I sighed, dried my face and hands, and quietly left the bathroom. Gabby had dressed and still moved about her room, her actions tense and jerky. She shoved clothes into her bag with an aggression I seldom saw in her. I leaned against the frame and watched her for a while.

When her bag was full, she turned toward the door, then froze. Her gaze immediately dropped to the floor, avoiding mine. It hurt. I was as confused as she was over what had happened, but it didn’t change how I felt about her. Did it change how she felt about me, though?

I sighed, stepped aside, and motioned her through the door.

She grabbed her phone and called Rachel to let her know what had happened and to warn her not to come back without Peter. After she hung up, I quietly followed her out to the car. She moved around to the passenger side, still not looking at me.

Clenching my jaw, I got in behind the wheel. Was I losing her? I couldn’t stay quiet. I had to say something. But what?

I backed out of the driveway and started out toward the Compound.

Anything I had to say right now would lead to begging. Females didn’t like begging.

Tapping my fingers against the wheel in frustration, I tried to think of something, anything, to start a conversation about what had happened.

It took a moment to realize her breathing had slowed. I looked over and saw her head tilted loosely to the side. She was asleep. Great.

For the next hour, I kept going over the fight. I’d knocked the guy out. He lay on the floor, eyes closed. Gabby stepped out of her room as if in a trance, her eyes focused on him. I’d scented fear, confusion...but also interest.

I gritted my teeth. My canines poked into my lips. Nice. I was losing control and Gabby. The steering wheel crackled beneath my grip.

I went back to tapping. It didn’t help. My ears itched. Beside me, Gabby shifted in her sleep. Her scent wasn’t helping.

“Clay...”

I paused my tapping.

“Could you pull over for a minute?”

I glanced at her. Was she sick? She didn’t look pale, just worried. I braked and slowly pulled over, careful of the snowy shoulder. Once the car was in park, I turned toward her.

A sad smile lifted her lips, and then she tapped them.

My tight grip on the wheel went slack. Was she saying she wanted a kiss? My heart leapt. I swallowed hard and tried to pull back the change. I didn’t want to hurt her. It wasn’t working. I needed to know everything was good between us before I’d calm down. A kiss would help with that.

She studied me just as I inhaled deeply. Her scent lacked the confusion it had held earlier. A sweet hint of interest gave me hope, and I lifted my hands to cup her face. Her expression softened. This woman...I couldn’t live without her. I smoothed my fingers over her soft skin as I leaned in. She reached out and grabbed my shirt, pulling me closer until my lips met hers. I swallowed a groan. She was still mine.

Her lips parted, and she bit my bottom lip. It was like a kick to the heart. I opened my mouth for her, and she made a small noise as our tongues touched. My teeth shrank as I claimed her mouth, taking what she surrendered.

We steamed the windows before she pulled back. I wrapped my arms around her, unwilling to let her go yet. I kissed the top of her head and just held her.

Her fisted hands opened and flattened against my stomach. It wasn’t a push away. It was a touch, an acceptance. I kissed her one last time, then straightened in my seat.

She fell asleep after a few minutes of driving, but it didn’t matter. Whatever was going on in her head, she was still with me. That was all that mattered.

We arrived at the Compound at dusk. Cars crowded in front of the building, making it impossible to park close. And that was fine with me. I turned around and parked near the drive. Just in case.

Gabby woke as I turned off the car. She gave me a sleepy smile and started to untangle herself from her blanket as I got out. I walked around to her side, opened the door for her, then grabbed her bag.

The buildings were lit up, and few people milled around outside as we walked to the main door. Jackets and shoes filled the entry, and I could hear conversations from the rooms around us. Both signs of a full house.

Gabby led the way to her usual apartment, but we found there was another family with cubs already occupying it. She tried other apartments, but they were full, too. It wasn’t a surprise. The families always came in around the holidays.

Giving up on the apartments, she turned toward the hall that was usually reserved for the unMated males. When she went to knock on the first door, I caught her wrist and shook my head. I knocked. I didn’t want any of them to think she was looking for an offer. The majority of the dorm quarters were also occupied. Several men passed us as we searched and gave us curious looks as they scented the air. Gabby stayed close.

We took the first room we found open and put her bag on the twin bed. It would be enough to hold the room.

“I need to talk to Sam,” she said, looking at me.

I’d figured as much and wondered if Sam would be in a talking mood. Keeping my doubts to myself, I nodded and led the way to the common room. Decorations were everywhere. Cornucopias with harvest produce sat on each of the long tables. Several turkeys with feathers made of construction paper hands hung on the walls. The air still smelled like glue, laughter, and pumpkin pie.

Sam sat with his back to us, speaking with several other men at one of the many sitting arrangements. Gabby picked up her pace and stepped ahead of me, her gaze focused on Sam.

She strode up to him and interrupted the conversation.

“It’s time we talked,” she said.

He turned toward her. There was no surprise in his expression. Someone must have let him know we were there. He smiled at her and nodded. The others in his group got up and moved away.

“Gabby, I didn’t think you’d be up until tomorrow.”

She glanced at me. The room didn’t afford privacy with our keen hearing. I wondered what she was going to say. She glanced around the room, then her gaze became unfocused. She winced, and I knew what she’d done.

I grunted in annoyance but rubbed her back. If there were an off switch for her ability, I’d figure out how to keep it off permanently.

“We came early because two werewolves tried breaking into my house.” She watched Sam closely as she spoke.

“What?” Sam said, giving me a sharp look.

Why didn’t you contact me?

I don’t like how you help.

“He’s still not talking,” Gabby said, unaware of our exchange. She moved to sit in the chair across from Sam. “I believe their intentions were to kidnap me.”

I sat in the chair next to her. Her scent changed. Confusion again. Her troubled gaze swung to me, and I knew what she was thinking. The man on the floor. He didn’t matter if she didn’t let him matter.

She gave me a small smile as if reading my mind then turned back to Sam.

“Is there more than one kind of werewolf?” she asked.

The question surprised Sam, and even though I’d briefly considered the possibility, it surprised me, too.

Sam frowned and leaned forward. “Not sure what you mean, exactly.”

Sam watched her closely as she nibbled her lip.

“When you go fur, what color variations are possible? Different shades of fur, eyes...what about nose or nails?”

The double doors opened and a few more werewolves drifted in, slowly walking toward other groups. Gabby had everyone’s attention and word was spreading fast.

“What does this have to do with—”

She held up a hand. “Bear with me, Sam. I need answers to give answers.”

Sam turned to me.

“I already told you,” she said, “he still isn’t talking. Look, is there another Elder I can talk to? One willing to answer my questions?”