Unconventionally Wolf by Julie Steimle (latest novels to read txt) 📖

the modern age."

All of them looked at the foursome, who (to their mortal eyes) still looked like a handful of people from off a reservation.

Carl nodded, jotting down a note.

Rick waved the elves to Carl. "Anyway, tell Carl anything he needs so he can make it happen."

Nodding, each elf walked from Rick and surrounded Carl. Though Carl was not visibly sweating, he had stiffened at little. Watching him, Rick wondered how many such encounters Carl must have had in his lifetime. After all, he worked for werewolves and attended conferences with his father on a frequent basis. Rick imagined Carl also handling mafia threats, which his father got often. And he probably fielded SRA hunters on a regular basis. Then of course was the FBI and CIA, who (besides being connected with the SRA) regularly conducted business with Mr. Deacon II. The poor man was in continual danger. Rick hoped his father gave him frequent and long vacations as well as plenty of pay.

"Ok, that should do it," Carl said after he finished his notes. He nodded to the elves with a look to Rick. "Is there anything else?"

Rick shrugged, looking to the elves also.

They gazed back at him, mildly pleased, a little irritated, and yet also looking a great deal more at ease, as if pleasantly surprised. One of the elves said to him, "We heard from those in Central Park that you were not such a bad wolf… though we did not believe it. You are proving to be more like what they said."

"Central Park?" James asked.

Tommy looked interested.

But Rick waved it away, remembering his last encounter with faerie folk during the Macey's Thanksgiving Day parade. It had been awkward though at the same time a funny little experience with a few goblins and some diminutive elves. An elvish creature had crushed on him—or maybe it was the other way around. She had been cute.

And thinking on that, Rick chuckled. At least he could still appreciate that he was once attracted to someone other than Daisy. There was still hope.

Terrible, Wonderful, Awful Relief

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Ten

 

 

The elves 'closed shop' and headed out of the convention almost immediately. Rick felt a little lighter, less burdened for some reason. Maybe it was because he had finally helped somebody within his own capacity. He had felt so utterly helpless since that whole incident at Wolverton. And during most of the convention while acting as proxy for his father he had felt more like an automatic dispenser than a human being. Yet in that moment, he felt like himself again—so much that he was able to ignore the stares and whispers of others around him and just enjoy the convention. He had nothing else to do until the next panel and that would not start for another hour. 

With his group, he strolled past a booth for non-toxic herbicides. He looked at another selling essential oils—which he had to pass quickly once those people lifting the lids to smell the contents let out strong aromas that were too powerful for his nose. He eventually ended up at booth about composting and another about Humanure, which for some reason James found fascinating, while Carl was tugged to the side to discuss his choice of shoes by an anti-leather advocate.

When they walked past the NYU booth again to head back toward the hall where Rick's next panel would be, Rick picked up whispers about his scars which had been seen in the bathroom. Professor Jackson rattled off an excuse and told them it wasn't seemly to gossip. However, Rick noticed that girl Zoe staring with that Audry. For some reason, Rick blushed.

They continued on, hurrying their pace at little to get back to the meeting hall early so his bodyguards could make sure this time there was nothing dangerous within the room. Carl immediate spoke with the stage and lighting staff while Tommy spoke with the people checking Ids at the door. Rick took a seat to the side, just off stage, and went over in his head the topic of discussion, which was about bad PR when their predator of choice ends up killing cattle and sheep, and angering ranchers. While he was in the middle of reviewing the list of possible discussion points, his cell phone rang.

It gave the ringtone used for people he didn't know. That one rarely went off. Most of the time his phone played the chorus to Werewolves of London whenever his friends such as Tom Brown or Matthew Calamori called, or Duran Duran's Hungry Like a Wolf when his father called. It less frequently played the chorus to What Does the Fox Say by Ylvis, which was his best friend Andrew's ring tone. Andrew usually texted him stuff.

Slipping his phone out of his pocket, Rick stared at the number. He didn't recognize it at all. For a second, he wondered if one of the hunters had gotten that number, though Rick doubted it. It was a new phone and he had not updated everything. His father had gotten rid of his last one because he had given his number to Daisy and Daisy had started to call him almost daily after the pack had resettled in another place. And though Rick had secretly sent her his new number via post card so she could contact him in an emergency, she never had never contacted him. This was probably a salesman. But he was curious none the less.

Hesitantly answering it, Rick said, "Hello?"

<< Rick? >>

A ripple of electricity ran through him. Rick pressed the phone to his ear, peeking surreptitiously at James who was standing nearby as a guard. He whispered, "Daisy?"

