There’s so much I still want to do to your body, if you’ll let me.

Irvine’s words from the previous night replayed over and over as I waited on the porch of Marshell House. Warm sunlight poured down upon me, as if the weather itself had realised a miracle had taken place last night.

I, Willow Summers, was no longer a virgin.

At the thought of it, I grinned wider. I couldn’t seem to wipe that grin off my face. Every time I pictured his hands on my body, his broad shoulders hovering over me, the feeling of his cock buried deep inside me …

Even though I’d had a full day to process the event on my own, while Irvine wandered around the forest as a wolf, the thrill still hadn’t worn off. I wanted to skip around the front lawn. I wanted to shout to the whole world to rejoice in this miracle. Instead, I shifted the box of wedding magazines and my planning folder into my other hand and rung the ancient bell again.

“Coming!” Elinor cried from deep in the house. A moment later, she threw the door open.

As usual, her beauty stopped me short. Elinor had one of those stunning heart-shaped faces, and enormous brown eyes framed by dark-rimmed glasses. Her body was all luscious curves accentuated by tailored clothing. Elinor would be marrying rock violinist Eric Marshell in a massive wedding in the back garden of Marshell House. Eric’s band would be performing for two hundred guests, including close friends and family and a whole swathe of important record executives. Unlike Bianca’s crazy art bash faux-wedding, Elinor and Eric’s was going to be pure gothic romantic, complete with a six-tier cake finished with blood-red roses and a banner saying, “Til death do us part.”

Their wedding wasn’t for several months yet – they needed to plan it for when Eric wasn’t away touring – but we needed to get a start on it now if I wanted the marquee booked and the other preparations made. I was pretty excited about the project, which we’d started discussing at the pub the other night, especially since I thought Elinor and I might be … maybe … possibly … becoming friends, but it did mean yet another connection to Caleb's pack and whatever they were planning.

Don’t think about it. It’s none of your business. As far as Elinor knows, you are completely oblivious to shifters, and the existence of Irvine’s cock. You’re just Willow Summers, wedding planner and totally normal, not-sleeping-with-a-werewolf, two-legged lass … I mean, girl.

Elinor threw her arms around me. “It’s great to see you, in a much less dramatic setting. Come on in.”

I followed Elinor through the house, noting the drab Victorian wallpaper and dark-wood furnishings that dominated the home her fiancé had inherited. She was starting to put her own touches everywhere, recovering the chairs with sumptuous velvet and replacing the stuffy frowning portraits with modern art. I recognised her own hand on a large painting beside the coatrack, of a girl in a diaphanous gown swimming in a pool under the moonlight, with a wolf watching from the shore beyond. I started to comment on it, then changed my mind, in case it started a discussion about wolves that I didn’t want to have.

Elinor boiled the kettle and invited me out into the conservatory on the back of the house, overlooking the expansive lawn where her wedding marquee would be set up. Various fruit and deciduous trees were scattered around the perimeter of the lawn, and in the far corner of the garden, a small stone mausoleum provided a suitably gothic backdrop. I buttoned my coat against the crisp breeze, and Elinor handed me a blanket to place over my legs as she settled herself in the chair opposite me.

“I love sitting out here in the evenings,” she said, pouring the tea and opening a Bewitching Bites bakery box to reveal a selection of cheesecakes and lemon tarts. “It feels so peaceful, especially after all the noise of the shop.”

“Any news about Resurrection Ink?”

“The insurance company are giving me the runaround, of course. And the police are completely baffled, but at least no one was there when it happened.” She studied my face as she sipped her tea. “You seem a little … distracted today. Even worse than yesterday.”

“No, I …” I always got so tongue-tied around Elinor. She was so elegant and beautiful. Her and Bianca and all of their friends – they were like the cool kids back at my high school. The girls I so desperately wanted to be.

“Did you see anything else?”

I shook my head.

