Free Wolf Home: Paranormal Werewolf Romance by Zoe Chant Page B

in, trying to smell her, but it was hard to untangle her scent from the rest of the pack's. She didn't smell death or illness, anyway, from anyone.
    She couldn't avoid her parents forever, though. Eventually, people started packing up to go home. They were within walking distance of the house. Nicole left the car to her mother and shifted to run back alone.
    Her bedroom was the same as it ever had been. She tried not to look at it, instead concentrating on shucking off her mud covered clothing in preparation for a shower.
    She was down to her shirt and underwear when a knock came on her door.”What?” she yelled absently.
    “Nicole,” her mother said. “You didn't bring anything formal, did you?”
    She blinked. “No, why?” She remembered the reference to setting her up and thought incredulously, already ?
    She pulled her jeans back on before she went to actually answer the door. “You already have someone to introduce me to tonight? I thought this was going to be a meeting?”
    “Yes, it is.” Her mother came in and dumped several hangers of clothing onto the bed. “See what fits you the best, I wasn't sure – you've gained weight,” she added approvingly, looking Nicole over. “You were such a skinny child. Anyway, he's living with the Fannon pack, so this seemed like the best time to see what you think of each other.”
    Living with wasn't one of. “Did he leave his native pack?” Nicole asked, mystified. Wolves very rarely did that without leaving wolf society altogether; it was usually because of some terrible crime. Maybe his had been dissolved?
    Her mother's lips pursed disapprovingly. “He's first generation.”
    Nicole spun from where she'd bent to start inspecting the clothing. “You're joking.”
    “If you don't want to meet him, you don't have to, sweetheart,” her mother said.
    “No, no, it's fine!” Nicole said rapidly. First generation wasn't a problem, she'd been living with humans for years, and he might well be the only option in the state she hadn't known since she was six. “What's his name?”
    “Adam Langley. It's because of the political situation,” her mother said vaguely, shaking her head. “We can talk about it in the car. Get showered, we don't have much time. Do you think any of this will fit? I asked your cousins for what they had to spare.”
    “I think the green dress might,” Nicole answered, distracted.
    “Good. I'll be downstairs when you're ready,” her mother announced, and left.
    Nicole stripped and darted for the bathroom; if her mother had said they didn't have much time, they were probably already late. Wolves weren't exactly punctual as a rule.
    She glanced at herself in the bathroom mirror as she waited for the water to heat, trying to see herself as some unknown man would. She was pretty enough, she supposed. Her hair was black and curly, her skin smooth and unmarked, and her eyes glowed gold. It was an unusual color for human, but a highly desired one among wolves.
    Her face, well, she didn't have any obvious faults. She actually had breasts now, and a few other curves; she really had gained weight in school. Grocery stores were a wonderful convenience, and she was definitely a fan.
    The water had heated up. Nicole sighed and told herself aloud to stop delaying. She piled her curly hair on her head and stuck a shower cap on it – there was no time to let it dry, and her hair type didn't get along well with hair dryers – before stepping in.
    Her thoughts caught up to her and she snarled again, glad the water covered the noise. Here she was, evaluating herself by someone else's standards, worrying about how well she'd fit again. Back into old patterns within less than a day.
    She tried to let the hot water wash away her anger as she scrubbed the caked dirt off of her hands and legs. She was out in five minutes and pulling on first underwear, then the green halter dress she'd thought might fit. Wolf fashion was usually easy to remove to allow for fast