Chapter 11

When they finally arrived at the Colorado Springs Police Department, Sarandon was a little worried he would be arrested on the spot. He was glad Jenna was there to vouch for him. When she took his hand, he looked at her in surprise, thinking she would want to be hands-off.

“I’ll turn all wolf if they pull out handcuffs.”

He loved how she could make a serious situation feel less ominous. He had a stack of witness statements in a large manila envelope—the originals, while the copies were all safely at the sheriff’s office in Silver Town. Before they entered the station, she let go of his hand.

He assumed it was because she wanted to look professional.

When they entered the building, Sarandon identified himself to a police officer and gave him the details of the case of mistaken identity. Likewise, Jenna explained her business there—to verify Sarandon’s claims and to state she still needed to apprehend the real suspect.

A dark-haired, black-eyed Officer Calvin Meissner had smiled at Jenna and greeted her in a way that said he admired her and was interested in her. Sarandon was glad he knew her and was on friendly terms. Though Sarandon’s wolfish need to protect a single she-wolf from a human male came to bear. He fought the urge to growl when the officer drew too close to her or showed more than a professional interest in her.

“Come this way with me to get your fingerprinting done,” the officer said and took them to the Police Operations Center.

After the fingerprinting was done, the officer had them return with him and sit in an interview room. In the interim, he made some calls to verify the witness statements. When that was done, the officer began to really read the witness statements. Looking up from the fifth one, he said to Sarandon, “You seem to be a really popular guy. I’m surprised you could get so many of these together on such short notice. Usually, getting this many people’s statements together would take weeks or more. In a day would be impossible.”

“You should have seen it,” Jenna said, confirming she was there to witness the whole thing. “The townspeople are a tight-knit community. Everyone knows everyone, and they were eager to ensure they gave the sheriff the statements Sarandon needed before he came here to clear his name. They didn’t want Sarandon to take the rap for what someone else did.”

Officer Meissner agreed. “If the fingerprints don’t match, I’m sure he can be cleared.” He studied the witness statements further. There were over thirty more to go through. And he considered the mug shot of the suspect against Sarandon, whose beard was just starting to appear and was red. “I still say he looks awfully similar.”

“Sarandon’s beard is red, and it looks a lot different from this man’s,” Jenna said, pointing to the mug shot. “They do look similar otherwise. Sarandon and his brothers think maybe there’s a half brother out there who has done the crime. They didn’t know one might exist, but after conducting an investigation into the matter, they discovered their father had a son by another woman. Both the father and the woman are dead. We’re trying to locate the son now.”

“We?”

“It’s my family’s business. We have a lot of money riding on this.”

Meissner nodded. “Which is why I know you’re being honest with me about this guy, or you’d just turn him in to get your family off the hook.”

“True,” Jenna said.

“How long will it take to get the fingerprints back?” Sarandon asked, wishing it was done pronto.

“Up to forty-eight hours. We’ll need you to make a statement under oath in the meantime. We won’t be booking you. There’s enough verifiable evidence here—the word of the local sheriff and deputies that you were in town for most of the time that the real suspect was here, wearing his GPS ankle monitor, and the statements from the people who were on your tour—to help to prove you’re the victim of identity theft.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“In the meantime, I need to know where you’ll be staying.”

Which sounded a hell of a lot like Sarandon was still in the hot seat.

“He’s staying with me while we wait to hear about the fingerprint results,” Jenna said.

Meissner’s eyes widened a smidgeon.

She shrugged. “It’s the least I can do after hunting him down and threatening to tase him.”

Meissner laughed. “Yeah, I wouldn’t ever want to get on your bad side. Okay, folks. You’re free to go, Mr. Silver. Just check in with us in a couple of days.” He got both their cell phone numbers. “If we hear sooner, I’ll give you a call.”

“Thanks,” Sarandon said. They all stood, and he shook the officer’s hand.

“If I didn’t love it here so much, your town sounds like a good place to raise a family,” the officer said.

“Silver Town is special,” Sarandon said. “Born and raised there. No complaints.”

“Sounds like it.” The officer said goodbye, and with a sigh of relief, Sarandon and Jenna returned to her car.

“I was afraid they would have to book you. I’m so relieved.” Jenna took hold of Sarandon’s hand and smiled up at him.

