I’m gone, wandering in a haze of ecstasy, yet off in the distance I hear a whispered voice. I don’t know who's trying to talk to me, but they are ruining this moment. Yet something is compelling me to listen. The harder I strain my ears, the more it sounds like a warning of some type. The closer I get to the source, the clearer my senses become.
Why are my gums tingling?
I run my tongue over my teeth. Why are my teeth sharpened?
I open my eyes, and when I do, the fog around my mind clears. That's when I see I’m inches away from biting her neck, which she has on perfect display for me.
What. The. Hell?
Don’t freak out.
Do. Not. Freak. Out.
I hold her close, and when her breathing evens out, I withdraw from her and roll us onto our sides.
“Little One,” I say, brushing the hair out of her face. “I’m going to get a washcloth to clean you up. I’ll be right back.” She mumbles something. I quickly go to the bathroom and grab a rag, wetting it, then head back to clean her up.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be back in a couple minutes.”
I return to the bathroom and lock the door behind me. Walking to the sink, I brace myself on the porcelain edge. How did I come so close to claiming her? That’s never happened before. In all my years, my primal side has never once taken my control away like that. It’s a miracle I was able to stop myself.
Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I spot the remnants of sex still visible on my face and body: my lips swollen, a light flush across my skin, pupils dilated, and scratches across my shoulders and down my arms. I run a hand over my face, eyeing the door in the mirror, remembering what a part of me wanted to happen.
I should go back out there, hold her until she falls asleep in my arms, because that’s what she deserves. But here I am, hiding in the bathroom like an asshole.
Claudia
This is not the time to panic.
Keep your eyes closed; pretend to be asleep.
When the bathroom door shuts and locks, I lie there, listening to Granger’s movements. I need to leave before he comes back. Trying not to make noise, I slide out of bed in search of my clothes.
I can’t believe that just happened—that I almost let it happen. Who in their right mind offers their neck on a silver platter to a man they just met? And why did I want him to do it? This night has proven I should’ve said no from the get-go. I let my vagina lead the way and look where that got me. Sure, the three mind-blowing orgasms were amazing but in no way make up for the stupidity that followed.
Mate?
Claim?
How did these words even make it back into my vocabulary after Bryce?
The sound of water running has me breathing a sigh of relief. That means this is the best chance I have at leaving. I dress in record time, then tiptoe out of the bedroom. The door’s almost closed when a deep, gruff voice startles me.
“Sneaking out?”
A yelp lodges in the back of my throat. The booming in my chest echoes loudly in my ears. My hands tremble, but I manage to close the door before turning around. The man in front of me is huge and built like a beast. Moonlight shining into the room bathes half of him in shadows, making him look every bit as threatening as I imagined from his voice. His dark, menacing eyes have me retreating a step and pressing my back into the door.
He advances a step toward me, placing one hand on the side of my head, and leans down until he’s on eye level with me. From this close, I recognize him as the man who was in the hallway and the club earlier—Granger’s friend.
“Is G losing his touch?”
His breath, heavy with alcohol, fans over my face. I keep waiting for the repulsion to kick in, but a mixture of woodsy musk and citrus hits my nose, igniting a different kind of need inside me.
He snorts, bringing his other hand up, a bottle clutched in his grip. He takes a swig, and my stupid eyes watch the way his Adam’s apple bobs. A flush of heat rolls through me. Gosh, it’s hot in here.
Mine.
Jeez. What the hell is she going on about now? I can’t figure out if she’s talking about Granger again or the intimidating drunk guy in front of me.
His head dips to the crook of my neck. My bones lock, freezing me in place, but heat sinks low in my belly. My mind and body fight for control, one telling me to run away, the other begging me to get closer.
He inhales. “You smell like him and sex and . . .” He meets my eyes again, and I’m momentarily caught off guard by the hungry look he gives me. That can’t be right. I’m sure I’m seeing things. He blinks, breaking up his thoughts. The bottle tips against his lips again. When he turns his attention back to me, the menace slides back into place but not before I catch sadness flash across his features.
