I opened the fridge and sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“We’re going to need more food.”
“What?” Claudia peeked around my shoulder. “I got twice as much stuff as I usually get just in case you stayed with us.”
“I could eat all of this in a day.” I closed it. “So, am I allowed to leave the compound? Because we’re going to need to hit a Sam’s as soon as possible.”
“Really? You eat that much food? But you’re so little.”
I pulled up my shirt to show her my abs. “I’m a little skinny for the Weres. I still don’t eat as much as I should, which makes me a little thinner than normal, but I’m all muscle.” I dropped my shirt. “I wasn’t always like this. I used to have curves. Come to find out, Weres have a super high metabolism.”
“So when you go to McDonald’s you get what? Three meals?”
“Five.”
“Madre santa. That’s crazy. Okay. I have no idea how much to get for you and I’m not sure that Luciana is going to let you leave so soon after you got here.”
This wasn’t something that could be ignored. There was no way the coven was going to let another Were onto the compound, but I had someone who could help.
I pulled my cell out of my back pocket, but as promised, I had zero bars. “Do you have a landline?”
“Sure, but I have to get Luciana to turn it on.” Claudia pointed to the antique mounted to the wall next to the back door.
That seemed like the craziest thing. “She has a switch for the phones?”
Claudia nodded. “In her living room. Keeps it all locked up.”
“Doesn’t that seem a little overboard?”
“Yes. One of the many reasons why we need some change.” She paused. “I hate to ask, but I’m going to have to tell Luciana—who are you going to call?”
I thought about it for a second. I wanted to call Dastien, but no way would Luciana go for that. “My mom. She’ll make a grocery run for me.”
“Okay. Just give me a second. I’ll explain it to her.” Claudia headed for the door. “Be back in a sec.”
I paced around the room, getting more annoyed by the second. What if there was an emergency? A fire or someone hurt or something? The compound was way too cut off from civilization. That didn’t seem safe.
Claudia gave me a thumbs-up when she came back. “We’ve got five minutes.”
Luciana was unbelievably stingy. I ground my teeth, trying to stay calm. “Great.” I quickly dialed Mom’s cell and tapped my fingers along the wall as it rang. “Hey, Mom,” I said when she finally answered.
“What’s going on? Where are you calling from? Are you okay?”
I sighed. She said the same thing every time she answered the phone these days. I wished for once I were calling just to chat. “I’m on the coven land and—”
“Why are you there? I thought I told you—”
“It’s dangerous. I know, but the Tribunal didn’t exactly go my way. I have to stay here until the next full moon.”
Mom gasped. “No. Mija. That’s not okay. I’m on my way. I’ll talk to Luciana. She can’t—”
“Mom. Calm down. It’s fine.” I paused. That was total bullshit. “It’s not fine. It sucks, but I’ve agreed to put up with it. The bigger problem is that I can’t leave and there’s not enough food here. I’ll eat everything in a day, and I…I need it. Dastien’s not here and my wolf is on edge and…”
“I’ll go to the store,” she said, understanding what I was asking without having to ask it. “I’ll bring enough to stock the fridge and will keep coming as often as you need.”
I closed my eyes and leaned against the counter. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. Mama’s here. I’ll take care of it.”
The tears from earlier threatened to come back, but I blinked them away. “Thanks.” It seemed no matter how old I got, I still needed my mother sometimes. I was lucky to have her so close by. “I really appreciate it.”
“Te quiero mucho. See you soon.”
“Are you okay?” Claudia said when I put the phone back.
I raised an eyebrow at her. “Seriously? You’re asking me this question?”
“Right.” She looked at the ground. “I understand you’re mad. I’m sorry.”
“You forced my hand when you could’ve asked nicely. I understand that you’re not in a good place, but I liked you. I would’ve done everything I could to help you. Now, I want to get this done and go back to my life.”
