by Dannika Dark
Which isolated him from the pack. The bitch of it was that his wolf craved companionship and family. He often wondered what it would be like to have a woman to confide in—someone who would always stand by his side, even if his brothers didn’t. Obviously that wasn’t in the cards, but he couldn’t shut off the desire to mate. After all, he was around a hundred years old, and the closer he came to his prime, the more those feelings intensified. The instinctual call to bond had become so strong in recent years that it was misdirecting his feelings toward the wrong women.
The wrong woman.
Who also happened to be the wrong animal.
Chapter 1
“Calm down, chickypoo. I think what you already have on your menu are divine morsels of heaven,” I said to Lexi. We had spent hours designing a take-out menu for the bakery, and now she was second-guessing herself about replacing her macadamia nut cookies with chocolate chunk.
“But chocolate is so popular, Naya,” she said, brows drawing together as she tossed her feet up on my coffee table. I disliked shoes on my glass table, but I had to remind myself it was just a piece of furniture. “The macadamias sell good, but chocolate is a winner. Everyone loves chocolate. You could pour it on sardines and it would sell.”
“Sounds delish,” I purred.
I tugged on her brown hair and slinked around my white sofa to sit in my favorite oversized red chair in the right-hand corner of my living room. It gave me a full view of my humble apartment. The kitchen was tucked behind a wall to the right of the door but had an open bar where I could see into the room. To my right—behind the television—was a quaint dining room in front of the back door. It faced east, so I was able to enjoy the morning light with my coffee. The bathroom and bedroom were just beyond that. Though it was small, I kept my apartment tastefully decorated.
Misha’s silver bell jingled, and my Siamese beauty sauntered across the plush white carpet toward the kitchen. She was cream-colored with a dark face and sooty legs, and she had the most remarkable blue eyes, which were slightly crossed. Lexi always complained about how much I spoiled the cat, but the only thing good enough for my little Misha was tuna or raw chicken and vegetables. That dry stuff humans packaged up looked like something you’d feed a cow, not a natural predator.
“No question. Your macadamia cookies are to die for, Lexi. If you don’t keep those on the menu, I’m going to disown you as my friend. Of course everyone loves chocolate, but most women can’t turn down a good nut.”
Lexi snorted and tapped her feet together, staring at her blue Converse sneakers. She dressed so plainly for such a stunning brunette. Unlike me, she was slim without all the curves, but her high cheekbones combined with those bourbon eyes just made her stand shoulders above other women.
“Why all the fuss? You already know what sells. It’s what I do in my line of work,” I said with a sly wink. “Find out what they like and keep dishing it to them.”
She drummed her fingers on the armrest. “I hear what you’re saying, but I keep wondering if I could be doing better. I just don’t want to screw this up and have Austin think of me as a failure. There’s just so much more to running a business than I ever imagined. When the cost of goods goes up, my profits go down unless I can find another vendor or raise prices.” She waved her hand at the mess of papers on the coffee table. “Thanks for helping me with everything; I don’t know what I’d do without you. I went over the cost factors with Wheeler last night, and we’re in the black. Maybe I don’t want to get too comfortable with our income and become afraid to try new things. The tip jar helps, and God knows that Trevor can bring in extra money when he plays, but I want to keep taking it to the next level. This business could keep our family comfortable for years to come, and I’m just trying to come up with ideas to make Sweet Treats more profitable.”
“Girl, you practically have a sugar empire in the making. Maybe you should advertise your bakery on the human side of town. Have your friend, April, pass out the menus.”
Lexi pursed her lips. “I don’t discriminate against humans, but I’m afraid it’ll drive away the Breed customers, and they’re the ones who bring in the big money. I’ll keep it in mind, but for now I better focus on building clients in our own district since we’re still pretty new.”
“Agreed. If it’s one thing immortals have, it’s deep pockets. Never sell yourself short, and I still think you should make the cinnamon bread two dollars higher.” A quiet moment passed between us. “Honey, I miss having you as my neighbor.”
Lexi put her feet on the floor and leaned forward, her voice softening. “It’s not like I’m totally out of your life. We still hang out.”
I crossed my legs, noticing it was time for another pedicure. “Yes, but I miss the heavenly smell of your baking. Now all I smell coming from next door is boiled cabbage.”
Lexi wrinkled her nose. “Well, at least the downstairs neighbors moved. No more Pink Floyd music.” A nostalgic smile brightened her face. “I miss having you wander over at odd hours to play cards.”
After Lexi moved in with Austin, the apartments had become a dull place to live. I’d met her years ago in the Sweet Treats candy store, and we’d connected right away. I’d had an inkling she wasn’t human—sometimes you can just sense it up close. Plus, even though she hadn’t gone through the change yet, I’d noticed her habits were indicative of a wolf.
Lexi’s expression faltered. “Was my moving here a coincidence? That seemed pretty convenient after I broke up with Beckett.”
“Confession: I paid off my old neighbor so he’d move out. Then I threw a little money at the office manager to hold the vacancy. Honey, you were in the middle of a breakup with that cheating man, and I didn’t want to see you two kiss and make up. The sooner I could get you settled in a new place, the better your chances were of getting over him. No friend of mine will be a doormat for any man’s feet.”
