Interested for the first time since arriving at Meemaw’s, the wolf slanted cool hazel eyes at me.

“No,” I spluttered, defensive.

More quiet laughter overcame my embarrassment.

“Oh. Oh.” It hit me. “There will be a guy there. A man, I guess. Isaac.”

Twinkles lit her eyes. “The same mighty fine specimen who delivered her to my doorstep?”

“Yes.” I linked my fingers in my lap. “He’s a good guy.”

The spark in her dimmed. “But?”

“He doesn’t stay in one place for long” seemed the least painful explanation.

“Neither do you.” She made it both question and accusation. “Yet there you are with a wolf at your feet.”

Sweat dampened my palms where they rubbed together. “We’re an accident of circumstance.”

An untethered wanderer who met a man with roots that anchored him to a past with the power to destroy him.

“That’s generally how love works,” she agreed.

Heavy and solid, Graeson rested his head on my lap, ears swiveled forward like my response might be the most interesting thing he’d ever heard.

“Uh, sure.” I fidgeted. “I guess it does.”

“I thought I heard voices.” Dell bounded into the living room, wet hair French braided away from her face, wearing cutoff shorts and an oversized T-shirt knotted at her hip with a hairband, and smiled at me. “I wasn’t expecting to see you until tonight. What’s up?”

Hating to keep pressuring her, I forced myself to ask, “Do you know if the Garzas are home yet?”

“Sorry, I haven’t gotten a response yet, and I can’t go the usual route. Miguel’s wife—Isabella—her cousin lives at their compound. Bessemer uses her like a two-way radio since mental contact with Isabella is strictly forbidden due to her health.” Dell tapped her temple. “Normally I could ring up Janice and get Miguel’s attention that way but...”

“No, Dell, it’s fine.” The weight of the favor I’d asked hit me, and I wilted. “I would never ask you to hurt yourself that way on my account. I was thinking of a more direct approach.”

“I don’t see the harm in it,” Meemaw ventured. “They’re familiar with the three of you, and Dell is one of the few who knows the way.”

Dropping into a chair, Dell tied on sneakers. “Miguel isn’t big on uninvited guests.”

“He’ll make an exception for Cord.” Meemaw leaned over to pat the wolf’s silver head. “If for no other reason than curiosity.”

I bristled without knowing why. “What do you mean?”

“Isabella is…not well. She’s frail, and changes only when the moon demands it.” Her fingers went to her throat. “He’s convinced that if not for the stress of the changes, she would recover from her illness. He’s been searching for a cure for as long as I’ve known him.”