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  Once in Hastings, we first took Sunny to the vet, who fortunately wasn't busy and was able to get him right in. Other than needing shots and heartworm medication, Sunny was given a clean bill of health, to my relief. He barely even had a flea problem, remarkable for an outdoor dog. The vet was only able to find a single one. Also to my relief, the vet said that his missing front arm looked like something Sunny was born with, and not a result of someone hurting him. Embarrassing myself, I became a little misty when I was told this, emotional just from relief at knowing that Sunny hadn't suffered trauma or excruciating pain.

  The vet said that it was in fact possible that Sunny had never even had an owner. He'd never been fixed or microchipped, and somewhat to my surprise, the vet said that he wasn't that old, barely out of his puppy stage, meaning that it was possible he was abandoned not too long after he was born on account of his missing leg, which broke my heart. I thought it was kind of a miracle that he'd made it to civilization from wherever he'd come from and had managed to survive as long as he had before finding Cameron to feed him. I thought it was also a miracle that he hadn't been harmed by any of the numerous red-eyed wolves in the area. It was clear to me now that Sunny not only had a wonderful disposition; he also was an incredibly strong, resilient dog, as well. Despite that, I felt like I wanted to baby him and bond with him a little more before putting him through the ordeal of getting fixed, so I told the vet I'd bring him back soon for that.

  I was just a smidgen mad at Cameron for not letting him inside the house immediately.

  After the vet, I took Dana and Sunny to meet Ashley, who was surprised to see me back in Hastings so soon. Over coffee, she just looked at me quietly for a few moments before setting her mug down and leaning back in her chair.

  "Something's different about you already. You just look...I don't know. Happier or something. More like you, even though I can't even explain that. Maybe more like you when we were kids or something, with a little gleam in your eyes."

  Very pleased for some reason, I picked up my mug, smiling. "Well, part of it could be because I now have a dog again, and Sunny has already made me so happy. But maybe part of it is that I'm finally breaking out of my comfort zone in life...which I really didn't know I'd sunk so far into until very recently."

  Part of the "little gleam" in my eyes that Ashley had noticed might have also been due to the fact that I was working on having a menage a trois with two incredibly handsome wolf shifters, but I didn't feel like this was the time or place to get into all that, especially with Dana present, not that she would have been shocked in the least. But at any rate, I continued, skipping over that whole part.

  "I really broke out of my comfort zone in a pretty major way yesterday, before I even officially arrived in Haverwood. Would you believe I fought off one of the Angels' enchanted wolves to keep him from attacking the government agents?"

  Ashley's wide eyes radiated astonishment, and I told her the whole story, in brief, telling Dana as well at the same time. She'd heard about what had happened, but third-hand, and she wanted to know a few additional details.

  Around noon, an older woman that Ashley was interviewing for the job of her new house-cleaner and home help assistant arrived, the first of several women that Ashley was going to be interviewing that afternoon. Dana and I took off, promising to visit again soon.

  After a stop at a pet store to buy a leash, a flea collar and regular collar, and some other supplies for Sunny, he, Dana, and I had lunch at a cafe in downtown Hastings, with Sunny leashed up to one of several outdoor tables. Well on his way to becoming a thoroughly spoiled pup, he enjoyed a few dog treats and a rawhide bone while Dana and I ate. I also couldn't resist giving him the last bite of my BLT sandwich for a treat, too.

  Next, we did Dana's errands, then both decided to do some grocery shopping. Before heading into the store, I tied Sunny up to one of several "dog posts" near the entrance, which the store provided as a courtesy so that people wouldn't have to leave their dogs in their cars. When Dana and I emerged from the store with our groceries, we found that Sunny had drawn quite a crowd while we'd been inside, with at least a dozen people around him jockeying for position to be able to pet him. Obviously loving all the attention, Sunny looked like he was in seventh heaven, and it was at least ten minutes before his "fan club" finally dispersed.