Her brows arched thoughtfully, but her eyes were downcast. “I can’t believe I loved a man like Beckett. I would never have gone back to him, but how did I not see that coming?”
I scraped my fingernail on the fabric of the chair. “Because Beckett was a man obsessed. You know how human men behave differently around Shifter women. After a breakup, some of them can’t let go. They obsess over it until those feelings turn into rage. If I hadn’t been so distracted that evening, listening to music and cleaning…”
“It’s not your fault he tried to kill me,” she said firmly. “Austin blamed himself for years, and even though we’ve moved past it, I don’t think he’ll ever forgive himself for not getting up to my apartment sooner. If he hadn’t cared enough about me, then he wouldn’t have parked outside that night and I wouldn’t be sitting here. Sometimes one second is everything.”
Female Shifters were dangerously desirable to human men—probably something in our pheromones or energy. Some would go so far as to stalk or even assault one of us, as this was something I’d discovered in my life as an exotic dancer. I’d never liked Beckett, her ex-lover. He’d always had an abrasive personality and used to pick fights with other men. Maybe that’s why Lexi had been attracted to him—those traits would have appealed to the wolf in her. But that’s a dangerous combination with human men; they often don’t know how to control their compulsive behavior. I’d done everything I could to get her away from that psychotic boyfriend of hers, and I sure hadn’t batted an eyelash when Austin’s wolf tore out his jugular. It was a good thing my animal hadn’t gotten a hold of him, or there would have been nothing left of him to clean up but a few bones.
Fate had a sense of humor in pairing me up with a wolf as my best friend. Of all animals! I’d always considered them nefarious creatures—at least the men who came into my club to watch me dance. Always posturing, territorial, aggressive. My mother had raised me to live independently of others, so I couldn’t relate to their pack mentality. Plus, my fiery personality would eat them alive.
And so would my animal—a black panther.
Jaguar, to be specific. Common sense dictated how each Shifter animal lived. Those who were lions lived in a pride, and some animal species were loners. Wolves lived among a hierarchy and often congregated in the same cities. Regardless of animal, the instinct to mate was strong among all Shifters, and that’s why Shifters often sought out cities populous with their animal. Life was just easier when you shared common ground with someone.
I chuckled to myself while Lexi organized a stack of messy papers. “Don’t you worry about a thing, darling. I have a friend who owes me a favor, and she’ll make your menus the most beautiful in the city. In fact, we’re ordering extras.”
Her eyes widened. “Do I need extra?”
“Of course you do! She’s a good friend of mine, and for a first-time customer, I know she’ll throw in a few hundred at no charge. Denver can pass them out at Howlers, or maybe your brothers have big connections who might be interested. Everyone is going to want a bite of your cookie,” I said with a suggestive wink.
“Only one man gets my cookie,” she said, nibbling her bottom lip. “And Austin’s a man with a hearty appetite.”
“Now that’s what I like to hear,” I said, rising to my feet. I adored the chemistry between those two. It almost made me wish I had my own man around the house, but no man had ever fit the bill, let alone paid it.
Packs were fortunate because they spread the wealth around. It wasn’t so easy for loners like me. A girl has needs, and one of mine was getting out of this life. I’d been able to set aside money working as an exotic dancer, but in order to quit, I needed enough to support me for centuries. Maybe some turned up their noses at my profession, but without skills, dancing was the only option to make real money. I didn’t care about people’s silly judgments about my lifestyle. I was a phenomenal dancer, and a woman in control of her sexuality is a powerful thing.
“Do you have the website up yet?” I asked.
She leaned against my front door, crossing her arms with a look of frustration. “I have no clue how to build a website. I live in a house full of Internet illiterates, so none of them can help with something like that. I know enough about computers to be dangerous, but most technology is over my head.”
I raised my hand. “Consider it taken care of.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Really, Naya?”
“It’s the least I can do for a friend.”
Lexi gave me a tight hug, and I patted her shoulder before stepping away.
“I really owe you big time. I’m glad Austin made me wait a little while before opening the new store. I’m sure I’d be more stressed out if I hadn’t planned ahead. If that’s even possible.” She smiled and leaned against the door again. “Ivy was a godsend and got a few big clubs interested in placing orders, so we had customers right out of the gate. Some of them came into our store to check us out and that helped spread the word. Even after a couple of years, it still feels like a scramble. I’ve had so much to do that the website has been the last thing on my mind.”
“One day at a time. You’re off to a great start, and you made a smart choice hiring Izzy to manage the bakery. You were doing way too much on your own. Don’t fret. I’ll talk to my guy and have him call you to work something out. He’s a genius. Met him in the club—a real sweetheart. Sent me tulips and candy, so I finally gave in and went on a date.”
“How did that go?”
I smiled wolfishly. “He knows a thing or two about putting RAM into a hard drive,” I said seductively, sliding my hand down my hip.
Lexi rolled her eyes.
In truth, Scott was too much of a softy for my liking, but he did fix my computer and set me up with free Internet.
Misha slinked around my legs, and I reached down to stroke her soft fur.
