Free Howl (Witches & Warlocks Book 4) by R. M. Webb Page A

breath when I don’t. “I get it.” I can just envision him running his hand through his hair. “You’ve placed a lot of trust in a lot of people who didn’t earn it. I’m not one of those people, Zoe.”
    I desperately want to respond, but not one single word can squeak through the giant lump in my throat.
    “I love you,” Noah continues. “I want you to trust me. I don’t know how to prove to you that I’m worthy of your trust.”
    Ugh! I can’t stand not being able to see his face. I’m stuck here, trying to make sense of this conversation with only his incredibly reserved tone of voice to give me any idea of how deep the water is here. I open my mouth. I want to tell him. I’m just so afraid that I’m gonna find out my happily ever after is built on a lie.
    “I’ve been researching my parents,” I say and swallow hard. If all my happiness is built on lies, better to find out now before I get myself in any deeper than I already am. I tell him about the books with the pages ripped out. The bit I found about the Overseer. The fact that I killed Lucy, the vampire who freed the vampires from the Supernatural Union. “And every time I pass Daya’s office, she’s not there, and her replacement isn't there. And I just really want to know what happened to my birth parents.”
    “Of course you do. That’s only natural. Why didn’t you tell me? That’s not such a big deal.”
    And the truth comes rolling out before I can catch it. “Because with Daya gone and no one there to take her place, and no mysterious orders coming from the witches, I kind of thought that maybe they had you working for them. And not me.” Now that it’s out, it sounds so stupid.
    Noah laughs. A big old belly laugh that has me scowling at the phone. “You thought that Daya had me working as some kind of agent? Without you?” I manage a tiny little ‘mmhmmm’ and he laughs even harder. “What? Did you think I was the one who tore the pages out of the books?”
    He’s laughing as if this is the funniest thing he’s ever heard and I’m blushing so hard it hurts. Like, my face is literally too hot to be comfortable and there are little tears of embarrassment in my eyes. I can’t bring myself to answer him and I’m definitely not laughing.
    Noah notices my silence and quiets down. “Zo, listen.” And his voice is all kinds of serious. “Let’s just say for a second that Daya did have me running around, trying to hide important parts of your past from you. Did it ever occur to you that I’d refuse? Or that I’d tell you?”
    The honest answer is no. But I don’t want to say that and I think he’s smart enough to figure that out, so I stay quiet. Swipe at my eyes with the edge of my sleeve and try not to sniffle so he can hear it.
    “We’re on the same team, kid. We have been since I ran into you at Flannigan’s and saw all your magic all twisted up inside. I’ve never done anything that wasn’t somehow my attempt to help you.” He says it and if I get really quiet for a moment, I know it to be true. Noah’s been on my side since day one.
    “I know.” My voice is quiet and thick with emotion.
    “Do you?”
    “Ya, I really do.” And this time I sniffle loud enough for him to hear. “I just got scared. I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry,” he says. “Just don’t do it again. I got you. I love you. I’m here to protect you but I can’t do that if you don’t let me in.”
    “I hated keeping you out. I hated not telling you and now that it’s all out in the open it all sounds so silly. I’m just such a silly girl…”
    “Don’t go there.” Noah’s smiling. I can hear it. “The last couple months have been pretty earth shattering in the lie department. I understand. I may not like it. But I understand.”
    “I wish you were here right now.”
    “Oh, ya, what would you do if I were there right now?”
    “Nice try, mister! I’m a good girl.”
    “A good girl who likes bathroom sex.”
    “I