by C. J. Pinard
“Ayla, the Rophen pack is dangerous. You need to stay out of that area.”
I huffed, which caused a rouge piece of hair that had escaped my ponytail to fly up. “Aden, I was with Kellan. We were tracking down Alexander.”
“What the fuck! Get your ass to Wolfe Point now. We need to talk about this.”
I noticed my hands were starting to tremble, and I shook my head. “Brother, I’m already burning up with fever. There’s no way I have time.” I started to pant and tried to remain calm. “Besides, you know I can’t be around him right now.”
“I hate that you two broke up, just for the record,” Aden scolded.
That pissed me off, but I didn’t have the energy for a retort, so I continued my original line of thought. “Aden, I told you last week I was going to brave out this shift by myself. I’m tired of the way you, Ryder, and especially that ass Sam look at me when I turn into a freak. I can control myself here. There’s nobody to kill here. Maybe I’ll destroy a knick-knack or two, but I think it’s best if I ride it out alone. I’ll be okay.”
“Goddammit, Ayla. I am going to worry the whole time I’m here.”
“I’ll call Evan and Karina if I can’t handle it, okay?”
I heard him exhale in what I hoped was relief. “Okay. Promise?”
I exhaled as the fever was hitting me. I slid out of my short and panties. “I promise. Now, I’d better go. I need to get ready for the shift.”
“Wait. Did you find Alexander the Asshole?” he asked.
I grinned, set the phone down on my dresser, and pulled my shirt off over my head. “Yes, and he’s soooo dead.”
“Oh, shit. I need to hear about this. You sure he’s dead?”
I removed my bra and put on Ryder’s XL Colorado U tee. “Yes, because I removed his head myself. And you will hear all about it, big brother. I have lots of tell you. Tacos on Tuesday?”
“It’s a date.”
“Love you, Aid.”
“You too, sis.”
I hit the red button on my phone and stalked to my sofa. I popped the TV on with the remote a split second before the fever took over. I dropped to my knees and tucked my head into my chest so I could try to control my screams and growls as I transformed.
The first sensation I felt was discomfort—on the side of my head. Blinking open my eyes slowly, I was assaulted with annoyingly bright sunlight streaming in through the massive windows.
“Ohhh...” I moaned.
I pulled my head up off the floor and saw that I had fallen asleep, apparently using the remote control as a pillow. I tossed the hard, plastic device onto the sofa, and sat up. I could feel the bumps and ridges of the remote’s buttons embedded into the side of my cheek and temple.
“Really, St. John? The couch is like five inches away,” I groaned to myself as I stood and rubbed my face and head. I stalked toward the kitchen for some coffee. A glance at the microwave clock showed it was 2:58 p.m. I took a step toward the coffeepot when a searing pain in my foot stopped me dead.
“Owww!” I cried, looking down to find a gigantic mess all over the floor. “What in the...”
Broken and shattered plates, glasses, and even some shiny silver forks and spoons—which were now grossly misshapen and resembled something from a horror movie—were strewn all over the kitchen floor.
A pounding on my front door had my head whipping up. I glanced down at my foot to see it was bleeding, but not gushing. I grabbed a dishtowel, wiped the blood away, and hobbled to the door. A glance through the peephole showed the building’s security guard, Tim. I could probably guess what this was about.
I disengaged the locks and slogged open the door. “What’s up, Timbo?”
He quirked an eyebrow at the nickname and put on his most professional face. Before smoothing down his black uniform shirt, he said, “Is everything all right here, Miss St. John? We received three noise ordinance complaints last night, all coming from your unit. We stopped by, but nobody answered the door.”
Thank God for that.
I waved a dismissive hand and tried to act aloof. “It was nothing. My brother and I got a little wild playing some Halo.”
He furrowed his brow and ran a hand along the top of his very bald, shiny head. He tried to look around me, but I had the door open only wide enough for my body. “Uh, okay, but please keep in mind that this is the second complaint we’ve received in as many months.”
