“I didn’t choose what got me shunned either,” I said, relieved that she hadn’t asked me the reason behind my expulsion from the pack. “It’s just something I live with.”
“Me too.” Taylor sighed and then motioned at the trap contained in the Tupperware. “You think that’ll hold it?”
“I have no idea.” I frowned. “I’m going to keep an eye on it. You get us an appointment with that witch—we need to get to the bottom of this.”
“Will do, as soon as I get my clothes.” She nodded and smiled at me. “You know, you may not be able to bake but any man who does laundry is all right in my book.”
“Don’t forget the part where I turn into a big cuddly wolf,” I pointed out, grinning at her. “It’s not every guy who can do that.”
“Very true.” Taylor smiled at me but I thought there was something troubled in her eyes. “I, uh, should go. Get my clothes, I mean.” She turned away abruptly.
“Okay,” I said, still keeping half an eye on the trap. I wondered again who had put it on my land and why. I knew the local pack leader, a were named Marcus Wainright, from one very brief meet and greet when I had first moved into the area. He was an Alpha in his fifties who seemed to be stern but fair. Putting a spelled trap on my land didn’t seem like his style. His daughter, LeeAnn, however, was a real piece of work.
For a moment I considered the possibility that she might have something to do with it but then I dismissed it. LeeAnn was a spoiled little princess—Alpha bitch of the pack on account of her father’s status—not because she’d earned it. But she didn’t strike me as malicious—just selfish and willful. She’d made a play for me when I first came to town, which I had declined—very politely—I didn’t want to give her any reason to claim offense. I had no interest in that kind of woman and even if I had, I wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with her. You can’t date the pack leader’s daughter and not join the pack.
But ruling out Marcus and LeeAnn still left me with a big question. “Who put you out there?” I muttered, eyeing the trap. “I guess we’ll see.”
Chapter Eight—Taylor
“If you’re after a spell to dissolve your blood-bond, forget it,” Gwendolyn LaRoux said the minute she opened her front door and invited us in. She lived in Ybor City with her grandmother in a small wooden bungalow painted pale yellow with white trim—I had gotten her address from Addison.
“That’s not why we’re here,” Victor said stiffly, as we followed her into a large living room filled with shabby but clean furniture that looked like it had been new back in the seventies. “And how do you even know about us being bonded, anyway?”
Gwendolyn shrugged. “A witch knows.” She was pretty, with café au lait skin, delicate features, and striking jade green eyes lined with heavy black makeup.
“You talked to Addison, didn’t you?” I said. “What did she tell you?”
Gwendolyn settled on a worn armchair and nodded at Victor and me to take the faded floral print couch opposite.
“She’s just worried about you, that’s all. She wants to be sure you’re doing okay.”
“I just talked to her when I got your address,” I said as we sat down. “She knows I’m fine.”
Actually, my conversation with Addison had been a little one-sided. She seemed sure that Victor was going to abuse me in some way, though I had assured her otherwise.
I had wanted to talk to her more about the weird feelings that had come back even more strongly since I had fed on Victor the second time but we hadn’t had time. And besides, I was embarrassed. How did I tell my best friend I had a terminal case of the hots for my new werewolf husband? Even now, after touching myself over and over, I was still uncomfortably aware of his wild scent and the heat from his big body radiating against my side. God, what was going on with me?
“You may be fine now,” Gwendolyn said darkly, pulling me out of my uncomfortable reflection. “But a vamp and a were being bonded…I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?” I asked, feeling suddenly worried. “What are you talking about?” Did she sense what was going on with me? Did she know what was happening?
“Never mind. You’ll find out soon enough, if you haven’t already.” She shrugged mysteriously, making me want to grab her and shake her. Damn it, I needed answers! Not evasions and mystical witch sayings.
“Cut the crap,” Victor growled. “Taylor and I aren’t here to talk about our bond. We want to find out about this.” He nodded at the Tupperware container with the silver trap, which he was carrying in a large plastic shopping bag. Very carefully, he removed the plastic lid and placed the container, bag and all, on the coffee table.