“Werewolves.”

Of course, the full moon. Kate shook her head,

“How?”

“I think Richard should explain this to you.”

“Well Richard isn’t here, so you get the honor.” Kate wasn’t letting her off the hook.

“I don’t think…”

“No!” Kate raised her voice to a yell. “You’ve all been lying to me for a month. You knew all along the man I am sleeping with turns into an animal and you said nothing. You owe me.”

“I knew he would turn, like Max has for years.

But the thing you need to understand is Richard turned for you. Only for you.”

“I don’t understand.”

Janet sat on the bed next to her and lowered her voice. “Being a werewolf, turning every month, is something Richard and Max have chosen to do.

Richard did it for you. To help find the man who shot you.”

Kate still didn’t understand. Janet must have sensed her confusion so she went on.

“The Ritter family lives their lives protecting innocent people from being turned into evil. See, if you were bitten by the man who was after you, every month you would have turned into a creature like him.”

“And if I were bitten by Max or Richard?”

“You would turn, like them, but you wouldn’t be evil.”

Kate stood, walked to the window, and peered out into the night. “Werewolves don’t exist.”

“It takes some time to get used to. I didn’t believe it at first either,” Janet sighed. “The bottom line, however, is Richard never chose this life until you came into his.”

“I don’t like the responsibility of knowing he made the change for me. I didn’t ask him to.”

“I know you didn’t.”

“Can he change back?”

“No.”

Kate squeezed her eyes shut, shook her head.

“When did he do this?”

“The night after he met you.”

“Why do something so drastic for someone you hardly know?”

Janet walked over to where she stood and met her eyes. “Max knew we were meant for each other almost immediately. He calls me his soul mate.”

“Oh, Janet. I don’t know what to do.”

“Then do nothing, for now.”

She needed to think. The question was could she do so while staying under Richard’s nose?

Chapter Sixteen

I have to go to her. Richard panted, and adrenaline surged in his veins.

We wait.

Did you see her face? She knows. She knows it was me, us. Shit. How? How does she know, Max?

Richard paced the wooded area behind Max’s estate.

Cops swarmed the yard. Flashes of cameras lit up the night sky.

Already the moon was low on the horizon. The second change of the night was coming.

Wait. It won’t be long. You can talk to her then.

Richard knew his brother was right. Still, he hated the waiting.

By morning, she could be gone.

****

Richard and Max came in after sunrise. Devon sat with a cup of coffee and a newspaper at the kitchen counter. The rest of the officers had left. Richard marched over to Devon, wrapped his fingers around his throat, and pinned him to the wall. “You used Kate as a decoy, didn’t you?”

“Settle down. She didn’t get hurt.”

“You bastard.” Richard pulled his arm back, fist clenched. Max stopped him before he made contact.

“She could have been killed, or worse,” he yelled.

“That didn’t happen.”

“No thanks to you!”

Around the corner, Kate and Janet ran into the room. Kate’s eyes held dark circles, evidence that she hadn’t slept.

“Everything okay?” Janet asked.

“Fine.” Devon shrugged away from Richard,

putting distance between them.

“Good, we’ve had enough violence for one night.” Janet went to her husband and kissed him.

Richard watched Kate. Her gaze never left him.

“Did he call you?” Richard shrugged toward Devon.

“I called him.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Kate’s eyes narrowed to thin slits. “A bit hypocritical of you, don’t you think? Seems you’re the one with all the secrets. Being bait to catch a werewolf is minor compared to being one yourself.”

“I think it’s time I go.” Devon moved for the door.

“I’m not done with you,” Richard said, his eyes never leaving Kate’s.

“Yeah, yeah… you can kick the shit out of me later. By the way… nice work last night. The bastard dead on the lawn turned five women before he went down. He wanted his own harem according to his accomplice. Kate would have been number six.” Richard saw her shiver with the information.

“It’s a good thing we got him when we did,” Max added. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.” They left with Janet on their heels.

“We need to talk.” Richard gestured toward the back door. He half-expected Kate to walk in the opposite direction, when she led the way outside a small measure of relief washed over him.

The feeling didn’t last.

“I’ve packed my bags,” she told him as soon as they sat.

“Kate…”

She held up her hand. “Let me finish. I packed my bags before I found out… before I knew what you are.”

His heart slammed into his chest. He smelled his own fear. “I see.”

“I don’t think you do. I thought it would be best

for Joey and me to break away. His attachment to you grows daily, and I didn’t want you to feel pressured by him. When you asked me to move in with you, I wanted to throw myself at you and scream yes. If it wasn’t for Joey, I would have.” A sliver of hope started to build. He knocked it back and prepared for the worse.

She’s setting me up for a fall.

Kate caught his eyes and cast a slight grin. “I thought if we left, you’d be able to know for certain if you wanted us in your life. Not only to protect us from the man who stalked me, but for the right reasons.”

“What reasons?”

“Love.” She swallowed hard. “You see, I’ve fallen in love with you. But I promised myself a long time ago, not to fall into the trap of one way love ever again. Last night I realized I never really loved Joey’s dad. I may have been torn up when he left me, but I think now it was more about being alone and pregnant than anything deeper. My feelings for you are so much stronger.”