by Kenya Wright
Blaze pushed it further. “Why isn’t now a good time to discuss the rule?”
I swallowed down the hunks of meat. “I already told you. We find a place to call home, settle down, build our houses, and then we talk mating rules.”
Blaze gestured at Imani as she took orders from a couple further away from us. “And what if our mates come to us before we finish those goals? The Moon Goddess does as she pleases, blessing us at her will, not ours. Perhaps she wants us to breed with fatals.”
I sliced into another steak. “The Moon Goddess has more to do in the sky as she protects us all. The last thing she’s focused on is getting you laid.”
I stuffed the slab of meat into my mouth, chomped it down, and swallowed. “And the last thing that you’ll ever do in this lifetime, while I’m around, is point at Imani and call her your mate.”
Blaze’s nostrils flared. His blue eyes brightened and shifted to silver. He targeted me with a threatening gaze.
“Calm your beast,” I whispered. “Or I’ll calm him for you.”
Damian put his fork and knife down. If his Alpha and Beta fought, Damian would be forced to stop it. And no matter how much he loved Blaze, his responsibility was to protect the Alpha—me.
Damian looked at both of us. “Maybe we should just take these steaks to go.”
“No,” I said. “We finish. We tip her high. And then we leave, never coming back. No one else even walks by this place. Get your steaks somewhere else.”
The whole pack nodded. Even Blaze, who shoved a bunch of steak in his mouth and tore through them like he was ripping into fatal’s flesh.
A woman walked into the diner. She had long brown braids, high cheekbones, and a caramel complexion. But the most distinctive part of the woman was her grey eyes that shined as bright as the moon. Mystified as well, some of the other customers turned her way.
She’s not from around here.
I knew what she was, but I let my nose confirm it. I breathed her in. It was this earthy fragrance, reminding me of blossoming flowers on the first day of spring.
Witch. Ninety years old.
The rest of the pack nodded as if they heard me. They raised their heads and breathed her scent in too.
“Fuck,” Sherwin muttered. “And I was just going to say we should settle in this town.”
“If we like it here, we’ll stay.” Blaze raised part of his lip into a sneer. “What’s a pack to one witch?”
I frowned. “Nothing, if she’s a young one. But this one’s old, her power has blossomed. She could be trouble for us.”
“How can you tell how old they are?” Oliver adjusted the glasses on his face. “Don’t they always look the same?”
Oliver was the Omega—the lowest-ranked in our pack. At forty years old, he was a young werewolf that looked more like a college English professor. Still in that stage where his beast had control more than he did. Omegas got the shit jobs—laundry and cleaning, grocery shopping, and anything else the higher ranks didn’t want to do. If we had a full pack of mates and cubs. He would be the sitter, monitoring the cubs during hunts and changing diapers to let their parents sleep.
Oliver still didn’t know much about our world. At ten, his parents had been killed in the Wars, leaving him abandoned and forced to fend for himself in the forest. When I found him, he’d been in wolf form for years and struggled with shifting back to fatal form.
“If you use your eyes, then it won’t be easy to tell how old a witch is,” I said. “They stay beautiful and young most of the time, except on nights of the full moon. That’s when they hide in their homes, fearing others will see their wrinkles and grey hair.”
“Most look disgusting during the full moon,” Zerab added. “If they’re over a hundred, their decaying skin hangs from graying bones, and they can barely move.”
“Those are the witches that we should avoid.” I dove my hand in my pocket and pulled out four hundred-dollar bills. “One of you needs to follow the witch, find out where she lives, and keep your distance. Although she doesn’t have our hearing, I’m sure she can smell us like we can smell her. There’s a decent power source radiating from her. She may attack if we get too close. Keep your distance when you watch her.”
Zerab rubbed his bald head. “Who should do it?”
Sherwin spoke, “We could do alternating shifts.”
Blaze nodded. “I can start now.”
Yeah. I bet you would be happy to sit here in the diner all day under the guise of watching the witch.
I turned to Damian. “You stay here and watch her. When she moves, follow her. Call me with updates every fifteen minutes. If you miss one, I’ll know something’s wrong.”
Blaze frowned. “Damian is the Delta. His place is to protect you. It makes more sense for me to do it.”
Damian nodded. “Blaze makes a good point. I don’t feel comfortable not being by your side, especially with a witch in town. There could be a whole coven around that we didn’t sniff out.”
“Fine.” I turned and looked at the Pack Enforcer. “Zerab, you watch her.”
“Really?” Blaze rolled his eyes.
Zerab nodded. “Sounds good.”
“We’re done.” I placed the four hundred dollars under the salt shaker. I knew the money was well past what we owed for the meal, but Imani looked exhausted as she rushed around the diner.
“Mate.”
Shut up. We won’t be back.
But deep inside my heart, I knew that declaration was wrong. It was already hard to walk away.
Chapter 3
Imani
At the end of the evening shift, I said goodbye to the last customer and locked the diner’s front door. A minute later, the new waitress, Cammy, smashed a plate for the fifth time that day.
“Damn it.” Tears spilled from her eyes. “I can’t do anything right. I know you all are tired of my mess.”
