Hot Wolves

by Lilly Wilder

  “What’s up with your… friend?”

  “Hmm?” I looked down and cocked my head to the side. “You mean Landon?”

  “Yeah, Landon,” she confirmed. “He seems a bit… tense.”

  “He’s just the serious type,” I explained. “I’m the easy-going one, in case your wondering.”

  “Oh, I’ve noticed.”

  “You have?”

  “Mhm.”

  “Is that a good or a bad thing?” I asked.

  “I haven’t decided yet. First and foremost, I’m trying to figure out what to make of this whole thing. It’s not everyday that a girl gets saved by two handsome men.”

  “Handsome, huh?” I grinned, in response to her compliment. It was good to know that she found us attractive. That made things a lot easier. All I had to do was lay down a bit of my charm and she was as good as mine — or, rather, ours. Wolves need three to tango. Don’t ask me why — it’s just the way we operate.

  Her cheeks reddened.

  And I thought she was cute before…

  Damn.

  “Also, just for the record, we’re not men, we’re wolves.”

  Landon shot me a dirty glare. If looks could kill, I’d be dead a hundred times over.

  I shrugged in response and painted on an innocent expression. “What? It’s not like humans ever believe me, whenever I say that. Chill out, will you? I’m just having some fun,” I said, so that only Landon would hear me. It was one of the perks of being a shifter.

  “Did you just say ‘wolves’ as in ‘werewolves’ or something?”

  “Well, werewolves are a little different. They are typically a humanoid mix between man and wolf. You know eight feet tall, super hairy. Wolf shifters, on the other hand. We’ve got two forms. One human. The other wolf.”

  “Roman,” Landon growled.

  “You’re out of your mind.”

  “Am I?” I asked. “I didn’t notice.”

  She shook her head. “I shouldn’t be letting you take me home.”

  “But you’re hurt,” I reminded. “Besides, every princess needs her Prince Charming, right?”

  “Prince Charming?”

  We arrived at her apartment building.

  “Key?” I asked.

  “Shit. I left all of my stuff back on the beach. I didn’t think.”

  “I’ll go and get it.” Before anyone could say a word in response, Landon went jogging in the opposite direction leaving me all alone with the girl.

  “So, I saved your life but I never got around to knowing your name.”

  “Jane,” she answered. “My name is Jane.”

  “Jane,” I repeated. “I like that.”

  “You’re just saying that. Jane is such a boring name no one ever really likes it.”

  “Well, I do,” I said, as I climbed to the front porch, where there was a swinging bench swaying in the breeze. I eased her onto it and took a step back in order to give her a bit of space.

  “So, what’s your deal?”

  “Deal?”

  “You and your buddy,” she said but it really didn’t clarify what it was she was talking about. She waited for me to say something but when I failed to do so, she elaborated further. “What were you guys doing on the beach? Do you make it a habit of saving drowning women or something, because you seem to have this little routine down pat.”

  “I’ll have you know that I auditioned for Bay Watch.”

  She laughed. “That would make you about a million years old.”

  “And maybe I am a million years old.”

  “Yeah, sure, and you’re a werewolf.”

  “Wolf shifter,” I corrected. “I would rather die than become a werewolf.”

  “I think maybe the saltwater has made me delusional but I actually think you’re pretty funny and it takes a lot to make me laugh these days.”

  “Oh?” I raised an eyebrow in question. “Why is that? A girl with a face like yours should be smiling all the time.”

  “Did you work for Hallmark while auditioning for Bay Watch, or something, because that was the cheesiest thing I have ever heard.”

  “Cheesy or true?” Before I knew what I was doing, I took the few steps necessary to stand right in front of her. Gently, I placed two fingers underneath her chin and lifted it so that she was looking into my eyes. “Because I truly believe you’re the most beautiful girl in the world.”

  Chapter 4: Jane

  What did he just say? I thought to myself because I was as sure as hell that I hadn’t heard him correctly.

  Most beautiful girl in the world? Who does he think he’s kidding? I’m nothing more than your average plain Jane. I’m pretty sure that’s why my mother gave me the name.

  Even with these thoughts going through my head, I felt myself gravitating forward, like there was some kind of force drawing me nearer and nearer. Was I really about to share a kiss with a complete stranger? For all I knew, this guy was a sociopath who preyed on girls like me. Doing this was downright idiotic, so why did it feel, oh, so right?

  His warm breath brushed against my lips. I shivered with delight, as a warmth washed every inch of my skin. What was going on and why did I like it so much?

  “Ahem.” Landon had returned with my bag in hand but that didn’t make any sense. He had gone to the beach and back in record speed. Even if he was some sort of Olympic runner, he couldn’t have managed to get back here so fast.

  I tried to convince myself that I had simply lost track of time talking to Roman, but the doubt lingered.

  There was something strange about these two. A part of me was screaming, ‘run for the hills!’ but the part that remained was being reeled in like a moth to a flame. They held a mystique about them and I wanted to unveil the cloud of smoke and figure out who they really were.

