Chapter 18
RODERICK
My wolf leads me here.
Even after a night of running under the full moon, when I changed back to my human form, energy buzzed through my muscles and nerves. A pulsing under my skin that demanded I move. So, I tied on my sneakers and went for a run.
There wasn’t a destination in mind. At least, not in my mind.
Somehow, I end up on Elk Road, aimed straight for Juliet Adair’s house.
But this is fine. It’s still early in the morning on a Saturday. Even if she’s up, her human ears won’t hear as I pass by. I’ll jog to the end of the street, turn around, and leave.
No one needs to know.
Then I get closer to the tiny yellow house and realize there are two figures lounging on the front porch.
The wind blows from behind me, making it impossible for me to immediately scent who is there.
Only when I’m within shouting distance do I recognize the man, and I spy the mop of flame-red hair poking out of a bundle of blankets.
Thad decided to pay the librarian a visit.
And somehow, he beat me to it.
Not that I planned to come here, I remind myself. This is just a good place to jog.
The pair watches my approach, and I’m hit with the urge to come up with some specific reason for me to be this far out of town.
By the time I reach them, I have nothing.
“Morning,” Thad greets me, and I sign back the same.
Then I meet a set of curious green eyes.
“Why are you here?” Juliet asks aloud but also uses her hands.
“I’m running.” Keeping to the truth is easier than formulating some wild excuse.
“And your run brought you to my dead-end street?” The skepticism is thick in her voice.
“Yes.”
Juliet stares at me, suspicion twisting her brow.
All the while, I find myself hyper-focused on this cozy scene. Thad and I returned to town at the same time after the full-moon run. Which means he must’ve come over here almost immediately afterward.
Why though?
If it were any other male wolf in Pine Falls, I’d assume he was trying to court her. But one of Thad’s reasons for wanting to leave his last pack was their rampant homophobia. If he is gay, then he’s not here to woo the librarian.
But then I recall the lecture Tanya gave me about how sexuality isn’t necessarily a fixed thing. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Thad met Juliet, felt attraction toward her, and realized men weren’t his only preference.
My wolf wants to growl and snap at my pack mate. Drive him away.
But that’s irrational. Juliet is not mine.
Yes, she is, my wolf grumbles.
“If you’re out for a run, then go on. Keep running.” The librarian has the audacity to shoo me with a flick of her hand.
Frustration flares hot under my skin—that I would be so easily dismissed while my pack mate gets a chair and a coffee and what smells like the remnants of a delicious bagel.
I must be hungry. That’s why I’m irritated.
And that also must be why I end up saying the first thing I can think of.
“She knows about werewolves,” I sign to Thad.
The pack should be informed about which humans are aware of their animalistic halves, I reason.
Thad flinches back in surprise, glancing between the two of us. I can understand his shock. My reaction was just as rocked when I realized the truth.
Juliet waves for Thad’s attention before signing, “Yes. I know about wolves. I hope we can still be friends.” Her movements are slow—she’s clearly still getting used to speaking with her hands.
My pack mate must appreciate the effort as he goes on to assure her that he would also like to remain friends.
“I’m glad I can be honest with you now,” he finishes.
Juliet offers the guy a happy grin.
And I want to shove Thad off his chair.
The irrational urge arises from my wolf, who paces in my chest with jealousy.
Juliet returns her focus to me. “Happy now? Or do you want to call me a liar some more?”
I grit my teeth, breathing deep through my nose before answering, “You going to tell me why you changed your name and moved to town?”
She rolls her eyes, then affects a sickly-sweet voice as she says, “I was looking for a hot werewolf to bang. And look”—she gestures at Thad—“found one!”
Fury rips through me. “You will not bang Thad!”
Juliet rockets from her chair and snarls, “I’ll bang whoever the hell I want!”
Thad tugs on her arm, drawing both our attention. “We’re not having sex! I’m not here for sex!”
Juliet sighs dramatically. “Damn it, Thad. I know. But you could’ve played along for a minute or two at least.”
Thad snorts. “Not if I want to stay alive.”
He’s got that right.
Wait. No. I’m not murdering people for sleeping with Juliet.
I will.
Unaware of the argument in my head, the librarian returns her gaze to me, the emotions on her face some combination of bewilderment and frustration. “Why are you here, Roderick? Why? Use multiple words that make some kind of sense, please!”
But the truth is, I don’t know. Or I don’t want to admit that I know.
When I left my house and let my feet lead me, they should’ve taken me to the house of a woman who could actually be my mate. Not here.
This is wrong, and even still, I can’t help tracing my eyes over her tangle of flaming hair and the round curves of her cheeks and the soft mossy color of her eyes.
Take her. She’s perfect.
She’s a stranger with secrets. I seethe silently.
Out loud, all I say is, “Wanted to see if you’d left yet.”
She snarls in outrage, then storms into her house, leaving Thad and me alone in the cool morning air.
“You’re bad at flirting,” my pack mate signs.
I scowl at him. “I’m not trying to flirt.”
“Maybe you should.”
Before I can respond, Juliet reappears.
Holding a knife.
“I’m. Not. Leaving.” Each word is emphasized with a gesture that has the blade slicing through the air.
My feet stay rooted to the ground as I wonder if I’ve finally driven this woman to violence.
But even as Thad carefully raises himself from his chair, preparing to grab Juliet if the wild woman lunges at me, she turns away.
Her steps take her to a thick wooden column that supports the part of the roof that hangs over the porch.
Biting her lip in concentration, the librarian starts to carefully carve into the old wood.
When she steps back, two words stand out clearly.
Juliet Adair.
“I don’t pee around the perimeter of my territory, but hopefully, this will get through your thick skull, Roderick Jameson.
” She folds up the massive pocketknife and sticks it in the pocket of her sweatpants.
“This is my place. Mine.” She stomps her sock-clad foot on the porch.
“I’m not leaving. Run down this road as many times as you want. ”
The wooden steps creak as she descends to cross her yard and get in my face.
She smells good. Kiss her, my wolf instructs me.
And reluctantly, I realize my wants match up with the beast’s.
Juliet’s fists shove into my chest, and I let her push me back, needing to keep my distance.
Her grin is triumphant. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Fuck all the gods.
Because as she stands here, mussed from sleep, fierce as she faces me down, name freshly carved into one of the oldest houses in town, I realize one life-altering fact.
I don’t want her to go.
Good, my wolf huffs. Then she’ll stay.
But me wanting something doesn’t mean it’ll happen. I know that well enough. The past has taught me to be wary. To not long for what was never meant to be mine.
She’s different. She’s special.
I drag in a deep breath, infused with her luscious scent, and I want to believe the instinct. Want to have a reason to lean down and taste that sassy mouth that loves to berate me. Want to put my hands on her soft body and hold her to me.
Hold her here in Pine Falls.
I shake my head to clear away the fantasy.
She must take the movement as another denial of intention to stay because her grin only grows more taunting.
“Watch me Jameson. Watch me lay claim to this town. To my home.” Juliet leans in close, tormenting me with her proximity. “I’m not scared of you, wolf.”
A gust of wind passes between us then, tugging strands of her crimson hair. One lock twirls in front of her pert nose, and before I realize what my hand is doing, I’m reaching out to tuck the piece behind her ear.
Juliet’s eyes widen. My throat thickens.
And in a move that would shame all other alphas, I turn and run away.