Remembering the wicked fight between Kellan and Ryder, I suppressed a cringe and put on a flirty grin. With a wink, I said, “Duly noted. Have a good day, Timbo!”
I closed the door before he could respond, because I could feel the pain in my foot had not subsided and, in fact, was getting worse. I figured there was something lodged in there, and I needed to get it out before the skin healed over and I was faced with doing surgery on myself.
I hobbled over to the dining room table and sat in a chair. I lifted my right foot onto my left knee. With my excellent eyesight, I could see a small shard of beige ceramic lodged into my heel. I cursed under my breath and vowed to replace everything with plastic dinnerware like I was five years old again.
My fancy nails were pretty, but no help in getting it out, as they were too thick. I groaned, realizing I’d have to gimp to my tiny bathroom and dig through a disastrous drawer full of makeup and medicines to find my tweezers.
I have got to get more organized...
Once I reached the bathroom, I was thankful the tweezers were in my makeup bag. I sat on the toilet, removed the offensive plate shard, and tossed it into the trash. I felt instant relief as my skin began to knit back together and heal. I tossed the tweezers onto the countertop and walked gingerly back out into the apartment. This flat was just one big studio, with the tiny kitchen near the front door and my Murphy bed set into the far wall on the other side. My little dresser and vanity with a chair were set against the wall adjacent to the bed.
I let out a breath when I surveyed the damage to my kitchen. Along with the shards of sharp and dangerous kitchenware on the floor, the whole area was covered with food wrappers and various colored liquids. The microwave door was open, as was the oven door, and most of the cabinet doors were wide open. I saw scratch marks on the inside of each cabinet door that hadn’t been there before, and I shuddered. I breathed a sigh of relief that my laptop was still in its place. I stood there and tried hard to remember what had caused such a rage. Closing my eyes, I took a deep, cleansing breath and willed myself to recall the events from the night before.
Once the pain in my foot had gone, I was able to concentrate, and then bits and pieces of the night began to come back to me.
Hungry... so hungry. Me, rummaging through cabinets and everything else for food.
I popped my eyes open. Well, that explained the food, juice, soda, and water that was on the floor and countertops.
Memories of my anger and rage came back to me in flashes as I pictured in my mind’s eye myself getting angry at God and the world, and breaking plates, saucers, and cups.
I shook my head at my foolishness. Why did I think I could survive a full moon on my own? Kellan and Aden had been right, and I was just a silly little wolf.
With a heavy sigh, I reached behind the door and grabbed the broom and dustpan. I was fairly sure I’d be cleaning up this mess until the sun went down.
Chapter 6
I shoveled the last of the taco in my mouth and looked up at my brother, who was making a face at me. “What?” I asked around a mouthful.
“You’re a pig,” he said, shaking his head.
I swallowed the food and sucked a swig of soda through the straw as I rolled my eyes. “Because that’s the first time I’ve been called that?”
“And won’t be the last,” Beckett said under his breath, chuckling.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I heard that.”
“I wasn’t whispering,” he came back in a sing-song voice while biting back a smile, his drink to his lips
“Fu
ck you, Beckett,” I said, sticking out my tongue like a five-year-old. I swiped a chip around my plate to collect whatever had fallen out of the taco. “I’m starving I can’t help it.”
“So are you full now?” Aden asked, staring at my nearly bare plate, the vacant basket of chips, and the almost empty bowl of guacamole.
I lifted a shoulder. “I could still eat.”
Beckett stared hard at me and said, “I’m pretty sure I know what else you need. I’ll take you out for that later.”
I made a face because I realized he was talking about blood, but I supposed he was right.
Aden made almost the identical face I had, the thought of having to consume blood like a vampire completely repulsive to him as it had been to me before I’d become a hybrid freak. Even though we thought nothing of it when we were wolves. The bloodier, the better. I patted my big brother on the arm.
“He’s not wrong,” Karina commented, inclining her head at Beckett before lifting a glass of dark-red wine to her lips.
“Don’t encourage him,” I said pointedly.
