“This is a result of vamp blood? No wonder it’s so valuable.”
“Not so ‘wow’ for me. Before I was a freak because I was the only ghoul around. Now I’m a freak because vamp blood is changing me.”
Being a paranormal was freakish. I didn’t want to sound all girly, so I omitted that I felt uncomfortable with myself on a regular basis. I mean, think about it: one minute I’m a man in his late twenties. The next I’m an fucking wolf. I started shifting in my late teens. It wasn’t that long ago. I was still figuring out how to be both man and wolf. I had nothing to offer Theo.
The root of all this was the succubus, still out there. She hated Sleepy Briar. A human and a wolf shifter cub here wouldn’t be missed by her. Before returning to Sleepy Briar the last time, I’d searched all over the back woods and outskirts of town for signs of the succubus. I found no evidence of dark magic or wolf traps. It was as if she had vanished completely.
But only a fool would believe that.
“Do you think she’s dead?” I asked.
“I don’t think Sleepy Briar is that lucky,” Gabe replied. “Her name is Rika. At least that’s what she was calling herself last time I saw her. Do you know what that means in Ghoul?”
I had no idea ghouls spoke a different language. I’ve never seen more than one. I saw no reason to share my ignorance now, though. I shook my head.
“One who destroys.”
That sounded about right. Rika the succubus was waiting for her time to strike Sleepy Briar again. This time she would bring all her powers to level our community forever.
“Keep Theo away from the mountains. It’s avalanche season.”
“I’ve lived here my whole life. I got that,” Gabe said dryly.
I considered him. Ghouls are known for their stamina and speed. But nothing could outrun an avalanche or a succubus. “I can help you out with Theo.”
Gabe squinted at me. I surprised him. Hell, I surprised myself. But I needed to keep a close eye on the pup. Maybe Rika could control him, given her past success rate with male paranormals in Sleepy Briar. Giving Theo to Rika would be an impressive offering.
“What’s in it for you?” he asked.
“Theo’s dad was a friend. I owe it to him. Besides, we can’t have him chewing on the population of Sleepy Briar. I have an idea. Be right back.” I sprinted across the line of trees, out of eyesight. I dropped my jeans, then sprinted back toward them, shifting before I was away from the trees.
Still in cub form, Theo was sliding down the snow hill again. His surprise at seeing a wolf made him face-plant. I lowered myself down to the ground, dropping my head between my front paws. There aren’t many ways a wolf can make himself look smaller, but this is one.
After first retreating behind Gabe, Theo approached me tentatively. He sniffed my nose before rolling over on his back. I stayed still. Soon he was crawling on my back or standing on his back legs trying to bite my ears.
Gabe rebuilt the mostly destroyed snow hill. With these temperatures, there wouldn’t be any snow left before long. What was the cub going to do with a ghoul all day for entertainment?
Eventually, Theo tired of me. He wandered over to Gabe, then settled into chewing on his ankle. Gabe ignored him, but I growled. Werewolf shifters have many types of growls. My warning growl was low and long.
Theo froze.
He let go of Gabe’s ankle.
I ceased growling.
He reattached himself to Gabe’s ankle, and I growled.
He dropped it.
I stopped.
And the whole thing happened five more times.
For fuck’s sake.If this was parenting, I couldn’t wait to shift back to my human form and grab a beer.
Chapter4
WILLOW