Filthy rich werewolves by Taylor Caine

Chapter 73

I smile at Claire. She means well. Truly.

The biggest concern for people like Claire is marriage.

"Gus doesn't seem to mind your past,” Claire goes on. “Are you sure you don't want to consider it?

Honest men like Gus are rare nowadays."

"No, it's impossible for me and him.”

And it is.

I’m a wolf (or I used to be). Gus is human.

I’m an ex-convict. Gus is looking to advance his career.

I can’t have kids. Gus wants a family.

I have enemies. Gus deserves safety.

If I spend more time, I’m sure I can catalog a list a mile long.

“I’m not interested in him, Claire.” I won’t give Claire any hope, lest she tries to interfere. That would

just end badly…for all of them.

Claire hesitates a moment before asking, "Grace, do you think of Gus as a lower class because he's

just a driver? After all, your ex-boyfriend was—“

"Claire!" I interrupt her. ”No! I don't think that. It's just... I've been through so much, I'm not wanting to

get into a relationship."

"Oh, you poor child!" Claire sighs. "You should know that if you really don't marry and stay by yourself,

you might not feel it that much now, but when you're old with no children around you... it's going to be a

kind of loneliness that no one can endure."

"Children..." I smile wryly. "I'm afraid that's wishful thinking for me.”

It isn’t just issues of conception, it’s subjecting a baby who may or may not inherit my wolf genes to be Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

an outcast. And even if I could attempt a life in the human world, would that be any different? I still had

enemies. My kids would still be vulnerable. And what about schools? I’d never want to subject a child to

ridicule or bullying? If kids learned about my past, they might pick on my kids. No. I can’t risk any of

that.

“I appreciate your efforts, Claire. And your advice. But please trust me in this. If not for me, then for

Gus’s sake.”

Claire bites her lip. “I don’t agree. But I know you young people well enough to know not to try and

change your minds.”

She’s not that much older than me. And I tell her so.

She laughs.

It lightens the mood.

We resume cleaning and talk about other things.

At the end of our shift, we pack up our tools and return to the Sanitation Service Center.

I’ve managed to avoid Farah these last few days and I’m relieved when I avoid her in the tool area.

But my luck runs out when I go to wash up and I see her and Gus standing by the sink.

“Grace has been to prison, Gus. Why are you still waiting for her? Does that mean I'm not as good as a

person who's been in jail?" Farah asks indignantly.

Gus replies unhappily, "Can you not talk about her being in prison every time you open your mouth?

Grace was driving carelessly, she didn't mean to hurt anyone!"

"She was driving under the influence, Gus! She was drunk and killed someone. How is that

unintentional?!" Farah retorts. “She's a f*cking witch. And you’re some fool who’s fallen under her

spell!"

"I would be willing to be under her spell!" Gus answers.

Oh gods, I don’t need to hear this.

I turn quickly to leave, but Farah notices me. “Grace!”

Shit.

"Grace, you're so shameless that you're eavesdropping now!"

I sigh and turn back around. “I came here to wash my hands, Farah, how is that eavesdropping? If

you're afraid that someone else will hear you, then you should look for a room and talk behind closed

doors,” I say.

”You..." Farah glares at me angrily, then makes a nasty remark before leaving: "You wait and see!"

I chuckle."I heard that so many times when I was in jail."

Gus glances at me. "Don't take what she said just now to heart."

"I won't take it to heart.” Maybe it is a blessing that I should come upon Gus like this. “This is my life,

Gus. The ridicule, the gossip. It isn’t fun and it isn’t pretty.”

“I would defend you,” he vows.

“I know you would. You’re a good man.”

“Seriously, Grace. Give me a chance.”

I shake my head. “I don't want you to waste time on me. It's like what she said. I've been to jail and am

not suitable for you."

"I don't mind that," he insists. “Let me explain, Grace…”