Changed: 2 (Wolf's Den) Read Online Free PDF Page A

looked at her had sent a lick
of heat from her head to her toes.
    She handed a shot to Chloe. “Here you go.”
    They tapped the glasses together, tapped the bases of the
thick glass on the coffee table and quickly tossed the vodka back. The liquid
burned like fire, cascading down Rachel’s throat. She coughed it off, laughing
as she pounded her chest. Chloe grinned, taking the burn of the liquor much
better than she ever had as a human.
    “One more?” Rachel asked.
    Chloe extended her arm, holding out her glass. “Please.”
    Just like old times. Rachel refilled Chloe’s drink and then
did the same with her own. The followed the same routine, downing the shots.
    Since she’d already had one round, the vodka went down much
smoother. She cleared her throat, glad her eyes didn’t water. The only time she
consumed alcohol was when she and Chloe had a movie night. Otherwise she
avoided the stuff altogether. Her mother served as a constant reminder of what
happened when you got addicted to booze. Once a beautiful woman, Rachel’s
mother had turned into a liar, thief and whore of epic proportions.
    “So how are things with Jackson?” Rachel placed her glass on
the table and reclined on the couch, deciding to talk through the opening
credits of the film. “Are you digging the married life?”
    Chloe snorted, shaking blonde curls from her face. “We’re
not married yet.”
    “You might as well be.” They hadn’t had the ceremony but it
wasn’t necessary. When werewolves mated—from what Rachel knew—it was for life.
“You love him. He loves you. A piece of paper doesn’t mean squat.”
    “Things are good between us.” The corners of Chloe’s
mouth lifted into a smile. “He’s bossy sometimes but I don’t mind. I kinda like
it.”
    “I bet you do.” If Declan was any indication of how
werewolves were sexually, Rachel could just imagine how bossy Jackson could be.
“How are you getting on with the family?”
    “I’m getting along fine with the pack .” Chloe’s
clarification was intentional and Rachel knew it. Sometimes—when Rachel wasn’t
paying attention—she tended to act as though Chloe hadn’t changed. She
generalized things to make the situation tolerable. “They’re really great. I’ve
told them about you. They want to know if you’re ever coming around. You should
meet them.”
    Chloe and Jackson she could handle. She could even suffer
Declan. But an entire room of werewolves? No way in hell. “We’ll see,” she
murmured.
    “It’s not as bad as you think.” Chloe retrieved the pillow
and rested back. “They’re actually pretty normal. Gram and Gramps were
impressed when they joined us for lunch. They like them.”
    Rachel knew Chloe’s grandparents had visited the pack, so
she wasn’t sure why it bothered her to hear about it. Maybe she was jealous on
some level. Gram and Gramps were her family too. Yet they were now apart from
her in a small way, connected to Chloe in a manner Rachel envied. They’d always
been there for their grandchild, so of course they’d wanted to meet those Chloe
spent so much time with.
    “I’m glad.” And she was glad for Chloe and her grandparents,
even if she felt a stab of envy. “You deserve to be happy.”
    Chloe started to respond when the doorbell rang.
    Perfect timing. The food had finally arrived.
    Rachel rose from the couch and snatched the money she’d
placed on the table. She’d been so busy working she hadn’t had a chance to eat
lunch. Nothing would taste better than a greasy slice of peperoni pizza. Her
stomach growled and her mouth watered. She quickened pace, ravenous and ready
to chow down. Reaching the door, she slid the chain lock free and unlatched the
deadbolt.
    “Rachel!” Chloe yelled.
    “What?” she hollered, cracking the door open. She turned at
the sound of stomping feet and frowned when she saw Chloe running toward her.
Her friend’s eyes had changed color, so bright they seemed yellow.
    “Close the door.