“Now that I’m almost not a wanted criminal, are you ready to date me?”

She chuckled. “I think going to my parents’ for dinner means we’re definitely headed that way. I have never brought a suspect home for dinner.”

“Or a male wolf recently?”

“That either. Are you ready?”

“Yeah, let’s do this. I’ve got to make a good impression on your parents. Can we stop at a florist shop on the way there? Maybe a liquor store?”

Jenna laughed. “What about for my sisters?”

“They’re going to be there too?” He already had enough to deal with.

“Yep. You thought the police officer questioning you was all you were going to have to go through tonight?”

Sarandon wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m ready for this.” In truth, he wasn’t. He’d never had to make a best impression on a family while vying for a she-wolf’s affections. Everyone knew him in Silver Town, so they knew his faults and his strengths. He didn’t have to prove anything to anyone there.

He’d never imagined he’d be going far outside his hometown to find a mate either. Not that Jenna and he were quite there yet.

“What would appeal to your sisters?” He hadn’t expected he’d have to bribe her sisters too.

“I hate to tell you this, but you’re on your own. It will mean a lot more to them if you pick out something of your own for them.”

“Hell, that’s not fair. I don’t know them at all. Their likes, dislikes, hobbies, anything. I could get myself into real trouble here.”

“Believe me, if I told you what they like, they’d know it was ‘from me’ and not from you. Be creative.”

He checked his GPS to locate an army surplus store. When he directed her into the parking lot, she frowned. “What are you going to get for them here?”

“I have no idea. When I see what I think will work, I’ll get it.” When they entered the store, he looked at the personal defense weapons—batons, pepper spray, daggers, knives, and tactical pens. He was thinking more in the line of something they could use that might protect them that they didn’t have already. He smiled when he saw a pair of pink handcuffs.

“Don’t even think of it,” Jenna said next to him as she looked down at the glass case.

“I was more amused than anything. I don’t think those are for apprehending anyone. I imagine they’re more for sexual bondage. Besides, I didn’t think you were going to help me.”

She slid his arm around her waist. So she was going to help him only because she didn’t want to lose out on dating him?

When he began studying body cameras, she shook her head. “Way too expensive.”

“Do you have one?”

“No.”

“Well, you should, for your own protection.” He waved to the clerk. “I’ll take three of these.”

“Okay, well, what if this doesn’t ever lead to a mating? You’ll be out of all that money,” she said for his hearing only.

“It’s a sure bet.” He smiled.

“You are so sure of yourself.” She snuggled closer to him, smiling, and he knew he’d made big points with her.

They went to the florist shop after that, and he picked out a bouquet of lilies and roses for her mom, boxes of chocolates for each of the women at a candy specialty shop, and then her dad’s favorite scotch.

“I don’t know what the rest of the family will think, but I’m wondering what you’re giving everyone for Christmas.”

“Hot damn! That’s a good sign.”

“What if you don’t care for my family?”

“I would be a fool not too.” He did hope that they would all get along. Wolves were family-oriented by nature, though some of the wolves in a pack would disperse to start their own packs when the pups grew older. So if they were perfect for each other and the family didn’t exactly suit, he hoped she would be agreeable to just leave and make their own way in the world.

When they reached her family’s home in Woodland Park, he wondered what homes like this cost, immediately loving the wooded acreage backed up on the mountainside. She parked her car next to two other vehicles sitting in front of the home. Her parents’ house was a two-story, brick-and-vinyl-sided home with tall sloping rooflines on the various segments of the house and a long circular drive out front. There was no sign of any nearby homes, so they had complete privacy.

“I love the woods.”

“We go cross-country skiing out here, mountain biking, hiking—”

“And running as wolves?”

“Especially. We can go for a run after dinner, if you’d like.”

He’d love that. “What if everyone else wants to go running too?”

“They might.”

He’d much rather just run alone with Jenna. From a wolf’s perspective, that would be the perfect way to start the wolf courtship.

She took his hand and led him to the front door, while he carried the packages, hoping they didn’t think he was overeager to court her. Even if he was.

She motioned to the other two vehicles. “My sisters are here already.”

“Do you have family get-togethers often?”

“We do.”

He sure hoped he liked her family. He wanted a mate, but he really wanted to stay in Silver Town near his family. He hadn’t ever considered living anywhere else. How would she feel about leaving her family and joining his?

