Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Andrea had no other place to go than to sit in the car with Murray, her cranium rocking. Werewolves existed, Adrian said he had changed her into one. She had missed her nervous breakdown because this had to count as living in a crazy town.

Murray fidgetted with the radio as they accelerated down the road, finally settling on a country station and keeping the volume low. As the man on the radio crooned about love and heartbreak she tried to sort her thoughts into something resembling sanity.

"Adrian told you?" Murray asked.

Andrea let out a fit of giggle and said nothing.

"Would you want to talk about it?"

No, she didn't. But even as she started to speak different words tumbled out. "How long have you been one?" She couldn't say the actual word. It was too bizarre. But Murray had no problem answering. "Since I was a kid. Everyone in my family is. Solicitors

who are actual wolves, seem like a good combination." He glimpsed over at her and shot her a succeeding smile.

That seemed almost normal. "You're a solicitor?"

"Yeah, we take charts of offense case by a criminal. Try to pleas them not guilty. The family has been practicing in Elkton basically since it was founded." They drove towards the lights of the city for several minutes. Buildings popped up more frequently until the country merged seamlessly into town. "Do you want to eat?" He asked.

Come to think of it, Andrea couldn't remember the last time she ate. "Yeah."

He pulled into a small diner and parked. "They've got great burgers. Or salad if you feel the need to be vegetarian after the last truth bomb. It's all great as far as I'm concerned, but my sister

says I'd eat out of a trash can. I would know why she thinks I am such can of a werewolf. I eat better not in a trash can."

Finally, Andrea smiled, "Do you always talk so much?" She unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out of the car. Andrea had been overworked by Adrian and now she is having a tough time with Murray. She would be glad if he talks less and drove. Murray jogged around to meet her on the walkway to the door.

"Pretty much. Sometimes you need to keep talking to make sure people listen." Murray replied and that almost made Andrea whine.

They walked into the cafe and were seated at a table next to the window overlooking the highway. The highway was a smooth black, the sort wheels float so effortlessly along. And so as our car made its steady way along, the scenery took on an almost meditative quality, the light igniting the hues of each tree and home. From that point, it didn't take Andrea long to figure out Murray's hobby. He made people feel comfortable. With almost no effort she told him about her job, listened to him talk

about his lineage, and laughed at his stupid jokes.

Her burger was delicious, as promised, and by the time they sat back in his car, she could almost believe this werewolf thing wouldn't be half-bad. That was one of the good pulling over at the cafe did for Andrea.  She would sure appreciate it because she has to come to terms with her new self. That self she has always movies when she hears about people talking on the subject matter, she think it would never be real. But her contact with Adrian has proven to change the course of her life.

Murray parked at The Berge and walked her to her car. Once at the door, they stood awkwardly for a moment and she felt almost like this was the first date. He smiled and kissed her cheek. "How about we go to The Berge together tomorrow?"

That sounded almost like a date to her. She grimaced, but before she could speak he said, "You can meet some other people in the pack. It would be good for you. We're not all like Adrian."

That was something to be grateful for. She didn't know where she stood with Adrian right now, but to find out that her reaction to him would happen with everyone? That would have been unwelcome news. "Okay," Murray smirked. "I'll pick you up at 7:30." He walked back to his car as she slid into her own. And, despite everything, Andrea smiled.

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On Sunday Adrian went to The Berge. It had only been half a plan when he got into his car, but he found himself navigating the familiar streets and pulling into that parking lot with little conscious thought. He saw several familiar cars and sat at the bar with friends and packmates, talking and gossiping as they always did. And after a little while that now-familiar thrill of awareness sparked through him. Sharper now, more focused since he'd had that bare taste of her.

Adrian's head snapped around at the sound of another familiar voice. Murray had his hand around Kelly's shoulder. Murray was touching his mate, and she didn't seem to mind. His vision turned red and he nearly jumped from his seat and bounded across the room to grind the man into a pulp. Andrea was his. Whether she knew it or not.

He halted heeding to what the people around him said and instead focused on Murray and Andrea. One by one, Murray introduced Andrea toto different members of the pack. They exchanged a

few words and moved on. Adrian thought he should have been doing that. Andrea was his responsibility. What gave Murray the right? This time he did stand. Adrian caught sight of him and paled. But he pressed on, introducing Andrea to an older man named Jonathan before stepping away from her and approaching Adrian.

"She's going to run away if you walk up to her looking like that," Murray warned Adrian. All the anger coiled up in Adrian arrowed in on Murray.

"Are you trying to give me an order?" Adrian asked.

His words were ice. Murr froze his hand halfway to Adrian's shoulder. He dropped the hand and took half a step back. "She's just talking to people. What's going on with you?" Adrian pierced him with his eyes. "That woman is my mate. What claim do you have?" Quietly, almost too softly to hear, Murray said, "Does she know that?"

"You are testing my patience for asking me such a question. Are you a fool or I should call you my enemy?" Adrian asked.