Make Me Howl Read Free Page A

my family, a werewolf’s adjustable hair length isn’t always a good thing, at least for me. When I let my hair out to its longest length, I’m not always the sharpest stiletto on the shelf. When I draw it in all the way, I get a little fuzzy minded, so it all evens out as Grandma used to say. Today was one of those dull stiletto days. But like Lady Godiva, I needed the hair on my head to be long at that moment for modesty’s sake. “Why did Tony lock me up?”
    “You treed Norman on his car.”
    I tried to comprehend her words. And I have to be honest, it took a moment. Or two. “I’m sure he deserved it.”
    As she nodded, her face clouded until I thought she was going to cry. “Tony thought you were a wild Mexican Gray.”
    “I must have had Jose Eber go too heavy on the highlights the last time.” I gave a quick shrug. “It could have been worse. He could have thought I was an Arctic.”
    That infuriated her. “How can you make jokes at a time like this?”
    I have to admit, my temper was a little short this morning. “What do you want me to do? Bite someone?”
    Then we heard voices.
    Bella’s mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide with horror as she looked around. “Doc’s coming back and Norman’s with him. You’d better go primal. Quick.”
    As if it was that easy. I couldn’t just wiggle my nose like some TV witch—I had to allow myself to release. And after a lifetime of learning control, that wasn’t easy.
    I took a moment to settle myself, to find my center. Arranging my hair so I was well covered, I got to my knees then sat on my heels. “You know, last night, when you and Doc abandoned me, Norman became a huge pest. He kept at me, wanting me to dance with him.”
    Bella’s “Um,” irritated me. Annoyance tingled my exposed skin, running along my collarbone and down the insides of my arms.
    “He wouldn’t leave me alone. It was so gross.” I straightened as angry lightning strikes marched down my back.
    “Then he insisted I finish my drink because he wanted to buy me another. Bella, I thought I was going to have to decapitate him to get him to leave me alone. I decided to just take off and let you find another way home. But after I finished my drink—and I only had the one Doc bought me—I don’t remember anything. It’s as if I got lost in the night.”
    I gathered my fury like a fiery orb in my chest. “You know I never have a memory lapse except during a blood moon phase or if I lose control. I wasn’t that angry.”
    A simple full moon hadn’t done that to me since I was three years old.
    “That son of a cur must have slipped me a roofie. Why else would I have been out of control?” I allowed my rage to explode as I thought about the man putting a date rape drug in my drink. My body stung as the bristles burst through my skin, but I exalted in the sensation as my face narrowed, then lengthened. I loved the feeling of my body shifting from human to wolf shape. There’s never anything better than the power surge as it filled my muscles. It’s exhilarating.
    That morning, the only downside was the sharpening of my senses. I could smell Norman a long time before I saw him. He smelled of his breakfast, last night’s strong cologne and sex. The only odor I picked up on Doc was soap and fresh coffee.
    At that moment, I could have killed for a cup.
    Focusing on my need for caffeine, I lifted my chin to howl. When I stopped for a breath, Norman stood directly in front of me, staring. I howled again—a bloodthirsty wolf who’d scented prey.
    Then I rose to my four paws and stormed the length of the enclosure. When Norman stepped closer to the cage, I hurled myself at the bars.
    “Good morning again, Bella,” Doc said softly.
    “Good morning,” she answered as she turned to walk away.
    “Don’t leave on account of us.” Norman was such a dweeb.
    As cool as January in Aspen, Bella shook her head. It was easy for her to be cool since I was the one who’d gotten the