Free Werewolf Dreams by Katie Lee O'Guinn Page A

next to his father.
    “What’s going on? Why is everyone so tense?” he asked, picking up on the vibes.
    Tobias cleared his throat and glanced at Cyrus. “Ava says she’s catching the next plane out of here unless Harry tells her all about her heritage right this minute. That and she doesn’t have anything to do this summer and hates the idea of being in town,” he said, summing up their conversation nicely.
    Ava ignored everyone but her dad, willing him to look at her. But he just clenched his hands, as he dealt with some inner battle.
    “I might have a solution to that,” Cyrus said, grabbing a plate and forking up a few pancakes.
    Ava looked at him suspiciously. “Oh really.”
    Cyrus grinned at her and poured orange juice in his glass. “You don’t feel comfortable in town, because you’re pretty much open game. Every single male in town under the age of thirty and over the age of sixteen is going to be chasing you,” he said before taking a bite.
    Harry put his hands down and glared at Cyrus. “Not quite. No one’s allowed to touch her.”
    Cyrus shrugged. “Chasing and touching are two different things Harry. So I say we turn the tables on them. All she has to do is tell everyone that she’s picked me for her mate. Everyone will back off then. They’ll have no other choice. When you’re done here, you leave. Unless of course, Ava changes her mind and wants to stay,” he said quietly, staring at Ava until she dropped her eyes.
    Patricia moved to the table, carrying a bowl of strawberries and melons. “Cyrus, I don’t think that’s very wise,” she said quietly.
    Tobias nodded his head, looking uncomfortable. “Your mother’s right Cyrus. I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if things developed between the two you for real? You put two young, healthy attractive people together and what started out as pretend soon turns into something very real. What then?” he said quietly.
    Harry stared at his friend pensively but said nothing. Ava rolled her eyes in frustration and pushed away from the table. “That’s right Cyrus, I’m not good enough for you. Your parents don’t want you to settle for someone like me,” she said tightly before standing up. “Time’s up Dad. I’m going to go pack now. We can be to the airport by this afternoon and you can be back here by tonight. You’ll miss a day of work, but think of how much more productive you’ll be now that you won’t have to worry about me,” she said bitterly and walked quickly out of the room.
    She ran up the stairs two at time, so furious she could scream. She grabbed her duffle bag and her back pack and threw them on the bed. She turned and ripped the closet door open, wishing she could just put a fist through it. She grabbed a couple shirts and turned to throw them on the bed when she caught sight of Cyrus standing in her doorway, staring at her.
    “They’re wrong. It’s the other way around. You’re too good for me,” he said quietly.
    Ava let her shoulders fall but went about her task, ignoring what he said. “It doesn’t matter, although it was a good idea. My father refuses to tell me anything. All he ever says is, wait, wait, wait. It’s like he’s scared or something,” she said grabbing the dress she wore the night before and folding it up before placing it on top of her shirts.
    Cyrus walked in the room and moved in front of her closet, blocking her from taking anymore of her clothes out. “He doesn’t want to lose you Ava,” he said softly.
    Ava paused and blinked in surprise. “Nothing he could tell me would make me walk away from him,” she said.
    “Don’t be too sure. Your mother walked away and never looked back. Leaving me and leaving you was very easy for her,” her father said from the doorway.
    Cyrus glanced at her father and then back to her. “We’ll talk afterwards,” he said and left the room quickly.
    Her father stepped in and shut the door and walked to her. Ava swallowed nervously,