by Casey Lane
“Hey, you’re back,” Edison walked in, interrupting my thoughts. “Are you feeling better?”
I grinned at him, glad for a distraction from my brain. “Yeah.”
“I hear the IRS thing got worked out,” Edison said.
“Yeah, John worked it out with them and I am so glad. I was not looking forward to all of the work that we’d still have to do if we were getting audited.”
Secretly, I sort of wondered if Athan had worked at the IRS in the first place. John had fixed everything way too fast. Truthfully, I’d probably never know.
Edison smiled at me. “Well, I’m really glad you’re not swamped with work today because a bunch of us are going out after work again tonight if you’re interested.”
“Sounds fun,” I said, glad to not spend the night alone in my apartment pining for Cade.
Edison nodded. “Great. We’re meeting at the place across the street whenever you’re done.”
“Okay. I’ll see you there, but probably closer to seven. I’m a little behind since I wasn’t here on Friday,” I gestured to the piles of paper on my desk.
Edison laughed. “I’m just glad you can make it.”
“Me too,” I said, glancing at my phone again.
Cade still hadn’t texted me back. I definitely needed to go out tonight. This obsessing was not good.
It was just after seven and I walked across the street in a hurry, still a little freaked out by the night. I knew there was nobody after me anymore, but I still couldn’t shake the fear. I should have asked Edison to walk me over, but he’d already left the office when I’d checked for him. I opened the door to the bar and felt my anxiety dissipate. I made it.
It was still crowded for the end of happy hour. I scanned the room. I spotted Edison at the bar. He saw me and waved.
“What are you drinking?” He asked as I walked up.
“I’ll have a glass of cabernet sauvignon.”
He turned to the bartender. “Two glasses of cabernet sauvignon.”
“You’re not a beer guy?” I asked as I sat down on the empty stool next to him.
“I prefer red wine actually,” he said.
“Interesting.” I looked around and didn’t see anyone from work. “Where is everyone else?”
“Actually, it’s just you and I today,” Edison looked sheepish.
I frowned. “What? I thought everyone was going out.”
Edison smiled. “We did, last week, but I still owed you a drink.”
“Oh.” A quiver shot through my stomach.
Then I felt guilty. Cade. Except that I shouldn’t feel bad. Cade hadn’t even texted me back yet from this morning. We weren’t anything.
Besides, I couldn’t leave now. Edison had just bought me a glass of wine. It would look strange if I left. Besides, I’d known Edison for ages. We were only colleagues having a drink together. He wasn’t actually interested in me, was he? Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. No. That couldn’t be.
“You look a little spooked,” Edison said.
“Huh? Oh. I…I’m just surprised,” I managed. “I thought other people were going to be here.”
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out,” Edison seemed genuine.
“I’m fine,” I said or at least I was trying to be.
Edison nodded. “Okay.”
The bartender brought us our wine. I immediately reached for mine and took a long sip. Edison did the same, watching me the whole time. I felt my cheeks starting to turn pink. Why did things feel weird between Edison and I all of a sudden? Was it because of Cade? But all of the girls had crushes on Edison. It wasn’t like he was singling me out, right? He was friendly to everyone.
“Why don’t we sit in a booth?” Edison asked. “I see an empty one. I actually wanted to talk to you tonight too.”
“Okay,” I said. Wait. Was this a date? What did he want to talk about? Something was weird. Was he alright?
I followed Edison over to a booth toward the back. It was definitely more private. I couldn’t help thinking that it would be perfect for a date. Butterflies swooped through my stomach again. Edison slid into the booth and I followed him, almost spilling my drink. Edison grabbed my hand to steady it and I almost dropped my wine completely.
“Careful,” Edison said, taking the glass from me and setting it on the table.
“Thank you,” I managed.
Edison peered at me. “You know, when you didn’t show up on Friday, I thought you’d quit because of the whole IRS thing.”
“Oh, no. Of course not. I was just sick. I…” I stopped. I could hear the lying in my own voice.
“Yeah. Kelly mentioned your boyfriend called,” Edison said.
“Oh. Uh…he wasn’t my boyfriend.” I changed the subject. “So, how was your weekend?”
Edison appeared to think about this. “Unexpected.”
I turned to look at Edison, concerned. “Oh. What happened?”
“It’s a long story, but I realized I had to make a big decision.”
“What kind of decision? Is everything alright?” I met Edison’s blue eyes. He didn’t have cancer or something did he?
Edison held my gaze. My breath caught and I couldn’t look away even if I’d wanted to. The blueness in his eyes filled everything. I waited for his answer.
“About you.”
“About me?” I asked.
My stomach did a summersault as Edison leaned toward me. He hesitated. Then he moved even closer.
“Yes. Seraphine, you’re mine,” he whispered.
I believed him and everything else in the world melted away. There was only us. Seraphine and Edison.
