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Chapter 8

Regan spent the remainder of the day wandering the forest, first as a human, but then she started experimenting. She’d thought she might need the full moon to change but found that now she recognized the magic, she could change at will.

As the sun lowered in the sky, she made her way to the stone altar that lay in the center of the forest. She tiptoed out of the trees, her pads making no sound. Changing back into her human form, she knelt on the altar and prayed to her mother.

She stayed on her knees for hours, and darkness had fallen by the time she rose stiffly to her feet. No one had answered her prayers. Had she really expected them to? The old resentment and bitterness escalated inside her as she turned her back on the altar and headed for home.

Catrin and Lola were seated at the scrubbed wooden table in the kitchen. They both glanced up as she entered the kitchen, and relief flashed across their faces.

Catrin looked past Regan and frowned. “Where’s Caleb?”

Regan scowled at the question. “Long gone.”

“I thought he’d stay with you.”

“Well, you thought wrong.” Then she shrugged. “He stayed last night, then left this morning.”

“Why did he go?” Lola asked.

The question made it sound as though it was Regan’s fault he’d done a runner. “I suppose he had better things to do.”

A small frown played across Catrin’s face. “So, are you okay now?”

She glared. “No, I’m not okay. I’m a freaking werewolf.”

A noise came from behind her, a cross between a cough and a snort, and she went instantly still.

The sound came again, and she turned to see two people framed in the open doorway. Her eyes fixed on the smaller figure, and a warm rush of pleasure washed over her. “Gina!”

Gina came forward, wrapped her arms around Regan’s waist, and hugged her. Regan held her tight while she glanced over her sister’s shoulder to where her husband stood lounging against the doorframe, arms folded across his broad chest, watching them with a slightly wary expression in his dark eyes.

She hadn’t always gotten along with Gina’s husband, and Regan could admit that a small part of that was her fault. Averysmall part. Regan had hated the vampire from the first moment she’d set eyes on him. And with good cause—Darius Cole had stolen her baby sister. That Gina hadn’t exactly objected to being stolen was beside the point. They had eventually reached some sort of truce because in the end, he had also managed to save her. Though in Regan’s mind, if he’d kept out of their lives in the first place, then Gina wouldn’t have needed saving.

He caught her gaze, raised an eyebrow, then stepped into the room. “Did I hear you right?” he said. “You’re awerewolf?”

There was a wealth of disdain in that last word, and Regan bristled. She ignored the question and held Gina slightly away from her so she could peer down into her face. Her sister grinned, flashing small white fangs.

“You look good,” Regan said. It was true; she had never seen her sister look so alive. Which was ironic, really.

“I feel good,” Gina replied. “Very good.”

She stepped back and slipped her hand into Darius’s. He pulled her tight against his chest and stared across at Regan through half-closed eyes. It was a gesture of pure ownership, and Regan’s own eyes narrowed on the couple. Then she forced herself to relax.

“So,” Darius said, “about this werewolf thing...?”

He appeared to find the whole idea fascinating. Regan scowled, but said nothing.

“Regan got bit by a werewolf a couple of weeks ago,” Catrin volunteered.

Darius studied her, head cocked to one side. “And last night was full moon. Did you—” He paused as if unsure how to word his question.

“Go all furry and howl at the moon?” Regan snapped.

“Yeah.” He must have liked the idea because his lips curled into a smile.

Regan considered denying it, but what was the point? She nodded.

“Christ almighty,” Darius murmured. “This is priceless.” Gina punched him on the arm, and his smile broadened into a full-blown grin of delight. “Haven’t I always said your sister was a bitch?”