Wolf Cursed (Lone Wolf Series Book 1)

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “Okay,” I said, already counting down the hours until I could crawl back into bed.

  “I’ll be there in five,” he said and then strode away, already pulling out his phone.

  I started to head back to the office to wait, but Drake stopped me.

  “Does Kai know you’re sticking around?”

  I turned slowly, wary and angry. “I can’t see how it’s any of his business.”

  Drake snorted. “Everything that happens in this town is his business. Especially outsiders.”

  “You do know this is a free country. People can come and go as they want. Unless you have some law against visitors?”

  He chuckled as if I’d said something funny. “Believe me, laws are not our thing around here. We do things our way. And that means keeping the town clean from people who don’t belong.”

  My face heated with anger. “Good thing it’s not up to you,” I snapped. “Tell Kai to kiss my ass.”

  “Babe,” he said, grinning in a way that felt a little unhinged. “Be careful what you wish for.”

  I walked away, forcing myself not to turn around or quicken my steps despite the ripple of fear at showing him my back. Something about Drake felt dangerous. Hell, they all felt dangerous. And I’d seen my fair share over the years too. Between the kind of people Dad brought around and the customers I’d waited on at work, I recognized toxic when I saw it. But these people were something else.

  What was with the guys in this town thinking they could order me out of it? I’d be damned if it was going to work.

  Oscar spent an hour going over the computers and invoicing system and the scheduling calendar he used to book jobs.

  “How are you doing?” he asked at the end of it. “I mean, you know, with everything.”

  If the question hadn’t stirred my grief up, I would have laughed at the discomfort he wore as he spoke. Oscar and feelings didn’t mix well.

  “I’m good,” I told him.

  He studied me as if trying to decide whether I meant it. Finally, he nodded. Then he deemed me ready and left me alone.

  The work helped distract me, and by lunchtime, I actually felt like I had it under control. A few calls came in from people asking to schedule maintenance on their motorcycles, and I used the cheat sheet Oscar had given me to slot them the proper time in Oscar’s schedule. He was busy, booked out for more than two months, and most of his other techs were the same. Did everyone in this town ride a motorcycle?

  Outside, I saw plenty of cars passing by on their way farther into town, so I knew there were other vehicles. But by the end of the day, I was convinced that either Oscar was the best around or all motorcycles broke down once a week.

  A few of the customers asked my name, some even asking me to repeat it or being obviously nosy and asking how I knew Oscar. I didn’t give them more than the professional basics, but I had a feeling a town this small would probably allow them to find out what they wanted to know soon enough.

  By closing time, the sun had dipped behind the building, casting the street and sidewalk out front into long shadows. Oscar had sent everyone else home, and the phone had stopped ringing almost an hour ago. When the clock struck six, I walked up and switched the Open sign to Closed.

  I was just about to turn the lock when a figure darkened the doorstep on the other side. Unlike the other day, he was dressed in a plain tee that was fitted enough to reveal a lot more of him than I’d seen the first time. Broad shoulders, tanned arms tatted with a sleeve of symbols that I’d missed the other day, and a jawline that I was already seeing in my daydreams.

  Kai.

  I swallowed hard, my stomach flip-flopping with nerves.

  He pushed his way in without waiting for me to invite him.

  “We’re closed,” I said, retreating under the pretense of grabbing my pen from the counter.

  A pen.

  Like it was some necessity of my job to hold a pen in my hand. Like that would somehow protect me.

  “I work here,” he said flatly.

  Right. Shit. I tried not to think about what that meant for tomorrow. Or every day after that. Working under the same roof didn’t seem like a safe option, not with how much animosity he held toward me.

  “You weren’t here today,” I pointed out.

  “I took the day off. Not that it’s any of your business. Is Oscar here?”

  “In the garage.”

  He marched past me and out the door, taking the cloud of tension with him. Alone, I let out the breath I’d been holding and prepared to head upstairs. My head was throbbing after a full day on my feet. But the sound of voices kept my feet firmly planted.

