Michelle shook her head. “No. I don’t. It wasn’t anything. I just felt…jealous, I guess. It sucks. I don’t like it.”

Gina laughed. “Gurl. I hear you. It’s part of that connection you have with Josh. I can see it. Anyone can. I’m trying to say…God, how do I say this?”

Michelle rolled her eyes. “Josh got around. There will be lots of ladies everywhere we go who’ve taken him for a long ride.”

Both of them laughed at that.

“Be that as it may. You are not them. The difference will be apparent immediately if he’s standing with you. Word will get out. Once people know he’s, um, in a relationship with you, a real one, they’ll back off. Wolves are orderly even as they are bossy and possessive and overbearing. Our wolves anyway. There are beta wolves. Damon and Josh aren’t that kind.”

Gina took Michelle’s hand and squeezed it. “I like you. We’re glad you’re around and we want to keep it that way. We understand that a lot of this will be new to you and we just want to help. Explain what we can, when it’s necessary.”

“So the blonde out there used to bang Josh, but now that I’m around she’ll stop petting him?”

Rhonda laughed. “Yes, you’ll fit in just fine.”

Josh came into the office. “If you don’t mind.” He gave Gina a look and she waved it away. “I’d like to talk to Michelle alone for a few minutes.”

Rhonda and Gina strolled out. “They heal pretty fast,” Gina called out as she shut the door in her wake, leaving them alone.

“Did she just encourage you to kick me or something?”

“Depends. Did you do something you need kicking over?”

He took a deep breath and stepped closer. “No. Will you let me explain?”

She shrugged, feeling like a dumbass.

“I was not a virgin when you came to Portland. You ought to know, I lost it with you anyway. She’s my past. On and off. Never serious.”

“Did you use a condom with her too?” Holy shit. Did she actually say that out loud?

He stilled. “What?”

“I don’t know an awful lot about shifters, but I do know they don’t get or give STDs and they can scent when a female is fertile so you guys don’t usually suit up. But when you’ve been with me you have. I’m not at the fertile part of my cycle. So is it a thing? Like you don’t want to be naked in me? Or what?”

It was like a bad dream where she was saying all this stuff and had no ability to stop herself. She finally put her hand over her mouth to stop.

She was mortified because, hello, that was not the time and place. Wolves all over the place and they probably heard.

She gathered her tattered self-control and faced him again. “This is not my first case and I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t…I’m not prone to being jealous and saying stuff that is entirely inappropriate for the setting. I’m sorry. I’m so embarrassed.” She turned, her face in her hands.

He came to her, enfolding her, his front to her back. Given the very hard c**k at her ass, he wasn’t upset with her at all.

“It’s all right. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, suffice it to say seeing you jealous and off balance actually makes me hot. Can we make this call to Owen and let them know what’s going on, and then you and I can go and talk? I’ll explain everything, I promise. Will you trust me enough to do that?” He kissed her temple and she leaned back against him.

“They all heard me. I wish a hole would swallow me up.”

He chuckled softly. “Beautiful, wolves are passionate. There’s lots of this stuff. All the time. I promise once we talk you’ll understand more.”

She dragged in a breath and agreed.

They made the call. In Seattle, Gage and Lark were both on it, along with Meriel Owen and her husband Dominic, who ran the Owen Clan of witches.

They were fairly tight lipped, but they did indicate they believed there was something larger at work. Some big bad they didn’t know a whole lot about but were looking into. They urged Rhonda and Gina to teach Michelle some healing and defensive spells and told them to introduce her to Cesare, one of the Portland witches who was apparently a whiz at battle spells. Which should help with her police work.

It was clear the witches in Seattle had an overflowing plate of trouble and they had to deal with this on their own. Which worried Michelle as she tried to imagine what would be worse than that spell she’d felt at the jail.

Things just kept getting worse. Darker and more overwhelming. Which, she supposed, helped her keep in perspective that she’d sort of acted like a jealous dick earlier within the supernatural hearing range of a house full of wolves.

Still, she kept her gaze averted as she ended the call. All around her there was conversation as she gathered her things. Gina hugged her and told her not to worry, Rhonda followed, whispering for Michelle to keep in touch.

They headed toward the front door as she fought a blush and met Tracy, Gabe and Nick’s eyes, thanking them for their help and support.

Tracy hugged her and spoke quietly. “Please don’t be embarrassed. It’s okay. I promise you.”

She mumbled more thanks as they left, Josh’s hand at the small of her back, guiding her to his car. They both remained quiet as he pulled away and headed back to his place.

Finally, once they’d been in the car a few minutes, Josh cleared his throat to speak, but before he could say anything, her phone rang and it was Dexter.