Page 89 of My Solemn Vow

I walk past her to the cupboard and grab crackers.

Ten minutes later, we’ve got an adult snack tray, sippy cups, and an awkward second date in my living room.

“How the fuck did we not know you’re wolves? Our families have been fighting forever. Fuck, I’ve lived here for practically two weeks, and Ijustnoticed something weird last night.” She draws a big sip of her wine.

I pull my phone out and then use the app to turn on the fireplace. It’s not cold in here, but it gives that ambiance that says ‘safe’ and ‘warm’ that maybe she needs right about now.

“We’ve been hiding who and what we are for centuries. It gets harder every year with modern surveillance, but that’s why packs buy big pieces of land, hell, entire towns. It gives us space to exist.” I pick up one of the slices of cheese and salami, forgoing the cracker.

“So when I said we didn’t use protection and you wouldn’t say you were sterile...” Her eyes are distant, and I’m watching all the things come into alignment.

“We can’t get pregnant unless you become a wolf. And to do that you’d practically need to die.” It clarifies a question she’s asked before. One that must be important to her.

Antonella sips more of her wine.

She didn’t ask to be one of us.My wolf cocks his head.Does she not want our pups?

Whoa. Who said I wanted more pups?I argue with him.Have you not seen the holy terror of the pup we have?

My wolf doesn’t see it that way. He pictures the great afternoon, running with her and all the learning she’s doing. The asshole isn’t wrong. She’s a pretty perfect kid overall, but it doesn’t change my feeling that one is enough.Unless... No, the wolf is right. She didn’t ask. If Antonella wanted kids, she’d have asked.

I don’t push, and we end up in a comfortable silence, absentmindedly eating cheese and crackers. When her wine is gone, she pours another glass, and it’s halfway to her lips when she springs up off the couch.

“Soup!” she shouts, running, glass in hand, to the kitchen. “God, it would take real skill to burn the same soup twice.”

I follow, knowing by smell that nothing is burning, but it’s not worth reminding her. “In your defense, the first time was my fault?”

Antonella rolls her eyes with a headshake. “I should know better than to walk away, leaving a burner on. Burn the house down is exactly what this family needs.”

“For sure, we don’t have an arsonist. Explosive tech, but he’s not great at the slow-burn type thing.” When she looks at me to check if I’m serious, I shrug and smile.

“Slow burn.” Antonella nods. “Yeah, something like that.”

39

ANTONELLA

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

I’m starting to think Valor will give me high blood pressure and is trying to worry me to death. Something stressful happens, we get a day or two off, and then another incident occurs. Saturday, we torture Marc, then in true biblical fashion, we have Sunday as a day of rest. Monday, we have Kerrianne sick at school, a drive-by, and my husband is a wolf. Then Tuesday and Wednesday were fine... I’m literally waiting for the other shoe to drop all the way up until I get home, and when nothing bad happens, I don’t know what to do with myself.

One thing is for damn fuckin’ sure. I needrelief. The lack of privacy is getting to me. Valor and I get up at about the same time in the morning, and we go to bed at the same time at night. A woman has needs, and I’m close to my boiling point.

“Okay.” I psych myself up in the mirror. “We’ve literally tortured someone together. There really isn’t anything more intimate than that. It’s sex. He showed you he’s a massive wolf sometimes. You’ve had sex with him once already. You’re sleeping in his bed. It’s not like you’re asking him to take you on a murder spree. Fucking ask him, you wuss.”

My reflection doesn’t seem to have any more faith in me than the voice in my head does.

Valor clears his throat from the bathroom door.

Like the fraidy-cat I am, I jump, holding my hand to my chest while looking at him.How the fuck did he sneak in like that?My cheeks heat with embarrassment.

“Sorry.” Valor hangs his head.

“How much of that did you hear?” I murmur, trying to become invisible like the kids in my class by closing my eyes and barely breathing.

“We have already had sex. And if you really do want to kill someone with me, I have a few hits that I could use a hand with.” I open one eye to see him rub at a spot on the back of his hand, looking at me like he could probably devour me. “I came up to tell you that we’ve been invited to my parents’ house for dinner tomorrow night and ask if you wanted to attend or if it would be me and Kerrianne. Clearly, uhm... we have more to talk about than dinner with my parents.”

“Yes.” I nod and realize there wasn’t actually a question with that.