The Wolf Who Played With Fire: New Adult Paranormal Romance (Cry Wolf) (9 page)

Oh boy, this was just my luck. I wish I hadn’t brought up my brother. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. “Yes, I asked him because I didn’t want to—”

“You didn’t want to bother me? Or you weren’t comfortable asking me because of the problems we had?” He pulled into a parking spot at the hospital and turned off the ignition. His fingers bit into my leg just above the knee.

I reluctantly looked at him, knowing he wanted me to. “Fine. You’re right. I didn’t ask you because of the problems we’ve been having. I don’t know how to handle you as a werewolf.” My heart pounded in my ears, and I wiped sweaty palms on my skirt. “I’m scared. I know the werewolves don’t like me, and I’m afraid when you become one of them you’ll feel the same way. I don’t want them to take you away from me.”

He stared at me, his eyes were stony at first, but they melted into a look of sadness. “Mia, babe, you have to know how that sounds. I wouldn’t leave you for the world.” Something in his eyes shifted before he forced his emotions in check. “You mean more to me than the Pack. We’re meant to be together. Nothing will stop that.” He brushed his thumb over my cheek. “Let’s get your friend safely home. We’ll talk more about this a bit later.”

I nodded, knowing I was probably overreacting. I couldn’t help it, realizing he was becoming more werewolf. He meant everything he said, but how could he hold to his word? The wolves held a lot of power over Chad, so it made sense that they would do the same with Ethan since he was a lower rank. I wasn’t stupid.

He leaned in pressing a sweet and tender kiss on my lips, but I burned for so much more.

* * *

Tension radiated from the backseat of Ethan’s car. Ever since we walked in, Jessa narrowed her eyes at me, but she didn’t say much. The silence bothered me more than her getting upset. Maybe I should’ve let Nolan call one of his friends.

No, I wouldn’t second guess myself.

“How are you feeling, Jessa?” Ethan asked, trying to break the awkward silence.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” She kept her hands in her lap and sat with a ramrod posture. I looked away, not wanting to meet her gaze again. “Turn right at the next street.”

Ethan did as she requested.

I stifled a groan. My hopes of talking with her about my ankle would have to wait. She wouldn’t be willing to talk, not with the way she was acting.

“I don’t think Mia should go to the shop for a few days,” Ethan said, glancing in the rearview mirror.

I couldn’t believe him. “What?”

“Your ankle. You need to rest.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me a look that said he didn’t want to hear it.

“If you can’t drive to pick up Jessa, then I don’t see how you’d drive to the shop. Much less having to deal with customers and whatever else needs to be done.” Ethan returned his gaze to Jessa in the rearview mirror.

I turned in my seat a little, but even that movement hurt my ankle a little. I frowned at her. “It’s fine. I can watch over the shop for a few more days since I know you still need to recover. The doctor said he wanted you to rest, so I know you’re not up to going back to the store yet.”

She frowned at me then looked at Ethan. She wasn’t exactly a fan of his, but she didn’t dislike him as strongly as she’d detested Greg, which was an improvement. The only problem she had with Ethan—at least that I knew of—was that he would become a werewolf. Since Jared had attacked her, she hated all werewolves. She didn’t want to hear that Chad and Ethan had helped rescue her; even though Chad pissed me off, he knew I wasn’t a bad person.

“I know you’re trying to look out for her, but I need Mia’s help with the shop.” Jessa just looked sad. “If I was in better shape, I would agree that she should be home resting, but unfortunately that’s not the case.” She stared at me, meeting my gaze. “I’ll go in and get you something that should help with the swelling.”

What would she give me that I couldn’t get from the shop? “I already used the comfrey poultice and tried a potion for the pain.”

Ethan appeared both parts curious and skeptical; then again, a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have even broached this subject with him in the car.

Jessa didn’t look too comfortable with him here either, but she was more open about magic than I was. Plus, we knew he would soon be something more dangerous to society than us. We were real witches, but witches were nothing compared to werewolves on the hunt. At least when it came to the magic I knew about. I’m pretty sure black magic witches were capable of truly horrific things, but that wasn’t on my radar, so far at least.

“What I’ll give you is stronger than that, but it’ll be fine. My recipe is written down at home.” She looked between Ethan and me again. “You can read over it.”

“Thanks, Jessa.” I gave a small smile, even though I felt so awkward being here with her and Ethan at the same time. I just wished we wouldn’t have had to go through this conversation.

“Keep off the leg as much as possible.” Jessa shrugged. “It’s fine if you can’t do the normal cleaning routine, as long as nothing looks too dusty or dirty. It can go a few days until one of us is feeling better.”

“Yeah, don’t overdo it, babe.” Ethan made another turn onto the road that lead closer toward where Jessa lived.

At least the car trip was slowly going better. I hadn’t liked the way it started with both of them going after me for my ankle. At least Ethan hadn’t gotten around to truly scolding me for jumping out the window yet. Maybe he’d forgotten. From the look on his face, I doubted he did. I bet this conversation had reignited the idea, but I’d deal with them and their concerns. It was nice knowing they cared.

“I know my limits.” I settled back into the passenger seat, and Ethan slid his hand into mine. I wasn’t sure if it was only for my benefit or to show a united force in front of Jessa, but I was sure he would’ve done it regardless because he knew I was uncomfortable.

“I know you do. We care. That’s all.” Ethan stroked his thumb over the top of my hand.

“Thanks.”

“There’s a stool in the back of the shop that I use sometimes to get up to the higher shelves; you can prop your foot on it,” Jessa piped up. “If you need help finding it, call me tomorrow.” Her tone had normalized a little, becoming less grumpy and more like the friend who was always there for me. Definitely more than a certain brother who would rather get it on with his latest girlfriend than take me to pick up my best friend.

