom’s hours could go back to normal.
Her boss had been very accommodating after what happened at the library, but now that the police were saying someone was in custody, there was no reason for her to keep asking for adjusted hours.
If only the killer were someone the police could take into custody.
Knowing something I couldn’t see was out there killing people wasn’t as upsetting as it’d been. Maybe because what Sam’s mom had said made sense.
I couldn’t do anything about it.
So did I live in fear of what I couldn’t control?
Or did I live my life in the best way I could and stay focused on what I could control?
One of those options definitely sounded better than the other.
I started down the driveway as Mr. Denkle came out of his house. He was talking to himself. Not loud enough to hear what he was saying, but loud enough to hear his voice. He paused, said something in an angrier tone than his usual grumpy one, then continued toward the car in his driveway.
My steps slowed as I watched him pause again. He almost looked as if he were arguing with or scolding someone.
No one was with him.
Was he maybe talking to his wife?
I hoped he didn’t talk to her like that while she was alive.
No matter what, it was new behavior for him. Maybe Mom was right, and he needed more company. Being alone so much seemed to unhinge him.
“Hi, Mr. Denkle!” I called.
He looked at me, and I waved.
“Are you going to the store?”
He turned toward the car and opened the door. He hesitated there for a second, then glanced back at me.
“Tell your mom the jar’s on the counter.”
Then he got into the car and backed out.
My stomach sank with understanding, and I ran down the driveway, stepping into the road before he got that far. He slowed to a stop and rolled down the window as I hurried to his door.
“Now what?” he demanded.
“Can you come to dinner tonight? I think Mom needs someone to talk to,” I lied.
His gaze held mine, and he let out a long breath.
“I’m not killing myself,” he said. “Just going to clear my head for a few days. Key’s in the same spot.”
He tilted his head like he was listening to something.
“What’s done is done. There’s no changing the past,” he said abruptly.
“Are you okay, Mr. Denkle?”
“Fine,” he said.
He pulled forward. I stumbled back, then hurried to the sidewalk to watch him pull out of the neighborhood.
Another car drove down the road in his wake. Ever glanced at me in passing, then followed Mr. Denkle’s car out of the neighborhood.
Part of me wanted to call her back and tell her Mr. Denkle was just an angry, lonely man, and nothing like Mr. Clint had been. But if Ever followed him, then at least someone was looking out for him.
“You’re worried,” Sam said.
I repeated what happened as he walked me to his truck.
“Does he usually talk to himself?” he asked.
“Not that I’ve noticed before Sunday.”
“What happened Sunday?”
“I saw him talking to himself while we were raking. I thought he was just grumbling because he didn’t know who you were.”
Sam looked thoughtful as he pulled up to the stop sign and looked in the direction Mr. Denkle and Ever had turned. It was the opposite direction from school.
“Do you think it’s what killed Mr. Clint?” I asked, worried.
“I doubt it. But I agree with you that it’s good she’s following him. I’ve let my dad know too. My cousin might be able to help keep an eye on them both, just in case.”
“Does your dad know where Mr. Denkle is going?”
“No, Ever will be easy enough for my cousin to follow.” He reached out and took my hand. “He’ll make sure nothing happens to Mr. Denkle.”
I held onto Sam’s hand, grateful he’d found me and was now a permanent part of my life.
The world was bigger than I’d ever imagined.
Werewolves were real.
And they weren’t the scariest thing out there.
But that wasn’t my battle to fight. I just needed to live my life in a way that positively impacted the people around me. I had Sam, my mom, and a family bigger than I’d ever dreamed of. And I loved it all.
Being bitten was the best thing that ever happened to me.