In the back of her mind she thought about him as the man, helping her up, and all her lust came back to her. Pressing her face against his neck, she felt the wolf's muscles working beneath her as he made short work of the long path. Thinking about his muscles flexing and stretching when he walked earlier as a man, she let out a soft sigh. As if in reply, he growled ferociously, bringing her back to the trees racing past.
The wolf slowed down when they reached the edge of the forest. With her hands still clinging to the thick fur around his neck, Hannah sat up, her hair loosened from the ride, and pointed to the aqua clapboard cottage in the middle of the quiet street. The house was dark except for an electric candle in the oval window that faced the street. Hannah knew her mother had gone to bed long ago. She never stayed up the nights Hannah visited Pea.
As she slid off the wolf's back in front of her porch, she used the white wooden railing to steady herself, putting her weight on her good leg. The wolf shifted back to its human form and grabbed Hannah by the arm as he lowered his face to her level.
"Never again, you understand? Stay out of the forest," he growled.
She wanted to speak, to tell him she'd keep visiting Pea no matter what, but his intense gaze made her speechless. The warmth of his breath on her skin made her want to feel the heat of his naked body against her. She felt wanton and lustful, two words she'd never use to describe herself, at least not until tonight.
His dark blue eyes flashed yellow. Quickly pulling her closer, his lips were on hers, his head tilted. As his tongue pushed into her mouth, she reached up to slip her fingers into his hair, hoping he wouldn't stop kissing her. As his silky scruff gently scratched her chin, she attempted to press herself against him.
"No!" He barked before turning away, his eyes still glowing. "Damn human temptress. Stay out of the woods!"
Before Hannah could say anything, he was gone. She stared at the forest, disappointed in his leaving so quickly. Wondering if he was watching her from the shadows, she silently cursed her ankle for keeping her homebound. She waited in the moonlight for a sign, some proof he was really there but none came.
Giving up, she entered her home and hobbled over to the kitchen table where she removed her boots. A lock of her hair fell into her face and she pushed it aside and over her ear like she always did. Wait a second, she thought. Moving her hand in front of her face again, she realized she smelled like him, a combination of the woods and fresh air mixed with his natural musk.
As she thought about him, she smiled. He might have been gruff, but she knew he was just trying to protect her. She couldn't explain it, but there was something about this man she found irresistible. Something more than just his incredible looks or amazing kiss. Removing her cloak, she happily realized it was covered with his scent. She carried it to the couch, draped it around her, and willed herself to dream about the rugged werewolf.
Chapter Three
"Hannah, wake up," Hannah's mom said as she shook her shoulder gently. "Go to bed. The couch is no place to sleep, its uncomfortable."
Hannah slowly opened her eyes as she tried to remember what happened the night before. Did I dream that? Rubbing her eyes she caught the werewolf's scent again and sat up. Her mother paced the room as she spoke, reminding Hannah of a caged animal as Eliza kept her footing within the confines of the faded floral throw rug. Hannah watched her, her hands punctuating her sentences as she rambled on about things Hannah didn't care about enough to listen to.
Glancing towards the picture window that faced the backyard, she wondered what time it was. The sky had the gentle glow of morning. She hated morning. And why was her mom already up?
It wasn't like her mother to wear the same thing twice in a row, but Hannah was sure those were the same sweats she wore when Hannah left to visit Pea the night before. Giving her mom a closer look, she also realized she had traces of makeup on. She never wore makeup unless she went out. Add to that the nervous babble her mother did after every full moon for the past few years.
The pacing confused her too. Hannah couldn't remember when that began, but it was long enough for her to find it endearing instead of worrisome. She wondered if it had to do with her visits to Pea, but she knew what would happen if she asked. As Hannah wrapped her cloak around her like a blanket, she tuned back in to her mother's yammering.
"Pea would've killed me if I slept on the couch. And what's on your cloak? Is that mud? Oh Hannah, can't you be a little more careful? Give it to me and I'll throw it in the wash."
