Chapter 8

• Nile
• It had been days since it happened, but I couldn’t stop thinking about our kiss. Despite all the times we had put on our “happy couple” show, that had been the first time I had felt Violet truly soften in my presence.
• She did her duty in front of the pack, but any affection she showed me felt stiff and unyielding. I had hoped that after living with me, she would allow me to explain why I had to leave her six years ago, but that hadn’t happened yet. Violet had done a good job of avoiding being alone with me, and it wasn’t exactly a conversation I wanted to have in front of others.
• I knew more work needed to be done—both with the packs and with Violet—to show everyone that this marriage had been a good decision. On the tail of the success of our last public appearance, I decided it was time for us to show our faces together once again. Luckily, Pinedale was hosting a town fair tonight. It would be the perfect opportunity to put on a show for the packs while getting some time with Violet.
• I entered the town square with both Violet’s and Penny’s hands in mine. Immediately, Penny’s eyes widened as she saw the vendors selling popcorn, cotton candy, and corndogs.
• “Daddy! Daddy! Can I have some?” she asked, pointing at the spun-sugar clouds.
• “Of course,” I said, leading us over to the nearest food stand. “Two cotton candies, please.”
• The man behind the stand spun the pink sugar onto thin cardboard sticks. He handed one to Penelope, accepted my cash, and gave me the other. I pinched a piece off the top and offered it to Violet.
• “Sugar for my sugar?” I said, winking at her.
• “Thank you,” she replied, allowing me to place the piece in her mouth. “Mm, so good.”
• “Do you want some more?” I asked, offering her the rest.
• She nodded and accepted the rest, tearing off small pieces to eat.
• Penelope, meanwhile, had begun biting chunks off. Her lips, cheeks, and chin were soon covered in a sticky mess. Undeterred by the state of her hands and face, she grabbed Violet and me, dragging us toward a bouncy castle that had been set up nearby.
• “Shoes off,” I reminded her as she ran toward the vinyl structure.
• Violet and I sat on a bench to watch as she played, and Violet nestled in close to me. I raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. She leaned in close, nudging my neck with her nose as she whispered in my ear.
• “Plenty of witnesses for our pretense,” she said quietly.
• Of course. I should have known better than to think she had suddenly decided to be near me willingly.
• “Your turn,” she said, pinching off a piece of the spun sugar and offering it to me.
• I stared into her eyes as she placed it on my tongue. One of her fingers brushed my bottom lip, and I had the sudden urge to lick it. Somehow, I managed to refrain, concentrating on the sweetness of the candy instead.
• Luckily, Penny had finished with the bounce house and came running up to us.
• “You ready to do something else, kiddo?” Violet asked. “How about the Ferris wheel?”
• Penny and I agreed that the ride sounded fun, so we got in line. While Penny chatted to us about the things she wanted to try next, I wrapped an arm around Violet’s waist.
• “Good evening, Nile,” the ticket holder said when we got to the front of the line. It was a member of Jasper’s pack. I was pleased to see that the Dark Moon wolves were becoming more involved in the community since their move into town.
• “Hi there,” I replied. “These lovely ladies and I would like a ride, please.”