She opened the door and called out, “We’re here. Dad must be out back grilling shish kebabs already. Why don’t you join him?”

“Thanks. Just point me in the right direction.”

She took the packages from him and pointed to a dining room that had expansive windows all across the back of the house. “Door is that way.”

“Okay, see you in a bit.” He hoped her dad was a likeable guy. He’d never given much thought to mating a she-wolf and then having to deal with the family. They all had their own quirks. Just like his did.

“I’ll go look for Mom and my sisters,” she said.

“Okay.”

She was still watching him, and he smiled. “I’ll be all right. I promise I won’t get myself into too much trouble.”

“Okay. It’s not you I’m worried about.”

Maybe he should have asked her more about her father.

Sarandon found the door to the outside and stepped onto the deck. Her dad looked to be about sixty and had graying temples. The rest of his hair was dark. “I’m Sarandon Silver. And you must be—”

“Jenna’s dad, Logan St. John. Sorry about the mix-up on what you’ve done. We’ll do everything in our power to make this right.”

“That wasn’t your fault. The police shouldn’t have believed the suspect’s lies. Not when he was already an identity thief.”

“I agree. Jenna said you want to stay with her for however long this takes to clear your name.” The dad was eyeing him as if trying to get a feel for him.

“Yes, sir.” Sarandon wasn’t surprised. All wolves did that—judged another wolf, took in their scent, attempted to determine what kind of a wolf they were. He knew if he had a daughter of his own who began courting, he’d be just as interested in learning everything he could about the prospective wolf mate.

Logan turned the shish kebabs over to grill the other side. “Did she tell you she lives next door?”

“Uh, no.” The vixen.

Her dad smiled. “All the girls do. We have four homes here right together.”

Well, that sort of answered his question about Jenna moving back home with him. He might be getting ahead of himself here, but he figured if she had children, she’d want to be near her mother and sisters so they could help out. Not that his own pack wouldn’t all love on their babies, but he assumed it wouldn’t be the same for Jenna.

He and Logan heard squeals of excitement coming from somewhere deep in the bowels of the home, and Logan looked at Sarandon. “It appears the girls are excited about something.”

The cameras he’d bought for them? Sarandon hadn’t expected that much of a reaction.

Then two women who looked similar to Jenna rushed onto the deck and gave Sarandon hugs and kisses. He really hadn’t expected that. He glanced back at the door and saw Jenna and another woman, most likely her mother, smiling at them.

“If Jenna doesn’t want you, you can court me. I’m Crystal,” the one woman said. She was the fairest haired of the women, her eyes a little more greenish-blue than Jenna’s.

“Nah, me first. I’m Suzanne.” She gave him a warm smile.

Logan moved the shish kebabs onto a platter, then served up the rice. “Looks like someone sure made an impression.”

“Yeah, Dad. You should see what he got us. Body cameras!” Suzanne flipped her ash-blond hair over her shoulders and showed hers to him.

Logan took it and looked it over, then turned his attention to Sarandon. “Me too?”

Jenna laughed. “He picked up your favorite bottle of scotch for you. We can get you a camera for your birthday.”

“The flowers and candy are lovely. Thanks, Sarandon,” Jenna’s mother said.

“I had to do something to thank my hosts.”

“Mom and Dad will have to have you over a lot,” Suzanne said.

“Come on, girls. One of you can get the silverware and some water for everyone, and someone can pull the cake out of the oven,” their mother said, and the women all disappeared inside the house.

“You probably don’t have a lot of time for home-cooked meals,” Logan said.

“I actually like to cook,” Sarandon said.

“Good. Jenna says you live in a great town. That it’s wolf-run. And your cousin is the pack leader. That you have three brothers and all kinds of other relatives there. I suspect you’re probably not interested in moving from there,” Logan said, glancing at Sarandon.

“It’s been home forever for me. And yes, my whole family is there.”

Logan let out his breath. “We want our daughters to stay in this area.”

Sarandon suspected Jenna might feel that way, but he hadn’t expected her father to bring this up now.

“You know, when the pups come, the girls’ mother and I want to be there for them.”

