Lost Wolf

by Stacy Claflin

  “I-I… you’re a valkyrie.” My heart thundered against my ribcage.

  Her grin turned crooked. “Like I said, I’m not here for you.”

  My mouth dropped.

  “You… you…”

  “I take souls. Yes, I know.” She leaned against the bar and yawned.

  “What are you doing here?” I wasn’t sure I could take any more bad news—and a valkyrie couldn’t mean anything good.

  Tap sauntered back over to the bar. He grinned when he saw the angel of death. “Soleil.”

  She leaned her chin against her palm. “Tap, my old friend. How are you?”

  “Much happier now that I’m running the Faeble. I got tired of fighting the ogres for my lake. You want your usual?”

  “Yeah, but go easy on the unicorn horn flakes. I don’t like my drinks too sweet.”

  Tap muttered something about picky valkyries.

  Soleil turned to me. “Isn’t he adorable?”

  I stared at the tough-as-nails tattooed troll mixing the drink at hyper speed. “Uh, if you say so.”

  The valkyrie shoved me, and I struggled to stay on the barstool. “Well, I find him cute as can be.”

  Tap turned around and handed her a tall rainbow-colored drink. “Light on the flakes.”

  She sipped it and closed her eyes. “Perfect.”

  I eyed Tap. “How do you two know each other?”

  He gave a slight nod, seeming to understand my unasked question—why was an angel of death sitting next to me?

  Tap leaned against the bar. “Soleil and I met centuries ago during a particularly bloody revolution against my people. We quickly became friends.”

  “I helped him defeat the ogres he mentioned earlier.”

  “Until they came back with their cousins.” Tap grimaced.

  “That was practically fifty years later.” Soleil shook her head.

  “I suppose, but like I said, I’m much happier running this place.” He turned and mixed more drinks.

  Soleil and I sipped our drinks in silence. I hoped to sneak out unnoticed once mine was gone, or better yet, that she’d leave.

  “So, what has a gorgeous wolf such as yourself so upset?” she asked.

  “Girl trouble,” Tap answered for me as he poured yellow alcohol into a cup.

  “Ah.” The valkyrie nodded as though that explained everything. “Maybe I can help.”

  “I’d like to keep her alive, actually.”

  “You know, I don’t take the souls of everyone I come in contact with. Tap will tell you.”

  “She doesn’t,” he assured me. “I’m living proof.”

  “Great.”

  “What’s the problem?” Soleil asked.

  “She can’t remember him,” Tap said.

  I glared at him. “Thanks.”

  “Give her a chance, she could get to the bottom of this quicker than anyone else in here.”

  “Really?” I turned to her, suddenly curious.

  Soleil nodded, her expression an odd mixture of knowing and boredom. “Care to hear more?”

  “You should,” Tap said.

  Why had I told him anything at all?

  The valkyrie shrugged and sipped the rainbow concoction. “Whatevs.”

  I took a deep breath. “What does it involve?”

  Her face lit up. “You want my help?”

  “I’ll hear you out.”

  Tap gave me an encouraging nod before taking another tray to patrons.

  Soleil put her glass down. “All I have to do is drink a little of someone’s essence. I can learn a lot that way.”

  I stared at her. “Drink her essence?” I exclaimed. “What does that even mean?”

  “Let me show you.”

  Tap walked by, his tray empty.

  Soleil stared at him.

  “What?” he asked, stepping back up to his platform.

  “I need to show wolfy, here, that drinking someone’s essence isn’t the kiss of death. I save that for the ones I have to kill.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  “It’s close, though.” Tap mixed another concoction.

  “Wait, what?” I exclaimed.

  “I can show you.” Soleil leaned close.

  I shook my head. “No way.”

  “Tap?” she asked. “It was your idea.”

  “Mine?”

  “Come on.” She batted her eyelashes.

  “Fine. Just a little, okay?”

  She clapped her hands.