“I heard your cries of pleasure. Hell, I think half the floor did. You should be passed out sleeping instead of sneaking out. Why aren’t you?”
His tone and his words sound like that of an Alpha. If he’s an Alpha, though, he should have more protectors with him. Not sensing anyone else in the room, I conclude that he’s nothing more than an asshole.
“Look,” I snap, annoyance flaring. “Fun time is over, and I need to get back to my room. My friends will be worried if I don’t return.”
His head tilts, eyes roaming over my face. I can't decide if I like the way he’s looking at me or if I want to smack him in the face. Without saying a word, he walks away, disappearing behind a door on the other side of the room.
I hear the shower cut off and know that’s my cue to leave. I exit the hotel room as quietly as I can, pausing outside the door to gather myself. Between Granger and the beast, my poor body is exhausted. Mustering up motivation, I hop into the closest elevator and make my way back to my room.
As soon as my feet cross the threshold, they turn sluggish, barely carrying me to the bed. Falling face-first, I turn my head to catch the time on the alarm clock. It’s just after five in the morning. Great, only four hours until I meet up with Raphael. I’ll be lucky if I get two hours of sleep.
I catch Granger’s scent on my skin. Groaning, I get back up and head into the bathroom. There’s no way I’ll be able to close my eyes inhaling all that. After a quick shower, I lie in bed and close my eyes but they pop back open. A Rolodex of images sweeps through my mind. I study each one before moving on to the next.
One thing that still doesn’t make sense is how Granger and the asshole were able to catch my scent. The witch’s cover has never failed me before, yet they both acted like I had none on. Maybe this new batch isn’t working as well?
I blow out my cheeks. Oh well, no point in worrying about it now, not when I’ll never see them again. I shift my thoughts to what happened with Granger. I’m still in disbelief over how willing I was to let go, to become his completely. The way both my wolf and I reacted to him was so different from anything I ever experienced with Kylan. The way I acted, you’d think Granger was my mate.
“Ha. Yeah, right,” I chuckle.
Mate.
“Psshh.”
There’s no way. That’s absurd. But how shitty of a joke would that be on Fate’s part, to have me meet my mate on the same night I plan to leave Wyoming forever?
Okay, time to turn the brain off. Closing my eyes, I slow my breathing to help me relax. Moss-green eyes flash through my mind one last time before darkness consumes me.
Claudia
Two years later . . .
“You here?”
“Pulling up now,” Hannah, my best friend, says.
“Okay, be right there.”
I shove my phone in my back pocket and do a quick head-to-toe check in the mirror one more time. Hannah’s going to freak when she sees how short I cut my hair. I didn’t set out to have it this short, but I told the hairdresser to do what she wanted. I walked out with a long pixie cut; it’s actually pretty cute. I’m not mad about it.
Snatching my bag off the bed, I scan
the room, making sure I’m not leaving anything I’ll need behind. Satisfied, I leave my apartment and head down the steps to where a limo is parked. The back-door flies open as Hannah’s flame-red hair pops out.
“Ohmygod, what did you do? I love it,” she squeals.
I slide into the limo and find an open seat next to Rachael. Hannah plops back down on my other side, running her fingers through my hair.
“You hardly have any hair left. Wow. It looks amazing. You should’ve done this a while ago.”
“Thanks,” I beam. “Hey, guys,” I greet everyone.
“God, you’re hot. You make me want to switch teams,” she laughs.
I give her a little shove. “I’ve got standards. I’m not sure you meet all of them.”
“Please. We both know I’d rock your world.”
I shake my head. “You excited about tonight?”
