Page 55 of Howlin’ For You

She waits expectantly for me to take my first bite, and I make sure to grab each element on my fork—roasted tomato, creamy sauce, and arugula in a twist. Flavor bursts on my tongue as I close my mouth around my fork. My mate is talented. I groan as I chew, the complexity of the flavor growing with each bite.

“You like it?” she asks softly, cautious hope gleaming in her eyes.

I reach my free hand across the table, squeezing hers. “It’s perfect, Izzy.”

A blush creeps up her cheeks as she lowers her gaze shyly.

There will be none of that tonight.

“No, no. Don’t hide from me.” I wait until she looks at me again. “You’re amazing, and I want to make sure you hear me when I say that.”

“I’ve never been the best at receiving compliments, but being around you makes it easier by the day.” A light blush dusts her cheeks.

She needs the spotlight off her for a moment, and I can do that. But I’ll get Izzy used to receiving compliments. I’ll gain her trust and respect to the point where she knows I’m saying what I truly feel. That I mean everything I tell her.

“Let’s talk about the full moon,” I say after another bite of pasta. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

ISABELLA

Genuine curiosity raises the fine hairs along my arms like lightning. Ever since I met Nick, everything that makes him who he is has fascinated me, including what it means to be a werewolf.

The full moon has been the missing piece.

“Please,” I say softly. I hope he understands that while I’ve always been fascinated by werewolves, my true curiosity comes from being with him. I want to learn more because it’s him. “I want to learn more about you, Nick.”

He takes a deep breath. “I’ve never had to explain the full moon to anyone. Everyone I know already knows what it means, so I apologize if anything is confusing. I won’t be offended if you have clarifying questions.”

I smile, nodding him along.

“Werewolves only shift on the full moon. It’s when the Goddess is at her strongest and calls to those with the wolf in their blood. At least…that’s how my mom always described it.” My heart aches at the emotion in his voice. I wish I could have met her.

He clears his throat. “In the days leading up to the full moon, our bodies get ready for the transformation. We eat more, we sleep more, and as I’ve already mentioned, our instincts are harder to ignore. Typically, we feel a bit restless. On edge until that energy releases during the shift.”

“That makes perfect sense.” I lean forward, enthralled by this information. By the trust he’s placing in me.

“My wolf and I aren’t two separate beings. It’s not as if I shift and some other thing takes over. I’m fully aware of myself and my actions. The only thing that’s more difficult is that I’m pure instinct in that form. I can control myself, but often I don’t want to. I want to do what feels good.” He shakes his head. “Typically, that’s hunting, running, and playing with Dane and Georgie.”

“Are you much bigger as a wolf? Are you a pure wolf? Or are you a wolf-man hybrid?” I can’t stop myself. The more he talks, the more I want to know. To learn. To understand.

He smiles at my enthusiasm, taking another bite of pasta. “I look like a normal wolf, just bigger. No hybrids.”

“Will you want to be alone with your friends? Do you want privacy? Would I be allowed…” I’m surprised by the slight disappointment in my voice. It’s not like I’m a wolf. What would I do in the woods all night with them?

Despite that, I want to be there.

He lifts an eyebrow. “That’s entirely up to you, Izzy, and your comfort level. If you’d like to be with us, you’d be safe. We wouldn’t hurt you. If anything, you might find it fun.”

“Fun?”

“Have you ever ridden on the back of a large wolf?” He smiles. “Generally, werewolves don’t shift for the first time until puberty, so I would spend every full moon with my parents, riding on their backs through the forest as a kid with my brother. It’s incredibly freeing.”

“Oh,” I sigh. “I bet those memories mean a lot to you.”

He nods, fidgeting with his fork. “Some of my favorites.”

I’m not sure what compels me to do it, but I round the table and plop myself into Nick’s lap.