by Kim Faulks
“It’s not us you need forgiveness from.” Xael’s sing-song voice had a villainous undertone.
The scent of pine invaded my senses, followed by the sharp sting of alcohol, which gripped my nose with pincers and twisted. But, underneath the clinical stench was something else.
Dirt and moss. The sweet scent of night jasmine wove between the thick smell of matted fur and blood—wolf’s blood.
The doctor reached for my neckline, dragging the gown low. I swept my gaze over the rest of the room. A woman stared back from behind the bedside cabinet. No, not a woman—the woman. Her green eyes were unflinching, slicing through to my core. I felt the loss like a physical thing when she lowered her gaze to the thin sheet in my hand.
The woman I’d nearly run down dragged her hand over her head, sweeping aside a moth-eaten hood to reveal a cascade of red hair that pooled around her shoulders. The sight hit me like a fist. Fire. Stone cracked and that fossil in my chest swelled, then pulsed to life. “Oof.”
“Oof is right.” Xael snickered.
I gave my sister no mind, instead taking in this woman. I stared at her clothes and her body. Freckles splattered her nose—such a cute nose. And those lips. I had to drag my eyes away.
But my damn fingers twitched, itching to follow the valley between her lips and ride that dip all the way into her mouth. I swallowed my breath and felt the hard bubble bruise my damn throat.
No scratches marred her skin, still the smell of blood coated my nostrils. I inhaled again, letting the scent roll over my tongue. Wolf’s blood—a male’s blood.... Not hers. Tension seeped from limbs I hadn’t realized were tense.
I hadn’t hit her with the car. Fire licked my chest and stoked something deeper. I let out my breath and searched for my voice. “So, you’re the cause of all this.”
The laughter died in her eyes. But they sparkled with something else. An animal surged to the surface. I waited. Almost there… rising so fast.
Fangs flickered in her gaze, fangs and fur… wolf.
She bared her teeth, her words every bit as sharp as her glare. “What kind of idiot drives that fast in the dead of night?”
The fire. The fury. My dragon inside lifted his head and drew her scent deeper. “This idiot, apparently.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but took her sweet time. Silence lingered until she muttered, “Well, I’m glad you’re alive. Your car though… it’s a damn wreck. I’ll tell my people to steer clear until you clean the mess up. Not all of us wear shoes, you know. But in case you need it, I saved you this.”
She bent over the arm of the chair, reaching for the floor. Chrome shimmered in her hand. Her steps were silent as she headed for the bed, carrying the broken side mirror of my Chrysler. “Call it my contribution to the clean-up.”
The closer she came, the more I became aware of my lack of clothing. Under the thin sheet my cock stirred inciting the boom inside my chest. I turned to my brothers. “Leave us.”
“We’ll just give you guys some space,” Victor muttered. “That means you too, doc.”
The doctor spun and speared Victor with a glare. “I’m not finished yet.”
Victor shook his head. His calm ‘give no fucks’ demeanor never wavered as he bulldozed the doctor out of the room. “You’ve done enough tests. Now, let’s give my brother and his friend some privacy.”
A rebellious scowl darkened the doctor’s face, before all nine of my brothers followed, shoving the doctor from the room.
Xael followed, sweeping one last chilled stare toward the woman. “We’ll be outside, Marcus. Let us know when you’re ready to leave.”
I nodded and stared at the mirror in this woman’s outstretched hand, then lifted my gaze. “What’s your name?”
The faint buzz of a phone echoed, followed by a bleep. The flame-haired beauty reached for her pocket, pulling a flip-top phone free. I couldn’t look away, absorbed by the furrow of her brow as she stared at the screen. Her lips parted. My pulse gained momentum while her breaths sped.
Something fluttered inside my stomach as the delicate skin on the side of her neck throbbed. The thready beat filled my dragon with excitement. Fear. He tasted her fear.
“Are you okay?”
The erratic sound of her heart filled my head, then in an instant, the beat slowed. The stench of fear was gone, and in its place was something familiar—something that didn’t match her vibrant green eyes or her flaming hair. Cold, she was cold. Ice slipped into her gaze and her tone followed. “I’m fine.”
A frigid finger trailed down my spine. I shook my head. She was lying, but why? And why wouldn’t she answer my questions?
“You guys are really skinny. Atkins, huh? Never had much use for dieting. I like my food running. Still, you look good. Although the girlfriend can ease off the death stare.”
I turned to the doorway. Dieting? “They’re my brothers, and Xael isn’t my girlfriend. She’s my sister.” I reached for my chin and rubbed the stubble. “A little zealous, I’ll admit. But, she only has my best interests at heart.”
Her eyes widened, and for a second that cold emptiness receded. “Jesus. How many of you are there?”
“Twelve. One for each sign of the Zodiac.”
“Humans.” She smiled and shook her head. “Your parents sound like astrology fanatics. Makes my moon-howling, fur-shedding father look almost normal.”
My stomach dropped like a stone. She didn’t recognize a Guardian. Didn’t she smell the dragon? I know didn’t smell of wolf and I sure as hell didn’t move like a demon. The slow thud of my heart ruled out vampires, but surely she felt something.
Her phone buzzed again. She jumped and the smirk disappeared.
“You were running from someone, weren’t you?”
Her head snapped up.
Green eyes sparkled with an intensity only the stars should create. I licked my lips and muttered. “Can you at least tell me your name?”
One shake of her head sent the fiery mane into a flurry. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t be around long enough for you to care.”
The sudden rise of her chest drew my focus. The green rock around her neck shone under the overhead lights, flecked with a red so vibrant it could’ve been blood. The stone was shaped in what would’ve been a canine tooth, but the end was broken.
“The stone you’re wearing. What is it?”
Her chin rose, shoulders straightened. Whatever the necklace meant, she took pride in it. “It’s the stone of my pack—bloodstone.”
The shaman’s words filled inside my mind. My payment. Bloodstone. Before dawn.
My feet hit the cool hospital floor.
Her head tilted, following my rise.
I tried to deny the witch’s warning. I tried to lie to my family and to myself.
But deep down I felt the winds of change, like I felt fate wrestle the wheel. The shaman hadn't sent me out for a stone. She'd sent me to find this woman.
Fangs and fur.
I let my hold slip and my dragon rushed in. The wolf’s gaze widened. My big black eyes reflected in her emerald stare. Her shoes squeaked as she stumbled a step farther from me, and another, and another. Don’t frighten her. Don’t make her run.
Her top lip trembled as it curled. White enamel sparkled. Her breaths were harsh, drawing in my scent. Too deep. Now she’d fear me.
“What are you?”
Her question hung in the air while I tried to find the answer. But there were no words for what we were—not now—maybe not ever.
We were an abomination.
We were the monsters even the wolves needed to fear. We were death. We were destruction. Because of all those things, we were always and forever, alone.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” I edged forward. “I only want to help.”
A whimper slipped her lips. She shuffled backward. I was forcing her wolf into a corner. The thought sliced neatly through my ribs and punctured that cold, dead organ inside. She doesn’t know what you are. Stop
scaring her.
I ran my tongue along my lips and edged one step closer. My fingers tingled. I could almost reach her… almost touch her.
I kept my voice steady while inside, a storm unleashed, threatening to bring me down. I stumbled under the weight, grasping the end of the bed and forced out the words. “Let’s try this again. This time I want the truth. Who were you running from and why the hell are you so scared?”
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