"No! Just leave it alone," Hannah grumbled then realized her mother was eyeballing her suspiciously. "I mean, I'll take care of washing it myself."
"Suit yourself. How was Pea? She solve every problem you ever had?"
"Give it a rest, Mom. Why haven't you visited her? I'm sure she'd love to see you."
"Are you hungry? How about some pancakes?"
Hannah's mother always changed the subject whenever she was asked why she didn't visit Pea. Sometimes Hannah used it to her advantage, but this wasn't one of those times. Today she had something else on her mind.
"Mom, have you ever met a wolf?"
"A wolf? No, of course not. Why? Did you hear differently? Because you know how the townspeople like to gossip. They'll talk about anything. Even if its not true."
"I didn't hear anything, relax," Hannah said wondering why her mother was suddenly acting nervously. "I'm just curious. I mean we've lived here my entire life, I've heard you and Pea talk about them so I guess they're around, but I've never seen one."
"Well you're not missing anything, they're wolves," Eliza said, shrugging. "Nothing more than over sized dogs. And they are dogs, trust me on that."
"Dogs are great. They're faithful, loving, and playful."
"Is that what this is about? You want a pet? We can get a goldfish or hamster if you want."
"Will you stop?" Hannah said exasperated. "I'm not five anymore. And the wolves are more than just dogs. They're people too. But how is that? How is it possible? Maybe I've met a wolf before and didn't even know it."
"Oh you'd know it," she said as she stopped pacing. "Now tell me what Pea said."
"Stop trying to change the subject, Mom. I'm allowed to be curious about the strange beings in our town."
"Well then you're going to have to accept that I don't have all the answers. Werewolves keep to themselves, we keep to ourselves. Its better that way. There are fables and folklore of course, but who knows what's true. All I know is that they're horrible, selfish creatures. If you ever do meet one, just keep walking. Its the best thing you can do."
Eliza wrung her hands together as she finished speaking. Hannah knew something was up but she was too tired to probe. With the cloak still wrapped around her, she kissed her mom on the cheek and smelled something familiar. Her mother smelled like fresh air, like a werewolf. That's not right, she thought.
"You just got home, didn't you?" She asked her mom. "Why would you hide that from me?"
"I didn't want you to worry. I was getting ready for bed when I noticed you were asleep on the couch."
"Where'd you go?"
"Oh, no where. Just met an old friend for drinks."
"And is this old friend a werewolf?"
"What? No! You don't know what you're talking about? And what if it was? But it's not," Eliza said nervously, before studying her daughter's face. "And how would you know what a wolf smells like?"
Hannah wasn't ready for the tables to turn. She wanted to keep her encounter private for a little longer, especially from her mother who would only give her grief.
"Just a lucky guess," she said hoping her mother wanted to drop it as much as she did. "Pinky has told me some things. That's all."
"Oh. Well, ok then. I'm going to bed and so should you. Good night, Hannah."
"Good night, Mom."
Chapter Four
Hannah couldn't stop thinking about the wolf. But if she was going to be honest, she couldn't stop thinking about the naked man. After
convincing herself she'd still be obsessing about him even if he was dressed, she grew more curious about werewolves and wondered how she could find out more since her mother was no help. She couldn't believe that after all these years of living in Leeds Point, that she never thought to pay attention to anything out of the norm.
Thinking about her best friend, Hannah knew she was the best person to answer all of her questions. Pinky Smythe immersed herself in the offbeat history of their town and its ties to the occult. Not wanting to hear the horrors of how her ancestors were treated, Hannah purposefully kept herself ignorant.
Growing up in Leeds Point, Hannah was ridiculed and bullied for being part of a witch family. As a child she figured the less she knew about anything supernatural, the more she would fit in. But now she needed to find out about this werewolf. Plus, if she didn't tell someone about him she might explode.
Grabbing her cell phone, she pressed her friend's name without needing to look. Pinky answered with the sound of children playing in the background.
"Hey girlie! I was just thinking about you!" Pinky said.
"You got a minute? I wanted to chat."