  My stomach twisted. What had I just gotten my friend into?

  He leaned over the bar, across from the valkyrie. She stretched toward him, and as she did, wings pressed through her shirt. They spread out, one nearly knocking me over. I jumped out of the way just in time.

  Soleil put her hands on Tap’s cheeks and closed her eyes. He closed his, also. She opened her mouth, but didn’t kiss him. His mouth opened, seemingly in response to hers. A couple inches remained between them.

  After a few moments, I wondered if they were playing me. But then a light purple mist appeared from Tap’s mouth.

  I stumbled back, knocking over my stool.

  Soleil widened her mouth and the mist swirled in a circular pattern until it entered her mouth.

  I stared back and forth between them, never having seen anything like that.

  Tap seemed okay. He wasn’t resisting in any way.

  She let go of his face and closed her mouth, breaking the flow of the swirls. The remaining purple mist returned to Tap’s mouth. Her wings disappeared into her back, leaving her shirt torn and bloody.

  His eyes flew open. Peace and relaxation flooded his expression.

  Soleil’s eyes remained closed for a minute. She opened them and leaned back, staring toward the ceiling.

  I arched a brow at Tap. He took a deep breath, but didn’t respond.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  Her mouth curved upward. “Like I said, drinking his essence.”

  “Did it hurt?”

  Tap smiled. “Heavens, no.”

  Soleil giggled. “It’s pleasant on both sides—unless of course it turns into a kiss of death. Then it’s only fun for me.”

  “What exactly does that do?”

  She leaned on her palm again and studied Tap. “So, a trickster has been giving you issues?”

  He blinked a few times and moved to mix a drink. “You tell us, essence-drinker.”

  “You think he came from the south somewhere. He’s been playing pranks on your customers.”

  Tap nodded. “Shaved a young wraith bald as she ate appetizers over there a few days ago.” He nodded toward a table in the middle of the room. “All her hair was gone before anyone noticed—even her.”

  “This is all interesting,” I said, “but what does it have to do with Victoria and me?”

  Soleil sat up straight. “Oh, pretty name. Not one you hear much anymore.”

  “It was pretty common when we were young.” I sighed. “How do you think sucking her soul is going to help us?”

  The valkyrie scowled. “Drinking her essence. It’s an entirely different thing. I can see into her thoughts and experiences. If she can’t remember you, I might be the only way to find out what’s behind that. You two were in love?”

  My heart constricted. “Madly.”

  She frowned and tilted her head. “Tell Soleil everything.”

  “Can’t you just suck—drink—my essence to find out?”

  “I could, but I like to hear people tell their stories.”

  “She does.” Tap disappeared with another tray of drinks.

  “So, what happened, wolfy?”

  “My name’s Tobias, but everyone calls me Toby.”

  “Ah, Tobias. Another one that’s been left by the wayside. Tell Auntie Soleil your troubles.” She twirled a blonde strand around her finger and stared intently at me with her dark green eyes. Her gaze seemed to bore into my soul—it probably did, given her nature.

  I squirmed, fi
nished off my drink, and then returned the stiff stare. “We grew up in rival packs, but we were always drawn to each other. As we grew older, we’d sneak off together whenever we could. We’d planned to run away and start our own pack… but that didn’t work so well.”

  “Meaning?”

  “She died in my arms.” I looked away and cleared my throat before the quirky blonde angel of death could see my eyes misting.

  “Aw, that’s horribly tragic.” Soleil sighed dramatically. “And now she’s back to life, and can’t remember anything? Or just you?”

  I shrugged and swirled the ice in my otherwise empty glass.

  “Leave it to me to figure out the missing pieces to your puzzle.”

  “Why do you care?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” she countered.

  “Don’t you have better things to do than to play matchmaker for werewolves?” I asked.

  “Not really. I’m taking a break from my mission.”

  I turned to her. “What do you mean?”