  They exchanged a glance that seemed to mean something, almost like they were speaking to one another with their eyes alone. It was easy to tell that these two had some sort of connection with each other. Maybe they were brothers. No. They looked nothing alike. Friends, then, I decided.

  Landon held out my bag and I took it from him. Accidentally, I brushed my hand against the back of his hand.

  He sucked in a breath of air between his teeth, like I had just electrocuted him with a tazing wand or something. For a split second, his green eyes were flecked with gold that hadn’t been there before or perhaps I had simply failed to notice them.

  For some reason, I kept my hand on his. It was like they were glued together and no matter how hard I tried to pull away, I couldn’t.

  His eyes became golden. There wasn’t a speck of green left.

  What’s going on? I wondered, unable to move a single muscle.

  Then, I blinked.

  The magic spell melted away and I was left holding my bag, arm outstretched like some kind of idiot. Landon was no longer anywhere near me and his eyes were normal.

  Did I just imagine that? I asked myself. No, his eyes were definitely golden, I responded to myself. I definitely saw that, no doubt about it.

  But when I tried to replay the moment in my head, it came out all blurry.

  “Jane?” Roman said my name and it snapped me out of whatever trance I had fallen into. “Is everything alright?”

  “Yeah. Fine. Everything’s fine.” I rummaged through my bag and tried to find my keys. Of course, they were hiding at the bottom and I had to fight with all the other junk in order to get to them. Finally, I emerged victorious and with them in my hand, I tried to get up from the swing. Doing so, I was greeted with an incredible amount of pain that pierced through both my legs. Gasping, I fell back into a seated position.

  “Jane!” Both men said in unison, as they rushed to my sides. There was such concern painted on their faces, that I almost thought it was real but why would these strangers have any concern for a girl they only just met. Sure, maybe they were good people but very few of those actually exist and never
as a double whammy like this.

  “I’m fine.”

  “We need to tend to that leg of yours,” said Landon, as he slung my arm around his neck and supported me with his body.

  Instantly, my heart rate started to quicken.

  I tried not to focus on the fact that his handsome body was so close to mine. But do you know how hard that was when I could feel his every muscle? Seriously, this guy was built like a tank. I could only imagine what he would look like without his clothes on. Oh, that’s right, he wasn’t wearing a shirt…

  My cheeks burned even harder.

  Forget the washboard abs, Jane, I told myself, and just open the door.

  I don’t know how I managed it but somehow, I got the entryway door open. As always, it creaked as it swung back. I hated that sound. It always had a way of raising the hair on the back of my neck.

  Landon tightened his hold, almost like he was trying to comfort me and, truth be told, the heebie-jeebies faded away much quicker than they usually did. With this new state of calm washing over me, I opened my apartment door.

  Thankfully, it wasn’t a mess. If these two had rescued me the day before laundry day instead of after, this place would have looked like a tornado had torn through it.

  “Do you happen to have a first aid kit?” asked Landon. He seemed like the kind of guy who was all business all the time.

  “Uh… in the bathroom.”

  “And where might that be?”

  “Through there.” I pointed to the correct door.

  He nodded his head and helped me there. Once we were inside, he stopped and grabbed me by the hips. A second later, I was hoisted off the ground and planted on the sink. He had lifted me like I weighed nothing at all and I’m by no means a twig. I understood that this guy was fit but this was something else entirely. He was almost… inhuman.

  I didn’t have very long to dwell on that thought before I discovered Roman rummaging through my pantie drawer and, yes, I kept them in the bathroom so I didn’t have to run around my apartment stark naked.

  “Hey! What are you doing?”

  “What is this?” he asked, holding up a bright red thong. “Someone’s naughty —”

  He was going to say something else but Landon smacked him up aside the head.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “Jeez.” Roman rubbed the site of injury. “I was just making an observation. Kill me for being curious why don’t you?” he grumbled.

  Landon ignored his friend. “Mind telling me where we’ll find the first aid kit, so that we don’t have to keep rummaging around your personal belongings?”

  “Behind me. Top shelf,” I said. “It’s a bright red box with a big ‘ol cross in the middle. You can’t miss it.”

  He nodded. “Alright.”

  Not only was Landon incredibly strong but there was something in the way he talked. It was like he was from another time.

  “Oh!” I exclaimed, when our faces were suddenly inches apart. In order to reach the first aid kit, he had leaned forward. Doing so, he was pushing me back into the medicine cabinet and our faces were coming together much in the same way as my encounter with Roman out on the bench.

  Again, my heart stuttered into a quicker pace as butterflies swirled around my stomach.

  Why do I feel this way, when these guys are nothing but strangers to me? I asked myself, even as I leaned forward like someone aiming for their first kiss. It was like my lips were incomplete. I was simply searching for my other half but if that was the case, why did I feel so passionately about both of them.

  “I’ll take over from here,” Roman interrupted, as he took the first aid kit and popped it open. “Alright, let’s see what we’re dealing with.”

  With that, Landon started to unwrap his torn up shirt from around my leg. It stung, as he did so.

  “Careful, some of the blood has already dried,” Roman said, slowing Landon’s progress. “We might be better off placing her under the shower.”