  Dana, Sunny, and I made it back to Haverwood around four in the afternoon, intending to part ways and unpack our groceries at our respective homes; but the moment we started down the dirt lane, I could tell that was going to have to wait.

  Large gray wolves were leaping off porches, racing down the lane, and cutting into the trees.

  Momentarily panicked, I whipped my face toward Dana. "Are those ours? Are those our wolves?"

  They were all moving so fast I couldn't really see their eyes to see if they were red, indicating that they were Angel wolves, or not.

  Still driving, though very slowly, so as not to hit any of the wolves, Dana immediately nodded. "These are all ours. This still isn't good, though. Looks like maybe the Angel wolves are trying to attack somewhere near the village, and all our guys are going to fight them."

  "Well, let's park at your house, take Sunny inside, and then go. We can help, too."

  Glancing at me, Dana shook her head. "No way. You can go, but all the rest of us Gifteds will be safe in our houses."

  I could hardly believe what she'd said. "Are you serious? You're all going to take cover when we can help? You're all just going to let our wolves deal with things alone?"

  "Jayme, what part of me saying that we're all basically messed-up Gifteds, except you, didn't you understand?"

  "Well, I understood that you said that your zapping power was weakened by your injuries, but you didn't say it was reduced to nothing, right?"

  "Look, it may as well have been. I'm staying the hell in my house for right now."

  Already unbuckling my seat belt to get out of the SUV, I glanced over at her. "Cynthia, the government agent, and you are both completely right. There needs to be some better Gifted leadership in this village right away. And the second this fight with the Angel wolves is over, I'm calling a meeting, and you can tell everyone that the new leader of the Gifteds expects everyone to be there."

  *

  The fight with the Angel wolves took place in a clearing just a bit north of the village. I actually hitched a ride there on Elliot's back, which was an incredible experience, just to ride into battle atop a magnificent and fierce wolf shifter. While he raced across sun-drenched meadows and dense forestland, I gripped his fur in my fists, feeling more powerful and strong than I'd probably ever felt in my life. It was a feeling I was pretty sure I could get used to.

  The battle itself was somewhat anticlimactic. With about two hundred Haverwood wolves and only a dozen or so red-eyes, it was honestly a struggle just for me to get a few chances to use my supernatural skills. However, near the end, when only two red-eyes remained, Cameron made his wolves make way for me, probably sensing that I was just itching to practice my skills and do some damage.

  Getting a feel for fighting two wolves at once, I levitated one while zapping the other, then vice versa. When both wolves had been injured so badly they could barely stand, I gestured for Cameron and Elliot to go in for the kills, and they did. I didn't watch, however. I may have had new found growing strength and confidence, but I had a feeling that my natural inclination to have a weak stomach was something I was never going to get over.

  Once it was all over, I rode back to the house on Elliot's back again, thoroughly exhausted and half-falling asleep. However, I was encouraged by something. I may have been thoroughly exhausted and half-falling asleep, but I wasn't actually falling asleep like I'd done the last time I'd used my powers. It seemed that, bit by bit, I was getting stronger with them. Hopefully soon, I'd be at the point where using my powers didn't drain me at all.

  After showering and getting into pajamas, even though it was barely six in the evening
and the sun was still brightly shining, I fell into bed. Dana came by with my groceries and Sunny, and said she'd watch him for the night, in case I was too tired to give him his dinner and let him out and all that, which I was. Dana also brought me a sandwich, which I ate in about three bites, then brushed my teeth, got back into bed, and promptly fell asleep. My planned seduction of Cameron and Elliot was just going to have to wait.

  I slept until seven-thirty the next morning, surprised to find them both in the kitchen when I came out for some coffee and breakfast, still in my pajamas.

  Pouring me a steaming mug of dark roast, Elliot said that they'd both just returned from running a patrol around the village.

  "So far, no sign of any Angels or their wolves. The day is still young, though, and I expect trouble later on."

