by Breezy Jones
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Exhaustion swept through me as I turned the key, locking the door to Turn the Page bookstore. Joe, an older man in his late sixties with graying hair and deep-set lines that could only come from years of laughter, stood next to me, waiting. He was more than my boss. He was my friend, my only friend. Thanks to Joe and his trust in me, I’d worked my way up to manager in just two short years. At eighteen, the position was more than I could ask for. A triumph that was somewhat diminished by the cruel thorn that was the lack of having a girlfriend to share it with.
Together we pulled away from the brick building and into the cold autumn air. The Click! Clack! of my navy pumps muffled by the crunching of dried leaves. In the distance, the sun had set below the horizon, casting the small town of Pinefall into the orange and red hues that I loved so much. Though, these days, I hardly noticed it.
The last two years had taken a toll.
Becoming a werewolf came with a steep learning curve, one that I was pretty sure I’d failed. Seeing as how I had no one to ask but Joe, and he was human, I couldn’t be sure. Thankfully, Joe and my job at the bookstore were my saving grace when it came to keeping my sanity in check.
“What’s on your mind?” Joe asked. “Still a few weeks yet before a full moon.”
I sighed, looking down at the sidewalk as it wound over the hill like a carelessly discarded belt, gray and cracked with age. Not a soul passed by us as we made our way to the intersection ahead where we’d part ways to our respective homes. In a small town like this everything closed by the time the street lights came on. “It’s not that. It’s just…” I paused. “It’s almost winter, makes me miss everyone,” I said softly.
Joe nodded solemnly beside me. “You’re not alone anymore.” His kind words warmed me even though I still felt the emptiness left behind by my absent family.
With the sharp wisp of the wind, a shiver ran through me, a promise of winter to come. I wrapped my coat closer around myself not wanting to think about this season. A time of year that always seemed to heighten the ache of loneliness for me.
“I know,” I said, pushing my lips tight. “It’s just, nights like this remind me … You know. When everything happened. It makes me think of Lindsey.”
On either side of us, lengthened shadows from the buildings melted into the twilight. The streetlamps with their tall, graceful necks lit the way, a smudgy pool of yellow light lapping around each one as Joe again nodded his support. “You’ll pull though. You know I’m always here for you. Don’t forget that,” Joe said, patting my hand.
But my thoughts continued to drift back to Lindsey
I frowned, wondering what had really happened that night and where she could be now, the question making my eyes water. I pushed them back, silently cursing myself. I’d wasted enough on those thoughts. Truthfully, I was surprised I even had tears left in me.
“Will you be okay?” he asked as we came to the street crossing where we always parted. A little boutique stood at the corner, and the shopkeeper locking up the doors inclined his head in our direction before scurrying off into the night. No doubt he was in a hurry to be home and out of the cold.
“I made it this far,” I said, trying my best to reassure him—even if the words felt hollow to me. “Thanks for everything. Have a good night, Joe.”
He offered a quick smile. “Good night.”
I watched Joe until he circled out of sight, toward his quiet neighborhood just on the edge of town before I continued in the opposite direction.
Now alone, the familiar buildings loomed over me, making the little hairs on my arms stand at attention. My wolf’s senses prickled, and I quickened my pace, searching the empty streets around me as the tall structures closed in on me in the darkness. I tugged my knee-length coat tighter against my chest. My heart pounded as if it wanted free of its cage.
This wasn’t the first walk home that had felt more like someone was stalking me. Something was out there. I never actually saw it, but I always felt it. Sometimes, I even heard it, but only when I was alone. I’d never told Joe because in the light of day it always seemed silly, especially in a town as harmless as Pinefall, but it had been happening more and more frequently these days.
Tomorrow, I thought.
Maybe tomorrow I’d tell Joe.
The sense of being watched increased. The sound of muffled footsteps not far behind pushed me into a run. I glanced over my shoulder to see a shadowy form maybe ten feet behind me on the sidewalk. I forced my eyes front again, breathing heavily. My brown hair now tousled and tangled, fell around my face. I brushed it out of my eyes and moved faster. The steps colliding with the concrete grew louder encouraging me to pick up my pace.
My feet slipped on the wet leaves as I rounded the corner. Up ahead, my apartment building came into view. The sight of the faded gray stones and wrought-iron balconies made my shoulders relax.
Behind me, the footfalls fell silent. I chanced another glance behind me, but my stalker had disappeared.
I dashed up the steps, my eyes darting from one end of the street to the other, but my stalker was gone. The cold air shocked my throat and lungs as I inhaled deeper, hoping to calm my still racing heart. After fumbling once, I forced the key into the lock and ducked inside. The warmth of the foyer wrapped around me like a peaceful embrace, and I convinced myself I’d over reacted. One by one my muscles relaxed as I quickly shrugged out of my coat and scarf, placing my purse and keys on the entry table.