  She blew air up, making her bangs bounce around. “I’m searching for a vindictive dictator who doesn’t wish to be found. My superiors won’t be surprised if I’m here on earth for a few decades. Gives me some time to play and have fun.”

  “Oh.”

  “Anything else I should know about the beautiful young werewolf?” She took a sip of her drink.

  “Victoria didn’t shift on the full moon.”

  Soleil choked and put her glass down. “How’s that possible? I thought the moon forced you guys to change.”

  I frowned. “It does. There’s no way around it—or at least there isn’t supposed to be.”

  She cleared her throat. “I’m certainly no expert on other species, but I thought it was totally impossible to avoid the full moon.”

  “Me, too—and I once was alpha over a great many packs. If someone had figured out a way to avoid the curse of the moon, I’d have heard about it.”

  Soleil took a deep breath. “Now I really want to drink her essence.”

  “How are you going to do that? Just walk up and offer a kiss?”

  She laughed. “Good one. No, I’ve been around a great many millennia, and I’ve picked up a trick or two in that time. You got a picture? Location?”

  I pulled out my wallet and showed her my favorite picture of Victoria.

  “What a beauty. Where’s she staying?”

  “Not sure, exactly. She’s a student at the university, though. Somehow, she ended up in my statistics class.”

  “You’re a student, too? Are you following her?”

  “I’m a professor.”

  “Sexy.”

  “So, do you want something in exchange for your essence-sucking?”

  “Drinking,” she corrected. “And no, that’s plenty payment.” She licked her lips. “There isn’t anything tastier or more fulfilling than the essence of a supernatural.”

  “Aside from taking the entire soul.” Tap returned to his place behind the bar.

  “Clearly.” Soleil finished off her drink. “Well, I’m going to make like a baby and head out. I’m dying to know what’s keeping a werewolf from shifting at the full moon.”

  “Wait,” I said.

  She turned to me, brows arched.

  My teeth gritted. I didn’t want to say what I needed to.

  “Yes?” Soleil asked.

  “You might find her with the jaguar shifters. They have a—”

  “Club. I’m quite familiar with it. Let me tell you what I know.”

  Chapter 12

  Victoria

  Carter looked at me from behind his laptop. “How’s it going?”

  I groaned. “Massaro’s a jerk.”

  The server came by. “Would you like more appetizers, or are you ready for dinner?”

  “Could I just get some more sparkling cider?” I asked.

  He nodded and turned to Carter. “Master Jag?”

  “I wouldn’t mind some crab cakes.”

  “Coming right up.” He disappeared.

  “How’s the essay coming along?” Carter asked.

  “Great, but no matter what I do, I can’t get it to exactly three thousand words. First I had two-thousand-ninety-six, then three-thousand-fifteen. Now I’m eight words under. Why does the word count matter so much?”

  “Because he likes to make people miserable.”

  “Mission accomplished,” I muttered.

  “Want me to have a look?”

  I shrugged. “You have yours to worry about.”

  “It’s done. Scoot over.” Carter came around to my side of the booth and sat next to me, pressing his side against mine. He angled my laptop toward him and read under his breath. “That’s really good. You said you’re eight words short?”

  “Yep.”

  He scanned the screen. “Oh, we can beef up this one with some extra words.” He typed. “Perfect. What do you think?”

  I read it over and looked down at the word count. Exactly three thousand words. “You’re a lifesaver.”

  Carter put his arm around my shoulders. “Nah. You did all the hard work, and I was serious about it being great. Did you have really good grades in high school?”

  Tears blurred my vision. If only I knew.

  “What’s the matter?” he exclaimed. “Are you okay?”

  My nose grew warm and my lips trembled. “It’s been the crappiest day, that’s all.”

  He squeezed my shoulders. “I hope I helped somewhat.”

  I blinked and a tear fell to my face. “You did.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?” He ran his fingers through my hair.