I felt my phone buzzing in my purse, but I didn’t move. I couldn’t. Edison leaned in. I stayed frozen as his mouth moved closer. His lips touched mine in the softest of kisses. His blue eyes never left mine. They were all I could see.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
I barely heard him as his lips touched my neck. I felt the white hot kisses he peppered down my throat to the very core of my body. I leaned my head back to let him continue. I wanted more. My body melded with his. He wrapped his arms around me. Mine had already wrapped around his waist, embracing him. I could feel his breath on my neck. More. More. More.
That’s when I felt it - a bite.
The End
Continue the series in book two, Embracing the Vampire:
http://www.mildaharris.com/p/embracing-vampire.html
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About the Author
http://www.mildaharris.com/
Milda Harris is a Chicago girl who ran off to Hollywood to pursue a screenwriting dream. She has a dog named after a piece of candy (Licorice), was once hit by a tree (seriously), and wears hot pink sunglasses (why not?). Between working in production on television shows like Austin & Ally, Hannah Montana, and That's So Raven and playing with her super cute toddler twins, she writes murder mystery, horror, and paranormal romance novels.
Raising the Phoenix
The Howling Series: Book One
Emma Nichols and Lexi James
Copyright © 2017 by Emma Nichols & Lexi James
1st Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover by Marisa Shor of Cover Me, Darling
Formatting by: Love Kissed Books
Prologue
The floorboards creaked under my feet as I paced back and forth in front of my parents’ bedroom. I tugged on my lower lip as I worried over my mother. The twins were asleep and I should’ve been, too, but when I hear
d my mother moaning and the midwife was called, I knew something was wrong. It was too early.
“Savvy, come here.” My mother sounded weak but calm.
Pausing, I peeked in the door. “Yes, mom?”
“What has you up in the middle of the night? You should be sleeping like your sisters.” She frowned at me while reaching out to hold my hand.
Slowly, I sat down on the edge of the bed. “Are you okay?” I could feel tears prickling my eyes, but I refused to cry in front of her. I needed to be strong while Daddy summoned the midwife.
“Of course. This is completely natural.” She nodded and squeezed my hand.
This should’ve reassured me, but it didn’t. “It’s too soon.” There. I’d said it out loud.
“Yes, but only by a few weeks. The baby should be fine.” Mom shrugged like it was no big deal. Then a new contraction hit her, and she closed her eyes while she concentrated on breathing.
Before it subsided, daddy breezed into the room with the midwife on his heels. “Savvy.” There was an edge to his voice and I could sense his fear.
“Daddy.” I squeezed his hand.
“Trouble sleeping?” His eyes sparkled as he looked down at me.
My head hung slightly. “A bit.”
“Well, why don’t you step out of the room while the midwife checks your mama, then I’ll tell you both a story.” He grinned. “Maybe I’ll bore you to sleep.” Then he messed up my hair and pushed me toward the door. “See you soon, little pup.”
“Daddy, I’m twelve,” I grumbled as I exited the room. “And I’m already a woman.”
“Is this true?” I heard him ask Mom while I stood in the hallway.
“Yes.” She sighed. “Last month.”
He stomped his foot. “Why wasn’t I told?”
“You had more pressing concerns. There was a cave-in at the mine, remember?”
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our daughters.” He huffed. “After the baby is born, we need to contact your sister.”
Mom patted his hand. “Already done. She uses her spray every day.”
The midwife returned from the bathroom and sat at the end of the bed. “I need to check you, Bea.”
Obediently, my mother rolled onto her back, and I moved to press mine against the wall beside the door so I wouldn’t witness the exam. could hear my father murmuring words of love to my mother. “Have I told you I how beautiful you look when you’re carrying our child?”
She giggled. “You may have mentioned this. Soon, you’ll be telling me how beautiful I look while nursing our child. Sometimes, it’s about how beautiful I look while baking.” Mom laughed. “That’s when I know you’re lying.”
“Or maybe I just always think you’re beautiful,” Dad countered.
When they were together, it seemed like they forgot the rest of us were around. Case in point, a few seconds later, the midwife spoke again.
“Okay, done. You’re dilating nicely, but the baby is still breech. I’m going to call a doctor.” A chair scraped against the floor boards.
“Which doctor?” This was the first time my father had sounded concerned.
“Doctor James,” the midwife murmured.
“Flo, you know we don’t get on with them.”
By the time I moved to the doorway, Daddy was rubbing the back of his neck.
“It’s dangerous. She may need an emergency C-section. You understand this, right?” Flo gritted out her question.
Reluctantly, my father nodded. “Fine.”
When Daddy used that word, things had completely gone south. I desperately wanted to smooth over the tensions. “Can we have that story now?” I moved toward the bed and sat beside Mom.
“You bet, pup.” He sighed and pulled the arm chair closer.
“Dad…” I frowned.
“Sorry. So, what do I call you now?” Already, I could see the sparkle returning to his eyes. “You could try Savannah. After all, you chose it.” I grinned.
“Did I tell you the story of how you ended up with your name? Any of you?” He tugged at his chin.
I shrugged. “Maybe once or twice. You could tell it again.”
