by Hailey Storm
I reached for my bottle of whiskey and slid back into my chair. Screw Amber and Ryan. Screw Gavin. Screw Sage. Screw them all. I didn’t need to find a mate. I was perfectly fine alone. Getting close to someone meant putting my heart on the line, and after Beth I wasn’t sure I was capable of doing so again.
My wolf howled his disagreement. He craved companionship of a mate. I could feel him push for it until my blood simmered through my veins and my skin itched for a woman’s touch, but it didn’t change the fact that my man was too scared to put himself out there again.
Hearts were fragile, no matter if they were human or animal.
Sleep tugged at me as I continued to stare at the fire. It wasn’t long before my eyes grew heavy and closed.
Chapter Two
Tex
I was freezing when I woke the next morning. An empty bottle of whiskey sat in my lap and I was still dressed in the same clothes as the day before. My fire had gone out at some point in the night, taking all the heat with it and leaving behind cooling embers. My head pulsed with pain as I yawned, a clear indication I’d had too much to drink last night. However, the sunlight streaming through my windows didn’t help the situation any either.
My gaze shifted to the clock hung by my front door. It was close to one in the afternoon, which meant it was the perfect time to head to Gilbert’s Diner for my favorite hangover meal. I stretched as I made my way toward the bathroom. Once I relieved my bladder, I reached for my toothbrush and toothpaste but heard my cell ring from somewhere in the cabin. When I finally found it was on the fifth ring. Gabe’s name lit my screen and I quickly answered it.
“Hello?”
“Hey there, champ, how were you feeling this morning?”
“Considering I just woke up about five minutes ago, I’d say I was feeling pretty damn good this morning … because I was still sleeping.”
“Have a little hangover going?”
“It’s possible.”
“Damn, and here I was going to ask if you’d head to the shop and complete an order that came in last night for me.”
I filled a glass with tap water and downed half of it before speaking. “Why can’t one of the others do it? Today is supposed to be my day off.”
“I know, but you’re my best guy and I’d like to get this order knocked out quickly. Valentine’s Day is creeping up and I don’t want this one hanging over my head.”
“I guess I could swing by and see what I can do.” I chugged the remainder of my water. “Let me at least shower and pick up something to eat first.”
“Sure, that will work. Give me a call when you get there and I’ll fill you in on what I need you to do.”
“All right.” I hung up and refilled my cup with water for a second time.
About two more glasses and a shower should do the trick. Then at least I’d feel like I was among the living again. All that would remain for my hangover cure would be my favorite meal from Gilbert’s Diner in my stomach.
Gilbert’s wasn’t anything fancy. It was a tiny Mom and Pop place on the edge of town that was about two miles from the city. It was just enough distance for the place to be slammed at lunch and dinner, but nearly dead any time before or after. Since it was almost two o’clock by the time I pulled into the small gravel parking lot, the place was empty. I didn’t bother locking my truck before cramming my keys in my front pocket and making my way toward the entrance. There wasn’t shit inside for anyone to take and I doubted anyone would want to steal the thing. It was an older nineties model with well over a hundred and eighty thousand miles on it and quite a few patches of rust.
Someone stealing it was the last of my worries.
I pushed my way through the double doors of the diner and shuffled inside. The scent of charbroiled burgers hit my nose and my stomach grumbled. I headed straight to my usual table nestled in the back. It had a good view of the entire restaurant, leaving no room for anyone to sneak up behind me—which put my wolf at ease—plus the waitress who came with it was easy on the eyes.
After I situated myself at my usual table, I rested my elbows on the table top and propped my head up with my knuckles. God, it was bright in here. I knew I should’ve brought my sunglasses in with me. My hat wasn’t doing the best at blocking the light and my thumping headache still lingered behind my eyes because of it.
“Not planning on taking off your hat this time around? I swear I don’t get to see your eyes nearly enough,” a sweet, familiar voice asked as a shiny laminated menu was slid across the table top in front of me.
“Just letting my eyes adjust to the brightness of the place first,” I said, lifting my gaze to lock with Lilla’s. Her green eyes were incredible. I’d never seen eyes so big and bright.
“Did you have a long night?” A slight smirk twisted at the corners of her full lips.
“I did.”
“Should I get you a cup of coffee? Maybe give you a minute or two to decide what you want?”
“No, I don’t want any coffee. Thank you, though,” I said as I slipped her the menu back. “What I would like though is a double cheeseburger platter with extra fries. Hold the pickle.”
Her pen moved to her pad as she jotted down my order. “Ah, you’re the type who cures a hangover with greasy food. Little secret, I am too.” She grinned as she continued to write. Her nose crinkled in the process and I thought it had to be the cutest thing I’d ever seen. “What would you like on it?”
“The works.”
“Anything to drink?”
“Water is fine.”
“I’ll put your order in,” she said as she scooped up my menu, “and I’ll be right back with your water.”
“Thanks.”
I closed my eyes the second she walked away, giving them a break from the harsh lighting of the diner. The white walls and white-tiled flooring seemed to magnify the sunlight streaming in from the massive windows along the opposite wall. My wolf paced back and forth. He didn’t like the idea of my eyes being closed while I was in a public place.
