Free Unraveling Midnight by Stephanie Beck

rules of thumb about werewolf and human relations, but I’m a relative lone wolf with my kids at this point, so I certainly don’t have a problem being…friends with you.”
    She must have heard the inflection on friends because she turned to him with narrow eyes. He grinned, almost hoping she’d call him on it. Instead, her freckled cheeks turned slightly pink and she took another drink of coffee.
    “If we’re going to be friends, I’d appreciate you getting some tea or something other than coffee and whole milk to drink,” she said so primly he had to laugh again.
    “Okay, that’s fair enough.” He held out his hand. “We’ll keep up this friend thing we’ve got going and I’ll do my part to make sure you have something you like here when you visit.”
    She took his hand, shaking it professionally. “And I’ll do my best not to get squeamish when I think about you changing into a wolf.”
    “That’s all I’m asking. If we can do those two little things, I have no doubt we’ll make this friendship a good thing.”
     

 
    Chapter 9
     
    Friends. With a werewolf.
    Lucy took a sip of the flat, flavorless tea Scott had brought her when she stopped by. It was truly awful, but he’d been so darn proud, which meant she’d drink the whole cup and pray he didn’t offer seconds.
    The boys and Jessie played on the swingset in the evening sun. The bars were far more reinforced than any play equipment she’d played on as a child, but then again, she hadn’t been a werewolf. Again with the wolf thing. She wasn’t going to let the new detail get to her. She’d made a point not to stay away for very long. There was no reason for them to think she didn’t want to spend time with them, especially the kids. She’d already promised Jessie the truth didn’t scare her and Lucy had every intention of believing that until it finally stuck as gospel.
    “You aren’t getting ready to run again, are you?”
    She started at the sudden appearance of Ross. He was such a cute little boy, but freaky fast, which was now explained by him being a werewolf. He also had a very sensitive heart and, once again, Lucy resolved herself not to be afraid of the family.
    “Nope,” she answered, setting aside her cup. “I am still getting used to the fact that you and your family are different from me, but you know what? Different can be wonderful and since I already think you and your brother and sister are great, the rest will all come together.”
    He nodded, more thoughtful for a boy his age than she’d have guessed, but he was Scott’s son. Scott was the kind of man who seemed to really think and the trait had probably passed to all of his children.
    “Because my grandma is like us, but we scare her. She won’t let us near her anymore because we’re different. I don’t want to like you if you’re going to be like her.”
    Her heart broke right in half. Lucy had heard dozens of sob stories and seriously sad things in her life, but Ross’s bleak confession, whispered for her ears only, made her want to cry. Instead she scooted over on the bench and tugged the boy to her chest. “I’m so sorry she made you feel bad, sweetheart. I understand if it takes a while for us to be friends, I really do, so you just take your time if you need it.”
    His skinny arms wrapped around her and Lucy knew the little guy wasn’t one to hold back. She wondered when the last time someone other than his dad had hugged him. Scott didn’t withhold affection with any of the kids. She assumed it was the same for boys as it had been for her as a girl. She’d loved her grandma, but Lucy had wanted a daddy-type person to hug and love her as well. Maybe Ross was hoping for the same thing in a way and, premature as it was, Lucy wasn’t about to push him away because if nothing else, she was going to be friends with the family.
    “Okay,” he muttered and, as if he hadn’t been snuggling with her, he took off.
    Her foster brothers had been