“You pamper that furball like she’s a little diva,” Lexi said with disdain.
I peered up at her. “I should have known you were a wolf when you didn’t like my pussy.”
“I thought Shifters didn’t own pets.”
I stood upright and shook some of the hairs off my fingertips. “For obvious reasons, most Shifters don’t own pets. After living in slavery, most see it as comparable and want no part of it. But I rescued her a few years ago from one of those shelters that puts them down, and now she’s my little boo. The only slavery going on in my house is all the hairballs I have to clean up and the litter box, but that just goes with the territory.”
Lexi put her hands on her hips. “Well, just remember she’s an animal. It’s not the same as family.”
I jutted my hip out and anchored my fist on it. “We’re all animals, darling. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but family has nothing to do with people. It’s a kinship you share with another soul. She’s my baby, so play nice or I’ll make you cat-sit again for some bonding time.”
“Do you still want to grab something to eat before I go home?” Lexi asked.
Lexi’s favorite place was the Pit, a local barbecue joint. But I always ended up with horrendous sauce stains on my clothes and meat between my teeth. I looked down; my white shorts would never make it out alive.
“Well, I could use a little extra cushion on my hips,” I said.
She arched a brow. “Seriously?”
“Absolutely,” I replied with an enthusiastic nod.
Lexi had grown up among humans, influenced by their perception of beauty coming in only one pretty package. My legs were thick and my hips curvaceous. Most of the human clubs had strippers who looked like waifs. Not Breed clubs. Our men liked all kinds of women. Tall, petite, dark, light, slender, shapely. The variety brought them in and catered to their preferences. Chitah males tipped more for the tall girls, while some of the Shifters threw Benjamins at the redheads. My regulars liked the way I rolled my hips and owned the body my mother had blessed me with.
“Let’s do Italian,” Lexi suggested, lifting her purse off the bar. “I’m in the mood for pasta, and Olive Garden has the best salads!”
“I’ll agree to that, even though being in a room full of humans makes me nervous.”
They had amazing breadsticks; I could devour them by the truckload, so I was willing to suffer through the energy suck.
“Great! Let’s pig out like old times. I’ll call Austin and let him know I’ll be coming home late.”
“Sounds perfect. Let me just feed little Misha before we go.”
***
After we finished our salads, the waiter served the main course. Lexi had ordered the chicken Alfredo and didn’t waste a moment digging in. I leaned over my plate and smelled the heavenly aroma of my tilapia, shrimp, and broccoli. Human restaurants had good food, even though the atmosphere was usually colder and less vibrant. People didn’t talk to or look at other customers, and sometimes they didn’t even talk to the people at their own table if they were preoccupied on their electronic toys. Being around too many humans drained my energy, and I’d often wondered if there was something to that. A Mage had once told me that most of us had higher levels of energy than humans. Maybe that explained why we thrived in the company of our own.
“So how’s work going?” Lexi asked conversationally, slurping up a noodle.
I brushed my dark curls behind my shoulders and then savored a generous bite. “It’s the same old drama. We have a new girl with all these ideas, and it’s ruffling everyone’s goosey little feathers. The bickering is so petty, and sometimes the women act like a group of hungry jackals protecting a pile of bones. I say there are enough bones to go around.”
“Don’t you mean boners?” Lexi said with a half smile. “No offense, but you work with some crazy women.”
“It’s much worse now,” I added, tasting my wine. “One of our girls went missing, so everyone is clamoring to get the attention of her regulars—especially the men who request private lap dances.”
“No one knows where she is?”
I shrugged and swallowed another bite. “It could be nothing. Maybe she just took off and decided she’d had eno
ugh of this life. I hate to bring down dinner with such a morose topic.”
“Naya, you’re always upbeat, which is great, but I want to hear what else is going on in your life. Don’t keep secrets from me just because it’s not polite dinner conversation. Did anyone call the authorities? What Breed was she?”
I poked at my meal, annoyed with the Italian music blaring from the speakers. “Most of the girls are Shifters, and I think her animal was a cougar. Well, that was the rumor anyhow. Lacy didn’t have any family, and I doubt our boss called the Council to investigate. Most clubs don’t want to attract negative attention for fear it might drive away the customers.” I set my fork down and wiped my mouth with the cloth napkin.
“What’s wrong?”
Within the past year, work had been so different after the place switched hands. The rumor floating around was that the new owner was a human, but I’d never personally met him. Humans weren’t allowed to own Breed businesses, so no one believed it. On the few occasions I’d caught a glimpse of him, he would walk briskly to his office in the back and close the door. The only person allowed in there was Dean, our manager. Dean had recently put his foot down and stopped letting things like tardiness slide. We liked Dean, but lately he looked more like a man who was afraid of losing his job.
“Nothing to worry yourself over,” I said, waving my hand. “All the drama that goes with work should stay at work. I’m sure you don’t want me to bore you with the details.”
Her fork clicked against the plate. “Bore me. I’m all ears. I’ll tell you some personal stuff if you tell me.”
My brow quirked. “Do tell, because that’s a juicy bone you’re waving in front of my curious nose.”
She nibbled on her lip and leaned forward. “I want to have a baby.”
