The Wolf in Her Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

wondering why that hurts? Were you only interested because of the wolf?”
    Sam drew a long breath. “No. But—I couldn’t let it go. I couldn’t—“
    “Couldn’t what?”
    “I couldn’t not touch you. I was scared and alone and you were the only one there and I needed something so I could know I wasn’t holding you back. I was terrified.” Samantha clenched her teeth and shut her eyes, a leak of tears running down her cheek. “You’re strong, and you can do so much and you know so much and you have a pack and—“
    Lou held her hand up. “Stop. None of it matters, because I took everything away from someone else.”
    Sam knew what Lou meant. A few years back, Lou had woken from her change to find half a human corpse laying next to her, the other half in her gullet. “You mean the woman you killed while you were changed?”
    “I took her existence away. There’s no way she was a threat to me, and I killed her out of pure instinct.” Lou shook her head.
    “I met your wolf, Lou. It didn’t seem like a monster. It just seemed sad, like you get sometimes.”
    Lou shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I know it’s a killer, no matter what kind of puppy dog eyes it used trying to get to you.” Lou yawned and settled into the bed. “Get some sleep. You’re going to need it.”
    Sam stared at Lou’s back, letting a few stray tears fall, until at some point she actually fell asleep.

A knock came from the door.
    Instantly, Sam was awake and alert. Her body tensed like a bow about to release an arrow. Instinct told her the faint scent curling into her nose was another wolf. She kept her voice at a whisper. “Who knows we’re here?”
    “It’s okay. Trust me.” Lou yawned and waved her hand, then got up and answered the door.
    The man who stood there was thin and wore glasses. He had the beginning of a receding hairline and a few days of scruff. He held two grocery bags. “Delivery for the new guests?”
    “Sam, this is Alex. Alex owns the place.” Lou took the bags. “Did Reggie pay you?”
    Sam’s body slacked again. “Oh. Hi, Alex.”
    “Hey. Yeah, for today. I’ll try to bring something by tomorrow if I can.”
    Lou nodded and embraced the man at the door. “I appreciate it. Seriously, you’re a life saver.”
    Alex nodded, and looked between Sam and Lou for a moment, then shrugged. “If you hear a fire alarm, go out the back window, and run. Don’t answer the door unless it’s me.” He shut the door and footsteps signalled that he was walking away.
    “How will we know if it’s him?”
    “I recognize his scent. You just don’t answer the door, okay?” Lou set the bags down on the little table near the window and pulled out a bag of something brown. “Rare roast beef. Awesome.”
    The scent tickled at Samantha’s nose. “Guess going vegan isn’t really an option any more, huh?”
    Lou cackled. “Like it ever was. You haven’t really tasted ham yet. Or bacon.” Lou grinned. “Wait until you taste bacon with your new senses, Sam.” Lou’s eyes met Sam’s, and then her smile vanished and her eyes searched the floor as she turned away.
    Sam bit the inside of her cheek. What killed that smile? “Hey. What’s wrong?”
    Lou didn’t turn around. “Nothing. Never mind. I’m sorry.”
    “Tell me what you were thinking.”
    “You don’t want to hear it, Sam.” Lou’s brow furrowed deep, and she shook her head. “So, now we lay low for a day or two. See how the Colbys react once they find Rick’s body. If they sweep it under the rug, we’ll hear about Rick being in an accident. That means they accepted that he did something wrong and paid the price for it.”
    Sam sighed. “And if they don’t?”
    “Then we’ll hear that he died under mysterious circumstances, or worse, that he was murdered. If we’re mentioned, then we can assume the worst.” Lou sighed. “We’ll be on the run, at least for a while.”
    Samantha shook her head. “I wish I’d never met that