A Cursed Embrace(6)

Gemini’s jaw slacked, the quiet, reserved Beta appearing stunned by Taran’s colorful vocabulary. “Uh, it would seem his remains dissipated in the air and are traveling in the current.”

I reached for a throw pillow and took a whiff. The awful smell didn’t reach my delicate senses. “I think Gemini’s right. What’s left of him is on the floor.”

Taran sashayed to the back of our kitchen and into the laundry room. She returned with a handheld vacuum and proceeded to suck up the wereraccoon and the bullets. “Not anymore,” she muttered. She held it out to Paul, who gripped it by the handle at arm’s length. “There you go. Lone or not, I expect you to give him a proper burial.”

Our friend Bren was a lone wolf, my sisters and our other friend Danny his only pack. I couldn’t think about losing Bren, but if we did, we’d want him honored.

Paul passed the handheld to the other raccoon. “Do you want us to help you track?”

Aric slid his fingers down my side to rest against my hip. “No. We’ll take it from here.”

“If I find anything on this guy, I’ll let you know.”

“Likewise,” Aric said.

Paul paused to watch us. Aric’s hand tightened on my hip. Paul noticed and nodded my way. “Celia.”

“Good-bye, Paul.” My husky tone failed to register as superfriendly, not that that was anything new. After a lifetime of being labeled as “weird,” I never let my guard down. A strenuous way to live, but as my family’s defender, I kept us safe that way. Only Aric had found a way through my defenses.

My sisters and wolves dispersed to the kitchen, leaving Aric and me alone. No, that wasn’t on purpose or anything.

Aric faced me, slipping both hands onto my hips. “How are you?”

I straightened to my full five feet three inches, which, when the wolf of your dreams stood a good foot taller, did absolutely nothing. “Considering I woke up to find a corpse slumped across my threshold, only to have the remains pop like a balloon and attempt to suffocate me? Okay, I guess.” I shrugged. “My sisters are safe. I’m thankful for that.”

Aric gave me a halfhearted smile. “I don’t want you to worry. I meant it when I promised to protect you.” One hand curled around my waist, while his opposite hand traveled beneath my long chocolate waves to cup the nape of my neck. I closed my lids, relishing the addicting warmth that always accompanied Aric’s touch.

I opened my eyes in time to see him lean forward. I turned away before his lips met mine. He dropped his hands and sighed. “I suppose I deserved that.”

My hands found the back of the couch. Lack of experience with males made me kitten shy, not tigress fierce.

“I’m sorry I haven’t called,” he added quietly.

“It’s all right.” I said it, but Aric could scent I didn’t mean it. Still, he humored me.

“No, it’s not, Celia.”

“You’re right. It’s not.” My fingers drummed against the ridge of the sofa. “So why haven’t you called?”

He ran a hand through his dark brown hair. He’d cut it since the last time I saw him. He kept the top long, the sides short. I wondered what else or who else had occupied his time.

Aric crossed his arms. “Things have been more complicated than I’d expected.” He glanced over his shoulder to find Shayna, “Miss I Respect Your Privacy,” peering around the corner. He laughed when she scurried away. “Take a ride with me and I’ll explain.”

When I didn’t move, Aric bent and kissed the top of my head. “Please,” he whispered. “We need to talk.”

Aric took my hand when I nodded, and led me to the door. “Celia and I are going out,” he called over his shoulder.

The wolves murmured an acknowledgment over Taran’s “It’s about damn time” remark. Aric grimaced at the comment as he lifted me over the threshold where the blood and pus had oozed. Nothing remained except the lingering memory of a tortured soul. I searched the wide floor planks, the steps as my feet descended, and the stretch of lawn. Nothing. He was gone. Forever. The revelation caused the already heavy sadness pressing against my sternum to intensify. I resisted the urge to lean into Aric for support and shied away from him once more.

Aric’s fingers found the small of my back. “I know you’re not happy with me, Celia. I’m hoping I can change that.”

I didn’t answer. I would’ve circled the world with him, and he probably suspected as much. But despite how he made my insides melt and my breath catch, I couldn’t ignore the last week. His rebuff had both stunned and hurt me, more than I dared to admit. I needed to know what happened . . . and if the possibility of “us” still existed.