“Relax.” I rushed over to help sweep the shattered pieces up. “Don’t worry. No one’s born to be a waitress. Plus, it’s your first day. Things happen.”
“I suck at this,” Cammy said. “Mama Joe is probably going to fire me.”
“She won’t. She needs you just as much as I do.” With the broom, I swept pieces into a pile. “Just keep trying, and you’ll get it right. This isn’t calculus. You get the swing of it once you do it more and more.”
“God, I hope so.” Cammy took over and gathered up the pile with her broom and dustpan.
Exhausted, Mama Joe limped over to us. “No one is firing you, sweetie.”
Cammy blushed.
“Take it from Ms. Big Stuff, who earned a huge tip today.” Mama Joe dropped down in an empty booth. “Well over two hundred dollars over the total. What did you do over there, Imani? You must tell me.”
“Nothing but the usual.” I set the broom against the wall. “Perhaps they were feeling charitable.”
“I bet they were.” Mama Joe pulled off her wig as was her tradition at closing time. The wig lay on the table as her little blue plaits stuck out over her head. She’d been trying to dye her gray strands black. Her granddaughter helped, and her hair ended up turning blue with several bald spots in the center. Now she didn’t go anywhere without a wig.
Mama Joe whistled. “I still can’t believe that group gave you so much.”
“Me either.”
“They usually don’t leave a big tip. But when the new guy came, they did.” Mama Joe grinned. “Therefore, he must have the hots for you.”
“I bet he has the hots for lots of women.” I sat down across from her. “I bet he also sleeps with many women too.”
Cammy wiped her tears away. “Yeah. All of them look like they have to fight off women. Maybe instead of waitressing, I can join their gang and become one of those chicks that follow bikers around.”
“They don’t look like they’re accepting female applications.” Shrugging, I dragged myself up from the booth.
Mama Joe laughed. “Well, you need to see if that g
uy has an opening for something else.”
“He’s trouble. And just like carbs, I’m avoiding trouble too.”
“You and these fad diets.” Mama Joe waved my comment away. “There’s nothing wrong with carbs and definitely nothing wrong with a good sexy man. Trouble or not.”
I laughed. “Okay, ladies. I’m exhausted. I did double shifts and will barely be able to walk home. See you tomorrow.”
Mama Joe waved my comment away. “I’ll take you home, sweetie.”
“No. I need the exercise.”
“You’ve been running around all day—”
“And sipping on milkshakes all day too.”
“Whatever. Just make sure you get some rest,” Mama Joe called after me. “And stop working yourself so hard or you’ll look worse than me when you get old.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I left through the diner’s back door and raised my head. Cool air hit my skin. A crescent moon hovered in the night sky, glowing among glittering stars. Already, I felt relaxed and ready to make the trek home. And then I looked forward and gasped.
Mr. Dark and Dangerous stood in front of me.
Where the hell did he come from?
He towered over me. My breath caught in my throat.
“Sorry.” He frowned. “Don’t be scared, Imani.”
“Why are you back here?”
After hesitating for a few seconds, he said, “I came to see you.”
“Why?”
“Because. . .” For such a big muscular man, he looked out of place and nervous. It was adorable and creepy at the same time. He cleared his throat. “Again, I’m sorry. My name is Aiden by the way.”
“O-kay.”
“Are you hungry?”
“No. At the diner, I eat a whole lot throughout the day.”
“Would you like to go somewhere for coffee?”
“I plan on going straight to sleep.”
“Then, wine or a ride to your place.” Aiden gestured out in the parking lot. “I only see two cars, and neither is yours.”
I leaned my head to the side. “How would you know that?”
“Because they don’t smell like you. . .” He cursed under his breath.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to—”
“Look. You’re. . .good-looking, but I’m not interested.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No.”
He grinned.
I placed my hands on my hips. “However, I don’t plan on dating anybody either.”
The smug look remained on his face, dripping in confidence.
“Good,” he said. “I wasn’t interested in dating, sex, or even marriage. I only wanted to talk to you and. . .be around you for a few minutes.”
“Listen. I know you gave me a big tip, but that doesn’t mean you’ve purchased anything.”
“Of course not. Like I said, I just wanted to be around you for a little bit.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You should.” He curved those full lips into a smile. “When I lie, my nose wiggles. It’s the most foolish thing in the world, but it’s the truth. I can’t stop it.”
“Sure it does.”
“I’ll show you.” He stared at me. “You’re ugly.”
Aiden’s nose wiggled.
I giggled.
“I hate being around you.” His nose wiggled again.
“I wish I’d never seen you.” That time his nose didn’t wiggle. It remained unmoving.
Shocked, I said, “That wasn’t a lie. You really do wish you never saw me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because then I wouldn’t be outside of your job like a maniac, just wanting to make sure you get home safely.”
My heart warmed. It was so ridiculous. I couldn't help but feel attracted to him. It wasn’t just that he was a handsome guy. He also had a nervousness about him. It was in the way he confessed things so easily and all his weird hesitations like he wasn’t used to being around women.
That couldn’t be right.
“So, you’re just here to get me home safely?” I asked.
