As Jessie came in from the front porch, the evidence of dinner was everywhere.
Kitani was having a loud argument with Ryan in the living room. It was oddly disjointed, interspersed with periods of silence—were they talking in their heads? Cody added the odd terse comment.
Kade had gone out on patrol with Trevor. There was no sign of Zach. Jessie found Cara in the kitchen, washing dishes.
“Was Zach here?” she asked.
“Just went upstairs,” Cara replied without looking up.
Jessie sucked her lip between her teeth. He’d no doubt sensed her coming in from the porch. The kitchen looked like a herd of elephants had stampeded through. Weres may love to cook, but they weren’t great at cleaning up the aftermath. She glanced around. No dishwasher to be seen.
Cara noticed her looking. “Old house. Old kitchen. I don’t mind.”
Jessie grabbed a towel and began drying.
“Did you actually eat or were you just sitting out there?” Cara asked.
Jessie shook her head. “Not hungry.”
“Not an acceptable answer.” Cara raised an eyebrow. “I even managed to get food into Laura. You guys have to stay strong. No shirking food until you transform.” She dried her hands and took the skillet from Jessie. “Eggs are just what you need.”
She dropped the pan onto the stove, turned on the element, and dug the eggs out of the fridge.
Jessie leaned against the counter. “How is he?”
Cara didn’t have to ask whohewas. “He’s coping.”
Jessie’s throat closed up, and she nodded, selecting another plate to dry. What was going on between her and Kade must feel like such a betrayal to Zach. It seemed like a betrayal to her, too.
“I’m worried about Laura.” Cara’s gaze softened. “She’s too quiet. And Trevor said she barely spoke to him when they went for their walk. He offered himself to her. As a mate. You know how big a deal that is. And she turned him down, cold.”
It sparked something inside Jessie. She slammed the towel down. “Where is she?”
“She’s upstairs.”
When Jessie pushed through the bedroom door, Laura was sitting on the bed. Reading a book.
Jessie focused on unclenching her fists. Getting angry wasn’t going to get her anywhere. She needed to open a dialogue with Laura. So she gestured to the book.
“Wow. A real book. Paper and everything.”
Laura shrugged. “Damn Sabres took my phone. And Zach doesn’t have a reader. He offered his library—a great collection of sci-fi and fantasy. This one’s calledFreeforce. Bunch of people kidnapped by aliens and forced to fight in a war. Pretty cool.”
Sci-fi and fantasy? It was a side to Zach that Jessie hadn’t known. Her heart twisted. “I’ll have to check it out.” She sat on her bed. “How are you doing?”
Laura peered at her over the book. Something about the woman seemed different. She couldn’t put her finger on it.
Laura’s eyes returned to her page. “Tomorrow’s the full moon. I’m as ready as I’m going to be.”
“Cara mentioned that Trevor made you an offer. And you turned him down?”
A finger moved to turn the page. Was she actually reading during this discussion?
“Both Neil and Trevor made the offer. But I’m not interested in mating a Sabre,” she stated coolly.
“They didn’t have to make the offer. They are both nice guys. A big step up from Braden.” Some of Jessie’s anger was slipping free.
Laura shrugged. “Not interested.”