“I understand.” Sarandon wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

“Of course, it’s completely up to my daughters what they decide to do—find a mate and move to his pack, or bring him here to increase our own pack size. We’d strongly prefer she stay here with her mate.”

Logan handed the platter of shish kebabs to Sarandon while Logan carried the rice side dish. “Hopefully, Jenna has told you already, but she was in an accident some years ago with her mate and unborn children and lost all of them. The doctor said she could have more children, but, well, she and her mate had been living in another state when the accident occurred, and we just don’t want to see her living so far away again. It was really hard for her to adjust with moving home and all. It was decades ago, but you understand how we feel.”

“Yes, she told me. I was so sorry to hear of it. The guy who caused the accident should’ve received life.” Sarandon didn’t know what else to say, but he knew the family still had to worry about her. And about their other daughters.

“You just met Jenna, so I’m probably getting way ahead of myself on this.”

“Yes, sir.” Not really.

“Come on. Let’s eat. And then we can go for a wolf run.”

He knew it. The whole family would all run together. One big, happy family.

They walked into the house, and Jenna’s mother had everyone take a seat at the table. Jenna glanced at Sarandon. He reached over and squeezed her hand.

After dinner, they went running as wolves, as a pack. And then the parents stuck together and headed in one direction, the sisters taking off in a different direction, while Jenna stayed close to Sarandon. He was glad he could run with her alone for a while, and he appreciated that the rest of the family understood the need for them to be wolves together.

He thought he saw something moving in the woods quite a distance from them. He swore it was a wolf. He woofed at Jenna to wait for him and ran through the brush to locate whatever it was. He heard something behind him and turned to see Jenna following him. Damn it. He didn’t want her in harm’s way if the animal he thought he’d seen was a male wolf.

She nipped at Sarandon’s cheek, telling him he wouldn’t leave her behind, and started sniffing the area. He was smelling the scents in the area too. A male wolf. Not her father’s scent. Did the family know any other wolves in the area?

Jenna woofed at Sarandon, and he assumed they didn’t know this wolf. He still wanted her to wait for him.

He ran again, searching for the wolf, and saw it moving fast through the brush, a brown wolf, no other markings. Just brown. At least Sarandon knew the wolf’s scent now. The wolf disappeared over a hill.

Sarandon raced through the trees, trying to reach the hill, but when he topped it, he didn’t see any sign of the wolf. He continued searching for him while Jenna searched nearby, the two of them working together to track the wolf. He realized then that they could do this. Work together as a team. He was so used to being with his brothers or cousins, protecting the she-wolves and pups in the pack, that he’d never considered working with a she-wolf who had his back.

They’d lost sight of the wolf, then heard a vehicle’s engine running and raced through the woods to see what it looked like. Maybe they’d get the license plate number. They reached the dirt road and saw the black SUV, with the same license tag they’d learned belonged to Burt Dreyfus.

Now they knew his scent and what he looked like as a wolf. And they knew they hadn’t been wrong about him following them. Why else would he be sniffing around Jenna and her family’s territory?

With Burt gone, Jenna howled, warning her family they’d found trouble.

A male wolf howled, then a female, followed by two more females. Sarandon howled to let them know what his wolf’s voice sounded like. She licked his face, and he licked hers. He loved running with her, and he realized everything he did with her was a test of their friendship and whether they would be suitable wolf mates.

* * *

Jenna and Sarandon headed back to the house. They saw her parents a little way off and her sisters after that. They ran together as a pack of wolves, just as though he were family. He thought he could really fit in. That it wouldn’t hurt her family to have another male wolf in the pack.

Once everyone entered the house, they went off to their respective rooms, shifted and dressed, and then returned to the dining room where Victoria fed them cake and coffee.

“We saw a brown wolf named Burt Dreyfus running on our property,” Jenna said before Sarandon had a chance. “He’s the cameraman for a ghost-hunter show. The TV personalities are wolves and are related to Sarandon’s sister-in-law.” She didn’t know if CJ and Laurel were married. Even though wolves mated for life and didn’t need to prove their fidelity by marrying, many did for the kids in the event they needed it. “He had been following us on the interstate. Mom, you looked up the license plate.”

“Right. A black SUV.”

“Yeah, it was parked on the old dirt road. We lost him before we could reach him,” Jenna said.

“At least you learned what he was driving,” Victoria said.