"What, Hannah? You still there?" Pinky asked loudly. "I can't hear you over the kids. If you can hear me, just come over."
Hannah hung up and slipped her phone into jeans pocket, and put on a grey hoodie over her orange t-shirt before heading out the door. Pinky lived down the road in an old colonial that dated back to the 1700's. Part of the house was used as a nursery school, the rest of the home housed Pinky, her parents, and her much younger brother and sister.
Pinky's house was Hannah's home away from home. Most of the children in Leeds Point went to the Smythe's nursery school at one point or another, and Hannah and her mother weren't any different. The school was the oldest business in the small town.
Walking behind the pale yellow shingled building, Hannah saw her friend surrounded by a group of small children while she read to them. Pinky was tall, slim, and a bit awkward. People always told her she should be a model, but she'd reply she'd rather have a root canal than be a walking mannequin. Pinky knew when people were just trying to be polite and didn't have the patience for it.
Wearing her usual dark pink high top Converse, jeans, and a loose fitting plum t-shirt, Pinky tightened her royal blue pony tail while she read one of the children's favorite fairy tales. Pinky looked up, pushed her square plastic framed glasses up her nose a bit, and waved at Hannah without skipping a beat in the story. Hannah sat crossed legged on the ground next to the kids until the story was over and they ran to the jungle gym, leaving her and Pinky behind.
"Did you see Pea last night? How's she doing?"
"Same as always."
"Bitch to you about your hair?" Pinky asked as she picked up after the kids.
"Yup! Like I said, same as always," Hannah said grinning, thankful death hadn't changed her grandmother.
"I'm telling you there's a reason for it. I'm sure of it. Why else would she make a big deal about your hair?"
"Well not everyone is as easy going as your parents. I'm still surprised they never say anything about your hair. I see you have a new color of the week already," Hannah teased. "Seriously though, Pea's just nuts and you're superstitious. Speaking of, I want to talk to you."
"Is something wrong? You never say that, we just talk."
"Its just that I know you're into all this weird stuff, like the history of Leeds Point and the strange stuff you hear about in town. You know, like occult stuff."
Pinky laughed. "'Occult stuff', says the witch who visits her dead grandmother every full moon," she teased.
"Yeah yeah, I get it. And I know its crazy that I never paid attention to anything, but I think I've always been so accustomed to my own weirdness and having to deal with that, that I never paid attention to the other strange stuff that's around us."
"Just spill it, Hannah. What are you getting at? And why are you acting so weird?"
"I met a guy last night," Hannah said hesitantly, unable to believe what she was about to say. "Except he wasn't really a guy."
Pinky leaned forward, ready to jump out of her seat from excitement. "What was he? A ghost? A vampire? I haven't heard of any of them around, but there's always a first."
"A werewolf."
"Oooh shifters are so hot! I think the wolves are the best personally, but I definitely wouldn't turn down a bear, or even a lion."
"There are werebears and werelions too? And you've met some? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Jeez, Hannah. You never wanted to hear about anything supernatural before so I just kept my mouth shut. I think Leeds Point is some kind of vortex and all these beings are attracted to coming here. I mean, I don't think there are that many shifters around, there are territories you know. But we've got a decent selection of them. Remember that guy Louis that I was crazy about? He was a werelion."
"Get out! I had no idea! Is that why you never let us meet?"
"Yeah, he was very open about it and I know how you are, you like your bubble. There's even a bar that caters to shifters, Night Shift. But please, tell me about the wolf you met. I'm dying to hear everything! What's his name?"
Hannah blinked. How could she not know his name? And he knew where she lived. What was wrong with her?
"Crap, Pinky. I don't know his name. It's not like you think anyway. He was pissed I was in the woods. Said it was dangerous for me," Hannah rolled her eyes.
"But? Come on, I know there's a but."
"But I can't stop thinking about him or his kiss! He was perfect. Like one of those Greek statues. Except with a bigger package."
"You saw his..." Pinky asked, her eyes opened wide.
