Howl for It Read Online Free Page B

hungry.”
    “You sure you’ll be all right?”
    Pauline stood on the same step as her six-four son, looking him right in the eyes. “What do you think, boy?”
     
    Darla woke up while the stitches were removed from her neck, but she stayed still and quiet until the stitches were out and the bandage on.
    “There ya go, darlin’ girl. All done.”
    Surprised to hear a woman’s voice, Darla turned over, but she froze at the sight of a mammoth-sized She-wolf. Honestly, one of the biggest She-wolves she’d ever seen in her dang life.
    “Pauline’s the name. The Smith boys’ momma. And you’re Darla.”
    Say something! Don’t just sit there! It’s rude!
    Darla nodded, although she immediately regretted that particular move. “Yes’m. Darla Mae Lewis.”
    “The baby sister of those females lurking ’round my sons.” She stepped away from the bed, using a towel to wipe her hands.
    The She-wolf was, in a word, hearty. About her son’s height, with shoulders nearly as wide, she reminded Darla more of a grizzly sow, but . . . stronger. How that was possible Darla didn’t know, since all she scented from the female was wolf.
    The eye not covered by a patch was like Eggie’s, too. Wolf-yellow like she was about to shift, even when she wasn’t. Black hair with lots of grey reached her shoulders in a shaggy mess and she wore a sleeveless plaid shirt over loose-fitting and possibly ancient jeans. Work boots were on her enormous feet and she was missing a pinky on her right hand and her middle and forefinger on her left. Darla could be wrong but they looked bitten off. She also had a scar on the side of her neck like something had once taken hold of her there, but Darla had no doubt the woman was healthy as an ox and had every intention of living another three or four thousand years.
    “Yes’m, I am.”
    “How come I haven’t met you before?”
    “I’ve been in San Francisco.”
    “What the hell for?”
    “Studying.” When the She-wolf stared at her, she added, “To be a pastry chef.”
    “You have to study for that?”
    “It helps.”
    “As ya like,” she sighed, resting her hands on her hips. “You going to be sniffing ’round my boy, too?”
    “I’m just on vacation to see my parents. I have no idea what happened last night or how we even got here so fast, but your son did protect me. I’m very grateful to—”
    “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Grateful, right. But you going to head back to Smithville as soon as your sisters get here?”
    Darla hadn’t known her sisters were coming here but she shrugged. “I guess.”
    “Huh. I see.”
    Darla had the feeling she’d disappointed Eggie’s mother but she had no idea how. Then again, maybe it was best not to ask.
    “Anyway,” Pauline went on, “that should be fine by morning. With my boys I’ve been puttin’ in and takin’ out stitches before most of them could walk. You’ll be fine.”
    “Thank you, Miss Pauline.”
    The She-wolf eyed Darla before grunting, “Huh.” Then she turned on her heel and walked out.
    “All right then,” Darla said with a little laugh. Because if nothing else, at least she wasn’t the least bit bored.

C HAPTER F OUR
    E ggie stared down at the She-wolf until her pretty brown eyes opened, blinking wide at the sight of him.
    “Hungry?” he asked.
    “Hungry? Oh. For food.” Yawning, she sat up and stretched. That’s when Eggie realized she’d put on one of his T-shirts . . . and not much else.
    “You know,” she said, her smile bright, “I am hungry. Starving.”
    “Good.” He had food. Hell, he had enough food for a small army.
    He reached for Darla, slipping his arms under her legs and behind her back.
    “What are you doing?” she asked.
    “Picking you up.”
    “I can walk, Egbert Ray.”
    “You’re still recovering.”
    “Says who?”
    He lifted her up, held her tight in his arms. “ I do.”
    She stared at him for a bit until she raised her hand and pressed her forefinger against his forehead.