by Wolf, Terra
Oh. That was a good idea. It was also a terrible, terrible idea. Not something that sounded fun, not at all. Perhaps the apparition would save them the trouble and just eat them now.
"Okay, but I'm going first again, that isn't changing," he said, his voice firm and commanding, brooking no argument.
They didn't spot it the second time. Or the third time down. By the fourth, he had pushed it to the back of his brain and was just enjoying the day. After the fifth, they decided to call it quits. The line was starting to build anyway, so it seemed a good time to leave. A late lunch, or early dinner, was definitely calling their names.
After showering and changing, they decided to head over to the Bullet. His decision to go there was twofold. First, it would allow him to confer with some of the others. Second, it would allow Natasha to experience it as a customer, and taste some of the dishes. It helped both of them, and allowed him to spend more time with her.
As the truck roared to life, the two of them buckling up, the radio came on.
"In other news, another hiker went missing near Moonlight Canyon today. The male, named Jerred Allen, was last seen in East Moonlight Park and Hiking Trail. He has been missing for twenty-four hours now. If anyone has any knowledge of his whereabouts, please call the police immediately."
"Again?" he muttered, before clamping his lips together. Mentally he cursed himself.
"What do you mean, 'again'?" Natasha said, looking over at him intently.
Bryce sighed. There was no point in skirting the truth, and he definitely wasn't going to lie to her. "It started six or eight months ago. Pets started to go missing. Then it escalated to humans. A hiker or camper has been going missing once every few weeks or so with regularity over that time."
"Do the police know what's going on?"
"Not at all. They haven't found a single body either. It's almost as if the people never existed. No sign of fights or struggles, nothing."
"That's creepy. Where is this place, East Moonlight Park?" she asked. "I'll make sure I never visit there."
"North and east of town. It's not all that amazing to begin with," he told her, carefully not mentioning that several of the hikers had gone missing in the woods that butted up against The Silver Bullet. Since the wolves had taken up residence there and began patrolling the area, no more had been taken, which was an awfully interesting coincidence, Bryce thought.
"That's part of the reason Thomas hired us. What with the maze out back and then the woods, he wanted people to feel comfortable out there." Although that wasn't the complete truth, it wasn't false by any means. He hoped it would help keep her calm.
He glanced over at her as he pulled the truck into the parking space. She was so beautiful, he had a hard time getting over it. After spending the morning with her, Bryce had wanted to take her back to the lodge, pick her up, and seat her on the counter while his lips explored her beautiful, soft-looking skin.
But he hadn't. Natasha wasn't ready for that, and no matter how much he wanted to try and bull his way past those defenses, he had agreed to play by her rules. It hamstrung him, but until she was ready to officially take things to the next step, he would continue to do as she wanted.
He just hoped she wouldn't keep her blinders on for much longer. There were some things in life that weren't meant to be fought. True love and the call of his mate was one of them.
"What?" she asked.
Shit. He had been staring too long. Killing the engine, he hopped out, not responding immediately to her question.
"What was that look for?" she pressed as they walked toward the doors, crossing the little bridge she had fallen on the other night.
"Don't ask that question if you don't want the truth," he warned.
She didn't respond. The door opened and Nancy seated them quickly.
"Oh interesting. It looks like Joanna has the new server working already."
"She replaced Jenna, right?" Bryce asked, trying to carry on the conversation. Every time things got too emotional between them, neither of them would talk, making it even more awkward. He hated it, and was glad to have something to talk about.
"Yeah. We'll see how she does firsthand. Don't act like you work here, okay?" Natasha asked, picking up the menu to decide on what to get.
"Whatever you say, Boss," he replied.
She glared at him. He smiled.
Ahh, love. It was awesome.
"Hi there, my name is Maria, how can I help you today?"
She was staring directly at him. It was unnerving how intensely focused the server seemed to be.
"Ladies first..." he intoned, gesturing across the table at Natasha.
The woman's head barely moved, writing down the order before snapping back to focus on him. Her smile looked genuine, and there was no rudeness in her voice either. It was just as if she was obsessed with Bryce.
"What the fuck was that?" Natasha asked when she went off to place their order.
"I have no idea. Very odd. Do you think it was my charming good looks?" he said with a grin.
Natasha swatted at him. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm surprised she didn't run screaming."
He mimed taking a bullet, as if she had just shot his ego, while they both chuckled.
"So, Bryce. You said you stayed here to live a different type of life. How did your parents take that? Do you still talk to them?"
"They took it okay. Not great, at first, but they accepted it for now. I haven't married or done anything that would truly set them off, though they don't know I have no intentions of consulting with them about it first. But no, they haven't ostracized me or cut me out of their will or anything."
"Here you go," Maria announced, appearing suddenly with their drinks.
She gave him an odd stare before leaving. It sent shivers down his spine.
"There is something odd about her," he commented.
"Very. She better not be like this around everyone, or I'm going to have to have a conversation with Joanna, and be rid of her quick."
"Yeah," he said vaguely, watching the waitress go. There was something about her that just wasn't...normal.