It was probably nothing; I told myself. A figment of my anxiety.
A blatant lie, but a comforting one.
A quick glance in the mirror told me I was a mess. My cheeks were gaunt, the green of my eyes dulled to an almost dusty yellow. Even the brown of my hair had lost its luster in its unkempt mess of tangles. “A shell of my former self,” I said and sighed at my reflection.
I cut toward my living room—a cozy space decorated in light grays and whites.
Suddenly, I froze, my senses prickling. Sniffing the air, I realized I wasn’t alone. I stepped further into the living room, listening intently, but I couldn’t hear a damned thing aside from the roaring of my own heart pounding in my ears. I padded silently toward the kitchen, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. Though I couldn’t hear anyone, I wasn’t fooled—not with such a strong foreign scent coming from the other room.
A few steps closer, I felt the sharp points of my canines as they elongated past my lips. If it came down to fight or flight, I knew just what my wolf would choose. Walking home was one thing. This was my home, and my wolf wouldn’t run. With one last shallow bre
ath, I leaped around the corner, teeth bared at whoever dared enter my home.
What I found wasn’t exactly what I expected.
A tall man with brown hair and dark eyes, I’d never seen before, leaned casually against the kitchen counter under the glow of the moon shining in from the window. He sipped coffee from my favorite mug, and I scowled at that. Not only had he broken in, but he’d helped himself to my favorite coffee mug?
For that, he was going to pay.
A growl ripped from my throat, and I launched myself across the hardwood floor, vaulting over the countertop. My hands, already changed into paws complete with elongated claws, were aimed at the intruder’s broad chest.
Moving almost quicker than I could follow, he set down the mug and whipped to the side, deflecting the momentum of my body so easily that I probably would have flown right past him into the cabinets if he hadn’t grabbed my shoulder and yanked me around with him.
I used the movement to swing out in a second attempt to take him down. But, just like before, he used my own moves against me. He spun me around gracefully and pinned me against the counter as if we were nothing more than dance partners.
My chest heaved with startled, angry breaths. Eyes wide, I looked up into a face more ruggedly handsome than I’d ever seen. Holy shit, my burglar was hot!
He stared down at me, his eyes tightened, and mouth drawn as he studied my expression. There was nothing menacing about him other than the fact that he’d broken into my house. But something about his leisurely perusal of my face irked me. My temper renewed, I growled and yanked against his hands now pressing hard against my shoulders, but it did no good. His hold wasn’t nearly as casual as his stance, and no matter how much I struggled against his grip there was no breaking free.
“What the hell,” I bit out, shoving uselessly against him. My canines poked my bottom lip as I spoke until the coppery taste of blood coated my tongue.
“So, I was right.” His voice was low and smooth, almost seductive as the words rolled off his tongue. Lips framed perfectly by his trimmed beard, and I stood frozen, my own mouth hanging open as I stared, taking in the man still holding me in place. He was gorgeous, infuriatingly strong, and way too calm for the situation.
I stopped struggling, mostly because I knew it was the only way he was going to let me go.
Sure enough, as soon as I ceased, he slowly released me. With his back to my stove, he picked up the mug from the island between us and took a sip.
I looked from the mug to him with wide eyes, taking in a steadying breath. “What were you right about?” I demanded, forcing myself to focus on the situation not on the definition of his muscled arms. With concentration, I managed to get my fangs to recede. “And what the hell are you doing in my apartment?”
“You’re a werewolf.”
I blinked once then set my mouth into a hard line. Damn if I’d acknowledge what he’d just said—or the truth behind his discovery. Even if he had just seen my teeth elongated into canines and furry paws where there should have been hands.
He pressed his lips together as he inspected me again.
“And a woman,” he added as if my gender were under investigation right along with my species.
I snorted at that. Duh. I leaned back against the counter trying to remain casual, the gentle hum of the stainless-steel refrigerator purred beside me.
“Why are you in my house?” I repeated because even his use of the word werewolf couldn’t overshadow the fact that he’d violated my privacy.
“Simple. Because you haven’t checked in with the pack.”
The pack? What pack?
I didn’t have a pack.
I glanced around the small kitchen and frowned. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re not anyone I answer to. Especially not about a pack and especially not when you break into my home.”
The man’s lips quirked up slightly, and I shifted my weight to my other leg, ready to attack again if it came to that. I tried not to think about how sad it would be to mar that beautiful face of his with my claws. If that’s what it took, though, I wouldn’t hesitate.
He cleared his throat, his expression darkening as he straightened and looked down at me. “Actually, I’m exactly who you answer to. I’m the alpha of this district.”
Awareness crashed over me as his words sank in. “You’re a werewolf?” I demanded.