“I think we need to get ahold of the ghost hunters’ management and learn what is up with this man,” Logan said.

“I agree. I’ll call my brother CJ, who is a deputy sheriff of Silver Town, and let him know what’s going on,” Sarandon said.

“Why would he be running around here? Following you?” Logan asked.

“I think this all has to do with the other guy stealing my ID. I think he was in on it,” Sarandon said.

“He’s a wolf? And the TV show personalities are too?” Logan asked.

“Yes.” Sarandon finished his chocolate cake.

Jenna eyed Crystal and Suzanne and the way they kept smiling at him and offering him more cake and coffee or anything else he wanted.

“Are you sure you don’t want another slice of cake? Another cup of coffee?” Suzanne asked Sarandon again but not anyone else.

“No, thanks. It was great.” Sarandon patted his rock-hard stomach. “I’d have to do a lot more running if I ate any more tonight.”

Jenna wasn’t sure about her sisters’ attentions toward him. Were they being nice because he gave such great presents to them? Or because they thought they had a chance with him? They’d never been interested in her boyfriends before. But Sarandon wasn’t like any wolf she’d ever known. Certainly, none had brought presents for her family.

“Oooh, I like the guy in charge of that TV show,” Suzanne said, finding an episode on a search on her phone. “I watch that show all the time. He’s the cutest. Totally in charge. A real alpha male. I didn’t know they were all wolves.”

“I’ll have to watch the show. I figured it was all a put-on,” Crystal said. “And like you, I had no clue it was run by wolves.”

“Right, well, this Burt Dreyfus needs to be picked up and questioned,” Logan said, getting the subject back to the crux of the matter.

“I agree,” Sarandon said.

“If we’re all finished…” Jenna began carrying plates into the kitchen.

Her sisters helped her with the dirty dishes.

Jenna was ready to take Sarandon home with her. She was annoyed at him for being overly protective and wanting her to return home and stay out of harm’s way when the wolf was running in their territory. Burt. What was he up to?

Yet Sarandon had irked her when he treated her as though she couldn’t defend herself or help him search for the wolf. What did he think she was doing in her line of work? She captured fugitives all the time. Just because she didn’t manage to take one wolf in because he had a whole wolf pack to back him—and besides, he was innocent—didn’t mean she couldn’t take another wolf down.

Especially when Sarandon was there to help.

Sarandon had been quieter than usual, and she hoped her dad hadn’t said something to upset him. She knew her dad well enough to guess he might have told Sarandon something. Then again, what if it was all about her staying with Sarandon to locate the brown wolf? And he was annoyed with her? Maybe, seeing her in action, he didn’t care for the kind of wolf she was. Well, tough. That’s the way she was. If he didn’t like it, that was his problem.

“Night, all. We need to be ready when the police call about Sarandon’s fingerprint results.”

“Night, Jenna, Sarandon,” everyone said, and after hugs, Jenna and Sarandon got in her car and drove back to the main drive that would take her to her long driveway next door. The properties had ten acres apiece, so nice and spacious.

When they pulled into her garage at her home, she said, “Okay, spill. What did Dad tell you?”

“About this,” Sarandon said, motioning with both hands toward the house. “That you live right next door. That your dad expects you to stay here if you find a mate.”

She groaned and got out of the car. “He’s not supposed to sabotage me courting a wolf like that.”

“Well, isn’t that what you’d want?”

She hesitated. “What I want is what my mate and I mutually agree upon. It’s not a one-sided affair.”

“Uh, yeah, okay. Sorry,” Sarandon said. “I’m getting way ahead of myself on this. I’m not usually this way.”

She slipped her finger into his belt loop and tugged him toward the house. “Apology accepted. I figured you’ve never done this before.”

“He did mention one other thing.”

She closed the door behind him. “What’s that?” She was afraid her father had talked about her mate and losing her unborn children. “Forget it. He told you about Will, right?” She led Sarandon into her living room, and they sat down on the couch. “I know my dad’s heart is in the right place, but still, it was for me to say. And besides, I already told you about it. He didn’t think I would?” She shook her head. “He thinks the reason I haven’t mated again in all this time is because I’m still pining away for them. I still think of them, of course—I loved them dearly—but I’m not giving up on having a mate and a family. I just haven’t found any wolf I was interested in like that. Sure, I’ve dated tons. I don’t know. You threw me for a loop from the beginning. First, from being my suspect, to being someone I could see lasting longer than the other guys.”