"He shifted from wolf to human so yeah."
"Wow. And he didn't try to cover up?"
Hannah shook her head. "My mom and Pea always warned me about them. I'll be honest, I didn't think they existed. I thought it was just another crazy superstition of theirs. But I don't know what it is. I can't get him out of my mind. And he smelled so good too! I need to see him again. I'd go back in the forest, but with the new moon approaching it'll be too dark. I guess I'll have to wait."
"Fuck that, I'll take you to Night Shift. I know the bouncer and he'll let us in. Wolf night is Thursdays. I say we go and maybe if we're lucky your wolf will be there. I know that's a few days away, but it beats waiting for weeks."
Hannah nodded, her mind spun from agreeing. It wasn't like her to hang out at bars, especially not to look for a guy. But this wasn't just any guy. She had to see this man again. And she was damn sure she was going to get his name this time.
Chapter Five
The street was deserted except for a one story shack at the end of the block. The building tilted a bit to one side as if it would collapse with a strong wind. On the front of the dark grey shack was a green neon sign that said Night Shift. Surrounded by auto body shops and a now defunct processing plant, the bar was tucked away in a part of town Hannah had never been to.
Pinky parked her small sunshine yellow Toyota in the lot and stepped out of the car while Hannah quickly applied lipgloss using the mirror in the sun visor. As she exited the car, Pinky took in a deep breath, then huffed it out and smiled as it made a cloud in the air.
"I love when it gets cold like this," Pinky said as she look over at Hannah. "Wait a sec, you're not wearing that cloak are you?"
Hannah looked down at herself, the navy cloak her mother made her billowed around her, hiding her lucky outfit. Normally she wouldn't wear the same thing twice when seeing a guy, but he didn't see her lucky star sweater, so she figured it was alright.
"What are you talking about? You just said it yourself, its cold."
"Seriously, please take that off. We're just a few feet from the door, you're not going to freeze. I'm not wearing a jacket," Pinky said as she twirled in a pair of relaxed fit jeans and an aqua smocked jersey top.
"What's wrong with my coat?"
"Its not a coat, its a cloak.
There's no other word for it. Plus, you're wearing that damn thing and with your red hair...dammit, Hannah you don't see it? Let me put it to you this way. I'm not taking Red Riding Hood in to see the wolves."
Hannah laughed and shoved the cloak in the backseat. "Sure it'll be ok in the Yota?" she asked.
"Of course, no one's going to touch a prized vehicle such as this," Pinky said as she tapped the back of the car where it no longer said the full name of the car brand, only 'Yota'.
Watching a group of women walk past in mini skirts, Hannah felt out of place. Each one was more beautiful than the next and each had legs that extended for miles. A couple of them looked at her as they walked past with curious expressions. It only made Hannah feel even worse.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Hannah said as she folded her arms in front of herself and stroked the soft fabric of her sweater. "I don't know what I was thinking wearing this cutesy sweater."
"You don't fool me, Hannah Crane. That's your good luck sweater. You're hoping to see Mr. Naked Wolfman."
"Of course, but look at those girls. He's not going to give me the time of day with them around."
Pinky shrugged. "They're not that great...ok, so they are. But, you never know. Maybe he likes stars on sweaters and is tired of gorgeous, sexy women."
Hannah shoved Pinky playfully as they walked towards the worn wooden building. The green neon sign cast a strange glow around the doorway and Hannah could feel her heart flutter nervously in her chest. She must have slowed down too much for Pinky's taste, because next thing she knew her friend grabbed her by her hand, yanked open the large wood paneled door and pulled her into the building.
As they entered the bar, a massive man blocked their way. He was easily the size of the door, with tattoos on both of his arms, and his long hair pulled back into a tight braid. Grimacing he looked down at them, then smiled sweetly.
"Pinky! Been a long time. I thought you decided to stop slummin' with our kind," he said.
Fated Mates: The Alpha Shifter Boxed Set (12 Book Bundle) (Insatiable Reads) Page 18