“I will.” I smiled back at her. “Thank you.”

Ethan squeezed my hand a little. “I’ll take you before I go in. You’ll be there earlier than you’d probably want to be, but at least you won’t have to drive.”

I wasn’t looking forward to waking up at his ungodly hours. One of the things I liked about working at Jessa’s shop was that she opened at a reasonable time. I didn’t need to be awake before the sun climbed into the sky. However, for the next few days, it looked like that would change.

I groaned, rubbing my other hand over his. “I guess I’ll need to pack my e-reader.”

Ethan chuckled, the low sound caressing my body. “Guess so. You’ll probably be bored out of your mind waking up so early.”

“At least it’s better than driving with my foot like this.” Maybe I could look through some magic books.

I wouldn’t bring my grandmother’s grimoire with me out in public, especially not to Eternally Magick when Selene could come back. If any other witch found out it was on me, they might steal it for themselves and soak up the knowledge within, making themselves much more powerful. So much knowledge had been passed through the generations; to lose it would be horrendous.

I had thought about having the grimoire digitized since then I would know it was safe, no matter if there was a fire or whatever else. However, I hadn’t gotten around to it. The tome was huge and filled with so many ancient pages.

“If you need something to read, I have plenty of books in my office.” I knew Jessa meant the werewolf book. I’d been weaker then. Now I wasn’t. I knew what was good for me without having to look to Jessa for approval.

“That’s fine. I already have a few books I’m interested in.”

We slipped back into silence while Ethan drove. Within no time, we were at Jessa’s place. I remained in the car while Ethan walked with Jessa to the door. She said a few things to him, but from how he acted, I knew she hadn’t said anything offensive, probably just that she’d get whatever potion she had for me inside while he waited on her door step.

Great going, Jessa.

I rolled my eyes, wishing I’d gone home and used the rest of the salve I’d made. Even though it had a little of the love potion I had been affected by before. But it was tied to Ethan, and we were together, so I didn’t see how it would be a problem.

But it was about time I pitched the stuff and made a new, untainted batch. If I did use it and it backfired again, I wouldn’t survive it. I refused to have my relationship with Ethan go the way things went with Greg.

Ethan came back to the car with a small plastic grocery bag. “Here you go.”

“Thanks. I really mean it.” By the time I looked back to Jessa’s house, she had already shut the front door. The lacey white curtains moved a little, but they soon fell back into place.

Sighing, I tried not to feel disappointed when it came to Jessa’s behavior. For a moment, I’d thought we were past that, but now I didn’t know.

“Where to now?” Ethan asked. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Yes,” I said, looking him over. His stomach grumbled. “Have you?”

“I did earlier with Nolan, but I’m hungry again.” He gave me a wicked grin. “Although, there’s something delicious sitting beside me.”

My body felt like it burst into flames at the comment, and the temperature in the car ratchet up at least ten degrees. “You’re not the only one feeling that way.” I tried to remind myself we needed to talk, not fall into bed and rut like bunnies all night long. We needed to figure out what was going on with one another. Or at least I had to know what was happening with him and the Pack before we went to bed together.

“Good. Let’s head to your house.” Sizzling sensuality from his voice made my thighs wet. “Nolan may or may not be home tonight.”

I wouldn’t give my thoughts on that subject since from what I’d heard, I was pretty sure Nolan would be spending the night. The two of them were almost as bad as Ethan and I.

Jessa lived on the other side of our medium-sized town, closer to the shop than where my family, Ethan, and I lived.

The trip home seemed to take forever.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Mia

My quaint house towered over us, whispering what was undoubtedly going to happen once we stepped inside. I relished the anticipation that coursed through me.

Ethan slid his hot palm ever higher on my thigh. His hand trembled with pent-up sexual frustration.

I could relate.

He pulled away, getting the keys from the ignition before striding to the passenger side. He opened the car door for me, but I wasn’t sure how I’d get out since easing myself into the vehicle had been painful enough. Now I’d have to position myself carefully to climb out. I wasn’t looking forward to this, but only a little bit further and I’d be able to lie in bed with Ethan and relax my ankle. I couldn’t wait.

Ethan slid his hands underneath me. Before I realized what he was doing, he lifted me from the car. I wrapped my arms around his neck, savoring the closeness. He used the car remote to lock it while he carried me to the front door. I unlocked it with a little struggle before we were finally inside.

The older lady who lived next door had something else to talk with her friends about now. These days she wasn’t quite so obvious with her spying, but she was still as nosy as ever.

That was the one bad point about living in my grandparents’ former home. However, I liked not having to pay rent. Besides, my grandmother had left it to me in her will, along with the grimoire, which she’d kept in a special compartment in the spare bedroom. The same place I kept it when I wasn’t actively using it.

No one else knew where I hid it, and that’s exactly how I’d like to keep it.

Ethan set me on the couch. “Rest here for a moment. Let me help you with your shoes, and I’ll take mine off before we head upstairs.” He bent beside me. I wanted to run my hands through his soft hair and down his hardened jawline. He was so incredibly handsome. I couldn’t help loving him.

“Thank you.” I had opted for strappy sandals, since wearing tennis shoes with the swollen ankle was something I’d wanted to avoid. His hands brushed my foot as he unbuckled the sandals. “Is there anything you’re concerned about with the Pack that you haven’t told me? At least anything important?”

He snatched my sandals from the floor and stood, but his gaze remained lowered avoiding my eyes. There was something on his mind, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know what it was. Maybe I could take the question back before the subject got too serious.

“You deserve to know. I’m not thrilled about this, and I will fight it if I can. The Pack wants me with a female werewolf.” He shifted his attention to the ceiling. His breathing came out slow and steady as if he was trying to keep himself under control.

Lightheadedness washed over me and tears burned my eyes.