“You’re here!”
Sybil tackle hugged me before I got my bearings. I fell backwards, hopefully denting that asshole’s truck. How dare he? Imagine kissing the hell out of a woman then running off to party. Oh, I saw the fucker. He was dancing with some tall blonde she-Wolf. Not that I should care, but for some reason I did. Even more shocking, I wanted to rip her damn head off.
“Of course, I’m here,” I growled, hugging Sybil back.
“Let’s get Nova,” she squealed, grabbing my arm and pulling me forward with more strength than necessary.
My sister was a badass River Dragon, the only one of her kind as far as I knew. She was super fucking strong, making her petite pixie-like appearance the perfect camouflage. Within seconds, we found Nova in the throng of people, and I was just flabbergasted.
First, I missed my sisters. We hugged and screamed and kissed and jumped up and down, which was what sisters did. We’d always been connected, if not through our shared birthday, then through our bond as former foster kids who’d grown to depend on each other for anything.
They had my back, and I had theirs. And dammit, I missed this. Living in New York City was not what I’d hoped. I’d been lonely and cut off from them for too long. My Wolf was sick. I hadn’t told them, but she was. Something was wrong. But being with them, even for just a few minutes was, well, it was magic. I felt better already.
Tell them, my Wolf urged, but I zipped my lips.
Now was the time for reunion, not secret telling. Besides, I wanted to feel them out before I mentioned what I was really doing home. There were a lot of moving parts and I wanted to make sure I dotted my i’s and crossed my t’s first.
“I am so glad to see you,” Nova said, and hugged me tighter.
“Yeah, you look like shit,” Sybil yelled over the music, and I frowned as ten pairs of Wolf eyes shot a curious glance at me.
Fucking Shifter hearing.
“Where’s Davi and Err? And why the fuck is the Pack here?” I growled and felt old angers rise.
The motherfucking Macconwood Pack had made my life hell when I was a kid. Back when Zev Maccon was the Alpha, he’d outlawed witchcraft and had no use for half-bloods or mixed offspring. Wolves were encouraged to mate with other Wolves, anything else was considered a violation, a weakening of Pack bonds.
He was a fucking medieval monster, and I hated that prick. It was because of him my parents had given me up. His stupid prejudices against Witches and magic made my childhood hell. I had to hide who I was at every turn. In fact, no one except for family knew I was both a Witch and a Wolf.
That was my secret. Mine and Sybil’s and Nova’s. Each of us harbored a beast inside, along with our Witch blood. But while Nova and Sybil had their own demons to contend with, mine had been very real and in my face on a daily basis. I had my family, but I was a Wolf without a Pack, and my animal had felt that loss keenly.
Shit. I’d really messed up everything, hadn’t I? Moving to the city. Dating Phil. What the heck was I doing with my life? My heart stuttered in my chest, and I felt panicked for a moment.
“Hey, you’re safe, Marti. You’re here with us,” Nova whispered, and I felt her minty magic seep into me, bringing calm and coolness.
I always thought about things in terms of food. Maybe that was why I had such a fat ass. Seriously though, Nova’s striking beauty was just one of my sister’s attributes. She was a certified genius, worked for some secret government agency as some mad scientist. I always pictured her with goggles and elbow-length gloves, laughing maniacally as she poured chemicals into tiny vials. I know, I know, my imagination was totally fucked.
“Here, take this,” Sybil said, her blue hair glittering under the disco lights.
She was so damn cute as she offered me a shot glass of some dark liquid. Of all of us, Sybil had the biggest heart. She’d followed in Mama Anne’s footsteps, becoming a social worker, and helping kids who needed it. I admired the shit out of both of them, and I was proud to be their sister.
“There you girls are!”
Davian, our brother, came running towards us and lifted me in a huge bear hug. He squeezed me tight and fuck, I felt like crying. I was so happy to see him. I felt Erryn embrace me on the other side. She smelled like fur and gun oil, as always, and I snorted a laugh through my tears.
“Good to have you home, little Wolf,” she murmured and kissed my head.
“More shots!” Sybil yelled and came back with two more for them.
“Okay, we down them in one, two, three—Happy birthday!” she shouted, lifting her shot into the air.
Davian, Erryn, Nova, and I did the same. We clinked glasses and everyone cheered as we tossed them back. I still didn’t know why the fuck all those people were gathered to celebrate our birthday in a huge fucking tent outside our childhood home, but for a moment there, it seemed totally normal.
People came over, clapping hands on our shoulders and wishing us well. There was a live band playing some country cross over and I giggled as a big, lumberjack looking fucker took Nova’s hand and asked her to dance. She looked horrified, but Sybil double-dog dared her, and off she went.
I laughed and shook my head when Davi tried to drag me onto the makeshift dance floor. The party was jumping. I recognized dozens of people from town. Mostly Wolves, and my chest felt tight again. The Wolf whined, but I shushed her, quieting my beast was just second nature. Chills ran through me, and I felt slightly nauseous.