Before he could answer, I darted another glance over his body, taking in his size and the definition of muscle clearly showing through the thin fabric of his shirt. He’d warded off my attack like I was nothing more than a nuisance even though a normal human wouldn’t have stood a chance.
“Whoa,” I breathed.
Another shifter!
Of course, I knew I couldn’t be the only one in the world. I just hadn’t come across any others in the two years since my change. Now that I had, the questions I’d been carrying threatened to pour out of me. But instead of voicing any of them, unsure of where to start and still a little shocked, the only sound that came from my suddenly constricted throat was a sort of strangled, “Shit.”
His brows knitted, and his expression became a little concerned. “You okay? You want some water or something?”
“Uh, no thanks.”
Was he offering me my own water?
Catching my reflection in the glass panes behind the sink, I laughed nervously, trying to get my bearings before I met his eyes again. “Let me see if I understand what’s happening here. You broke into my apartment as the town’s alpha because I haven’t checked in with the local werewolf pack?”
“It’s my job.” He shrugged, and I hardened my expression.
“And my failure to check in with you has broken some rule large enough that you thought it was okay to enter my home uninvited?” I demanded.
“You broke our most important rule, Ms. Winters.”
“Nina,” I supplied.
“Funny. Your passport says Melina,” he said, picking up a small booklet from the countertop beside him and flopping it back down in place as if to emphasize his words.
My eyes widened, and I yelled, “You went through my things?”
“I had to know whether your avoidance was intentional. A threat.” His eyes narrowed. “It’s my job to protect the pack against any threat—even from our own kind.”
His chest swelled, bringing him to his full height. I remembered the way he’d basically plucked me up mid-attack and set me aside. The memory left me no doubt that he took his job seriously.
I crossed my arms, huffing a little at the idea that I could be a threat to anyone, least of all him. “And? What do you think? Am I dangerous?”
His lips twitched. “Maybe to yourself.” I scowled. “Still, you broke the cardinal rule. Werewolves are pack animals. You can’t just operate on your own.”
“Whatever. I can’t break the rules if I didn’t know they existed. I didn’t even know I was supposed to look for you.”
The man’s golden eyes searched mine, watching, examining as if trying to see if I was telling the truth. When he opened his mouth to reply, I cut him off as another thought dropped into my mind. “Wait, speaking of which, how did you find me?”
The man ran a hand through his long wavy hair, pulling it back into one of those sexy man buns as if he was settling himself in for a long conversation. “I’ve been following you for some time now,” he began.
I frowned, pushing myself off the counter and shifted my weight, uncomfortable at the reminder of being followed through the darkened streets. Had it been him this whole time? “That’s not creepy at all.”
He drew his lips into a hard line. “It’s my job to know who and what is in my town at all times.”
Something about his tone suggested there were serious consequences for anyone who messed with his town. My shoulders tensed. “I haven’t hurt anyone,
” I blurted. “I swear.”
The man tilted his head, his stance relaxed. “And while I appreciate that, Miss Winters, this is about more than just public safety. Look, it sounds like this is all new information for you, so I’ll try to go slow and answer all your questions.”
He was right about one thing: I had a million questions. I opened my mouth to ask one, but a buzzing sound cut me off. I watched as he removed his phone from his pocket.
“Dammit,” he muttered before turning back to me. “I’ve got to go, but why don’t I meet you here tomorrow morning, and I can answer all your questions.”
I bit my lip, hesitating.
On the one hand, he’d broken into my house. Agreeing to let him come back implied I wasn’t going to call the cops on his fine ass. Not that I really could at this point with him being a werewolf and all. Doing so would only put my own secret at risk. On the other hand, he had the answers I’d been desperate for since the moment I’d woken up an animal. How badly did I want those answers?
“Okay,” I finally replied.
He didn’t miss a beat as he said, “I’ll be back around six thirty a.m.” He set his coffee cup on the laminate counter before heading past me toward my front door.
My eyes grew wide. “Six thirty a.m.?” I echoed, but he didn’t turn back.
“Wait!” I shouted, and he paused, glancing back over his shoulder. “I don’t even know your name.”
His lips twitched up at the corners, not quite a smile but definitely amused, and I felt heat spreading through me as he trained that smile on me. How hot could one person be, anyway?
“Name’s Ryker. I’ll see you in the morning.” He slipped out, closing the door behind him.
Chapter Two
An incessant but familiar buzzing woke me. I reached for the alarm clock, smacking it with my palm in an attempt to turn it off. The small box fell to the carpet with a muffled thud. Wrapping my blankets tighter around myself, I snuggled deeper into the pillow-top mattress and silk sheets that at this very moment were my haven of warmth and happiness. That is, until my alarm started again, way too loudly.
