Moonlight Kin 2: Aidan's Mate (Mid-Length Novel) by Jordan Summers Page B

her eyes. “Aidan!” Jenna couldn’t lose him. Not like this. Not yet.
    The shadows hid him at first. His black fur blended so well that she’d nearly stumbled over him. Her wolf . Lying next to the trees not far from where Aidan had been.
    Or had he?
    Had she really seen him?
    Jenna wasn’t sure.
    Just how hard had she hit her head? She thought she’d only been momentarily stunned. Jenna felt the wound on her forehead, but other than being a little sore from the airbag, it didn’t feel too bad.
    Had she imagined the whole thing? Aidan had looked so real in the rearview mirror. She glanced across the driveway at the tilted SUV. The angle out the back wasn’t perfect. It wouldn’t give her the clearest view.
    Jenna shook her head and looked down at the ground. Maybe she’d just wanted to see Aidan again. So much so that her brain had conjured him up for her. She didn’t want to examine why too closely.
    It dawned on her that he hadn’t been wearing any clothes. Jenna groaned.
    Terrific! Even during an accident, she couldn’t escape thoughts of his naked body.
    Jenna stared at the black wolf. The wolf stared back. She had hit something. Of that there was no doubt. Since Aidan wasn’t here, it stood to reason that she’d struck her wolf.
    She needed to make sure he was okay. If he wasn’t, then somehow she’d coax him into a vehicle and get him to a vet. Jenna tried to imagine lifting over two hundred pounds of wolf into her car. No way could she do that without hurting him worse. He had to be okay.
     “Easy, fella.” Jenna held her hands out and kept her voice soothing. “How’s my pretty boy?”
    His ears perked up as he watched her approach. There didn’t appear to be any visible injuries, but she wouldn’t know for sure until she could examine him. Jenna kneeled as she neared the animal.
    “Come here. I need to make sure that you’re okay.” She reached out and slowly felt his legs before making her way over his body, checking for tenderness.
    There was no blood that she could see or feel. And nothing seemed to be swollen. Did that mean he was okay? Maybe she’d simply stunned him, too.
    Please let him just be stunned.
    “That’s a good boy.” Jenna carefully examined him again, making sure she hadn’t missed anything. The wolf didn’t whimper or flinch.
    Relieved that he was unharmed and that it hadn’t been Aidan that she’d hit, Jenna’s composure shattered. She threw her arms around the wolf’s neck and buried her face in his fur. The tears she’d held back released in a flood. All the pain and frustration she’d suppressed came bubbling out.
    “I’m so sorry.” Her shoulders shook as she cried. “I never wanted any of this to happen. I thought I’d have more time. But he’s here,” she said between hiccups. “I don’t want to betray his trust...But I can’t fight him without money.” She sobbed. “He’ll just keep coming...Won’t ever stop...Maybe someday Aidan will forgive me.”
    The wolf licked the tears off her cheek, then swept his tongue over the wound on her forehead. Jenna could feel his muscles quiver beneath her hands, but he didn’t try to pull away or try to bite her. She rubbed his head and ran her hand over his muzzle. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
    He licked her hand.
    She sniffed loudly and wiped her face with her sleeve. He couldn’t understand a word she was saying, but that was okay. She’d just needed someone to listen.
    “Thank you for letting me hold you. I’m glad you’re all right.” Jenna stroked the wolf’s sides one last time, then slowly rose to her feet.
    The wolf waited a moment, as if to make sure she was all right, then bounded into the woods.
    Jenna watched him go, paying special attention to his strong legs. No limps. No favoring of sides. No whimpers of pain. She sighed. Thank goodness.
    She walked back to the Rover and climbed behind the wheel. Jenna had no idea how she’d pay for the SUV’s repairs, when she couldn’t