“Don’t make me guess here, Willow.” Elinor set down her tea. “It’s Irvine, isn’t it?”

My face flared with heat, giving me away. Elinor grinned. “I knew it. You guys are shagging. It’s so obvious.”

The heat spread down my neck. I stared at the cup in my hands, unable to meet Elinor’s eyes. “I shouldn’t talk about it.”

“No way. You’re not getting away with that nonsense. Tell me everything. How is he in the sack? I always imagined he’s intense, Mr Grumpy-Scottish-Git.”

I nodded, aware that my face must’ve been as red as a beetroot. So much for keeping it secret. “He was pretty spectacular.”

“Spectacular, aye?” Elinor pushed the box toward me. “That deserves a second cheesecake. How did you even meet him? I can’t believe you didn’t say anything to me earlier.”

“I met him at Bianca’s wedding,” I mumbled. “And we wanted to keep it secret. That is, Irvine did. He thought it would reflect badly on his dedication to Caleb's pack. So if you could—”

“Well, that was a silly idea, seeing as you two couldn’t keep your hands off each other the other day at the shop.”

“That’s not true.” At the thought of Irvine’s naked body pressed against mine, he heat in my skin flared into red hot torture.

“Come on, Willow. The two of you tried to pretend you arrived at separate times, and that you’d stayed the night with some nameless girlfriend, but you were wearing the same clothes you had on at the pub. I may have been distracted, but I can still see what’s right in front of me.”

My whole body burned. Elinor laughed and hit my knee. I jumped in fright. If her hand had been an inch further down, she would have felt my prosthesis.

“You don’t have to jump out of your skin. I’ll keep my mouth shut, but don’t be surprised if everyone else hasn’t already figured it out.” Elinor smiled. She must’ve thought my jump was about her figuring out that Irvine and I had been together. “I think it’s awesome. No offence, but you look like you could do with a bit of fun.”

“Yeah.” My face flushed even darker. “I could.”

“I wish I could have a little fun.” Elinor slumped down on the sofa. “Eric’s spending the week at the studio in London, working on the band’s new album, and it’s been nothing but drama ever since the shop got trashed. Honestly, I’ve barely had a chance to go through the samples you sent over. Bianca and Robbie broke up.”

“What?” Irvine hadn’t mentioned that. As far as I knew, they were suddenly madly in love.

“Well, I guess they didn’t break up, since technically they weren’t actually together. But it looks like Robbie was the one who trashed our shop. He’s been jealous of this other guy, Rolf, who’s been staying at The Prim, and he tried to pin the crime on him. But Eric saw Robbie hanging around the shop when he came home last night. Caleb thinks the guy you saw was Robbie, as well. He was going to come talk to you when he had a chance but he’s uuh, tied up at the moment.”

You mean he’s roaming the forest with Irvine.

Elinor leaned forward. “Do, do you think it could have been Robbie you saw?”

“Maybe … I don’t know …” The guy had similar build, and the same buzzed haircut as Robbie. But even in the dark, surely I would have recognised Robbie’s face?

“So anyway, Bianca tossed him out, but now she’s in a total state. And as well as dealing with the insurance company, I’m cleaning her snot and tears out of my favourite clothes and holding her head over the toilet while she throws up all the whisky she’s drank.”

“Sounds rough. Do you want me to leave? I can come back another time.”

“No way. I need the distraction—hang on a sec. I’d better get this.” Elinor’s phone buzzed across the table. She grabbed it and lifted it to her ear.

“Hey Ryan, what’s up? … What?” she cried, her voice rising several octaves. ”When did this happen? … Which hospital? … Thanks. I’ll get there as soon as I can.” She flung down the phone and grabbed for her purse. “I have to go. Bianca’s in the hospital. There was some kind of attack.”

“Attack?” A werewolf attack? My stomach tightened, and a jab of phantom pain arced through my foot.