Hannah used to work in real estate; that's how we met a little over a year ago. I got hired as a receptionist and she was an agent. One day, she decided she’d had enough of that grind and took a risk opening her own dance studio. The risk paid off, plus some. She quit her six-year career to work fulltime on her passion. What I didn’t expect was to get roped into her dream as well. But I have to admit, I’ve had a blast and have learned so much. The extra money is nice, and it beats sitting at home—alone.
“Shit yeah! I’m so pumped. I just hope everything goes according to plan. I hate having to improvise, and since we’ll be at a house I’m not familiar with, a lot can go wrong.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. You know some of these people, right?”
“Um, I’ve met a few of them over the years, some at that last party I threw for them. I’m sure everything will be fine,” she bats.
I grab her hand and give it a little squeeze, letting her know I’m here to support her. Her hazel eyes sparkle, a grin spreading into the famous Hannah smile that I’ve come to love.
I had no idea that when I landed here in Utah two years ago, I’d end up staying. But I’m glad I did. It still sucks that I can’t be completely honest with her about who and what I am. I just keep reminding myself that it’s safer if she doesn’t know about my past.
It sounds crazy, but there’s still a part of me that’s not ready to give up on the idea Bryce might be searching for me. I’m protecting myself—and her—in case he somehow finds me. She’s the most important person in my life, so I will not let anything happen to her.
Hannah starts talking with a few of our friends, so I lay my head back and listen to the chatter, the sound eventually blurring into a single hum. I close my eyes, relaxing into the motion of the limo and enjoying the rest of the ride.
“Ladies, we’re about 10 minutes out,” the driver announces.
A buzz of excitement sizzles in the air. Hannah has been hush-hush about certain details pertaining to tonight. All we know is that we’re not only working as cocktail waitresses but also performing for a private party, and the payout is supposed to be worth it. We’ve been speculating about who we’re going to meet: celebrities, athletes, powerful businessmen, or my favorite, the band Imagine Dragons. Apparently, they’re from here.
I turn in my seat and stare out the window, admiring the beautiful rustic scenery. Colors vary in shades of brown and red with some green splashed throughout. The landscape is one reason I fell in love with the area. The other reason is that this place feels safe. I still don’t understand why. Maybe it’s because this town I’ve chosen operates at a slower pace than most, forcing me to slow down to match its pace. It could be that with all the time that’s passed since I last saw Bryce, I don’t feel the need to look over my shoulder every second.
Whatever the reason, I rarely think about the life I lived while on the run, preferring to focus on the present and living day by day. No point in walking down memory lane if I don’t have to. I’ve locked a lot of doors and want them to stay that way.
We pull into the right neighborhood, and my eyes widen at the size of the houses. No, not houses—mansions. Some are tall, some extend over more extensive tracts of land, some sit on top of small hills, while others look like they’re built into the land.
The limo turns again, ascending a driveway. “Holy shit,” someone gasps.
We come to a stop in front of a house that somehow looks bigger than all the other ones we’ve passed. The garage alone looks like it can hold eight cars. There are several cars in the driveway already, and not just any cars. Each one of those vehicles costs more money than I’ve seen in my lifetime. Who needs that many cars?
Between the cars, the natural stone covering most of the house, and the excessively large wooden entryway, you’d think we were at a small resort instead of a place where people actually live.
The driver opens the door, and we all scurry out like excited children seeing a place of wonder for the first time. The sun is descending below the horizon, making the light breeze feel cool against my skin.
“Good evening, ladies, and welcome.” A middle-aged man dressed in a black suit and crisp white shirt stands near the entryway. Of course there’s a butler. “My name is Stewart. We have a room set aside for you. Please, come with me.”
We follow in a line, for whatever reason, and follow Stewart into the house. His scent drifts to me—wolf. Immediately, my stomach drops, and my flight response roars to life. It’s not that I haven’t been near other wolf shifters since living here—it’s just that the town I moved to is primarily human. I picked it for a reason.
