The next week flew by without any more kidnapping attempts. After Trey told the other Clones that I was all fine and dandy, Tripp giving me a searching glance despite Trey's reassurance, they reluctantly walked me to my car. Then I made my escape.

The four of them have been popping up randomly. Yes, even Tripp. Although he didn't come around very often. Only enough to realize that I was, in fact, alive, and then he would retreat back to whatever command post he came from.

Every night there was a Clone waiting outside the coffee shop to walk me to my car. The second time that happened I decided to sneak out the back. I was not their damsel, so I sure as menopause wasn't going to make it easy on them. Unfortunately, my attempt at subterfuge was thwarted when Thane was waiting for me at the back.

How in the raspberry crumpets did he know? A mystery for another day. I had my hands full today, as it was.

I grabbed a breadstick from the basket and started nibbling on it, wishing I was anywhere but at the bougie country club my mother dragged me to.

It was Tuesday. And here I was. The promised brunch with the Thompsons and their son Jacob. My mother was busy talking to the parents about their new yacht. Which left me and Jacob to sit in awkward silence. Well, I sat in awkward silence while Jacob stared at my mammaries and tried not to drool.

"So. Let's focus on the reason we are here." A change in my mother's tone grabbed my attention. " Do we have an agreement?"

An agreement about what? Never mind. It was best not to know.

Mr. Thompson spoke up. "I can see the benefit of such a... merger. However, as I see it now, I feel as if you are getting the better end of the deal."

Mr. Thompson turned toward me, a look of deep disappointment on his face. At least Tripp didn't leer at me when he turned his Disappointed Dad face on me.

"Once you sign, you can do whatever you wish with your property. Therefore, as you can see it is equally beneficial." Mother was laying it on thick.

Mr. Thompson huffed out a loud sigh. "We will think about it and get back to you by the end of the week. It is a lot of risk, after all."

"I look forward to your call, William. Just remember, this deal won't be here for long. I already have another interested party."

"Understood. Thank you for your time."

I dropped my half-eaten breadstick and stood up, more than ready to get the flock out of here and take this gaudy purple dress off.

Mr. Thompson gave me this smirk that made my skin crawl, reaching for my hand. I had no choice but to allow it, and he kissed the back of it. I immediately felt unclean, the need to wash my hand almost overwhelming.

"I hope to see you again soon, my darling Harper." I was so uncomfortable I thought I would vomit on the man's expensive-looking loafers.

The ride back home was silent. No critiques or jabs from Mother, which was odd. Not that I wasn't grateful. The morning was awful enough.

I stripped out of that dress as fast as humanly possible once I got to my bedroom. Then came the shower, loofahing every inch of myself until my skin was red and raw. At least that man's touch couldn't have survived.

Because my skin was now angry with me, I basically drowned myself in my favorite lotion. It smelled of raspberries and daisies, or so it said on the bottle.

Once the dermal fire was extinguished, I threw on some black leggings and a soft, burgundy cashmere sweater before heading out the door to the coffee shop.

I couldn't help staring toward the alley every time I walked passed. Just in case. It was always empty.

Except this time.

This time there was a large, black wolf.

Good thing there wasn't ever much foot traffic on this block. Because I froze mid-step. My internal voice was screaming at me to move my booty and flee to safety as my feet apparently glued themselves to the sidewalk.

The wolf was just sitting there, staring at me with those piercing blue eyes. It hunched its shoulders, apparently trying to look non-threatening, and whined softly.

Which was the exact moment I completely lost all common sense.

I took a few cautious steps into the alley, lifting my hands in front of me in a non-threatening gesture. The wolf just watched me, lowering itself to lay on the cement.

"I just wanted to... say thank you. Not that you can understand me. I mean, I'm talking to a wolf. That has to be one of the top five signs of a serious mental disorder. But, you seemed to be waiting for me. And you may have saved my life. So... thank you."

I tentatively reached down, and when the wolf didn't move I took that as a sign that it wasn't going to eat me. My fingers slid through the silky fur of its head.

The wolf licked my hand in answer.

... did I just bond with a wild animal?