  Frowning, Cameron glanced up from spreading strawberry jam on a slice of toast.

  "Why would you say that?"

  I was also suddenly very curious to know why Elliot was expecting trouble later on. If he was not working with the Angels, it seemed like he should have had no idea just when the heck trouble might come.

  Looking a little taken aback at Cameron's frown and question, he shrugged. "Well, have we had a single day in the past two weeks without some kind of Angel or red-eye trouble? It just stands to reason that there will be some later on today. After all, it's crystal clear that they're still intent on making headway into the state...and to do that by the most direct route, they have to get through us. They're nothing if not persistent. So why would they just all of a sudden decide to start slacking and give us a break between attacks? I don't think that would make much sense. In fact, if there weren't some kind of trouble today, I'd probably get suspicious about what exactly they were up to."

  Seemingly satisfied by Elliot's response, Cameron went back to spreading jam on his toast.

  "You're right. We probably can expect some sort of trouble later on. Guess I was just hoping for a break."

  Fairly satisfied by Elliot's response as well, I went about stirring sugar and creamer into my coffee. I wasn't quite sure why I'd been so suddenly suspicious of Elliot, because after all, it stood to reason that there would probably be trouble later on that day since the Angels and their wolves didn't seem likely to let up anytime soon. It was just that one of my two housemates had to be working with the Angels, and so far, I just didn't have any strong suspicions about either one of them.

  The three of us were quiet briefly, then Elliot and Cameron simultaneously asked me if they could make me something to eat, making me laugh.

  "Wow. Two men asking me if they can make me something to eat. I could really get used to this." I really could.

  Elliot had started making a large pan of sunny-side eggs and ham over at the stove, so I said I'd have some of that, as well as a slice of toast.

  "With strawberry jam like yours, please, Cameron...I think I had all the butter I could handle last night."

  Putting a slice of bread in the toaster, he fought a grin. "Strawberry jam it is."

  Smiling, I got a cantaloupe and out of the fridge to slice into wedges for the three of us. "Thank you."

  Once we were all seated at the table with our food, I told Cameron I wanted to show him how to make from-scratch dinner rolls or biscuits sometime. "In fact, if things don't get too crazy with the red-eyes today, why don't I teach you both. If the two of you want, the three of us could meet back here to make dinner around six. We could maybe even share some drinks or a bottle of wine."

  With both of them wearing expressions I couldn't quite read, Cameron and Elliot exchanged glances.

  Then, Cameron cleared his throat. "I think that sounds like a plan."

  Elliot eyed me for a moment over the rim of his coffee mug. "We'll be here at six."

  With a few butterflies dancing in my stomach, I gave both of them a little smile. "Great."

  The three of us started in on our food while birds chirped and sang outside the several open windows in the dining room. Rays of sunlight slanted onto the long, rectangular table, illuminating the swirling steam rising from our coffee mugs, and also clearly illuminating something else. The three of us were sitting on one end of the table, and Cameron had taken the seat at the head of the table. A ray of sunlight was shining on the side of his face like a spotlight. Elliot had taken the seat across from me.

  I wondered if this was the way they usually did things, or if they took turns sitting at the head of the table or something. Being that they were both alphas, it didn't seem like Elliot would be content always letting Cameron sit at the head of the table. I supposed I'd have to see who sat where during dinner that evening.

  The three of us ate our breakfast quietly at first, but after a few minutes, Elliot asked what my plans were for the day.

  Getting full already, I set down my fork and sat back in my chair. "Well, the movers bringing all my things from Hastings are supposed to come around eight, then I guess I'll sort out what to put in the storage shed out back and what to keep in the house. After that, I plan to have a meeting of all the Gifteds, just to kind of try to figure out what exactly is going on with everyone, and where everyone stands."

  Setting down his coffee mug, Elliot gave me a little smile. "I knew you were the leader type the second I saw you and saw what you did to that red-eye. I knew you'd make a great Gifted leader here in the village."