Evan laughed and put his arm around his wife. “She’s good at antagonizing vampires.”
She punched him in the shoulder, and then they kissed briefly. I rolled my eyes.
We were all sitting in a corner booth at the 16th Street Taco Bar and I could see Aden eyeing the waitresses, even though I knew he was looking for one in particular. He’d been dating one named Celeste, a gorgeous brunette, for a few months now, but she wasn’t our server tonight.
“Now that you’re done stuffing your face, do give us alllll the deets on how you took down Alexander,” Beckett demanded.
I turned and looked into his azure eyes and noticed he’d styled his dark-blond hair differently. It was swept up into a mini-pompadour when before it had been side-swept off his forehead. His trendy aqua polo shirt and black skinny jeans made me self-conscious of the distressed skinny jeans and pink hoodie I had thrown on before heading down here to meet my friends. I subconsciously fingered a stray chunk of hair that had fallen out of my messy bun and slid it behind my ear.
“Well, after begging Kellan to take me to Estes Park to find that asshole, he reluctantly agreed, thinking it would be a short trip...”
I proceeded to launch into the story, complete with voices and hand gestures. I elicited an impressive collective gasp when I reached the finale about relieving Alexander of his head. I, of course, left out the part about Kellan and I having our first time together in the water. That was a little secret I was happy to keep to myself for now.
Karina wrinkled her nose. “I have to say, in my eighty-plus years, while I’ve seen my brothers do it, I have never removed a head. But... I’m impressed, I won’t lie.”
I beamed. “Thanks, girl. But I had to use the dagger to finish it off. Don’t believe the movies; it is not easy. Those spinal cords ain’t no joke.”
Aden shook his head. “This is one sick fuckin’ conversation.”
“Indeed,” Karina replied, nodding.
The server came by and asked if we needed anything else, and I told her I’d like a Fat Tire in the bottle. She nodded and left.
“Probably shouldn’t drink during the full moon, Ayla,” Evan said.
“I know, but really... it doesn’t do much. I just like the taste of that particular beer.”
“It really is awesome. And a local beer.” Aden lifted his own bottle to his lips.
“Speaking of...” I steeled myself and swallowed my pride. Looking at Evan, I said, “Do you think it would be okay if I hung out with you tonight? The past two nights haven’t gone well with me becoming wolf-girl by myself. I mean, the night before last was awesome since I killed Alexander, but last night—I kinda destroyed my kitchen.”
Karina’s eyes went big, while Aden chuckled and Beckett gasped.
Evan smiled at me. “Sure, you can hang in my non-man-cave. Besides, I can’t say I’ve seen another hybrid up close and personal before.”
This made me happy, but I noticed Karina bristled beside me. I was pretty sure she wouldn’t think anyone would notice, but I did. So I turned to face her. “Do you hang down in the man-cave too? Make sure he doesn’t break anything?”
I already knew the answer, but I was trying to include her.
The server came back with my beer and I thanked her as I picked it up to take sip.
Karina shook her head. “No, it’s better if he’s alone. He hasn’t broken anything, but there isn’t much there to break, only the TV, the game system, and the remotes. Everything else is just books and nothing breakable.” She looked at her husband and looped her arm through his. “Besides, he’s very well in control. I just prefer to give him his space. Plus, the, uh, smells.”
With the beer bottle paused at my lips, I raised an eyebrow. “Smells?”
Becket chuckled. “Yes, wolves stink.”
I heard Aden growl.
Beckett turned to him and said sheepishly, “No offense, man.”
Aden glared at him, and then stared at me with pleading eyes as if he wanted to get the hell out of there, and I couldn’t blame him. He wasn’t a fan of Beckett’s and just put up with him for my sake. I knew he disliked Karina just a little less than Beckett, but he had never said as much.
“So you’re cool if I come crash over there tonight? I need to learn some self-control, and I figured I could learn from the best.” I smiled at Evan.
Karina shook her head. “No, I don’t mind at all. In fact, it should have been part of your training anyway. And...”She lowered her voice. “I’ve got bagged blood, so that should make you feel a little better and calm.”