He was always on edge. Restless was the name I’d given him long ago.
Light, quick footfalls captured my attention, followed by the sharp, earthy scent of lavender.
“Here you go,” Lilla said, her voice barely above a whisper. It was as though she didn’t want to disturb me. “Your meal will be out in just a little bit.”
“Thanks,” I muttered without opening my eyes.
“You’re welcome.”
Even though she’d walked away, her sent still lingered in the air. I’d never been a big fan of lavender, but on her it smelled different. There was something delicate, earthy, and sharply sweet about it. I liked it. It wasn’t the standard flowery or vanilla scent most women lathered themselves in. Maybe this was what captured my attention about it most.
At the sound of a bell jingling, my eyes opened. Someone new had entered the diner. Their presence was strong, and there was also something off-putting about it. My wolf instantly went on the defense, but I wasn’t sure why. The guy seemed burley and intense, but neither seemed like a viable reason for my wolf’s reaction. The guy was human.
Still, he’d gained the attention of my wolf, which was never a good thing.
I stared at the guy, waiting for him to pick a seat or find his party. He did neither. Instead, he sauntered toward Lilla. Her eyes shifted to him for a split second before returning back to the customer she was chatting with. It was just enough time for me to see the effect he had on her.
While she appeared to be annoyed by his presence, it was her scent that piqued my interest.
She was afraid of him.
Was he a regular here? Or was he someone she knew personally? When I was on rotation at the furniture shop I ate here every day. I’d never seen this guy, which led me to believe he was someone she knew outside of work.
My eyes drifted to the guy. I knew in an instant from the way he was looking at her they’d been in a relationship of sorts. You didn’t look at a wom
an the way he was unless you’d tasted her—man or shifter.
“Don’t look so happy to see me, sweetheart.” The guy’s words were rough around the edges. Lilla seemed to squirm at the sound of his voice. There was a shared tension between the two and none of it was good, that much was obvious. “Why didn’t you return my phone calls last night?”
“I don’t have time for this right now, Bret,” Lilla said as she stepped away from the cash register, refusing to meet his gaze.
The guy spun around and gestured to the restaurant with his hands. “The place is dead. How is it you don’t have time to talk to me for one damn minute?”
My muscles tensed. Who did he think he was storming in here and talking to her that way?
“Order up!” someone from in the kitchen yelled before setting my burger and fries in the window that separated the kitchen and dining area.
“I have customers to tend to.” Lilla turned her back on the guy, whom I assumed was her ex, and his fake smile transformed into a snarl.
I didn’t like him.
I watched Lilla as she grabbed my meal and maneuvered around him without looking at him. Tension rolled off the guy in waves at her gesture. I could taste it in the air. His body grew rigid and his eyes became dark.
“Here you go.” Lilla smiled as she placed my burger and fries in front of me. “Is there anything else I can get you? More water maybe?” She flashed me a small smile, but it didn’t reach the corners of her eyes like the previous ones today had. I knew it had everything to do with the guy hounding her.
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
“All right, well just holler if you need me.” Her lips trembled as she forced another smile before walking away.
I took my hat off and placed it on the table before picking up my burger and taking a healthy bite. My stomach grumbled as the charbroiled flavor burst across my tongue, but it didn’t do anything to sedate my wolf. He was on edge. It was all due to that asshole’s presence. I crammed a couple fries into my mouth, trying to ignore the new altercation happening between Lilla and him, but my wolf wasn’t having it. For some reason, he was invested in what was taking place between them. More than he should be. I shifted around in my seat and glanced at an elderly couple enjoying a meal. My wolf’s ears were still pricked in Lilla’s direction though.
“Bret, I already told you I don’t have time to talk with you. I’m working. Besides, what more is there left to say? I’ve already told to you more than once that we’re done. We’ve been done for months,” I heard Lilla snap.
“Come on, baby. You know you don’t mean that.”
Quick movement coming from their direction caught my full attention. Lilla had spun on her heel to retrieve a pitcher of water and was starting to maneuver her way past Bret when he reached out and grabbed her wrist, holding her in place. My wolf growled so deeply it vibrated my chest. I counted to three, waiting to see if he would release his grip or if she would manage to shake him off. Neither happened. Instead, he tightened his fingers around her wrist and a slight wincing noise pushed its way past her parted lips.
What came next happened in a blur.
I was out of my seat and across the diner before I knew what I was doing. I shoved him away from her and forced myself between the two of them, putting Lilla behind me. My nostrils flared as I stared into his mud-brown eyes. Adrenaline spiked through my system as my wolf begged the asshole to touch me.
“What the fuck?” Bret muttered. A lopsided grin formed on his face. Apparently, he was amused.
“She’s asked you numerous times to leave her alone. She’s at work. What don't you understand about that?” I spat.
Bret laughed. “And who are you?”
“Don’t, Bret,” Lilla insisted. There was a tremor to her words that had me wondering if she was afraid of what he might do next. This made me smile, because she had no idea what I was capable of and neither did he.