Though they tried to eat in peace, the waitress continued to interrupt them. Each time she only looked at Bryce, as if he was the only one she could see. He felt incredibly awkward about the whole thing, because he could see Natasha getting angrier and angrier.
"You're getting jealous," he teased as they sat back, a busboy removing their dishes without speaking a word, a welcome change from their server.
"I am not!" she protested. "I'm angry over the fact that she doesn't seem to think I exist. I know she doesn't realize I'm her boss, but holy hell. She needs to get it together!"
At that moment, Joanna walked downstairs, beckoning her hand at Natasha.
"I suppose I am needed. So much for a day off," she said wryly, rising and heading off.
Bryce decided that he wasn't ready to head out yet, so he picked himself up and moved over to the bar, sliding into one of the cushioned, high-backed bar stools.
"What'll it be today Bryce?" asked Morgan, the bartender.
"Just a beer, actually, if you don't mind," he said absentmindedly, not in the mood for anything else.
He was halfway through it when Jake showed up, sliding into the chair next to him.
"Hey Bryce," he said, indicating to the bartender that he would take one of the same.
"She's the one Jake."
"So I figured by your voice the other night. I trust my...arrangements, are okay?"
"You know," he said, turning to face his Alpha. "Sometimes, you're an all-right guy."
"Just sometimes?" Jake replied with a soft laugh, turning to thank Morgan for the glass. "So, how are things going with you two?"
"They aren't."
"What?"
"I mean, they aren't sour, but they aren't progressing. She's all but acknowledged that there's something going on between us, but she wants to wait. To get settled in to town, her job, and her new life h
ere, before she starts going after a romantic relationship."
"Ouch. That's rough," Jake said, tinking his glass against Bryce's as a show of support.
"Yeah. We'll see though. I don't want to wait too long. In case things—" he stopped, not wanting to continue.
Jake nodded his understanding, both at what Bryce had meant, and why he hadn't said it. None of them wanted to talk about what was coming, and what it may mean for some of them.
"Life has a way of ensuring these sorts of things work out. I wouldn't stress about it too much, Bryce. Don't let the, ah...situation force you into doing anything rash or foolish."
"Not really my style."
"I know. I'm glad I don’t have to worry about that kind of thing with you."
Bryce appreciated the confidence from his Alpha.
"Maybe this will help things with your parents," Jake continued. "You know, down the line if things go well. If you two have a baby, maybe they'll relax, and give you that trust fund," he joked, shaking Bryce's shoulder as he poked fun.
Bryce laughed. "Thanks, but I doubt they would approve of a 'blueblood' mating with a human." He took a taste of his drink, thinking of what they might say.
Bryce was unique among the pack. At least, that's what his parents tried to tell him. The origin of wolf-shifters was unknown, but they seemed to have first cropped up sometime around the turn of the last millennium, over a thousand years before. The early ones had carried huge, unruly animals within them, though the savage brutality had waned, in step with the evolution of society, according to many.
Those original bloodlines, however, were still revered by some. The members of family trees that could trace their lineage back to some of the originals were often unafraid to flaunt that knowledge. The Hollands were one such line, and Bryce's parents made sure everyone knew it. They were also very specific with him producing a firstborn male heir to continue the line. They contacted him every few months to try and introduce him to yet another "proper" woman who would bear his pups.
He detested all of it. The snobbery, the heirs, the money. There were few things that annoyed him more than—
"Hi Bryce."
He shuddered internally, careful to keep a calm, blank look on his face. Speaking of things that annoyed him more...
"Hi," he said to the waitress at his elbow. He made sure not to acknowledge that he remembered her name, doing nothing to appear excited or interested. It was the best way to get rid of those who had a hard time understanding societal cues.
"So, what are you doing later tonight?"
"Working."
"Oh wow, that's cool. Where do you work?"
"Here."
"Really? That's amazing. What do you do?"
This was getting painful. Why wouldn't she take the hint?
"I'm sorry Miss, but Bryce and I are having a private conversation here. Can you please leave us alone?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Absolutely. My name is Maria, Bryce. In case you want to call me, or something." She slipped him a note, then rushed back into the kitchen.
"Here," he said, sliding the paper over to Jake. "Consider it a thank you."
Jake snorted, crumpled the paper up and threw it at Morgan, who was chuckling over the whole thing. The bartender snagged it as it bounced off his chest and tossed it in the garbage.
"Thanks," Bryce told him, standing up.
"Where are you going?" Jake asked.
"To make a rash decision," he muttered, heading for the stairs.
Jake was right. He couldn't wait too long. Some things needed more decisive action, and until now, he'd been content to just let things happen. For now though, he needed to do something. The stairs passed underneath him two at a time as he practically flew up the steps.
His hand rapped softly on the door to Joanna's office.
"Come in," she called.
He opened the door slightly, sticking his head in. "Can I talk to Natasha out here for a moment?"
"Sure," she said, gesturing for the two of them to do whatever they needed.
"Thanks," he said, opening the door more to let Natasha out, before closing it behind him.