I nodded. “Huh, maybe that’s why I was in a rage last night. I just needed a little of the red stuff.”
“I’m sure it was,” Evan commented.
This was such an odd conversation. If any humans nearby had heard us, they would certainly think we’d all escaped from some kind of mental institution. But the music was blaring, and I was fairly sure only our little circle could hear our conversation.
Once I finished my beer, we paid our bill and left the bar. I gave Beckett a kiss on the cheek and promised him a friend date soon, and then made my way to Evan’s Mercedes so he could take me back to their house.
Aden grabbed my arm and pierced me with a serious stare. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
I nodded and looked over his shoulder at Evan and Karina. “I’ll be right there.”
“Look, I’m stoked as hell you killed that asshole, but are you sure that’s the end of it? I mean, what if he had friends who will come after you?”
I snorted and looked up at my big brother, whose concern for me was endearing. But I was used to it; he’d always looked after me. “That idiot could barely string a sentence together, I highly doubt he had anyone who would want to ‘avenge’ him.” I made air quotes. “Kellan got rid of the wife and the kid is taken care of, too. Like I told you guys.”
“Someone is going to discover that little grave eventually, Ayla,” he reminded me, lowering his voice.
I nodded and tried not to get emotional, remembering the way the poor child had looked before I’d placed him into the earth. “I know, but what am I supposed to do about that now? It was the least I could do for the kid. I couldn’t stomach doing anything else, despite being a crazed half-wolf with a questionable conscience.”
Aden’s features softened and he hooked an arm around my neck and pulled me close to him. I inhaled his familiar scent and wrapped my arms around his back. “I just worry about you, sis. Ya know? So much shit has happened.”
I nodded into his chest. “It has, but I can’t rest until I find Linden. I’m glad that dick who attacked me is dead, but there’s no rest until I avenge Austyn.”
Aden’s head nodded as it rested on top of mine.
I sniffled. “I miss his silly ass. I miss him so much.”
He pulled away and looked into my glassy eyes. I swiped away a tear that escaped.
“I miss him too. We’ll get him, I promise. But I need you to promise me something, too.”
I looked up at him. “What’s that?”
“If you find him—no going rogue and taking off after him without thinking. You call me. I need to make sure you’re safe, and I need to be there when he dies.”
I nodded and gave him a sad smile. “I promise.”
Evan pulled up next to us in the G-Wagon. He pointed to the moon. “We gotta go.”
Sighing, I knew he was right. I gave my brother one last hug. “Thanks for coming down off the mountain to meet me. And please be careful driving up back up.”
“We miss you up there, you know.”
I chewed my lip, grateful it had healed. “I doubt that. I was just in the way.”
He chuckled. “No, you weren’t. Now, be careful, okay?”
“I will.”
He walked away and I hopped into the SUV. I exhaled in relief that I would be with Evan. I couldn’t be trusted to be alone while I was a half-crazed wolf-girl.
“Are you kidding me!” I screeched as I rattled the bars of my new prison. “You tricked me!”
“No, it’s more like a precautionary measure,” Evan said with an apologetic smile.
We were, indeed, in their basement. Just as he’d said, it was a serious man-cave. A humongous TV, an Xbox, a big metal bookshelf bolted to the wall with a ton of books lined on them, and a dartboard with the darts locked up behind a Plexiglas case secured with a small combination lock.
On the far end, in front of the basement window, was a long bar. It had a padded top and three barstools, all bolted to the floor. All the booze was locked up in a thick plastic case behind the bar. There were a lot of recessed lights built into the ceiling. A sofa and comfortable-looking recliner chair were set in front of the TV. A double bed sat at the other end. And... looking freakishly out of place, was a floor-to-ceiling metal cage—the one in which I now found myself.
I was livid, but that was nothing new. The full moon was out, so of course I was angry.
“You’re a dick, Evan. I’m not gonna hurt you.” I slammed my fist on the bars. It hurt, but they didn’t need to know that.