I cut my gaze to Hannah, whose own eyes are wide, drinking in the décor of the home that’s slipped my attention. Does she know what Stewart is? Did a wolf pack hire her? A sheen of sweat covers my palms; my heart pounds away inside my rib cage from the extra dose of adrenaline. I wipe my hands on my pants, doing my best to swallow down the ball of nerves working its way through my body.
Since I don’t sense any movement from my wolf, I check on her and find she’s just lying about without a care in the world. Odd. I blow out my cheeks. If she’s not worried, then there’s no reason for me to be. She’s never let me down before.
“Okay, ladies, here is your room. I’ll be back to get you at 9:00.” He opens both doors to a room—because why not have two?
I keep my focus on the huge dressing room as I walk in, not sparing a glance at Stewart. I’m not giving him any reason to be suspicious of me. Not that I’m doing anything wrong, but old habits are hard to break. Paranoia is one of them, apparently.
“Come check out this bathroom,” Jessica yells.
I peek inside the gigantic bathroom; it’s about half the size of the other room. A sunken tub sits next to a fireplace on the wall, the walk-in shower can easily fit five or six people, and the massive vanity has three sinks. Man, if I had a bathroom like this, I’d be hard-pressed to leave.
I turn around and see Stewart still in the doorway, talking to Hannah. “Let me know if you need anything. Here is my cell phone number. Just text or call me.” He hands a business card to Hannah, then shuts the doors on his way out.
“Alright, ladies, let’s get dressed. We only have two hours. If you need a flat iron or hairdryer, they’ll be in the bathroom.”
I quickly do my makeup, so I’m out of everyone’s way. I’m still not one for primping and I’d rather not inhale a cloud of hairspray. I slip on a pair of black stretch pants that cut off at the ankle, with slits running horizontally across the front. They’re comfortable and easy to move in, which is excellent for dancing. Next is a red crop top with a high neckline and long sleeves. It shows just enough of my belly to make me feel young and sexy. To complete the outfit, I slide my feet into a pair of black heels that lace up the front. I tie them tight to make sure my ankle won’t roll. Wolves have great regeneration abilities, but I’d rather not show them off tonight.
“You look amazing,” Hannah exclaims. “I love the shoes.”
“Thanks, so do you.”
Hannah’s wearing an emerald-green lace to
p with a black bra underneath, dark blue shorts, and nude heels. The colors against her pale skin make her hair shine brighter, if that’s possible, and her eyes pop.
“Thanks, girl.”
“Hey, you don’t think I’m showing too much, do you?” I know it’s a ridiculous question to ask, given what the rest of the women are wearing, but even though I feel amazing in the outfit, it’s more risqué than I’m used to.
“Showing too much? Girl, you’re in your thirties, not dead. If anything, I think you can show more, but I know this is pushing it for you.”
I chuckle at her brashness. I can always count on Hannah to keep it straight with me no matter what.
She grabs her phone. “Looks like we still have an hour, which is good. I hate falling behind. Punctuality is everything if I want clients to keep calling me.”
“I’m going to go hang out on the balcony and relax, unless you need me.”
“Nah, we’re good. I’ll come to get you once we’re ready to go.”
She heads into the bathroom, and I slide open the glass doors and step onto the balcony. I’m a tad jealous; I’d love a balcony off my bedroom. Plopping down into a chair, I breathe in the aromas around me, letting the earthy mixture wash over my senses. Tonight will be a good night—I can feel it. I pop my headphones in and fire up my music player, zoning out to Running with Scissors by I See Stars.
Blave
“What can I get you to drink, sir?”
I stare at the bartender, contemplating my answer. The whole goddamn bar is what I want to say. The thought of losing myself in the dark-amber depths of a liquor-induced coma sounds fucking fantastic. However, if I did, word would get back to the Alpha, and I don’t have the energy to deal with his shit.
“Johnnie Walker Blue on the rocks,” I reply.
The Chase Is On (Pack Everhart Book 1) Page 8
