Moon Shifter 02 - Primal Possession

wouldn’t leave the house or even talk about what happened. Her pain was obviously still fresh, and even if she wouldn’t talk to December, she really wished her friend would talk to someone.
    When December entered the house, the subtle scent of chili teased her nostrils. She pressed a hand to her stomach as bile rose in her throat. Normally she loved chili, but the smell made her nauseous.
    Shrugging off her jacket, she hung it up, then headed for the kitchen. She found Kat at the stove, still in her pajamas. Her friend glanced over her shoulder at her. Her eyes were red and puffy, likely because she’d been crying most of the day.
    “Hey,” Kat murmured.
    Pushing down the unexpected nausea, she stepped farther into the room. She’d planned to wait until later but decided to plunge ahead. “Hey…listen, I know it’s not my business but I was thinking maybe it wouldn’thurt to talk to a professional. Maybe not in Fontana, but we can find a doctor in a nearby town and—”
    “Forget it,” Kat said as she shook her head. She put the wooden spoon down and turned to face her. Leaning against the counter, she crossed her arms over her chest defensively. “I don’t want to talk to anyone about what happened. I know I’ve been moping around here—”
    “I don’t care about that. I just want you to get some help and maybe find some relief.” She heard her friend crying late at night and it broke her heart. She’d tried to help, but it was hard when Kat wouldn’t even talk. And normal conversation was out of the question. It was too forced and fake.
    “I spoke to Aiden today and he’s going to…help me.”
    She frowned, not understanding. “Help you?”
    Her friend nodded as if the answer should be obvious. “Understand more about the changes I’m going through and teach me to fight.”
    “That’s not the kind of help I was thinking about.”
    “Well, I’m not talking to some freaking shrink about my feelings or problems that they’ll never understand. I just want to know how to defend myself…and control myself. I woke up this morning in wolf form and it freaked me out. He’s going to help me figure everything out and teach me how to fight anyone who wants to hurt me.”
    “What about Jayce?” she asked softly. The enforcer had been by the house every day and he’d called too many times to count. While December might not have exactly liked the guy in the beginning, it was obvious he cared for Kat and would do anything for her.
    Kat’s eyes immediately shuttered. She shrugged jerkily. “What about him? He didn’t want me before. Justbecause I’m like him now doesn’t mean he gets a second chance.” Her voice was distant yet somehow bitter.
    December decided not to push the subject. Not now anyway. Kat had too much on her plate and she just wanted to be supportive of her friend. So she changed the subject. “You need help with anything?”
    Kat shook her head. “Nah, chili’s almost done and I’ve got French bread in the oven. Should be done in twenty minutes.”
    “Okay, I’m going to freshen up and…” She trailed off at the sound of the doorbell.
    “I’m not available if it’s Jayce.” Kat turned back to the stove after that, effectively cutting off any argument.
    Sighing, December headed for the front door. When she looked through the peephole and saw her brother, sweat blossomed across her forehead. Without wasting time, she slung open the door. She wanted to hug Parker but didn’t know why he was here or if he’d even return the embrace. They hadn’t talked since before he’d been shot, and she hadn’t realized until that moment how much she ached to see and talk to him. No matter what his issues with shifters, he’d always be the big brother who’d bandaged her scrapes and checked her closet for monsters when she’d been a little girl.
    Wearing jeans and a dark cashmere sweater, Parker stood on her front porch looking as nervous as she’d ever seen him. Part of a white bandage was visible from the top of his sweater, wrapping back around over his shoulder. “Hey.”
    “Hi.” She’d never felt weird around her brother, but after calling him a hundred times and trying to see him over and over, she didn’t know what to say and was a little afraid of his rejection. “Uh, do you want to come in? Kat made dinner.”
    He swallowed hard and nodded. “That’d be great.”
    Once inside they didn’t make it past the foyer. He jerked to a sudden stop and