"What do you—"
She shut up as his lips met hers, his hand cupping her chin to lift it up to him.
At first there was surprise and shock in her reaction, but after a moment, she began to fall into it, her hands coming up around his neck. Fire rushed through his body as he stuck his tongue into her mouth, his hands wrapping around her waist, pushing her up against the wall on the other side of the hallway.
He caught himself before his hands went further, pulling away abruptly.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, trying to rein himself in, controlling his wolf and his human side at once. "I had to though. I needed to see if I was right about something."
"And were you?" she whispered, as if afraid to hear the answer.
"Completely."
Chapter Seven
Natasha
She stumbled back into Joanna's office as Bryce disappeared back down the stairs, not having uttered another word. His silver-gray eyes had been alight as he stared at her for several moments after kissing her, glowing with desire.
Her own chest was heaving as she tried to calm herself. That one brief kiss with Bryce had ignited her entire system as if it was a match put to tinder. The blaze had burned just as brightly and briefly before he had pulled away. Part of her wanted to call him back, to see if the second felt just as electrifying, terrifying, and exhilarating as the first. Something told her it would be like that for forever.
Forever.
That was a rather strong word to be bandying about in regard to someone she barely knew. But Natasha had to be honest. If whatever was going on with Bryce wasn't love at first sight, she had no idea what it was. The two of them meshed so well, melded together as if they were two parts of the same unit.
"Everything okay out there?" Joanna asked suspiciously as she closed the door behind her.
How could she answer that? Everything was perfect and in tatters at the same time. Her heart was alive, but her professional reputation was falling apart faster than she could blink. Less than a week at the new job and already kissing one of the employees who reported to her.
"Did he just kiss you?" Joanna said, rising up from her seat when Natasha failed to reply.
"That is far too mild of a word," she mumbled, sliding down into her chair, still in shock from what had happened. Had he kissed her? Or had it been mutual despite him doing the work?
"Well, how was it?" her boss prompted.
"What?"
"Was it good? Is he nice and gentle but with that little bit of urgency and demand that just makes you want to melt into his big, strong hands? I remember the first time Ethan kissed me," Joanna recalled, her eyes far away at that moment. "It was wonderful, and I forgot for a moment the entire world existed as he blew my mind, turning me into a pile of skin and bones who could barely stand up."
Her boss's eyes flicked down to abruptly focus on her, skewering her with a knowing gaze. "Kind of like the way you look right now," she said with a vicious smile.
Natasha was confused. This wasn't how her boss was supposed to react. She was supposed to yell and scream, and be upset that she was making out with the hired help.
"Why aren't you mad?" she asked, still trying to gain control of her voice and body.
"Mad? Why the hell would I be mad?" It was Joanna's turn to look confused.
"I just made out with one of the staff. Someone I'm normally in charge of and responsible for. That's a horrific breach of professional standards and ethics..." Natasha wasn't really sure what else to say at that point. She was going to lose her job. That much was clear. Even if Joanna didn't care, when she told Thomas—which she had to—he would fire her before she could say another word.
Then it would be the long, lonely trudge back to Seattle to admit defeat. Maybe, she mused, if I beg and plead enough, I can get my old job back. Her cheeks burned
with embarrassment as she pictured the groveling that would be necessary for Dennis, her old boss, to hire her back on. It was not going to be pretty.
Breaking the news to her parents, who had not been in favor of this move in the first place, might be the worst part of it all. They had advised her "not to take the strange man's candy" as they had referred to the generous offer that Thomas had made her. So to go crawling back would be a desperate move on her part.
"Oh, Natasha dear. Nobody is going to fire you for making out with Bryce. Least of all me! I'm married to one of those security dorks," she said with a chuckle, waving her hand as if that made it all fine.
"But when Thomas finds out he'll get rid of me for sure," she protested, unsure of why Joanna was so unconcerned.
"Trust me, he won't care at all as long as everything runs smoothly. He has," Joanna hesitated, "bigger things on his plate than two of his employees falling for each other."
"Are you sure?"
"Surer than sure can be!"
"Okay, but please don't tell anyone. Just because you understand doesn't mean that the rest of the staff will. I haven't been here long enough. I don't want my professionalism and leadership to be undermined already."
"Well, I won't tell anyone, but word seems to get around this place pretty quickly, so I would expect people to know fairly fast," Joanna said, sinking back into her own chair.
"Okay, well still, thanks for not going around telling folks."
"No problem. You'll have enough to deal with now that you don't need to worry about that."
"What do you mean?" she asked suspiciously, not liking the smirking tone from her boss.
"I remember the first time Ethan kissed me. I could barley control myself after, I was a raving lunatic for sex. My entire body—"
"Feels like it's on fire and needs his touch everywhere?" Natasha finished for her.
"Ah-hah!" her boss exclaimed. "You, my dear, should go find him."
"I should?"
"Yes, go find him. And leave here."
"I can't do that," she protested, surprised at the openness of the conversation they were having. Her boss was effectively telling her to go get laid. Which sounded like a great idea, but she didn't want to fuel the rumor mill more than she already had.