  “I’m not getting in the shower with the two of you.” Yeah, maybe I thought these guys were hot but that didn’t mean I was about to give myself up to them all willy nilly. A girl has to have standards, you know? And besides, I didn’t think I’d be able to choose between the two of them.

  “Well, if you’re worried about your modesty, you’re already in a wetsuit, so all you have to do is get under the water for us, get your leg wet, and then come back out. No nakedness needed, although I’d prefer it otherwise.”

  Landon seemed to growl.

  Wait. What? Normal men don’t growl.

  “Or, we can moisten it with a wet towel,” suggested Landon.

  “Or, we can do that but it’s not nearly as much fun as getting her underneath that shower head.” Roman winked in my direction and it made my insides melt. I know I said that I wouldn’t be able to choose between the two of them but Roman was making a pretty good case for himself. He had this Greaser vibe to him and I was totally digging it.

  Landon already had the towel at the ready. With the utmost care, he pressed it against my leg.

  I winced.

  “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “But this must be done in order for us to tend to your leg.”

  I nodded. “Right.” I braced myself against the sink as the rest of the makeshift bandage was peeled away. Underneath, my leg didn’t look half as bad as it felt.

  “Damn,” Roman said, once he had gotten the chance to study the full extent of my injury. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

  “Why? Is it that bad?”

  “It’s pretty deep. I’d definitely have to put some stitches in this thing.”

  “Stitches?” I repeated, turning pale. “Are you qualified to do that?”

  “Technically, no, I’m not qualified. But, trust me, I’ve done my fair share of stitching in the past.”

  I didn’t even want to think what it was that he meant like that. “As long as it saves me a trip to the hospital… do what you’ve got to do.”

  “Why are you so adamant about avoiding the hospital?” asked Landon.

  “Look, I don’t know about you but my health insurance is absolute trash. If you take me to the emergency room right now, I’ll be slapped with a bill that I can’t stomach.”

  “Don’t worry, you’re in good hands,” Roman assured me and for some crazy reason, I believed him.

  It wasn’t fun, let me tell you that, but after everything was said and done, I felt much better. The pain killer had gone into effect and I was starting to feel the drowsiness settle in. I was actually pretty grateful for the fact that Landon had carried me into the bedroom.

  He eased me onto the mattress and Roman tucked me in.

  “Thank you,” I said, as my eyelids grew heavy. I wanted to ask them what would happen next but sleep had already started to take its hold on me. I struggled to keep my eyes open.

  Thud!

  The bedroom door closed in their wake.

  “No! Wait!” I called after them but they didn’t return. For some reason, I really wanted them to join me — nothing sexual — just some cuddles. Was that too much to ask?

  Go to sleep, girl, I told myself, because right now, you’re delusional trying to invite two strange guys into your bed.

  That little voice in my head was right as it usually was.

  Listening to it, I allowed myself to drift away and as I did, I heard howls in the distance.

  Wolves.

  Chapter 5: Jane

  I woke up the following morning with the weirdest feeling.

  “What a dream…” I whispered to myself as I stared at the ceiling. “Drowning, two hot guys, werewolves, and some stitches. What a combination.”

  I glanced over at my alarm clock. I still had a few more minutes before I needed to get up and ready for work.

  So, I replayed the dream inside my head. Now, usually, my dreams are hard to hold onto and the more I think
about them the more obscure they become. This, however, was different. I could picture both Landon and Roman with absolute clarity. It almost saddened me that they were just figments of my imagination.

  Ring! Ring! Ring!

  My alarm went off with its usual blare. Even though I was already awake, I jolted and when I did, I felt a throbbing pain awaken in my legs. I threw back the sheets and there they were — the stitches.

  My eyes widened. So Landon and Roman were real after all.

  No. They couldn’t be. They were much too strange and otherworldly. Surely, I had dreamt the whole thing.

  My hand shook as I brought it toward my leg. I hesitated before touching the stitches. They stung. Oh, they were real, alright. But if they were real, then that meant that everything else was too. I tried to wrap my head around it but it only made me dizzy.

  Ring! Ring! Ring!

  I finally got around to turning off my alarm. The silence that followed was absolutely deafening.

  Landon and Roman were real.

  I had the overwhelming urge to go out into the world and find them again but I didn’t even know their last names and unless they had left me their numbers, I had no means of contacting them.

  My spirit deflated once I realized that I might never see them again.

  Why are you so upset over a couple of strangers? I asked myself.

  “Because they were the best strangers I have ever met,” I answered aloud, before getting to my feet. It was painful to do so but it wasn’t unbearable. With a bit of a limp, I could still get around. Plus, with a pain killer or two, I should be able to get through my day. I just had to remember to take the non-drowsy kind or my boss wouldn’t be too happy with me.

  I found some in the kitchen and popped them into my mouth. From there, I started a pot of coffee, because today was a day when I would definitely need it.

  While it brewed, I headed into the bathroom. My hair was crusty from the saltwater. I couldn’t believe that on the night when I decided to return to the water, I had nearly drowned and, to think, I had once been on the road to the Olympics.

  Olympics.

  The word brought with it bitterness.