Her voice on the other side heaved a relieved sigh. << Oh good. I didn't get your father. I was afraid I would. >>

Peeking once more to James, Rick turned away and pretended to take a small nap, resting his head against the wall and hiding his phone. "I'm not alone right now."

Daisy's voice broke into a small sob. << I miss you. >>

Those words stabbed straight through him. It made Rick want to drop everything and go to her that very second. "I miss you too. How are you?"

She replied with a voice filled with deep distress, << When are you going to come back? >>

Cringing, Rick hated what he had to say. "I can't. Dad's got me watched. I mean seriously, there is always somebody around watching me. And I'm now in school—"

She broke into sobs.

"Oh…" Rick felt sick. "Don't cry. Please. I know I promised I'd come, but things are…" He clenched his teeth and said, "I've got responsibilities."

<< Oh, back to your responsibilities, are you? >> She sounded jealous and angry, sniffling.

Her voice made his head swim. He felt off balance, leaning towards her. But his logical mind was shouting at him, telling him she was manipulating his emotions, just trying to drag him back into a life that would not end well for him.

<< What about me? >> she said. << What am I going to do? >>

"I promised to be there—and I will be there when you have the baby," Rick said through his teeth, his desire to leave it all to be with her swelling within him. "Dad can't keep me away from that."

She broke into sobs again.

Overwhelmed, Rick wished she would quit crying. It was killing him. "Please, Daisy. Don't cry. I will be there. You won't be alone in this. I promise."

Yet she choked out, << I miscarried. >>

Cold chills swept through him.

"What?" Rick whispered.

Clearing her throat, she repeated it. << I miscarried. I am no longer carrying your baby. It died. And I was put on bedrest. >>

Her sobs of agony sounded in his ear like a distant cry of some lost animal. Rick's head rested heavily against the wall, listening to her. However, something inside him, almost vile and despicable, rejoiced. And more, the weight he had been carrying for months had heaved off his back.

She was not going to have his baby.

His big mistake had been nullified by nature.

Of course he felt awful for thinking that. It wasn't right to wish for your unborn child to die. And he had not wished it, not directly at least. But, now that the baby was no longer coming, the burden of too-early fatherhood had been removed. He was free.

"Hey, Daisy," he said, returning to the present moment, trying to empathize. "I'm really sorry. I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now. Are you ok?"

Through her deep cries, she said, << No. I want you to come back. >>

Rick cringed. "You know I can't."

<< I need you. >>

Cringing more, Rick closed his eyes. "Daisy…"

<< Don't you love me? >>

For a moment, he could not answer. Did he ever love her? Love? He was madly attracted to her. He was deeply affected by and addicted to her scent. He loved the feel of her skin against his. And the sound of her voice stirred sensations in him which made him want to run to her and make her pregnant all over again. And when they were together he wanted nothing but her. But love? He still really didn't know anything about Daisy except that she wanted to become a veterinarian—or at least had said she did. They barely had a real conversation beyond that one. He really didn't know her at all. Not beyond the biblical sense of the word at least.

"Daisy, I think it is best that you rest," he said, struggling to restrain his emotions. "I know that if I find a way to sneak off and visit you, we're just going to have sex again, and that would not be healthy for you."

She sniffled, sounding disgruntled. But she did not argue about that. She knew he was right.

"Look," he said in a low voice to keep from being overheard, "I think right now my dad is right—"

<< What? No! >>

"Daisy, we moved too fast. You and I both know it," he said. "I think what is best for us both is for me to keep pursuing my degree in economics and for you to enroll in school so you can get your veterinarian degree."

She was silent, still sniffling.

"And when we are ready, then we can date—"

<< Date? Rick. We already made love more than once. And wolves don't date. >>

He inwardly groaned, knowing she was going to be like this. "I know. But I am not just a wolf. And you forget I was mainly human most of my life. I need to date the mother of my children first. I think it is imperative."

She grumbled under her breath something.

He added, "Look. For all I know, we mated for good and it is only a matter of time before we spend the rest of our lives together. I just want to do it right."

Daisy heaved a sigh. << I see. So then you aren't thinking about those other girls? >>

With a painful chuckle, Rick cringed. "All I can think about is you, Daisy. You have changed everything. I can't even focus on my schoolwork anymore."

<< Oh. >> She sounded touched. Pleased.

"Daisy, we need to stick to this plan, or Dad will never let us see each other again," he said. "So,