  Evidently, these walls were thin.

  “You gave her a job?” Kai demanded in a voice almost as angry as he’d used with me.

  “Watch your tone,” Oscar snarled with slightly less volume. “This is my shop last time I checked. Which means I make the decisions around here.”

  “You know the rules, Oz.” Kai’s voice quieted, but the hardness remained.

  “She’s family. That counts for something.”

  “She’s an outsider. You’re putting us all at risk.”

  “She’s an orphan who just got the shit kicked out of her by some deadbeat assholes. What am I supposed to do?”

  Kai didn’t answer. I could picture the scowl he was probably wearing though. Lust pooled low in my belly. I seriously needed to work on that. I’d never had a thing for the rude asshole before. Not like this anyway. Even the jerks I’d hooked up with in the past had been passably polite to me. It was kinda embarrassing how attracted I was to a guy who hated me. And really annoying.

  “This is a dangerous game you’re playing,” Kai finally said.

  Oscar grunted. “Don’t I fucking know it?”

  “Why’s her last name different?”

  “No clue. Caleb wanted to disappear—that much I know. I guess he decided to be thorough about it.”

  “What’s the story with the mother?”

  “She left a few years back, apparently. No word since.”

  “Any idea who she was?”

  “None. Caleb kept a lot of secrets.”

  Kai snorted. “Yeah, and one of them is standing in your front office.”

  There was a pause.

  “Does she know?” Kai asked.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “What about her?” Kai asked. “Her old man was one of us.”

  “I don’t know. Something’s off. I can’t get a scent. It’s like she’s just human.”

  I blinked, confused. Of course I was human. What the hell else did he expect? But then I thought of my dad. The weird beast he’d morphed into right before he’d died. Did Oscar and Kai know something about it? And did that have anything to do with Kai’s question the other day?

  What are you?

  It hadn’t made sense, and I’d nearly forgotten about it in favor of all of the other fantasies I’d been having since. But now, it seemed important.

  Before I could decide what it all meant, I heard Oscar again.

  “I know that look. What’s your instinct tell you, kid?”

  I stilled. It was a weird way to phrase it, but I understood what it meant. Oscar wanted to know what Kai honestly thought about me. And even though it shouldn’t have mattered, I wanted to know what his answer would be.

  “She’s different,” he said, and I huffed. The vagueness of his words only frustrated me more. He cleared his throat, clearly not willing to elaborate.

  “She’s harmless,” Oscar said.

  “Look, the fact is it’s just as dangerous for her as it is for us.”

  “I’ll take responsibility,” Oscar said.

  Kai snorted. “You sure that’s a job you want? Something tells me that girl finds trouble wherever she goes.”

  “She’s family,” Oscar repeated and then after a pause, “If you won’t give your blessing, I’ll go to the council.”

  Kai growled, a sound of frustrati
on. “The council already knows, Oz. You had her working your phones today, apparently. Without a single heads up to the rest of them.”

  “Shit,” Oscar muttered. “Now what?”

  “Keep her out of the woods. Hell, keep her inside these walls if you can. And I’ll do my best to keep the others off your back. But you need to find a way to get rid of her.”

  “I can handle the others,” Oscar said.

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  I barely registered footsteps signaling the conversation had ended before the door swung open and Kai stepped back inside the office. Our eyes met, and I had zero doubt he knew I’d been eavesdropping. Instead of calling me out for it, he sniffed then wrinkled his nose as if something had disgusted him.

  “You really shouldn’t be here, Ashes,” he said then started for the exit.

  Ashes?

  “That’s what Drake said.”

  He stopped and stared at me. “When did you talk to Drake?”

  “He looked at my car. Then he told me I needed your permission to live in this town.”

  “And what did you tell him?”

