Shadow Wolf (Wolf of My Heart Book 7)
Page 17
"The verdict is in. Cade has been exonerated and will face no more charges in the death of werewolf JT Paxton."
Whew.
Who could've imagined that the Corteggio had such a complicated criminal court system? As for the real world, Cade had never been charged for anything nor would he be. Security cameras had left no doubt as to what had happened. A badly shaken, newly enlightened Sheriff had abruptly dropped the case. It was an election year, after all, and the killing was clearly in self-defense. My self, Cade's defense. There was simply no good reason to tell the public about the werewolf pack living in an old house on Pine Street.
"It looks like you've recovered nicely." Ben's cool gaze swept Cade. When he got to me, he pursed his lips in disapproval. He shifted his focus back to Cade "We've learned about a rogue pack in Montana. You'll start tomorrow."
"Oh no he won't!" Yeah, that was my big mouth. "He's going to finish out his degree. The Law Enforcement Training Institute in Columbia has offered a grant." I smiled really big at Theo, who'd been instrumental in that process.
"You can't speak for yourself?" Ben as good as growled.
"She's actually doing a really great job." Cade kissed the top of my head.
"So you're just going to quit? After all I've done for you?"
Cade nodded. "Yeah, I am."
"But what about your mother? You know she wants—"
"Me to be happy? So she said when I talked to her last night. She also wants to meet Lily, which is why we'll be flying to Colorado, not Montana, this weekend." Cade extricated himself from my arms and stood. "You're the closest thing to a father I've ever known, Ben. I have so much respect for you. Can you respect me?"
Ben's eyes actually filled with tears, a shocker. Maybe he wasn't the insensitive jerk that I thought he was.
"Human law enforcement is a thankless task," he said. "No support from the court systems, no gratitude from the people you're literally dying to protect."
Okay. So maybe he was an insensitive jerk after all.
"And what about counseling? You killed your own father, and while you've been exonerated, you're bound to have feelings of guilt."
"Not really," said Cade. "Sometimes a cop has to do what a cop has to do."
"You're not a cop yet, and even when you are, you'll never fit in. You're only half human." He couldn't have sounded more disgusted.
I jumped to my feet, ready to punch out his lights. "You just don't get it, do you?"
Ben visibly bristled when he turned to me. "Get what?"
"How special Cade is. He's more than half human. He's more than half wolf. He's both." I flashed my guy a proud smile. "Which makes him unique, miraculous, and…" I paused, searching for the right word.
"Perfect?" Neecy looked into Theo's eyes. He grinned.
"That's it! He's perfect." I looked up at Cade and nodded once. "You're perfect."
Ben sputtered for several seconds and then abruptly stormed out the door. The house shook with the slam.
Cade laughed. "Lily?"
"Yeah?"
"I think I've figured out why my dad threw away my mom when she came up pregnant."
Was he still trying to justify his fate? I had no idea how he possibly could.
"If he hadn't," Cade said. "I'd have turned out just like him."
"That actually makes sense," I told him.
"And means we probably are fated."
Remembering an earlier conversation about this, I nodded.
"So…when we grow up, will you marry me?"
Neecy gasped. Theo hooted.
"Hell to the yeah," I said, sealing my promise with a long, wet kiss.
About the author:
Linda Palmer loves, loves, loves to write and always has, starting with poetry in grade school on up to full-length novels by the time she was married. Though she never quit her day jobs, she did join a writer's group that motivated her to submit her work to publishers. Silhouette Books published Linda's first romance novel in l989 and the next twenty over a ten year period (writing as Linda Varner).
In 1999 she took a break to take care of her family. She learned that she couldn't not write and began again, changing her genre to young adult/new adult paranormal romance. She has full-length novels out as e-reads and in print and there are always more in the works. She also has many novellas and short stories available. She loves Ed Sheeran and YA dystopian books and movies, especially when there is a romantic relationship at the heart of the action.
Linda was a Romance Writers of America finalist twice and won the 2011 and 2012 EPIC eBook awards in the Young Adult category. She married her junior high school sweetheart many years ago and lives in Arkansas, USA with her family. Her website is www.lindavpalmer.com.
Other books by Linda Palmer
Young Adult:
Jaguar Moon
Storm Swept
My Wolf (Wolf of my Heart Book 1)
Wolf Run (Wolf of my Heart Book 2)
Wolf Crazy (Wolf of my Heart Book 3)
Wolf Way (Wolf of my Heart Book 4)
His Wolf (Wolf of my Heart Book 5)
Blood Wolf (Wolf of my Heart Book 6)
Wolf Wraith- A Wolf of My Heart Novella
Nightmare, Interrupted
The Cinderella Swap
Sidekicks
Somewhere in the Middle
Titanium
Merlin's Magic?
S'nat Wars (Co-written with Julie Kimbrell)
Double Vision (Co-written with Julie Kimbrell)
Balmythra (Co-written with Nancy K. Howard)
Operation: Normal
E.V.E.R
FAEted
One Shifty Santa
The Problem with Pumpkins
Caught!
Spell Fail
Mistletoe Magic
Most Wanted (Psy Squad #1)
Psychic High (Psy Squad #2)*
Here and There (Psy Squad #3)*
Sister Golden Hair Surprise and the Cruiser
New Adult/Adult:
Titanium
Knowing (writing as Jael Gates)
In Wildest Dreams
Ivy's Eyes
The Ghost of Christmas Never
The Phoenix Flaw (writing as Jael Gates)
Silhouette Romances (by Linda Varner) on sale as ebooks:
Corporate Groom
Make Believe Husband
Lone Star Bride
Won't You Be My Husband?
Mistletoe Bride
New Year's Wife
* Not yet released