Elinor pressed her lips together. “Ryan didn’t say much, just that she’s unconscious and that I should get—oh, shit! Eric has our car in London. I’ll have to grab a taxi.” She grabbed her phone again. “Shit, shit, what’s the taxi number?”

“I didn’t even know there was a taxi in Crookshollow.”

“It’s slow and terrible.” Elinor frantically jabbed at her phone. “Why is the wifi not working?” Her eyes flashed, and her usually perfect hair had fallen in disarray.

“Don’t worry about that,” I said. “I’ll give you a ride.”

My heart pounded against my chest. If I let Elinor into my car, she’d see my lever. She’d know I wasn’t normal. But looking at her panicked face, I couldn’t let her sit here and wait for the taxi when her best friend was in the hospital.

“You would?” Elinor’s brown eyes grew even wider.

“Yeah, sure.” I shrugged, like it was no big deal, even though my chest was tight with fear. “Let’s go.”

---

Elinor clambered into the Fiat’s passenger seat. Taking a deep breath, I turned the ignition and pushed the lever forward to ease down the drive. Elinor didn’t even glance my way. She stared at her blank phone screen, speaking a steady monotone of reassurances to herself.

“She has to be okay. She’s Bianca. She’s so tough. She saved my life once, you know? Some drug dealers broke into the house, and she hit one over the head with a cricket bat.”

“Wow, that’s pretty crazy,” I said, pulling out of Marshell House’s long drive and onto the street. A few moments later, we sped past Resurrection Ink. Elinor let out a strangled sob as the damaged window came into view. My chest tightened again.

Elinor said that Robbie had been responsible for the attack, which meant that it hadn’t been my stalker. But I was so sure I hadn’t recognised that man that had come running toward me. I thought back to the last time I’d seen Robbie, just before he’d transformed into a wolf at his fake-wedding. He’d called out Bianca’s name in his deep Scottish accent. The guy I’d seen also had a Scottish accent, but his was lighter, younger. Maybe I was so scared, I couldn’t trust what I’d seen and heard.

Or maybe … maybe he was just some drunk asking for change, and it was just a coincidence that he happened to be near the shop and I happened to walk out. Maybe I was so afraid that Mum would find me that I read more into it than I should?

And now Bianca had been attacked … we didn’t know anything yet, but I was willing to bet that a wolf was responsible. Was it Robbie? I had smelt his scent at the shop. Irvine had said none of the wolves in his pack were dangerous, but was he wrong? Had someone lost control? What the hell was this group up to, and how had I ended up in the middle of it?

Phantom pain soared up my leg, and I had to grip the wheel harder to stop my hands shaking. My mother’s voice drummed inside my head. Never trust a werewolf. They may talk as smooth as any guy, but they can’t control their monstrous urges. You and I both know how it soon ends in blood.

No. I can trust Irvine. I know I can.

The hospital was in Crooks Crossing. While I drove out into the countryside, Elinor frantically texted on her phone, probably informing all the other members of the pack about what happened. Maybe we’d get all the way to the hospital without her even noticing—

“What’s that lever for?”

I gulped. So much for her not noticing my accelerating lever.

“Um …” I whispered, my voice catching. “It’s an accessible adaptation for the pedals. You push it forward to accelerate, and pull back to brake.”

“Why do you need it?” Elinor had leaned in closer to inspect the lever.

Quick, I need a clever story to explain it.

My heart pounded in my chest. I heard myself say, “I’m an amputee.”

What clever story could possibly account for having a weird lever in my car?

“You are? How did I not know this?”

I shrugged. Heat flared on my face. I focused on the road, trying to stop my hands from shaking as they gripped the wheel. This isn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want anyone to know. All I wanted was the chance to be normal.

“Willow, I’m so sorry.” Elinor’s voice was sweet. It was such a dumb thing to say. All the reporters Mum stuck me in front of said the same thing. All the letters of support for Werewolf Watch poured waves of sympathy at me that made my throat close with rage.

