Hope(less) (Judgement of the Six #1)

“A deal’s a deal. Go shower and shave. After you’re done we can play charades until I have the story behind the black eye.” The stubborn look in his eyes had me adding, “That or I call Sam.”


I stayed well back while he ran his hand through his hair in agitation. Then he sighed and sat up. The flex of his abdomen under his snug shirt dreamily distracted me. When he swung his feet over the edge of the bed, turning his back to me, I saw part of his shirt had ridden up exposing more bruises on his back.

Forgetting to stay away, I rushed around the bed. He heard me coming and stayed where he was. He didn’t fight me when I started tugging his shirt over his head either. Numerous bruises covered his torso.

“What happened?” I demanded again, nudging his right arm away from his side to stare at a huge ugly purple mark, and lightly ran my fingers over it. “This is really scaring me Clay, I thought werewolves were supposed to be this tough, nearly indestructible, race.”

That single thought had created an unseen benefit for me when I’d found out Sam’s plan to pair me up with one of their kind. If I found a werewolf mate, they would never die on me like my mom or grandma had, leaving me alone.

“Is this why you were gone last night when I came home?”

He didn’t move at all.

“Fine.” I turned to leave him, but he caught my wrist again, tugging me gently to his side. Watching me, he brought my hand to his mouth, kissed the back of it and then my knuckles. I felt a tug in my stomach. That stupid, annoying, kinda-growing-on-me-a lot pull which tied us together. My annoyance at him evaporated. Unable to help myself, I brushed my fingers through his hair liking the feel of it.

“I’ve lost everyone that’s ever really mattered to me. I thought caring about a werewolf would be safer,” I admitted softly.

He raised his head to look at me for a long moment before pulling me into his arms.

Normally, I wouldn’t like someone hugging me like this. But with Clay, it felt safe. I hugged him back gently, not wanting to hurt him more, and hoped the safety I felt wasn’t because I’d already lost too much of my heart to him. I’d never fully recovered from losing my mom or Grandma. I doubted I could lose much more and remain the same person. Losing Clay even now, might break me.

Eventually, I pulled away first. His stomach began to rumble and mine answered. I tiptoed out of my room and moved my car knowing Rachel would need to leave soon. Then, while Clay waited in my room, I made him breakfast. I didn’t want Rachel seeing him when she woke. We ate together in silence. Before we finished, I heard Rachel leave.

While I washed dishes, he slipped into the bathroom with a scissors and a razor.

It would be an understatement to say I was a little curious about what he really looked like under all that fur, er, whisker. The anticipation built while I put away dishes. I walked by the bathroom door, but couldn’t hear anything. Trying to keep busy, I went back to my room and sorted laundry before deciding what to wear. It didn’t take me long to dress. I paced around the house listening to the shower run.





Chapter 14


The anticipation had me so distracted that I jumped when someone knocked at the front door. Of course, the shower turned off at the sound of the knock. Bad timing. Taking a moment to scowl, I took a breath and then walked to the front door. Smarter this time, I checked the peephole.

Sam stood on the doorstep looking very serious. He must have left in the middle of the night in order to get here first thing in the morning. I frowned. The surprises just kept coming and it wasn’t even eight.

Pasting on a welcoming smile, I pulled open the door. “Morning, Sam. This is a surprise.” Maybe it would be a short visit. I wanted to see Clay freshly shaven without an audience, but I motioned Sam in anyway. If he took the time to drive here, I would have to take the time to listen to whatever he had to say.

He didn’t say anything, but stepped inside.

“Um, don’t get me wrong, I like seeing you, but is there a reason you’re here?” I queried trying to hurry him along.

“We’ll wait for Clay.”

His cryptic answer caught me off guard. It’d been more than two months since we’d seen each other. Sure, we talked, but it wasn’t the same as seeing someone face to face. I’d expected him to look at least slightly happy to see me.

Just then, the bathroom door opened. I turned excitedly to look for Clay. He stepped into the living room dressed in t-shirt and jeans, but I didn’t waste my time eyeing him up. My eyes honed in on his face. Only Sam’s observant presence kept me from wrinkling my nose at Clay.