He gave me a onceover. “Who is this fool, Lilla? Is this your new man?”
Lilla moved from behind me, but I still managed to re-angle my body so a portion of her was blocked from the asshole’s view. It not only made me feel more comfortable in this situation, but it also gave a sense of ease to my wolf. He was chomping at the bit, ready to attack at the drop of a pin to protect her.
“I’m your worst fucking nightmare if you don’t leave her alone,” I said on the cusp of a snarl. My blood boiled, accentuating my wolfish features.
“I don’t have time for this bullshit. Call me later, when you don’t have a bodyguard standing around.” Bret backed away, putting distance between the two of us. It was probably the smartest thing he’d done in a while.
The second he exited the diner, I headed back to my burger and fries. Blood rushing through my veins and my pounding heart were the only things I could hear. My wolf paced back and forth, snapping and snarling. Just because Bret had disappeared from view didn’t mean he felt the situation had dissipated. I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep, long breath to steady myself and him. The scent of lavender wafted to my nose and when I opened my eyes Lilla was standing at my table.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispered. “But thank you. Bret can be a little intense at times. Sometimes I swear he turns into a freaking monster.”
The word monster coming past her lips hit me square in the gut. If she thought he was a monster, then how in the hell would she feel about me if she ever were to learn the truth of what I was?
I risked a glance at her. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment from the situation. “Yeah, well, there’s a little bit of monster in both of us then.”
My words were bold, even if she didn’t understand their meaning to the fullest extent. They had my wolf growling in disapproval at my man’s sudden honesty. For whatever reason, Lilla didn’t seem like someone I wanted to hide myself from. There was something about her that made me want to spill my guts even though I still harbored a fear she would run from me once she learned the truth. I was drawn to her in a way I couldn’t explain and I hadn’t realized it until I’d seen that asshole’s hand on her.
“Can I buy your lunch as a thank you?” she asked.
My thoughts jumbled up as I continued to gaze into her beautiful green eyes. Fear at what I was suddenly feeling rushed through me, chasing all the goodness out of a moment that could have been damn near perfect.
“No.” The word was out of my mouth before I could think on what I was saying. When the area between her eyes puckered with confusion, I backtracked, hoping to ease whatever attention my reply had ignited between us. “That’s not necessary, but thank you.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I’m sure someone else would have stepped in if I hadn’t.”
She nodded and flashed me a smile. This one was forced though. I could tell. “Yeah, you’re probably right. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you regardless. Enjoy the rest of your lunch.”
She walked away and I let her. What more could I say? That her offering to buy my lunch seemed to New Agey for me? That I was more of a traditional type? Or should I have told her the truth, that accepting her offer to buy my meal signified something far more personal and intimate to me then she’d probably meant for it to. Couldn’t she sense the monster inside me? She should fear me.
Either way, I hated myself for having shut her down so quickly.
I lifted my burger and took a bite. The charbroiled flavor blasted across my tongue, but it did nothing to suppress my hunger. All it did was send nausea sloshing through my stomach. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t be here any longer. Fresh air was what I needed. That, and distance from people. My wolf was too antsy with pent-up energy from the altercation with Bret. Visions of him reaching out and grabbing hold of Lilla’s wrist continued on a loop through my mind.
I had to get out of here.
I stood and reached for my wallet in my back pocket. I fished out a twenty-dollar bill and placed it on the table beneath a salt shaker. It should be enoug
h to cover my meal as well as leave a decent tip for Lilla. Without glancing at her or anyone else, I made my way through the diner toward the exit with the itch to change burning beneath my skin.
I needed a release. That much was clear. Maybe afterword I could focus on why I suddenly felt the way I did when it came to Lilla and decide what it might mean.
Chapter Three
Lilla
Tex left the diner in a hurry. My body heat rose and my chest tightened as I struggled to figure out why. The expression on his face made him appear as though he were sick to his stomach. Had his burger not tasted good? Had my offer to buy his meal offended him in some way? Why did it seem as though he couldn’t get out of here fast enough?
“Tell me,” Erica started as she inched her way behind the counter. She reached for the stack of plastic baskets we used for side orders of fries and placed them on the counter before grabbing a clean rag to wipe them down with. “How is it that you’ve managed to make two guys run from here with their tail between their legs in the span of thirty minutes?”
“Who cares why the first one ran.” I grinned as I grabbed another rag and began helping wipe out the plastic baskets.
“Right, but the second? That guy is hot. I’m digging the whole cowboy boots and hat thing. It works on him.”
It did work on him. Tex had a southern cowboy vibe going, but he was also mysterious. The combination worked for me. More than I cared to admit.
“Yeah, I don’t know what happened. All I did was offer to buy his meal as a thank you for helping me out with Bret.”
“Hmm … Maybe you hurt his manhood.”
“How?” The thought was ludicrous. “It wasn’t like we were on a date. It was as a simple thank you gesture.”
“True, but some guys have that whole hero complex thing going on. Maybe he’s one of them?”
He had stepped in fast to help defuse the situation between me and Bret. He’d also jumped in front of me, diving into protection mode when he did so.