“As in a mating.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“I’m sorry about what happened to you. It never should have.”

She nodded. “What was the deal with Burt Dreyfus? I got the distinct impression you wanted me to return home or go to my parents’ place. Or stay put, not help you track the wolf.”

“Jenna…”

She frowned at him.

He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She couldn’t help liking the way he was trying to make it up to her. Or at least she thought that’s where this was going.

“My brothers and cousins and I have always been there to help out the she-wolves and the kids, the elderly, anyone who needs protecting.”

She raised her brows.

“I know you’re a fugitive recovery agent, well trained in apprehending fugitives, well trained in searching for them. In that instant, I saw a male wolf. An unknown male wolf snooping around your family’s territory. You told me in your way that he wasn’t a wolf you knew. He wasn’t a friend. I acted on instinct. Protect you. Go after the wolf.”

“Okay,” she said, running her finger down his chest, “what if we see the wolf again, or another wolf you don’t know lurking about?”

“Can I help it that my first thought is to protect you? That’s better than me tucking my tail between my legs and running to get behind you, isn’t it?”

She chuckled and pulled him down for a kiss. “I couldn’t even imagine such a thing, but truly? Yes, I much prefer you trying to protect me, only know I will be doing the same for you.”

Then she kissed him long and hard, his hands sliding down her arms, his hot mouth molded to hers.

She realized just how addictive he was and how hard it would be to let him go. How could they really date if he lived so far away? Even though he had invited her to his brother and sister-in-law’s Spring Fling, that was a ten-hour drive.

She knew he didn’t like the idea of her family wanting her to stay here, just as she was certain he’d prefer living with his pack in Silver Town.

So why did she give in to his hot, molten kisses, writhe beneath his fingertips as he molded his large, warm hands to her breasts, cup his face, and close her eyes to soak in every bit of the sexy way he was making her feel? And want even more?

The wolf’s howl on Jenna’s cell phone startled her, and she glanced at the phone, surprised her mom would be calling her after she’d just seen her. Jenna considered ignoring it, but what if her mom had news, good news for Sarandon? She kissed Sarandon’s cheek, then answered the call. “Yes, Mom?”

“Tell Sarandon we retained a lawyer for him. His hearing is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, but the lawyer wants to meet with Sarandon in the morning. He wished Sarandon hadn’t seen the police first, but our lawyer will get this straightened out right away.”

“Ohmigod, that’s great news. You’re talking about Jeb Booker, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. He’s the best. I’ll let Sarandon know, and he can call to make arrangements. Thanks, Mom.”

“Well, we need to get Sarandon’s name cleared so the police are looking for the real suspect. And so you can court the wolf. Your sisters are saying if you don’t want him, they do.”

Jenna laughed. “They’re not getting him.” She watched Sarandon’s dark expression brighten. “Talk to you later.” When she ended the call, she smiled at Sarandon. “Good news. My parents hired the best wolf lawyer in town. Best lawyer, period. He’ll clear your name and—”

“You’ll court me.”

She chuckled. “You have a one-track mind.”

“Only when it comes to you.”

“Good.” She pulled a card out of a drawer in a side table and handed it to Sarandon. “You have a hearing scheduled for the afternoon.”

“Sounds good.” He called the number for the lawyer. “This is Sarandon Silver, the wolf accused… Yeah, that one. All right, sir… Ten? Okay. See you there.” He smiled at Jenna. “Yes, she’s coming with me… No, she didn’t tase me to bring me in, but that had been next on her agenda.” Sarandon laughed. “See you then.”

“What did Jeb say about me attempting to tase you?” Jenna asked Sarandon.

“He said that was your specialty.”

She smiled. “Yeah, and yours is taking down armed assailants…me. Okay, I’ll let you get some sleep. See you in the morning.”

“Night,” Sarandon said, but he pulled her into his arms for a hug and kiss.

She cherished the feel of his hands sweeping down her back, his lips parted, his tongue spearing her mouth, but she knew they had important issues to discuss before they let things go too far.

“Guest bedroom is in there.” She pointed to the room, smiled, patted him on the chest, and hurried to her room before she changed her mind.