  I smiled back, flattered. "Well, thanks. I hope I can be. I feel like if I can just get Dana on board with some kind of regular, daily practice for Gifteds, maybe everyone else will fall into line."

  Spearing a piece of ham, Elliot nodded. "Probably. So, did you and Dana have a good trip to Hastings yesterday?"

  Picking up my spoon and getting back into my cantaloupe, I nodded. "Mm-hmm. It was great."

  A moment or two went by before Elliot responded. "Good. So...did Dana tell you a little bit about Haverwood...and everything that goes on here?"

  I instantly knew what he was getting at. He wanted to know if I'd been apprised of the fact that one woman having more than one man in her bed at the same time was pretty common in the village. With a little heat rising to my face, I focused on digging out a bite of cantaloupe from the rind.

  "Yes...Dana did tell me a little about everything that goes on here, and...." I paused, choosing my words carefully. "I kind of liked the sound of it."

  Cameron coughed a bit as if a sip of coffee had went down the wrong pipe. I couldn't see his expression, though, or Elliot's. For some reason, I couldn't have met their eyes at that moment if my life had depended on it.

  After a moment or two, Elliot just said good and resumed cutting his slice of ham, not that I could see him with my gaze still cast downward at my slice of melon. I could just hear the scraping of his knife and fork on his plate.

  After a few seconds, a loud knock coming from the direction of the foyer and the front door cut through the fairly awkward silence that had descended over the table. Saved by the movers, I thought, and then instantly wondered why the silence had even been awkward anyway. After all, the three of us had needed to get clear what had been made clear, and for another thing, if I had my way and was soon sharing a bed with Elliot and Cameron, I was going to have to get over a few different little awkward things, I was sure.

  Such as who was going to do what and when and to whom. I realized that it would probably be in my best interest to start feeling a little more comfortable with both of them, which I thought could probably be accomplished while the three of us made dinner together. I figured a glass of wine probably wouldn't hurt, either, and would probably just add to the fun. The fun and work of trying to pick up clues and gather information, I reminded myself. I had a feeling that once things really got going with Elliot, Cameron, and me, I was going to have to remind myself of this continually.

  I let the movers in, and Cameron and Elliot soon left out the front door. As he did so, Cameron told me to have a good day, then gave me a little look that made me think his wheels were turni
ng about what might happen that evening. Elliot also told me to have a good day, then said he'd see me at six, and like Cameron, he also had a bit of a glint in his eyes. I suddenly wished it was six already.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  All morning, I was busy with the movers, though not so busy that I didn't have time to have a little meeting with Dana when she brought Sunny to the house. Over coffee at the dining room table, I told her that I was sorry for speaking sharply to her the day before, but that I really did think it was important that all Gifteds at least try to take a part in defending Haverwood against the Angels and their wolves. She agreed that it was, but said that many of them were just out of practice with what skills they had.

  I nodded, saying that I understood. "So, basically, many of you have just gotten comfortable with not trying. Trust me; I know all about that."

  We eventually decided that we'd host an informal meeting at the coffee shop at two that afternoon, just to talk to the other Gifteds and find out who was willing to try to get back in the swing of things and maybe attend a few practice sessions that I planned to schedule. I told Dana to tell everyone that no one should even feel pressured to come to the coffee shop meeting if they didn't want to.

  Something just told me that considering what some of the Haverwood Gifteds had already been through, what with being injured and battle scarred, that pressuring them to do anything might not be the very best way to go about things. I thought it more likely that some of them would come around and try to participate if they saw others doing so successfully, and if they felt like they were joining in on their own terms. I considered myself their new leader, yes, but I planned on being the type of leader who motivated people by encouraging them, not turning thumbscrews.

  Dana herself agreed to come to any and all practice sessions I scheduled, and to urge everyone at the meeting to do the same.