Free Blood Moon by Angela Roquet Page B

he thought, glancing around the
table at the serene faces smiling back at him.

Chapter
Eighteen
     
     
    Zelda watched Logan through dinner—the way
he looked at her wolves, really acknowledging them for a change. It
made her heart ache with pride. These were people worth saving.
He’d see it too, if he would just open his eyes.
    It was so obvious now.
Logan had never had anyone besides Selena. He didn’t know what a
pack could be like. He didn’t know what a family could be like.
    Zelda didn’t have many memories of her
mother, but she’d been raised by decent enough foster parents. They
had stayed in touch, at least until she left California. But what
she really missed was her coven. The bonds they had forged in the
circle of the goddess could not be forgotten as easily as familial
ties. The severance ritual was proof of that.
    Zelda still mourned for her coven, but the
wolves comforted her. Her connection to them required less ritual
and more intuition. It felt natural, like she supposed family
should. She wondered if Logan had anything like that at all with
his sister.
    The wolves talked and laughed as they ate,
their hands and mouths constantly full. They didn’t question
Logan’s presence, but they also didn’t push him to engage more than
he already had. Logan was probably right about their minimal
education, but they had earned more than enough street smarts with
the Raymore Clan, and they were all well aware of the unstable
ground they stood on with the reclusive Chase wolves.
    The table was soon empty, every bit of food
devoured. The night before a full moon, the wolves were ravenous,
and even though Zelda was sure they’d get a belly full of woodland
critters later that night, she planned on making them a big
breakfast Tuesday morning. The pub didn’t open until early
afternoon, so they’d have plenty of time to relax before starting
the workday.
    Logan leaned back in his chair and glanced
behind Zelda to give Nick a curious look. “Think you’ll have
trouble shifting tonight, kid?”
    Nick shrugged, cringing when his bad
shoulder protested. He looked down at his broken arm and
frowned.
    Zelda could sense his distress. She leaned
in and touched his arm gently.
    “ That wrap is loose knit
and super flexible. It should shape with you when you shift. But
just in case, stay close to the others. One of them can check it
over before they shift too,” she said. “We’ll probably need to
rewrap it in the morning though. It should be healed up before next
full moon.”
    Nick sighed and nodded, looking less worried
now that he knew someone had a plan for him.
    Zelda seemed to have a plan for everyone,
except herself. She didn’t feel like she deserved one, and now that
she’d been told there was a metaphorical altar with her name on it,
she was even less inclined to dream up a happy ending for
herself.
    Everyone helped clear the table, and then
one by one, they said their goodbyes. Zelda was showered with hugs
and kisses and thank yous, until only Logan remained.
    He stood and tapped his knuckles along the
edge of the table. “I think you should stay at Orpheus House with
Dr. Delph tonight,” he said. “You’ll be safer there, and then maybe
Phil will have your security system installed by tomorrow
night.”
    Zelda nodded, too drained from her injuries
and the ritual to argue with him. “Okay. I think I’m going to take
a nap. It’s been a long day.”
    Logan yawned into his palm. “You can say
that again.” He tilted his head to the side and looked at her for a
long moment. “Do you want company, or should I wait down here?”
    Zelda held her breath. None of her good
deeds seemed to have made any difference to the goddesses. They’d
called her selfish, and maybe it was true. She definitely wanted to
be selfish now. She sighed. “Company sounds nice.”
    A familiar light flickered through Logan’s
eyes, and he followed her upstairs.
    Nick had left with Kerri to do a little
shopping, since the