Sheri sputtered, laughing.

“Oh, sure. Laugh. Some sick sadist slaps boiling wax on your nether regions, sops it up with a strip of cloth, and then justrips  it off without a care in the world. And while you’re lying there, screaming in pain and threatening their lives, the sadist takes out the tweezers to ‘clean you up’ while they tell you to suck it up and take it like a woman.”

“They did not!”

“Oh, no, the girls torturing me didn’t say it. My Curana and her Beta said it while they sipped fruity

drinks and got their nails done.” Belinda shook her head, trying not to squirm too much.

“Look on the bright side. Think about what they’d do to someone theydon’t  like.”

The women exchanged a look, well aware that Belle could easily have been one of those women on thebad side of the Curana and her Beta.

“Belle? Sheri? I’m not late, am I?”

Both Belle and Sheri smiled at the sound of that soft, sweet voice. Sarah Parker joined them at thebooth, settling her purse between her feet as she pushed her bobbed brown hair behind her ears. “I’mlate, aren’t I?”

“You’re not late, Sare-Bear.” Belle grinned as Sarah made a face at the nickname she’d been stuck with

for years.

Sarah pointed an accusing finger at Belle. “You are so totally lying, but I’ll let you get away with itthistime.” She grinned. “And don’t think you can intimidate me, missy.” She struck a pose, nose in the air. “Iam a High School Guidance Counselor. I face much scarier things than you every day.”

“Amen,” Sheri muttered, toasting Sarah with her diet Coke.

“Ditto.” Belle raised her own glass, pleased when Sarah’s and Sheri’s clinked loudly against hers. No matter how much Becky and Emma did their best to draw her in, there was too much emotional baggage for them to be best friends. In these two women, women she wouldn’t have given the time of day once, she’d found comfort and a deep friendship she hadn’t known was possible. Both of them accepted her for herself, not the false persona she’d shown the world for so long under Livia’s influence.

Sarah had been one of the only females willing to sit with her during her stay in the hospital, when Sheri’sbrutal ex-boyfriend had been stalking her. Belle had broken her hip saving Sheri from being run down bya car, a fact that had earned her Adrian Giordano’s undying devotion. In fact, if Marie had tried to pullthat cold as ice shit around the Marshall, she would have been in for a very rough time of it indeed.

“So, how’s Adrian?” Sarah grinned at Sheri, but Belle wasn’t fooled. Sarah had a serious crush on Adrian’s Second, Gabe Anderson. Too bad the man completely ignored her whenever they met. Belle knew that Gabe’s attitude was slowly beginning to wear away at Sarah’s cheerful façade.

“Fabulous.” Sheri drawled, fanning herself with her hand. She leaned in, waiting for the other women to

join her. “I got him to agree to moonlight skinny dipping once the weather warms up.”

“Oh, you naughty girl, you.” Sarah reached into her voluminous purse and pulled out a notebook and pen, all without looking. She opened it with an evil grin. “Give me dates and times, so I can set up the hidden camera.”

Sheri cocked one eyebrow. “You arenot  filming my mate’s naked butt.”

“What about his naked—”

“No.”

“Damn. Foiled again.”

Belle grinned as Sheri snickered.

“Hey, Belle!”

Here we go again.She hid her grin by taking a sip of soda. “Hey, Frank!”

“What do you call a circle of blondes?”

She winked at Sarah and Sheri. “A dope ring.”

The entire diner erupted into laughter.

Belinda smiled at Chloe, Frank’s new waitress, as the girl set down Belle’s burger and fries. Two similarplates went in front of the other women.

“Thanks, Chloe.”

“No problem, Belle.” Chloe leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Congratulations on your mating, by the way.” She winked and sauntered off, much to the satisfaction of several of the male patrons. A few of them even leaned out of their booths to watch her ass as it sashayed over to the soda fountain. Her bright red ponytail bounced merrily between her shoulder blades.

Belle’s mouth hung open in shock. Chloe wasn’t Puma; how thehell  did she know about Rick? Shesniffed, catching a whiff of something elusive. Something definitely shifter, but whatever breed the girl wasshe’d never smelled it before.

“Belle?”

She turned, snapping her mouth shut and trying desperately to school her features. “Hmm?” She pickedup her burger and took a bite, savoring the flavor of the meat. Frank made the best burgers she’d everbeen privileged to taste.

Soft fingers touched the back of her hand. “Everything is going to be fine. I promise you that.” Sarah’seyes had that far away look they sometimes got.

She’s probably daydreaming about Gabe. Admittedly, if Rick wasn’t such a hunk, she might betempted to daydream about the black-haired, blue-eyed sheriff herself.

Peace flowed over her, as it always did when she was with her friends. She just wished she could packthem up and take them with her. She had the feeling she was going to need them.

Sarah leaned down and began scribbling something in her notebook, ignoring both her burger and thelooks she was receiving. Everyone indulged Sarah in her eccentricities. She was just so sweet toeveryone that they couldn’t help it.

Suddenly ravenous, Belle devoured her burger. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow. She’d get to see hermate for the first time in months.

And if he played his cards right, she’d mark him the moment she saw him.

Richard Lowell scowled at his Beta, David Maldonado, and his Marshall, Ben Malone. The only onewho wasn’t falling under his eye was his Omega; he hadn’t informed her yet of her status. Until sherecognized what she was, it would be a useless endeavor, ending only in more pain and degradation forher. “Let me rephrase that. I need you to pick up Belinda for mewithout arguing  .”

Ben had a faint frown on his face, while Dave was openly scowling. “Why aren’t you going to get yourmate yourself?”

Richard sighed and leaned back against his sturdy oak desk. What part of “no arguing” didn’t they get?