Nora


    I want to murder Leo.


    We exchanged phone numbers before I left the house, and now the bastard is teasing me over texts. Reba is trying on new clothes, and I''m sitting on a couch, ring down at my screen. Leo is my only focus.


    I wish I could put down my phone even for a minute, but I''m clutching it like it''s my lifeline.


    I''m surrounded by mirrors. People are walking by, and mothers are testing clothes on their kids, but I ain''t paying them the time of day. I''m too invested in my text messages. There are so many sent from Leo...


    Husband: William came over with some of your stuff, and I''m currently flipping through your diary.


    Husband: I didn''t mean to do it, but it fell on the floor, and a juicy page was open.


    Husband: Totally not reading it...


    Husband: Oh-my-god, you did not bite your nails until fourth grade!


    Husband: The little creatures you have drawn in your diary are cute. I never knew you had a creative s


    Husband: Ugh, I knew you had a crush on Jake. Every freaking girl did back in the day. But what is this Heret says you think my eyes are greener than grass.


    Husband: OMG!!!


    Husband: I can''t believe you always had the hots for me. You might have written you hate my guts on this page, but you also wrote, "I hate Leo''s stupidly beautiful face," which is ttering. Husband: Holy s**t! You think I have the eyes of an angel and super smooth skin! That''s the greatestpliment ever!


    Husband: Do you think I should shave then? Or do you like the little stubble that I have? Which one do you want more when a man goes down on you? Because I will do it. Today. Tonight. Leo is a freaking girl when ites to text messaging me! There are so many messages!


    Ugh, my head is spinning, and my phone vibrates again. Jesus Christ, there is another message from Loo! How many freaking pages has he read out of my diaries already?!


    I stare at my most recent message.


    Husband: Aw, I think your braces looked cute, and Lily was just an a*****e for saying she was prettier than you. Gosh. You''re secretly so insecure, Nora. And no, you''re not ugly. Sure, you''ve always been super short, but you never permanently looked like a toddler like you im in your diary.


    Growling, I type a message back to Leo.


    Me: Stop reading my diary! And I was taller than you!


    Leo: You''re not taller anymore, shortie. And it''s toote. I''m already on volume 2 of The Nora Diaries.


    Me: STOP!!!


    Leo: It''s an addiction, Nora. I can''t stop reading. I actually might just love you. I fall for you a little more with each page, and now... f**k, I just want to hug you.


    My face heats up, and I blow out steam through my nose. Even my hands are shaking. I''m so embarrassed that Leo is reading my diaries. How am I supposed to face himter?!


    I type at record speed.


    Me: I''m going to kill you when I get home.


    Leo: With love, hugs, and kisses?


    The three dots move quickly.


    Leo: HAHA, I KNEW IT WAS YOU WHO FARTED THAT TIME INSIDE THE CLASSROOM!


    Oh-my-god, would he stop reading?!


    Me: LEO!!!


    Me: STOP READING MY DIARY!


    Leo: Only on one condition, Nora.


    Groaning, I type back to him. I''m unsure what he wants from me, but it can''t be something good since the man is the devil on earth.


    Me: What do you want?


    The three dots dance across the screen, get erased, and then dance again until finally there is a response.


    Leo: Sleep in the same bed as me. No need for s*x. Just sleep in the same bed and watch a movie with me. Then I promise to leave you things alone, and I will also cook you a nice dinner. Dinner, huh?


    I consider his idea and smile to myself. It would be nice to eat something homecooked that doesn''t taste burnt. I''m not exactly the best in the kitchen, but Leo? I bet he has had culinary sses. He looks like the type who can get wild with vors. Me: That actually sounds nice.


    Leo: It''s a date.


    Leo: Wear sexy underwear.


    I bite back a smile. I''m trying to keep my hands away from my husband, but there is something about Leo that pulls me towards him. I want to get to know him and learn more about him. Gosh.


    I''m already a victim of the Leo charm, the weapon Lily imed her future husband had. "How do I look?"


    My eyes lift to Reba. She is wearing a beautiful blue dress that fits her dark skin and blue eyes. It also hugs her curves, and my lips curl into a giant smile.


    "You look lovely," I tell her. "And you don''t even look pregnant when wearing it."


    "I don''t mind looking pregnant," Reba sends me a warm smile and poses in the mirror. "Since I grew up in a foster home, I''ve always wanted to be a better parent than the ones who abandoned me. Bing a mother was my dream, and it only makes sense for William and me to have plenty of kids. And I don''t mind that I''m bigger now. The stretchmarks are beautiful. A sign of motherhood."


    "Agreed, and I see the way William looks at you. You''re his treasure and the love of his life. He can''t keep his hands off you for more than five minutes either."


    Her blushes creeping in. "I know, and I don''t mind having a cut trophy boyfriend. I still get butterflies feeling up his abs in the shower, under the hot water currents. And sometimes, when we are in the jacuzzi, I just move to sit over his-"


    "Gross!" I exim, smiling so hard that it hurts. Laughter bubbles up my throat, and I shake my head. "Please refrain from discussing your and my brother''s s*x life!"


    "But you''re my best friend!" Reba pouts. "Who else am I supposed to talk to it about?!"


    "Not me!" I''m bobbing up and down, stillughing. "I don''t want to hear what my brother does to you in bed!"


    "Fine, I won''t talk about it..." Reba frowns, but then her eyes light up with curiosity. "How are things going with Leo? Is it terrible being mated to the guy your sister was crushing on for years and who bullied you through school? Tell me what it''s like!" "Umm..." I stare down at the floor. "Well... Lily disappeared, and I haven''t heard from her since the wedding. She was upset with me, but so far, I''m still breathing. Leo''s mother, Gloria, hates me, but Leo... He defended me from her." "He defended you?"


    "Yeah, Leo is... He is actually not that bad."


    Reba stares at me before understanding enters her eyes. Even her smile grows soft. "You like him."


    I don''t bother to hide it and instead ask, "Is that stupid of me? Because I think Leo only bothers with me since we are mated, but... I''m a human, and once he figures out what that truly means, I''m afraid he will leave me for someone else." Reba sits down on the couch and takes my hand. "Honey, why would he leave you?"


    I take a deep breath. "Because I''m not unique, and once Leo realizes that he might find a lover... Be with me, but find another werewolf to love and care for."


    "Leo wouldn''t do that..."


    "You never know, Reba. I''ve seen it happen in other packs. The alpha keeps the mate around to grow powerful but loves another woman by the side. It is terrible." Reba squeezes my hand, finding my eyes. "Do you know what I''m thinking is going on?"


    "What?"


    Her smile is kind. "I think you''re overthinking. You should rx and get to know Leo right now. Stop thinking about how he might hurt you in the future, and try to take it easy."


    "I can try, but it''s not easy when I''m nothing specialpared to everyone else... I can''t even shape-shift and do something basic like running in the forest or going for a hunt."


    "You smell like a werewolf," Reba says, shrugging. "You might not have awakened yet, or... Maybe you never will, but one thing is certain: it''s wrong to call you a human."


    I smile. "Thank you."


    "You''re wee... And..." A wrinkle appears between her eyebrows as she blinks. "I gave up my lycan to save everyone, and when William and the kids feel like stretching their paws, I usually ride on my husband''s back. I love it, especially when he takes to the skies." I stare at her with my heart picking up speed. "But asking that of Leo would be so embarrassing!"


    She snorts in amusement. "Just ask him, Nora. I''m sure Leo would be thrilled to take you for a little ride."


    I gulp. "Or Leo would once more be reminded that I''m nothing special and would leave my a*s..."