Wolves at the Door by Veronica Blade Read Free Book Online

day.”
    “She shot you down, huh?”
    Zack snorted. “Stubborn as hell. And bossy.”
    “Why don’t I drop you off at work, then come get you later? I have some errands to run.”
    “ What kinds of errands?” Zack’s seatbelt clicked into place.
    “Clothes shopping.” I started the car. “I need more natural fibers.” Zack may have been content with his synthetic fabrics not morphing with him, but I hated changing back totally nude and having to scrounge for my clothes. Incredibly inconvenient.
    By the time I’d rolled the Mustang to the gate, the blue car had disappeared. I didn’t see any sign of it on the way to the auto shop either. Maybe Renzo had taken off. If only he’d stay gone.
    After I dropped Zack off at work, I stopped at the bank to withdraw some cash. The balance printed on the receipt had more digits than my checkbook register.
    Everything had seemed normal when I’d talked to my parents. But why the large deposit? Maybe they planned to be gone a while longer and wanted to make sure I had plenty of emergency money.
    It made me wonder if there was some other reason they hadn’t come home. I missed them. But since it was my fault they’d left — I’d gotten tired of their hovering and blackmailed them into leaving — I had no right to complain. They could be cool, though. At this point, I’d gladly take them back, over-protectiveness and all.
    † † †
    After the mall, I stopped by the auto shop to get Zack, then took him home. I promised to meet up with him later and headed to my house to unload my loot. When I parked against the curb, I noticed an unfamiliar car in the driveway. Last time I’d come home to a strange car, it had been a rental when my parents had returned unexpectedly. What if it wasn’t them this time?
    I thought about calling my mom, but if the car out front didn’t belong to her and she knew about the stranger at my house, then she and my dad would worry. I could find out who it was without involving them or putting myself in danger.
    Staying in my car , I tapped the horn on my steering wheel and hoped my guests would show themselves. I waited a beat and the screen door opened. I abandoned my bags in the car and bolted across the lawn.
    “Mom!” I leaped into her waiting arms, hugging her every bit as tightly as she hugged me. What felt like minutes later, I’d finally gotten my fill and released her.
    “Still can’t believe you picked a convertible.” She nodded toward the Mustang. “Thought you didn’t like the wind messing up your hair.”
    I didn’t want her to think I’d shopped frivolously or that I’d changed drastically since she’d been gone. She’d only worry. “It has modifications, which according to the mechanic make it special. So I put up with it.”
    She chuckled. “You love it, don’t you?”
    “Yes.” I grinned. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
    Her face grew solemn. “Let’s go inside. I have something to discuss with you.”
    Once through the front door, my eyes scanned the living room. “Where’s dad?”
    “He couldn’t get away.” She sat and leaned back against the dining room chair. “Actually, we saw no point in him making the trip since you’re flying back with me.”
    I blinked. “What?”
    “We’ve decided our family’s been apart long enough.” She gave me her firm look. “We’ll be in New Mexico for a while, which is what you wanted. To stay in one place for a long period.”
    Setting my purse on the table, I dropped into a chair thinking of all the lame things I could say when there was only one thing I wanted to know. “Mom, level with me. Why do you guys move around so much? Dad could work from just about anywhere and you guys would save so much money in travel expenses.”
    She studied me. “You’ve never complained before.”
    “Actually, I have. You just weren’t listening.” My tone lowered an octave. “Let me be clear. I don’t want to move again.”
    She reached out to