“Yes.” His nose wiggled.
I edged back. “That’s a lie.”
He fisted his hands at his sides. “There was another reason, but a very small one.”
“What?”
He ran his fingers through his hair and then pierced me with his gaze. “I wanted to touch you.”
Had it been any other situation, I might’ve jumped back and run into the diner, but something about him made me feel safe. Aiden could’ve lied and done many things if he meant me harm. He was so much bigger than me. He could’ve already snatched me away and chained me to a basement if he desired to.
But here he stood, big and towering and as nervous as a schoolboy talking to a girl for the first time.
I whispered, “Touch me?”
“Just your hand or arm or one of those beautiful cheeks.” He breathed me in. “I hadn’t figured out how I was going to touch you tonight. Maybe, I’d brush against the palm of your hand as you walked on my side, telling me about your day.”
Instantly, heat went to my palm. I bit my bottom lip, relishing in the odd, yet erotic sensation.
He continued, “Then, I wondered. . .maybe that silky black hair. . . Maybe it will fall in front of your face like it did earlier today in the diner. Maybe this time, I would get up the nerve to gently move it away, slipping my fingertips along your cheek.”
Warmth went to my face.
He licked his lips. “Such an innocent touch. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“That’s it? Just one touch?”
“Yes.” He closed the distance between us. They were only an inch away from each other. “Just one touch.”
It was insane how fast desire rushed through me. With just his presence, Aiden made me yearn—made me crave.
“Can I?” His voice went dark with lust. “Please, Imani. Just one touch.”
Heat pooled between my thighs.
Nervous but filling with hunger, I asked, “Where do you want to touch me?”
He surprised me with his response, “Hold out your hand.”
I reached out and joined my palm to his. As soon as our hands met, an electric shock jolted up my arm. I swallowed hard, my heartbeat doubling in rhythm as I moved my hand away.
A growling sound came from his chest.
I inched back, unsure of what was going on. “Did you feel that?”
“I did.” He walked toward me. The diner’s back door stopped me from going back farther. “Do you have any idea what kind of effect you’re having on me?”
My back was pressed to the door, and he was so close. His warm breath slipped against my skin, delivering shivers through my body. I didn’t know what was coming over me. I felt drunk, intoxicated. But I hadn’t drunk anything in weeks.
I whispered, “You have an effect on me too.”
“Show me again.” He held out his hand.
For the second time, I pressed my palm against his. Fire roared between us. I cried out, “Oh my God.”
“Damn you. I want you so bad.” He raised my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss onto my fingers. “This has never happened to me before.”
“Me either.” I could barely stand on my two feet. If he’d offered to carry me home, I would’ve let him with no protest. “What’s happening to me?”
He didn’t stop holding my hand as he kept it close to his lips. There was a strong connection between us, although I couldn’t explain why or even how. The sensation was intense and thick as if an invisible person had placed a magical rope around our hands and tied us together.
He kissed my hand again.
Unable to stop myself, I moaned in pleasure.
“Damn you,” he whispered.
“Why does it feel so good?”
With his lips hot against my skin, he whispered, “Are you only human?”
The question broke the m
agical spell between us. It was so odd. What else could one be but human?
Shit! He’s crazy. I’m getting turned on by a crazy person.
Shocked, I yanked my hand away. “What do you mean am I only human?”
His gaze followed my hand’s departure.
“Oh my God.” I shook my head. “This is crazy. I don’t even know you, and I’m letting you—”
“No.” He targeted me with an intense gaze.
“What?”
“You’re not crazy, and I won’t hurt you. I’ll always keep you safe.” Not one sliver of doubt dotted his words. And this time, his nose didn’t wiggle. “I want to touch you again. . .just your hand. . .unless. . .”
“No.” My heartbeats picked up. “It’s too intense when you touch me. And I don’t know why.”
“Then, maybe we shouldn’t touch.” He licked his lips. “With another touch, I don’t know if I could control myself.”
My heart hammered in my chest, but this time it wasn’t in fear. It was in anticipation of seeing his reaction when he touched me. A hunger pooled liquid warmth between my thighs.
How can he make me so wet when all he did was kiss my hand?
Aiden inhaled the air and groaned as if he could smell my arousal. And right before me, Aiden’s eyes changed color. From brown to gold like there was light illuminating behind the irises. So golden. Magical and bright. Those eyes blazed. So captivating, but so unnatural. Fantastical, yet scaring the crap out of me.
I screamed.
Aiden looked at his hands, and the glow from his eyes lit up his palms. “Fuck.”
He sped away faster than any animal or even a car on the highway.
“Are you only human?” he’d asked.
“Oh my god!” I rushed back into the diner, scared for my life.
It must’ve taken a good twenty minutes for Mama Joe to calm me down. Neither Cammy nor she believed me. Both told me I just needed to take a break. Cammy offered to take my shift tomorrow. I agreed. Perhaps I did need a break.
No. It couldn’t be. I didn’t see that. It would be impossible.
An hour and two glasses of wine later, I rode with Mama Joe in her old pickup and decided there was no way I saw that. Too bad, the decision didn’t help my anxiety.
