Outsider (Outsider Series) by Micalea Smeltzer

I have one?” I asked.
    “Of course,” he replied. “We just have to find it. Or maybe it’ll find you.”
    “Didn’t your dad have a familiar and your mom? I didn’t see any other dogs there.”
    He chewed quietly and said, “My dad’s familiar was a Siberian Husky named Marlo but he died when my dad died. And my mom’s familiar is a Siberian Husky too, her name is Mattie.”
    I gulped. “Does that mean my familiar will be an Irish Wolfhound?”
    He laughed, “I doubt it.”
    “Phew,” I said and let out a breath. “I’m not sure one would fit through Gram’s front door.”
    “It would be a tight squeeze,” he conceded.
    I finished my food while Caeden polished off his last burger and ate the last of his vinegar drenched fries. He finished and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. “That was good,” he said.
    “Full?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow. I certainly hoped so. I had just watched him single-handily devour four massive burgers, two large fries, and two large drinks, in just a matter of minutes.
    “ Mhmm ,” he said thoughtfully, “I think I saved room for des s ert.”
    “Your disgusting,” I said with a laugh.
    His dimple appeared. “I can’t help it. I’m part wolf. I have four stomachs.”
    “That’s cows, you idiot,” I said with a laugh.
    He grinned, “Moo.”
    “Let’s go find you some dessert,” I said getting up and throwing away my trash. Caeden quickly followed suit and held the door open for me.
    He took my hand and led me down the street towards a tiny ice cream parlor. He ordered a large root beer float and got me a scoop of banana ice cream even though I insisted I didn’t want anything.
    We sat down at a table by the window. Caeden slurped his float while I stirred my ice cream.
    Taking a bite I said, “How did you know banana ice cream is my favorite?”
    “I, uh, I don’t know. I gue ss it’s a mate thing,” he said shrugging his wide shoulders.
    “Really?” I asked. “Hmm,” I said thoughtfully. “Ask me what your favorite candy is?”
    “What’s my favorite candy?” he asked me.
    I thought for a momen t and replied, “M&M’s?” I asked questioningly.
    He grinned. “That’s right. Let me guess yours.” He thought for a moment and said, “Reese’s cups?”
    I laughed. “You’re right! This is so cool!”
    We finished our ice cream with a smile. He held my hand on the way back to the car. “I had fun,” I said.
    “Best day of my life,” he said, “because I got to spend it with you.”
    I shook my head and smiled at him, “Suck up.”
    He feigned indignation, “Sophie, are you accusing me of lying?”
    “Never,” I said and we laughed all the way to the car. He held the car door open for me like a gentleman and then we started the long drive back home.
    He held my hand as he drove. I had noticed all day that his hand always remained toasty warm.
    “Why is your hand so warm?” I asked.
    He gave my hand a light squeeze and said, “Well, shifters are always slightly warmer than the normal human. Once you shift the first time you get even warmer. But we’re not that much above the average temperature for a human so it’s nothing to worry about . It just always feels like we have a slight fever.”
    “But why? ” I asked. “What’s the purpose?”
    He shrugged his shoulders and kept his eyes on the road. “The common theory is that it’s because we’re outside so much. It would suck in the winter if we had a normal temperature, since we’re always running around doing our watches, we would get sick. So, I guess we’re warmer so that we don’t end up sick all the time. Because… uh… when we shift… our clothes don’t shift with us…”
    “So, you’re saying when you go all wolf you lose your clothes, s o you’re like naked?” I gulped. I don’t know why I had even bothered to ask. I already knew the answer from when Caeden showed up at my house last night.
    He glanced over at me and winked. “You get