“That’s so sweet.”
“It’s the truth.You don’t feel that way about Abe?”
“I… I don’t know.I woke up this morning, and it was like my whole body was on fire.This ache has been building inside me for a couple of days now, but it’s so much stronger today.”
“It’s the night of the full moon,” she says.“You’re feeling the mating heat.”
“Can you feel it, too?”
“Oh, yeah.”She laughs.“I thought maybe it wouldn’t be as strong the second time, but it is.”
“It’s weird.”
She snorts.“Feeling horny?”
I grin.“No!I mean, I never really noticed boys before, never thought that much about sex.Then I meet Abe and BAM!Now it feels like all I can think about is screwing his brains out.”
“It doesn’t get better,” she warns me.
“How was it?Having sex?”
“Amazing.”She sighs wistfully.“Jameson was so patient and attentive.He got me off so many times that first night.We were both insatiable.”
“Do you think Abe will be the same way?”I ask nervously.
“Oh, yeah.You should see the way he looks at you, Roxie!I mean, every time he walks into the room, his eyes zero in on you.I swear he doesn’t even realize other people are in the room.”
“That’s not true!”I protest.
Fern laughs.“It totally is.The question is, how do you feel about him?”
“I don’t know.I mean, I want him.I’m attracted to him, insanely so, but I just… I don’t know if I can stay here.I don’t know how you do it.I’m so afraid that something bad will happen, that those men will find me and kidnap me again.”
“Abe won’t let that happen.”
“I wish I could be that confident.”
She crawls closer and wraps her arms around me.“You’re okay, Roxie.You’re safe.”
Tears spill from my eyes, and I sniffle as I hug her back.
“I’m so torn,” I admit.“I want Abe so badly, but I don’t want to live every day of my life in fear.I don’t want to always have to look over my shoulder.”
“You want to move?Abe would move for you.”
I sniffle again.“I don’t want to force him to leave all his friends and the pack behind.I don’t want to leave you either.It was supposed to be us in a new place together.I don’t want to live away from you.You’re my family.”
“And you’re mine.Jameson and I would leave.We’d come with you,” she promises.
“I know you’re happy here?—”
Fern shakes her head.“I’m happy when I’m with you.We’re family.”
We sit, arms wrapped around each other for a moment, as I get myself under control.
“You can stay here if you want.Jameson and I would love to have you.”
“I can’t.I told Abe that, and he said no.”