  I couldn’t help the smirk that spread as I remembered my words. “Oh, he didn’t deliver my message?” I asked, fluttering my lashes innocently.

  He shook his head.

  I let the mock innocence fall away and snarled, “That you could kiss my ass.”

  Then, I turned and stomped up the stairs before he could reply.

  By the time I reached the apartment, I was almost hyperventilating. Where had that bravery come from? Kai hated me, and something told me he wasn’t used to losing. If he wanted me gone, that meant he was going to do whatever it took to make it happen. He was not someone to fuck with. So why was I doing exactly that?

  It was the tattoos.

  They’d given me temporary insanity.

  Kai was not someone to mess with. Or flirt with. Or daydream about. He was an asshole. And definitely not someone I wanted to get naked with.

  He was someone to avoid.

  A toxic jerk exactly like the kind I’d just run away from.

  So, why did I find myself wanting to run toward him instead of away?

  Oh yeah, because I was an idiot.

  Chapter Six

  The conversation I’d overheard between Oscar and Kai raised a lot of questions. And even more red flags. One thing was clear, though. My time in Ridley Falls was going to be short-lived. Whether Kai kicked me out or I went willingly. Sometime between three and four in the morning, I’d decided to stay here only as long as it took me to save up for a car and a plan—and then I was out. My choice. My terms. Sure, “bad boy” Kai was the hottest thing on two legs, and he had a jawline and set of eyes that could melt ovaries on the spot. But he was a dick. And if there was one thing I wouldn’t put up with ever again, it was an asshole who wanted to control me.

  First, Dad. Then, Vorack. And now, Kai.

  It wasn’t okay.

  In fact, I refused to let it happen.

  So, Operation Temporary had begun. No getting attached. No divulging personal information. No making friends. It was all about making a new plan. Figuring out my next move.

  And as if the Universe agreed, I showered and arrived downstairs the following morning only to find the place empty and the Closed sign still displayed.

  “Where is everyone?” I asked.

  “Off,” Oscar said.

  He sat on a barstool at the counter, sipping coffee and reading the paper. When I didn’t answer, he looked up. My look of confusion must have clued him in, and he added, “It’s Sunday. We’re closed on Sundays.”

  “Oh.”

  Perfect. I had the entire day to work on my plan. And my bruises were finally able to be covered by makeup—which I still needed to buy. But, hey, the day was looking up.

  I wasn’t even put off when Oscar gave me a grocery list and asked me to pick up some things. That only made it easier to venture into town. At least, I didn’t have to sneak out.

  “Here’s my card,” he added, holding out his plastic debit card.

  I looked up and met his gaze, noting the spark in his direct look.

  “I’m not going to steal your money,” I said, taking the card and slipping it into my back pocket.

  “I know,” he said, and I rolled my eyes at the forced nonchalance in his tone.

  Right.

  “I might have to make a couple of trips,” I said.

  “Why’s that?”

  “I don’t have a car or a trunk, so I’ll have to carry the bags on foot.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Here.” He pulled a set of keys off the hook behind him and held them out to me.

  “What’s this?” I asked, worried it belonged to a motorcycle, which would be a serious problem considering I’d never even touched one before.

  “See that Honda parked at the curb?”

  I looked over, scanning the cars through the window. When I didn’t answer, Oscar sighed. “The blue one,” he added.

  “Oh. Yeah,” I said, spotting the four-door sedan with relief.

  He shook his head. “Take it.”

  “What? No, I can’t just—”

  “Trust me, it’s worth having someone else grocery shop for me,” he said, waving off my protests. “Just be back by noon.”

  “What happens at noon?” I asked.

  “I have to be somewhere. And I need you home.”

  I frowned. This was about his conversation with Kai. About keeping me locked inside this place.

  Whatever. I’d play along.

  Wait until Oscar left. Then maybe follow him. I was sick of secrets. And if Kai wanted to play “town badass,” I had no problem finding out what he was so intent on protecting about this place.

