Werewolf Rage Book #2 in the Taming The Wolf Series (22 page)

             
She pushed off on her bike and glided down the gently twisting road, careful of the fast cars zooming past her. At first she had wanted to turn her back on her werewolf side but being in Ireland, it felt so natural to embrace her inner wolf. Strangely that had been the most healing thing she’d done. Every time she changed into her wolf form, something clicked into place. In her heart, her mind and her body. She could tell that she was becoming stronger. She’d always been strong physically. No, it was the emotional strength she was regaining. She’d been wiped out when Cyrus had thrown her away in his quest for revenge. But she was building up again. Slowly, but surely, layer upon layer. The pain was still there, but it didn’t stop her anymore. It didn’t control her or define her anymore. No, the new Ava was someone to be reckoned with.

             
She smiled to herself as she thought about Rory and Poppy. She’d heard that Ireland was crawling with werewolves. She’d sensed them in the woods when she ran, but no one had dared approach her. Until now. She frowned as she wondered how he could know she was a werewolf, when she hadn’t sensed anything about him. He didn’t feel anything like the men she knew. All strong Alpha males. She pursed her mouth and wondered if maybe Rory was more the Beta type like Cyrus’s friend Grayson.

             
She pedaled up another smaller hill and thought about Rory’s invitation to come out and meet some other werewolves. She took in a deep breath and let it out. Maybe it was time to leave her cocoon and venture out socially. She missed having friends and having women to confide in. She missed Perry and Patricia and her cousin Yvonne. Maybe she would go after all. Making new friends would cement her place in her new home. Besides, Rory was cute. He had that beautiful dark red hair and high cheek bones of the native Irish. His eyes had been a soft and dreamy green. Maybe her heart was ready to move on? Maybe she’d healed so well, that it was possible to feel something for a man again?

             
Ava sped down the hill and frowned, feeling nothing but a tight coldness in her heart at the thought of being romantically involved with Rory. Then again, maybe she wasn’t quite ready for that. But platonic friendships? Sign her up. Being a Yank in Ireland made her different and slightly suspicious. Being a Yank and a werewolf? Kind of hard to fit in, not that she had wanted to. No, she’d just wanted to be left alone and teach her kids how to tumble. But a year and a half later, she was now ready to find a group of people to call her own.

             
She made it home quickly and leaned her bike up against the stone cottage she had bought for practically nothing. She unlocked her old wooden door and let herself in, turning the lights on and sighing happily. This was her place. Her sanctuary from the world. It was cozy, well at least it was when she lit a fire, and it was all hers. No one from her past had ever intruded here or touched anything. It was all hers. She moved to the old fireplace and expertly started a fire and slipped off her wet jacket to dry. She moved to the kitchen and opened her small fridge and took out a meat pie she’d bought at the pub yesterday. She set it on her Rayburn stove to heat up and went into her tiny room to change into her black yoga pants and a gray t-shirt.

             
She twisted her damp hair up into a knot on her head and moved to her laptop. She opened it and checked her email. When she’d first come to Ireland she hadn’t checked her email for months at a time. Now she found herself checking it at least twice a day. She frowned and sighed a little, knowing that she looked forward to the pictures of her little brother Perry sent occasionally. That, and news of her father and the people she used to know.

             
She smiled as she saw a new email from her father this time. She sat down and clicked on the letter icon and sat back.

             
Ava, hi sweetie. I thought I’d send an email and see how you’re doing. Things here in Paskell are pretty quiet these days. Kurt threw an anniversary party at the pub last weekend for me and Perry. I think the whole town came. Finn got tired after a while so we slipped out, but everyone else stayed up and had a good time. Wish you could have been there. Cole was there too. Just a little bit of gossip, but I think Zoe has her eye on him. Cyrus was there of course. He brought his mom. Patricia is doing so much better these days. She’s talking about working at the pharmacy again. I think it would be good for her and the town too, to see her overcome her grief and live again. We’ve had two girls move to town. They’re from Tanner’s Landing and friends of Perry and Coles. I think you’d like them. Talia and Bronwyn Masters. I know you’ve moved on from Cyrus and everything here, but I have to say, Cyrus now has two lovely ladies with their eyes set on him. He seemed a little uncomfortable last night, but he’ll get used to it. It will be good to see him move on too. Ava, Perry and I have been talking and we really would like to come visit you. We want you to meet your little brother. I’ve never gone this long not seeing you and I think about you every day sweet heart. Please let us come for a visit. We won’t tell anyone where you are. Think about it. I love you, Dad

             
Ava looked up from her laptop, staring unseeingly at the wall as the news and the request flooded her mind and heart. Could she do it? Could she allow her father to come to her? She’d get to see Finn and Perry. She closed her eyes as her heart squeezed hard and winced at the pain there. Hope and fear raged inside of her until she gave up and moved to the kitchen to grab her dinner off the stove.

             
As she chewed the food without tasting it, she thought of the last picture of Finn she’d seen. His happy dimpled smile. Her brother. She swallowed and bit her lip. She would do it. She would let them come. It was that or go to them, and that she could not do. Just the thought of running into Cyrus sent chills running down her spine. No, it would be better for everyone if they never set eyes on each other again. Besides, with two girls chasing him, he didn’t need any distractions from an ex-fiancée.

             
She threw her dinner in the sink and moved back to the laptop. She sat down and typed two letters.

             
O K

There are many people I’d like to thank who helped me along my way.  I’d like to thank Zach Hill for editing and Jessica G. for her editing and feedback. I also want to thank LFD Designs for Authors for the amazing cover. I also want to thank my kids for giving me a reason to push beyond myself.  Without them, I’d just be sitting around reading everyone else’s books.

Katie Lee
O’Guinn has lived in many places but enjoys living in the Rocky Mountains now with her children.  For more information on Katie Lee’s books, check out www.katieleeoguinn.blogspot.com . She has two favorite quotes: “The Creative Adult is the Child Who Survived” and "We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." – Elie Wiesel

Katie Lee spends her time being a mother, a writer and volunteering for The Millstone Foundation, a foundation for the protection of children from Sexual Abuse, Sex Trafficking and Child Pornography.  For more information on The Millstone Foundation, go to www.millstonefoundation.com.