Shit. I hadn’t told them yet that there was something wrong with me. Later. I’d get to it later. My gaze drifted over the crowd, landing on a pair of gorgeous hazel eyes. Shit. It was him. Mitch raised his longneck in some sort of a salute, and I offered him a two-fingered wave. I tugged on the bottom of my sweater, crossing my arms when he started to amble towards me.
Shit. What did one say to a guy who stole a kiss then left immediately after like he was on fire? And he wasn’t. I checked. Besides, my magic was not exactly reliable these days. I suspected my fire had gone out, and to someone with my kind of Witch blood, that was not good. Like at all.
But I had no time to ponder that with Mitch Truman headed my way. He did one of those long-legged slow walks guaranteed to make the girls turn their heads, and quite a few did. I didn’t even realize I was growling until I saw his eyes widen and that panty-melting grin of his spread across his face the closer he got.
“Hey, you,” he said, clicking his bottle to my empty shot glass.
I’d taken four already, and that was pretty much my party limit. Shifters had supernaturally enhanced metabolism, but I was only half Wolf and that meant liquor hit me almost the same as it did normals. Four shots and I was happily buzzed, but not drunk. I didn’t like to be drunk.
Losing control had never been allowed when we were younger. Keeping a leash on my emotions and behavior had become second nature. It was ingrained in my very soul. Right then, I very much needed to stay in control.
There was something about Mitch Truman that reminded me of a caged beast. An untamed, wild thing. And if he was set free, well, I worried what he might do. Pounce on me, perhaps?
Yes, please.
I rolled my eyes at the predictable bitch my Wolf was being. He was so damn good looking, it should be illegal. Tall, dark, tempting. Dangerous, I should have led with dangerous. He was sensuously enticing, but I hadn’t even ended my non-relationship with Phil yet. Shifters moved fast, but I was not ready to go there with anyone.
“Are you having a good time?”
“Yeah. why? Don’t I look like I am?” I asked mildly insulted.
He raised his eyebrows, and I wondered what I did to bring about that expression. Then I realized I was just being myself again. Defensive and antagonistic to hear some tell it.
“You look a little pissed off, actually,” he said, and once more, I was taken aback by his bluntness.
“You know, there’s this whole thing people do. It’s called being polite and not pointing out the faults of others,” I mumbled, angry, but not quite sure if it was at him or myself.
“Yah, but that’s a rule for normals, sweetheart. We aren’t that,” he replied, clinking his bottle to my empty glass again before taking another long pull.
Dear God, how could a man guzzling a beer look so fucking hot? I had no idea. But there was just something about the way his lips curled around the bottle and his throat worked as he swallowed that had me quivering in places I didn’t even know could quiver.
“Just so you know, I kind of have a boyfriend.”
“Kind of?”
“Actually, I made a note on my calendar to break up with him. I suppose I’ll do it tomorrow when I tell him I left his car stranded on the parkway,” I mumbled.
“That was his car?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Good, means I like you even more now because you didn’t buy that piece of shit.”
I smiled then. How could I not? Looked like Mr. Sexy hated the Tesla almost as much as I did. Not that I hated the concept of the car, just the actualization of it. It was downright weird looking, and the fact was, it didn’t work. Not well enough for me to trust it to drive as far as I did. Maybe they were just a city life car. Maybe the next edition would be better. Who could say really?
“Did you say you like me?” I asked, unable to help myself.
“Yep.”
“Even though I have a boyfriend—”
“You said he’s a sort of boyfriend, which is girl code for someone who means less than your favorite ice cream—which is?” he asked, and I felt compelled to answer.
“Strawberry. But only if it’s Hagen Daas. Otherwise, my favorite ice cream is always chocolate. Wait. What?”
“Besides, you’re breaking up with him. Tomorrow, in fact,” Mitchell continued.
He clinked my glass again before taking another sexy sip and I stared, mouth hanging open. I must have been more desperate for male attention than I knew if I thought some man slurping beer was hot. Okay, he didn’t slurp. But what the fuck? I wasn’t some needy little coed looking for attention and this wasn’t a 90s movie, either.
God, he was so hot. Like the kind of hot I was only used to seeing on billboards in the city. He could be an underwear model easily. Of course, he was probably too big for the industry. And I meant that in a purely observatory sense. Werewolves, Shifters, were large in general.
I’d almost forgotten that. I mean, yeah, there were supes in New York City, but not many in corporate law from what I’d seen. The men in my current circles were thin, lean, average height. It had been a long time since I’d felt tiny around a man, if ever. But Mitchell did that to me. He made me feel petite, and his hungry gaze did wonders for my self-esteem. Even if the constant sniffing was a bit strange.
I didn’t mind my curvier than average frame. In fact, I was pretty fond of my ass, which some had compared to fabulous booty award winners such as J-Lo and a certain Kardashian, though mine was gained au naturel. Likely from a lifelong romance with Ho-hos and other snack cakes.
Anyhoo…
“Why do you keep doing that?” I barked the question, wincing at how rude I sounded.
