Page 13 of Wedding for My Werewolf (Fairhaven Falls #7)

CHAPTER 13

S miling at the possibility of making friends, Robin continued down Main Street. She passed a thrift store and stopped to look in the window. She still had most of her last paycheck. If she were going to stay in town, maybe she could splurge just a little on something pretty to wear.

The bell above the door chimed softly as she entered and a curvy dark-haired woman gave her a sunny smile.

“Welcome to Whimsical Wonders. Are you looking for anything in particular?”

“Do you carry clothing?”

“Of course.” The woman ran an appraising eye over her. “I have a couple of dresses in your size, but they’re a little thin for winter. Would you like to see some sweaters?”

When she nodded, the woman took her into the back room, chatting cheerfully. By the time she left Robin to look over the choices, she’d learned that the woman’s name was Posy and she was new in town as well. She’d also learned that her favorite color was blue, she’d never had a pet, and that her favorite food was strawberry rhubarb pie.

A little dazed by the flood of conversation, she drifted down the rack of sweaters, running her fingers over the different textures. A dark green sweater with a scooped neck caught her eye. The soft, lacy knit wasn’t really practical, but it was very pretty.

“If you’re interested, there’s a sale this week,” Posy said, emerging from the back with a stack of folded sweaters.

“Oh. No. I just…”

“You should try it on,” Posy suggested, putting the sweaters down and gently urging her towards a full-length mirror. “It would look beautiful on you.”

She pulled it off the rack, biting her lip. It really was lovely. Before she could lose her nerve, she stripped off her coat and plain navy sweater, then slipped the soft green sweater over her head. It hugged her body perfectly, making her eyes sparkle and her skin glow. Will Eric like it , she wondered, and saw her reflection blush at the thought.

“Oh.” Posy clapped her hands. “I’m right. That is gorgeous. What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Robin,” she said, reluctantly removing the sweater.

“Robin,” Posy repeated, eyes widening. “You’re the one who lives with the sheriff, aren’t you?”

“Does everyone in town know about us?” she asked despairingly, and Posy grinned at her.

“That’s a small town for you.” For a second the other woman’s smile faded. “But even when everyone knows your business, it can be hard being new in town. If you need a friend, I’m available.”

“I’d like that,” she said, feeling a wave of warmth towards the other woman.

“Come by my apartment upstairs any time. It’s easy to find—it’s the one with the blue fairy lights. By the way, have you heard about the?—”

The bell over the door chimed again, and Posy gave her a rueful smile. “Back to work. If you want to think about the sweater, I can put it aside.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll take it.”

She handed it over and Posy disappeared towards the front of the shop. She’d just pulled her old navy sweater over her head when she heard a familiar voice.

“Can you believe Eric brought her to the Pack Hall?”

Lila. The she-wolf’s voice carried from the next aisle, pitched just loud enough to reach her ears. Given how sensitive Eric’s senses were, she suspected Lila was well aware of her presence.

“She’s not even marked. No mating bite, nothing,” Lila said disparagingly, and her friend tittered. “And you should see her. She’s practically a mouse.”

Her cheeks burned, but then her embarrassment was replaced by anger. No. She wasn’t going to be a mouse anymore.

She rounded the rack, chin raised. “If you have something to say about me, Lila, say it to my face.”

Lila’s perfectly painted lips curved into a cruel smile.

“Oh look, the little human has teeth.” Lila stalked towards her but she refused to back away. “Fine. I’ll spell it out. You’re not Eric’s mate. You’re just a temporary distraction until he comes to his senses and chooses a proper wolf.”

“Even if he did want a proper wolf, he wouldn’t want you,” she bit back, unable to stop herself.

Lila snarled, her fangs showing, then regained her composure, arranging her face in a dismissive sneer.

“At least I understand what being a mate really means.” Lila’s gaze dropped to Robin’s neck. “No mark, no claim. You’re just playing pretend, human. And everyone knows it.”

Lila turned and stalked out of the shop, her friend scuttling behind her.

“What a bitch,” Posy muttered. “Are you okay?”

“N-not really.”

Her throat burned with the effort of holding back tears as Lila’s words burrowed under her skin. As much as she’d kept telling herself it was just a temporary arrangement, she’d… hoped there was something more between them. Lila had just proved her wrong.

“Why don’t I make us some tea?” Posy suggested. “You can tell me all about it and I’ll make catty remarks about the fact that her skirt was too short and her roots were showing.”

She managed to smile, but shook her head.

“I appreciate it, but I really need to get back to work. Maybe another time.”

“Any time.” Posy handed over the sweater, then squeezed her hand. “I mean it. I’m available for tea and sympathy any time.”

Unable to speak, she nodded and passed over the money for the sweater, then hurried out of the store before the tears began to fall.

No mark. No claim. Just playing pretend .

The words echoed in her mind, sharp as broken glass. She’d known this arrangement with Eric was temporary, had reminded herself of that fact every morning. So why did Lila’s taunts cut so deep?

She turned down a narrow side street as her vision blurred, desperate to be out of sight as the first tear fell. She wiped furiously at her eyes. How stupid she’d been to think she could build something here, with Eric. To imagine she could?—

A shadow moved out of the alley ahead. Her head snapped up, but too late.

Rick Thatcher blocked her path, his leather jacket creaking as he crossed his arms.

Those dead eyes locked onto her face. The same eyes that had haunted her nightmares for months. His thin lips curved into that familiar smirk that made her skin crawl.

“Well, well. Been a while, Miss Halloway.” His voice carried the same oily smoothness she remembered. “You led me on quite the chase.”

The need to run surged through her, but fear rooted her feet to the ground.

“Did you really think you could hide forever?” His smile terrified her more than any of the so-called monsters in Fairhaven Falls. “In this backwater town of freaks?”

“I-I’m not going anywhere with you,” she whispered.

“Yes you are. We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way. Your choice, doll.”

He moved closer, the alley’s shadows darkening his face, and her muscles finally unlocked. She spun and took off down the street, narrowly avoiding the icy patches that were scattered across the ground.

“Stop her!” he yelled, as she burst out onto Main Street.

She knocked into a cart of apples, sending them rolling across the street, but she couldn’t stop to apologize. Her lungs burned as she pushed harder, faster. Past the thrift shop, past the bookshop, weaving through the morning crowd.

His footsteps pounded behind her, hard and determined, and the sound drove spikes of terror through her chest. The last time he’d been this close, she’d barely escaped. The bruises from his grip had taken weeks to fade.

She ducked down another side street, her shoulder scraping the rough brick wall. She needed Eric, needed Garrick, needed anyone who could?—

She slammed into something solid. Strong hands steadied her before she could fall. Her head snapped up to find familiar golden eyes, now dark with concern.

“Little bird? What’s—” His words cut off as he scanned her face. His nostrils flared, catching her fear-scent.

“Please,” she gasped, fingers clutching his shirt. “He’s?—”

His entire body suddenly went rigid, a deep growl building in his chest. He placed himself in front of her, his broad shoulders forming a protective wall as Rick burst into view.

Rick’s footsteps slowed, but the growl in Eric’s throat grew louder, more menacing. She felt the vibration of it where her hands still gripped his shirt, and she pressed closer to his back, praying that he wouldn’t believe anything Rick said.