  Then again, some alone time with Oscar’s computer and the internet was more in line with “Operation Temporary.” More than once, I’d entertained the idea of asking Oscar what he’d meant about my dad, but something held me back. If he wanted me to know, he would have told me about it. Besides, if I asked him, I’d have to admit to eavesdropping. And I couldn’t afford to piss off the guy currently offering me food and shelter.

  “Okay,” I said. “See you by noon.”

  I took the keys and double-checked that I had my ID, and then headed out. Thanks to Oscar’s directions—and the fact that this town was too small to get lost in—I found the grocery store easily. In fact, everything I could have possibly needed was right here on Main Street. Okay, it was actually called Southbend Turnpike or something like that, but it had that “main street” feeling. Right down to the open stares and outright whispers I noticed from the others around me in the store.

  I pretended not to notice any of them until someone spoke directly to me.

  “Ash, right? Fuckin A, the rumors left out that you’re hot.”

  “Excuse me?” I looked up at the face of a handsome guy with messy brown waves and sparkly green eyes that seemed to lure me right in like some kind of pied piper. His words slowly dawned, and my eyes narrowed, but he only grinned bigger.

  “Isaac, you can’t open a conversation with something like that.”

  A girl stepped out from behind him. Bright red hair, obviously dyed considering the unnatural flame color, and braided down to her stomach. Her green eyes looked like they’d come from the same DNA pool as the guy.

  “Sorry about my brother,” she said as she strode up to me. “He has no social skills.”

  “I blame the Falls for being so socially stunted,” he declared with a hair toss that had me smiling in spite of the weirdness the two exuded.

  “It’s okay,” I said. “I mean, it’s not like I couldn’t tell people were talking about me.”

  “Exactly. At least we came and said it to your face,” Isaac said.

  The girl rolled her eyes. “That does not make it better,” she insisted. “Ugh.” She turned back to me. “I’m Idrissa, and this is my twin brother, Isaac.”

  “Twins,
wow.”

  “Yeah, I know. I really should have eaten him in the womb or something.”

  My expression must have shown the insult because Isaac waved it off.

  “Don’t worry. Everyone always tells me I look like a snack.” He winked.

  I laughed.

  “Pray for me,” Idrissa said with mock suffering. Before I could formulate a response to any of this, she pointed at my cart and added, “So, can we help you get all this back to the Throttle?”

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I said.

  “Yes, we do,” Isaac insisted with a look I couldn’t decipher but also couldn’t figure out how to say no to.

  “The sooner you’re free to hang, the sooner we can kidnap you and hold you hostage until you agree to be our bestie,” Idrissa explained.

  “It’s our master plan,” Isaac said, his eyes lit with a hope I couldn’t resist.

  “I see,” I said slowly. “And how many others have you tried this plan with?”

  “You’re the first,” Isaac said.

  My brows rose.

  “More of an experiment than a plan,” Idrissa added.

  “Do you two always talk like two halves of one brain?” I asked.

  Isaac grinned. “As a matter of fact, together, we sometimes equal one whole brain.”

  “Depends on who you ask,” Idrissa said wryly.

  I laughed. “Okay, a kidnapping sounds great. Especially if it involves a tour of the town.”

  They exchanged an uneasy look.

  “Okay, maybe tour is the wrong word.” I bit my lip. Something about these two felt a little risky but in a fun way. Maybe even in a friendship kind of way. It had been too long since I let myself make a friend. And even though it was in direct violation of Operation Temporary, I couldn’t walk away from the chance now that I had it.

  “Nah, it’s perfect,” Isaac said. “You should know what you’re up against—”

  Idrissa punched Isaac in the arm, silencing whatever else he’d been about to say.

  I decided to leave it. For now. But… up against?

  “Come on,” Idrissa said, hooking her arm through mine and leading me away from my cart.

  “Um, my groceries—”

  “Isaac will get it. Won’t you, brother?”