A bubble of laughter burst out, and I smiled. “I’m so sorry for all this. I didn’t mean to cause a rift in your pack, and I would have never asked Wheeler to bring me here. I still don’t understand how…”

She put her foot down and winced. “Good news. You have a few clothes here. Remember the trip we were going to take to Padre Island and then your dickhead boss called you in to work? You were so pissed off that you flew out the door and left your bag behind. You told me to keep it here until our next trip. It’s just outside the door and it probably has everything you’ll need, including a toothbrush and all that. I’m going to talk Austin into letting you stay here a while longer.”

“No, no. Not necessary.”

Her head jerked back. “Oh, really? A maniac is after you and I’m supposed to send you home? Not happening. If Austin kicks you out, then you’re staying in a hotel, and I’m going with you.”

“Lexi, really, I’m fine. It’s nothing you need to worry your pretty little head over.”

“You’re not fine!” she shouted.

“Look at the trouble I’ve caused! I don’t want you and Austin to fight because of me, and I definitely don’t want to put anyone in harm’s way.”

She catapulted to her feet. “You’re my best friend, and you could never ask for too much. Hell, you never ask for anything. I’m offering, you’re accepting, end of story.”

“Cat fight?” Denver loomed in the doorway, eating pears straight out of the can.

Lexi glared down at his bare feet when he crossed them at the ankle. “Don’t come in here,” she said. “There are splinters all over the floor.”

“Didn’t plan on it, honeypie. Just wanted to watch the show. Heard meowing all the way in the kitchen.”

“Wipe that smug grin off your face,” she said, shoving at his naked chest. “You’re only in a good mood because you won the bet.”

I leaned forward, tightening the throw around me. “What bet?”

Lexi twisted around, her face carrying a look of disdain. “These idiots had a running bet on your animal.”

“A hundred dollars per person is nothing to sneeze at,” he said with a mouthful of pears. “I’m the only one who said panther. We had bets on cougar, mountain lion, bear—”

I snorted. “Who thought I was a grizzly?”

“Get out of here!” Lexi shoved him backward, and I heard the can drop on the floor.

“The fuck? I’m not cleaning that up,” he said.

The next thing I saw was my bag hurling over Lexi’s head and hitting the fridge.

Lexi bent over out of sight, and then I heard the metallic clinking of silverware in the distance.

“You missed!” he yelled out.

“Are you craving anything?” she asked politely.

I waved my hand and stood up. “My old life?”

“Anything you need and I’m here for you. There’s a phone on the table,” she said, pointing to the long table to the left of the door. “Ring me if you need anything, but we’re not locking you in anymore. That was temporary until you shifted back—not that your panther would have figured out how to turn the knob, but I didn’t have any say in the matter. My house is yours, so feel free to come out anytime and walk around.”