My Wolf’s Bane(47)

“I can imagine,” Maya agreed.

“Jeff’s parents have loads of money and influence,” Trevor said. “Daniel’s too. I bet they’ll make sure it’s the sheriff’s top priority.”

Could a wolf really have gotten Daniel? Maybe there were other enormous wolves in the forest. After all, he came from somewhere, right? He could be part of a pack of oversized wolves. Weirder things have happened. I was proof of that. “Did Jeff say what color the wolf was?”

“It wasn’t black, Autumn,” Zack said quickly.

I turned to him, staring. “What makes you think I thought it was black?”

“Well…” He stared at the table. “Uh…”

“Your ex-boyfriend gets attacked by a wolf and you two are debating what color it is?” Maya narrowed her eyes at me, then Zack. “Seriously?”

“It’s pointless to talk about it at all,” Trevor added. “There was no wolf. You know how big it’d have to be to drag someone Daniel’s size? I don’t think so. I’m betting Jeff and Daniel were playing some dangerous games and things got out of hand. We’ll probably never know what really happened, because Jeff and Daniel’s parents are rich enough that anything damaging to their family’s reputation would be covered up. In any case, I don’t think we’ll be seeing Daniel again.”

Zack waved his hands. “Stop. Too much speculation. Ten bucks says Daniel shows up at school Monday denying there was ever an incident involving wolves.”

Trevor grinned. “I’ll take that bet.”

The plates arrived and the subject was dropped.

Had my wolf attacked Daniel? Or was there some rabid wolf around? Maybe Zack was right and I shouldn’t be in the woods alone, especially if the new wolf was as big as the black wolf.

I set the napkin in my lap, aware of Zack’s eyes on me. Slowly, I picked up the burger and took a dainty bite. I chewed, swallowed and took another.

The sauce was scrumptious, the pickles divine. I immediately went for another bite, moving the meat around on my tongue, reveling in the juices. I took note of the tomatoes and onions, grateful I’d ordered it with everything.

I got lost in the flavors, the people and things around me vanishing. Mmm. So good. As I opened for another bite, my gaze landed on Trevor and Maya. They were staring at me, their jaws slack and their eyes wide. Beyond them in the next booth, the occupants had twisted around to gawk at me. I closed my mouth and forced my hand to set the burger down. “What’s wrong?”

“Uhm…” Maya averted her eyes and mashed her lips together. The group at the next table behind Maya and Trevor were still ogling me.

I raised my brows and my voice to reach the eavesdroppers. “What?” I asked them. They quickly returned to their own meals.

Zack put his own burger aside and twisted to face me. “You were growling and making other… feral noises.”

Maya nodded in confirmation, her eyes still big.

On my list of life’s most humiliating and awful moments, this would be at the top. But they didn’t need to know the depths of my embarrassment, so I rolled my eyes and faked confidence I didn’t have. “Oh, is that all. Geez, you act like I’d grown an extra head. Lighten up, guys.”

Trevor and Maya laughed and I returned to my food, but made a point to set the burger down and make conversation between bites. It took all my concentration to remember we were in a public place and not slip into another world.

When Zack pulled up in front of my house, he tossed Trevor the keys. “Take care of Maya. I’ll walk home.”

He could’ve stopped home first, then let Trevor drop me off like last time. Hmm. I waved goodbye and took my time walking to the front door in case my hunch was right. Zack had something to say. Or do. My shoulders tensed, then I shook it off. Yeah, right. As if he would kiss me. Surely, if a guy planned to make a move on a girl, he wouldn’t act weird and distant all night. Even a guy totally inept with girls knew you had to try to impress them.

I heard the Jeep drive away.

“Autumn.”

I spun to face him. “What’s up?”

“Good burger, huh?” He studied me.

I laughed. “Yeah, it was great. Thank you.”

“Are we shopping tomorrow?” He took a step closer.

What did he want? I backed up with an eerie feeling. “If you’re up for it.”

He nodded, his face expressionless. “What time?”

“How about first thing in the morning?” I imagined having all day to shop. With Zack. Yum. “Nine?”

“I’ll pick you up.” Zack smiled, but it was strained. He held out his hand. “I’ll unlock the door for you.”