“Okay.” He chuckled and I knew everything would be just perfect. “So, your mother and I had just married. We decided to leave Arizona and start our own pack somewhere new.”
I wriggled happily. “That’s why we’re the Phoenix pack.”
“Yes, we never should forget our roots.” He reached for Mom’s hand and they shared a special smile. “And you’re named so we never forget where you came from either.”
This was the part that grossed me out. “You can skip over this part.” I rolled my eyes.
“We were on our honeymoon, and your mother wanted to see the Atlantic Ocean and experience the genteel south. That’s how we ended up in Savannah.” He leaned over and kissed Mom’s hand. “And that’s how you ended up being conceived on a sailboat there.”
I shuddered. While I truly cherished their devotion for one another, I hated seeing their affections. “Okay, moving on. And you decided you loved the green and the mountains. You loved being able to run free under the full moon without fear.”
“Still do.” He waggled his brows at Mom.
“I think I just threw up in my mouth.” I clapped a hand over my lips for emphasis.
“Has she always been this dramatic?” Dad’s brows peaked as he spoke to my mother.
“Always. You love it. She makes you laugh.” Mom giggled. “You just forget.” She shrugged and then she jabbed me in the back.
“Ow,” I complained. “That hurt.”
“Yeah, you think that hurts? Try losing your mate.” She squeezed Daddy’s hand. “Childbirth, paper cuts, stepping on a Lego…none of this compares to a mate passing.” She shook her head sadly. “I’ve heard it’s like having your soul ripped out of your body.” She stared up at Daddy. “I’ve decided to die with him because I’m not strong enough to go it alone.”
“Aw, Bea,” he murmured against the back of her hand. “No one is dying anytime soon.” Then he puffed out his chest. “I’m the Alpha. What I say goes.” Then he pretended to put his foot down heavily on the floor.
The door opened wider and Flo returned, this time with a man. He was older with graying hair and tiny glasses on his face. “Alpha or not, there will always be things you can’t control.” The doctor scowled as he roughly felt my mother’s belly. “Like this baby being breech.”
My father stared at the floor and rubbed his hands together. I knew he was trying to remain calm.
As scared as I felt, I started to yawn. I didn’t mean to, but it was nearly two in the morning and I had yet to fall asleep. I stood and glanced back and forth between my parents. “I should go. The doctor is here. Wake me if you need anything.” I kissed Mom on the cheek. “I love you,” I whispered into her ear.
“Love you more,” she teased.
Then I repeated the ritual with my father. My arms were still wrapped around his neck when the doctor interrupted.
“Now, my time isn’t cheap, especially since I’m sure we’ll have to do an emergency C-section.” He frowned. “How do you plan to pay? I take cash or cards.” He tapped his foot impatiently.
“Depends on the price. How much?” My father rose from the chair and stood tall, revealing his height.
The doctor took a step back. “Two thousand.” He swallowed hard. “For everything.” He pushed his glasses up his nose.
My head tilted as I studied him. I didn’t like this man. I didn’t want him touching my mother. I crossed my arms over my chest and watched.
“I don’t carry that much cash.” He eyed the man, and I could read the disgust in his face.
“Then I guess I’ll be going.” Doctor James hefted his doctor bag and began to walk out of the room.
My mother moaned in pain as another contraction hit. Suddenly the idea of no doctor seemed worse than dealing with this man. My brain raced to find a solution. The safe. �
�Daddy, downstairs.” My eyes were wide with excitement, but my father shut me down immediately.
“Savvy, go to bed.” He growled.
I started toward the door with my head down. When I reached the hall, I turned around, hoping if he saw how sad he’d made me, he’d apologize or call me back. Something. Instead, I saw him reaching into his pocket.
When he pulled out his hand, he opened his palm to reveal the contents. The gold nugget was one of the decent sized ones. “Will this do?”
The doctor’s face lit up. “So, it’s true. You aren’t just simple homesteaders. You’re gold miners.”
My father shook his head. “Found this plowing a new field.”
“Sure you did.” The doctor sneered. Then he snatched the nugget and pocketed it. “Let’s get this over with then.” He turned his attention to my mother.
Dad turned and saw me. “I’ll walk Savvy to her room.”
With slumped shoulders, I stood waiting in the hall for him to join me. When he did, he threw an arm around my shoulder and placed a finger over his lips. We walked down the hall in silence. Then he ushered me into the bathroom at the far end of the hall, turning on the lights before speaking in his normal voice. “Be sure to go to the bathroom before you go back to bed, Savvy.” He winked.
“Okay, I will.” My brow furrowed. What was happening?
He closed the door behind us, turned on the water in the faucet, the shower, and the exhaust fan. “White noise,” he whispered in my ear. “Listen carefully, pup.” I started to open my mouth to object, but he laid a finger over my lips and shook his head. “The doctor is from a rival pack. We can’t open the safe when he’s around; he’d hear it. We have to keep our secrets from the rest of the world, or they will come after us to take what’s ours. Understand?”