  Did I dare? It would be so nice to tell him everything. Maybe he could even help—he certainly had the resources. Another tear escaped and ran down my face.

  Carter brushed his finger under my eyes and held my gaze. “You can tell me anything. I could never judge you.”

  Another tear escaped. He leaned closer and kissed it. Then he trailed kisses down to the edge of my mouth.

  My heart beat out of control. There was no way he couldn’t feel that—knowing how nervous I was. He brushed his lips against mine and cupped my chin.

  All my worries seemed to melt away into the background. He continued to kiss me gently, sweetly. I relaxed and kissed him back, wanting to forget about everything else in my life. I just wanted to melt into him.

  Someone cleared his throat on the other side of Carter. “Your crab cakes and cider.”

  Carter let go of my chin and waved at the server without pulling himself away from my lips.

  “Master Jag, your father has arrived with Shu Hwang.”

  Carter groaned and then pulled away from me. “Thank you. If he asks about me, tell him I’ll find him in a while.”

  The server bowed and walked away.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked, still recovering from the kiss.

  He nodded. “Just one of Father’s overseas business associates. He likes me to sit in on the meetings so I’ll know what to do when my time comes. He can’t wait for me to become his partner so he can shove stuff like that in my lap, but I don’t want to burden you with that. You were about to tell me what’s weighing you down.” He gazed into my eyes.

  I took a deep breath. “It’s going to sound crazy.”

  Carter kissed my nose. “Never.”

  “You don’t know what I’m dealing with, though.”

  “Try me.”

  I opened my mouth, but nothing came. It was too insane to say out loud.

  He ran the back of his fingers along my cheeks. “I promise, you can’t tell me anything crazier than I’ve already heard.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’d never believe some of the things I hear around here. The Jag is home to a great many wild secrets.”

  My mouth went dry, so I grabbed my sparkling cider and emptied the glass. “I can’t remember anything,” I spit out.

  His brows came together. “What do you mean?”
<
br />   “I have no memories before arriving here on the Peninsula.” I blinked away more tears. “Somehow I drove here in my packed Jaguar, all set for college life.”

  He rubbed his stubble. “So, you’re saying you don’t know who your family is?”

  I shook my head.

  “You don’t remember going to school? Sports?”

  “No,” I whispered, fighting back a sob.

  “And nobody’s tried contacting you? You can’t find them online?”

  I leaned my head against his shoulder. “My phone and laptop were practically on factory settings.” Minus the jaguar images. “And I don’t know who’s controlling my money, but they’ve cut off access. The banks won’t tell me who he—or she—is.”

  “Wait.” He leaned back and looked at me. “You have no money?”

  My cheeks warmed. “Ten dollars in my purse.”

  He swore. “None of your cards work?”

  “Nope.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  I studied him. “What’s wrong?”

  “You’ve been left high and dry. What about your bills—tuition, car? Rent?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I can’t believe this!”

  “There’s not much I can do. I don’t know who to talk to.”

  His face contorted. “I can’t believe this.”

  “You already said that. I think I’m going to have to find a job. It’s obvious I can’t rely on my family, or whoever has been funding all my stuff.”

  “No, you’re not finding anything. You can work here.”

  “Here?” I exclaimed. “Doing what?”

  “Whatever you want. Serving food. Overseeing the servers. Setting up the dance hall. Anything that sounds good.”

  My mouth gaped.

  “We pay top dollar and provide the best benefits you’ll find. If you work afternoons, you’ll even have time to get some of your studying in.”

  “But—”

  “Nothing. You need work. I’m here all the time. It’ll give me an excuse to see you.” His expression softened and he brushed his lips across mine. “Give me a minute. I need to speak with my father. Stay here.”

  I nodded, too shocked to respond. Not only did he not question my sanity, but he wanted to help—by getting me a job at the Jag? My head spun.

  A tall blonde with intense green eyes stopped at the table. “Are you Victoria?”