But her tone was so genuine, my protests dried on my lips. “It’s not your fault.” It was my standard answer.

“How did it happen, do you mind if I ask? Was it a birth defect?”

There’s no use hiding anymore, might as well get the whole story out in the open. If Elinor and I are going to be maybe hopefully friends, it might be good that she knows. Better to find out now if I have to stop seeing her … “My father attacked me. He caused so much damage, I lost my right leg below the knee.”

“Shit. That’s horrible. I hope the bastard is in jail.”

“He was never caught.” My knuckles were turning white.

“Shit,” Elinor said again. An uncomfortable silence hung between us. I hoped like hell Elinor wouldn’t start with the other typical platitudes – I don’t know what I’d do if I had a missing leg, I think you’re just so brave …

Thankfully, the hospital loomed ahead, dragging us back into the present. I pulled into the hospital parking lot. Elinor scrambled out of the car before I’d even come to a complete stop.

After a tense conversation with the ward nurse, we managed to find the right room. Bianca lay in a hospital bed, her eyes staring straight ahead into nothing. Needles and drips stuck out of her, and machines beeped. Scratches and cuts marked her beautiful porcelain skin, and bandages around her thigh and shoulders showered the severity of her injuries.

Bianca was always so full of life. To see such a strong woman lying completely helpless chilled me right to my bones. If a wolf could bring down Bianca, what chance did I have?

I glanced up at the window, and leapt back in fright. Pressed against the glass was a wolf’s face, its eyes drooped and its mouth turned down, almost as if it was sad.

“Willow, are you all right?” Elinor grabbed my arm, bracing me as I steadied myself.

“A wolf …” I gasped. “There’s a wolf in the window.”

“It’s just the trees making strange shapes,” Elinor said, although her eyes flashed with panic. “There aren’t any wolves left in England, and certainly not on the hospital grounds. Look, I can’t see a wolf there, can you?”

I followed her gaze back to the window, where the wolf’s face had disappeared.

Elinor hustled me out of the room mighty fast. Ryan and Alex stood in the corner of the waiting room, their arms around each other. Ryan stroked Alex’s hair while she sobbed into her shoulder. A pang of envy hit me as I watched them. How nice it must be to have someone you could count on when things got tough. Irvine said he would protect me, but that would only last as long as our fling did, which I didn’t anticipate being a long time. A guy that hot and nice and that good with his hands and tongue must go through women like I went through Cadbury chocolate blocks.

“What happened?” Elinor asked, striding over to them.

She was mauled by an animal, is what happened. Hanging around shifters all the time is a bad bad idea.

“I haven’t got all the details yet, what with Robbie being upset and Bianca being in a coma and all.” Ryan ran a hand through his dark hair. “That reporter, Serenity, who was staying at The Prim, stabbed her multiple times. I think she was intending to—” He glanced at me, then gave a little cough. “Anyway, Robbie was supposed to have left town on Caleb's orders, but he showed up at Luke’s place a few hours ago. He’d figured out Bianca was in trouble. He got there in just time to stop Serenity from killing her, but she’s in pretty bad shape.”

My head swam. Nothing he’d said made any sense. Irvine had said that only males could be werewolves, which meant that this Serenity was just an ordinary human psychopath. But that was so insane. Why would she stab Bianca? What did this have to do with my stalker or … or anything that had been going on?

“What about the shop?” I asked Ryan. “Do you think this has anything to do with the break-in?”

Ryan nodded. “I’d say they’re related. It looks like this Serenity wanted to kill Bianca, so it makes sense that she would also want to hurt her business. I’m willing to bet she staged the attack and made us think Robbie did it to deliberately drive Bianca and Robbie apart.”

I sat down as a phantom pain shot up my leg. This was just too much to take in. If the attack on the shop was all about Bianca, and this Serenity girl was responsible, then that meant my mother wasn’t involved in it at all.

But then who was that guy? Had I just been worried about nothing?