“Doing what?” he asked, one dark eyebrow raised.
“Tapping your bottle to my glass. It’s empty. I don’t have another drink,” I said.
He made me so frustrated. I felt inadequate and silly, and dammit, I did not like that. Of course, that part was all me. Mitch hadn’t done anything wrong. And if I was being honest with myself, he intrigued me more than anyone else of the opposite sex had done for a very long time.
“It’s for good luck, sweetheart. Can I get you a drink?”
“No,” I began, then shrugged.
Fuck it. It was my birthday, and I was entitled to live a little dangerously once in a while, right? I nodded.
“Yeah. Yes. I mean, sure, I’ll have what you’re having.”
“Be right back,” he said and winked.
Sizzles seemed to spark through me at that sexy little gesture, and I rubbed my arms. What was going on? I’d been freezing my butt off lately, but five seconds with Mr. Tall Dark and Scruffy and I was warming up all over. And I meant all over. This was dangerous territory, but I was in it now.
“Hello little Martina,” a lightly accented voice flitted towards me.
I turned my head to see a beautiful Sherry Morgan smiling widely with a handsome man, sniff, Werewolf, on her arm. That was a shocker. I didn’t know Sherry had settled down, and I was surprised it was with a Wolf. She’d been part of my childhood, a local White Witch who’d helped me and my sisters learn to control our powers. That she was the descendent of the first Morrigan, and now held the powerful title herself, was something I didn’t learn until I was much older.
“Sherry! I didn’t know you were here,” I said, and gave her an awkward side hug.
I was trying to avoid touching the male who had an arm firmly around her waist. I frowned. Possessive much?
“Seff, be a good boy and let go. You’re making my young friend here nervous,” she told her man.
The Wolf was handsome, I’d give him that. He grinned at her indulgently, whispered something in her ear before releasing her. He leaned close and kissed her temple before he turned to acknowledge me.
“Sorry, I can be a little protective of my Sherry. The name is Seff, Seff McAllister,” he said and offered me his hand.
I stared. My heart was pounding, and my Wolf whimpered deep inside of me. This man wasn’t just a Werewolf. He was the motherfucking Beta of the very powerful, scary as hell, Macconwood Wolf Pack.
“Easy, I mean you no harm,” he rumbled, and I saw his Wolf in his eyes. “You are upset, and my animal is protective. Please be at ease, Martina. I am a friend.”
“We’ll be okay, Seff. Leave us a second,” Sherry said, and he nodded, backing away with his head cocked to the side as if he were baring his throat to me.
But that couldn’t be. Why would a powerful Wolf bare his throat to someone as insignificant as me? I shook myself out of whatever trance that whole meeting had put me in and looked up into Sherry’s worried gaze.
“You’re sick, little Wolf. Tell me what is wrong,” she whispered, and I gasped.
“You could always see right through me. Please keep it quiet, Sherry. I haven’t told the others,” I said, gripping her hand.
I was desperate for her to keep my secret, and she frowned, but nodded. In the nick of time, too. Mitch just returned with our beers, bowing low to Sherry and I realized things had changed a whole lot since the last time I was around.
“Hey Sherry,” the big male said and grinned.
“Hello there, Mitchell. How are you now? I see you’ll be taking care of our girl, then, yes?”
“Looking forward to it,” he replied, and I was fucking lost.
I watched the exchange like I was watching a foreign film. I heard their words, but they made no fucking sense, and without subtitles, I had no idea what was happening. Sherry smiled widely, then whispered something to Mitch whose eyes went gold before he nodded once, hard.
“Come see me soon,” Sherry told me. I nodded, watching her float away towards Seff.
“What was that about?” I asked, truly baffled.
“Nothing much. Come dance with me,” he growled, and took my half-drunk beer from me.
He put both bottles on a nearby table and pulled me onto the dance floor before I even had the chance to respond. He was taller than me. Like a lot taller. But for some reason, that didn’t seem to matter when he wound his arms around me and pulled me in to lean against the curved muscles of his body.
“You could have asked me to dance,” I said.
I was trying hard to stay grounded when all I wanted to do was drift away on the wave of desire I felt for him, rising like the tide from somewhere deep inside me. Mitchell Truman was magic, and not in the sense that I or my sisters were. No, this was something purely physical. Like an animal magnetism I hadn’t been expecting nor was I prepared for it.
“And risk you turning me down? Fat chance, sweetheart.”
“You’re light on your feet,” I murmured, allowing him to lead me around.
“Mom made us take lessons when we were pups,” he confessed, and I laughed.
“Really?”
“Yep. My brother, you remember Timothy, right?”
I nodded, and he continued.
“Well, she had the two of us taking lessons and teaching our sisters to dance before we could even tie our own ties.”
“That’s awesome,” I said, laughing.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Really, you dance well, Mitch. I like it.”
And I did. Apparently, so did my Wolf. My usually reticent beast peeked through my eyes, a deep, satisfied growl sounded beneath my breast.
I like him.