Gabby led the way to her usual apartment, but we found there was another family with cubs already occupying it. She tried other apartments, but they were full, too. It wasn’t a surprise. The families always came in around the holidays.
Giving up on the apartments, she turned toward the hall that was usually reserved for the unMated males. When she went to knock on the first door, I caught her wrist and shook my head. I knocked. I didn’t want any of them to think she was looking for an offer. The majority of the dorm quarters were also occupied. Several men passed us as we searched and gave us curious looks as they scented the air. Gabby stayed close.
We took the first room we found open and put her bag on the twin bed. It would be enough to hold the room.
“I need to talk to Sam,” she said, looking at me.
I’d figured as much and wondered if Sam would be in a talking mood. Keeping my doubts to myself, I nodded and led the way to the common room. Decorations were everywhere. Cornucopias with harvest produce sat on each of the long tables. Several turkeys with feathers made of construction paper hands hung on the walls. The air still smelled like glue, laughter, and pumpkin pie.
Sam sat with his back to us, speaking with several other men at one of the many sitting arrangements. Gabby picked up her pace and stepped ahead of me, her gaze focused on Sam.
She strode up to him and interrupted the conversation.
“It’s time we talked,” she said.
He turned toward her. There was no surprise in his expression. Someone must have let him know we were there. He smiled at her and nodded. The others in his group got up and moved away.
“Gabby, I didn’t think you’d be up until tomorrow.”
She glanced at me. The room didn’t afford privacy with our keen hearing. I wondered what she was going to say. She glanced around the room, then her gaze became unfocused. She winced, and I knew what she’d done.
I grunted in annoyance but rubbed her back. If there were an off switch for her ability, I’d figure out how to keep it off permanently.
“We came early because two werewolves tried breaking into my house.” She watched Sam closely as she spoke.
“What?” Sam said, giving me a sharp look.
Why didn’t you contact me?
I don’t like how you help.
“He’s still not talking,” Gabby said, unaware of our exchange. She moved to sit in the chair across from Sam. “I believe their intentions were to kidnap me.”
I sat in the chair next to her. Her scent changed. Confusion again. Her troubled gaze swung to me, and I knew what she was thinking. The man on the floor. He didn’t matter if she didn’t let him matter.
She gave me a small smile as if reading my mind then turned back to Sam.
“Is there more than one kind of werewolf?” she asked.
The question surprised Sam, and even though I’d briefly considered the possibility, it surprised me, too.
Sam frowned and leaned forward. “Not sure what you mean, exactly.”
Sam watched her closely as she nibbled her lip.
“When you go fur, what color variations are possible? Different shades of fur, eyes...what about nose or nails?”
The double doors opened and a few more werewolves drifted in, slowly walking toward other groups. Gabby had everyone’s attention and word was spreading fast.
“What does this have to do with—”
She held up a hand. “Bear with me, Sam. I need answers to give answers.”
Sam turned to me.
“I already told you,” she said, “he still isn’t talking. Look, is there another Elder I can talk to? One willing to answer my questions?”
Sam’s face fell but his expression cleared after a moment. “Fur is like hair and varies just like a human’s. Same with the eyes. We are more like dogs when it comes to our noses. Mostly dark, but we sometimes have unusual markings. Did you see an identifying mark, Gabby?”
“What about the nails?” she asked, ignoring his question.
He shrugged. “Shades of grey. Mostly a dark grey.”
“Black?”
What was she getting at? What had she noticed that I hadn’t?
“Well, like I said, a dark grey is possible.”
“No. I mean black. A very glossy black you could see your reflection in.”
I struggled to recall the color of the nails of the men I’d fought as Sam remained introspectively quiet. Nothing came to mind. I’d been busy fighting and worrying about Gabby.
During the silence, Gabby became aware of the room and looked around. Everyone was suddenly looking elsewhere.
“I don’t think I’ve ever paid that much attention to our claws before. But, no, I don’t believe so.”
Gabby leaned back in her chair, obviously lost in thought. Everyone in the room watched her, waiting for what she’d say next.
Her scent changed with the array of emotions she experienced. Worry, anger, interest. I caught Sam inhaling slowly and knew he’d noticed, too. After several moments of silence, Sam cleared his throat. She continued to ignore him, and he glanced at me. I shrugged. Gabby wasn’t the type to rush into things. Someone spoke softly further back in the room. Others moved restlessly.
When she glanced at me with her scent bleeding confusion, I offered my hand. I couldn’t guess what she was thinking, but I could offer my support. She had it unconditionally since the moment I saw her. She looked down at my hand, hesitated, then reached for me.
As soon as we touched, I felt it. A zing of energy. Her fingers laced through mine, and her scent faded.
I scowled at her. Had she just used her power on me? After everything that had just happened, she was going to knock herself out again and leave me to deal with Sam and a million questions I couldn’t begin to answer?
Instead of looking even a little sorry about what she’d just done, she beamed at me. Then, she leaned toward me, her intent to kiss me obvious. Annoyed or not, I wouldn’t say no.
Our lips met softly, but she pulled back with a jerk. Her wide eyes stared at me. Her pulse leapt, and her scent changed subtly.
I eyed her warily, wondering what had happened now. Would this be another “catch me, Clay,” moment?
Her fingers twitched in mine, and with speed I didn’t know she possessed, she was out of her chair and straddling my lap. Shock didn’t cover what I felt. Though it was completely unexpected, I loved the contact. In fact, I’d consider gnawing off my own arm to keep her there. But this physical contact wasn’t like her. Especially not with the crowd around us.
She breathed in deeply as if scenting me. I shuddered in response and stared up at her, mesmerized. The room disappeared as she continued to study me with an intensity I’d never seen before. The green flecks in her hazel eyes seemed brighter, more alluring, as she leaned in until her cheek brushed mine. My lungs stopped working for a moment as she buried her nose in my hair. I held still, unsure what was happening but liking it. A lot.
She pulled back to press her lips to the tip of my nose, and my heart twisted painfully. She’d been so close to my neck. The skin there tingled with what might have been. I lifted my free hand and lightly rested it on her waist. Her skin felt warm beneath my fingers.
She sighed a little and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she gave me a secret smile that made my blood boil.
She combed her fingers through my hair, brushing it back so she could lightly kiss my forehead. Her lips brushed a path to my cheek where she pressed another kiss. She moved lower, finding my lips. She nibbled at them until I opened my mouth for her. The aggressor, her tongue found mine. As much as I was spinning in my own heaven, I was starting to worry. This wasn’t like Gabby. There were so many people watching us. It was as if she wasn’t even aware of them.
She pulled back from me, gave me a quick frown, then leaned to nudge my jaw with her nose. My heart stopped and then tripled its efforts. She wanted my neck. Hope gripped me, warring with the worry. Should I let her? Was this really what she wanted?