Chapter 17

Sam

Megan walked out the front door, wrapped snuggly in her robe. Dad bristled beside me. We hadn't said much while we'd been outside together.

"Mr. Wolfe, I'll do this your way. But I'd like to speak with Sam again, please," she said. Her face was resigned, her eyes sad.

"Good," was all Dad said as he took Mom's hand, and they legged it back into the cabin.

My stomach did a few flips as Megan closed the distance between us, coming to stand a few paces away. Nervous anticipation tap danced down my back and coiled my belly into knots.

"Sam, I will agree to this for one month. I will live here at the cabin with you. We will not be sharing a bed." Her eyes flashed, and I recognized the fear coming out as anger. I nodded, trying not to react at her words. "I will sign the marriage contract with the express understanding that as soon as the next full moon hits, and whether I am still human or not, it will be annulled the next business day." I swallowed, a mix of dread and elation warring within. Wolf jumped around, thrilled with this turn of events. I'd be living in the same space as Megan for the next month, at least. While that was exciting, it was also going to be a huge temptation. With the way I felt toward her, I'd have to be careful. She continued, oblivious to my internal war. "I will go along with this dating charade for the benefit of your pack."

"Our pack," I interrupted. Her eyes narrowed in a way that said, don't push it.

"I will pretend to be your girlfriend in front of the pack and at school. We get to drop the act at the cabin or when we're alone. However, I have non-negotiable ground rules. There will be no hands under clothing. There will be no touching skin covered by clothes. You will not touch my boobs, and you will not go near my butt. I will agree to this dating scenario for the next four weeks. After that, if I'm still human, I will walk away with no strings attached. If I'm still a wolf…we'll figure it out then. Do I make myself clear?"

I blinked at her, honestly shocked that she agreed to go along with this at all. "Megan, you have nothing to worry about from me. I respect you. Your rules are fine. I'm here to help you through the next few weeks and make them as painless as possible." Painless for her, at least.

Gravel crunched as Rachel's car came into view at the end of the drive up to the cabin. Meg's face broke out in a hopeful but tentative smile.

"Do you think I'm safe?" Meg murmured, watching Rachel's approaching car hungrily.

"Probably?" I ventured. It was so hard to tell anything with the unpredictability of first shifts. "Do you want me to stay close in case?"

She sighed, momentary sorrow clouding her face. My gut twisted. "It would probably be safest." I nodded at her words.

Rachel parked and hopped out of her car, waiting by the door, the uncertainty covering her face matching Megan's expression as she moved slowly closer to her best friend.

"Megan? You all right?" Rachel called from the driveway.

"For the moment, but I want to take things slowly, just to make sure I don't shift on you." The words came out sounding painful.

I matched Meg's slow pace until we were about ten feet from Rachel, then Rachel raced forward and wrapped her arms all the way around Megan, heedless of any possible consequences. I sucked in a breath, watching for any signs that Megan's wolf would react badly. I shouldn't have worried. Meg collapsed into Rachel's arms, sobs suddenly echoing loudly in the still air.

Wolf paced around inside me, wanting to get out, wanting me to comfort Megan, wanting me to hold her and kiss away any distress. That, however, would have been a mistake of monumental proportions, so I clenched my fists at my sides and kept a respectful distance.

"Meg, it's fine. We are going to get through this. I swear," Rachel whispered as she held onto Megan for dear life. Megan just cried harder and clung tighter.

I had no idea what to do, so I stood there like a worthless fence post, watching for any shifting activity, wishing it were me Meg was clinging to. After a few minutes of this new type of torture, Meg's tears dried up. She pulled back from Rachel and swiped at her swollen eyes.

"Sorry," she said.

Rachel glared like she couldn't believe Meg had even uttered the word.

"All right. Give me every detail. But let's go in, if you don't mind. It's getting cold out here. Let's grab your stuff," Rachel said as she clicked her key fob and popped her trunk open. She glanced at me and nodded to her trunk.

My lips thinned as I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, but I dutifully went to the trunk and retrieved not one, but two large duffels that were stuffed to capacity.

The girls walked ahead of me to the cabin. Just as they reached the door, Meg turned back to me. Her face wrinkled like she'd swallowed something sour and was embarrassed about it. I had no idea how to interpret it.

"Sam, do…do you think you could make sure the wolf…stays away for a little bit? I would like to talk to Rachel alone."

Wolf danced around, doing his version of a happy jig. She was asking me to kiss her? I looked at her face again. No, she was not asking me to kiss her, just to make the wolf leave. I bit back a sigh.

"Sure." It was the gentlemanly thing to do, anyway.

She huffed a breath and stood still, waiting, totally not participating. My insides crumbled a little bit watching her passivity. Trying not to think too much about it, I leaned down and carefully pressed my lips to hers, making sure not to put too much into it, especially in front of Rachel who watched us through slitted eyes.

"Okay," Meg said, presumably pulling back as soon as she felt her wolf quiet. She opened the door and glanced around. She came up short when she saw my dad sitting like a judge at the kitchen table. She cleared her throat.

"Can we have a few minutes?"

"You think that's safe?" my dad deadpanned.

"Dom," Mom inserted softly.

"She should be fine for at least a half an hour or so," I said. Dad's eyes narrowed.

"Rev, why don't you take me down to that ice cream shop you like so well. It's only a few minutes' drive from here, isn't it?" Mr. Carmichael said, already moving for his jacket and hat. "Dominic, Mary, why don't you come with us. I'll even treat," he added, giving Dad a sugary sweet smile. George Carmichael had a pair, that was for sure.

Dad snorted but got out of his seat, waited for Mom, and then walked past us with Rev and Mr. Carmichael.

"Do you want me to stick around, just in case?" I asked Megan as the other four moved toward Rev's car. Megan bit her lip. "I don't mind," I offered. I'd stay as close as she'd let me.

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

A smile tipped the corner of my mouth. "I'll go hang out by the fire pit. It's close enough I'll easily hear if someone raises their voice." I glanced at Rachel as I said the last part. "Rachel, if for some reason Meg starts to twitch or act a little funny, and she hasn't already called for me, get to the other side of the room or out the door—as far away from her as possible—and yell. I'll be there in less than a minute."

Rachel blanched a little, and Meg hung her head. I couldn't help tapping Meg's arm. "You'll be fine. She's quiet for now. Shout if you need me." How I wanted her to need me.