by C. R. Jane
Like any good library, it was silent, and I only saw a few people milling around.
In short, I’d found where I was going to be spending my days when I wasn’t working. This was the perfect place to hide from unwelcoming townspeople and feed my addiction of reading. It would take a million shifter lifetimes to be able to read all of these books.
I was up for the challenge.
“Amazing, right?” Miyu asked, an amused smirk on her lips as she watched me absorb our heavenly surroundings.
“Amazing,” I repeated back softly.
A stern-faced librarian gave us suspicious looks as we passed like she was worried we were going to abscond with the books…or maybe she doubted we read. Either way, I forgot her as Miyu led me deeper into the library.
“In answer to your previous question,” Miyu began, “there’s got to be some kind of book in here that talks about what happened to you. Or even talks about wolves that looked like you in shifter history. I mean, I’ve never heard of a white and silver wolf that left glitter pawprints behind them.”
I snorted at how ridiculous it sounded, but it really was how I remembered it. She went to a section entitled ‘Famous Shifters’ and grabbed a bunch of random books. I grabbed some as well, and then we made our way to a table hidden behind some of the shelves.
“I don’t know much about being a good researcher, but I’m going to give it my best,” she told me, and the girl stole my heart once again. Here we were, a week out from her last-minute mating ceremony, and she was here in the library determined to help me.
Best friends forever status right there.
We spent the next few hours pouring through the books, finding out a lot of really interesting things about wolves I’d never heard of but not discovering anything that seemed similar to what had happened to me.
“Shit,” Miyu suddenly said, “We’ve been here for four hours. I have to go to the motherfucking cake tasting.”
“Why is that a motherfucking kind of appointment?” I asked wryly, stretching my arms above my head and realizing from the late shadows that were coming in from the window above us how much time had passed.
“Because Rae likes vanilla and I like chocolate, and before you say that we should have both, just know that this cake place has like twenty different cake flavors, so just imagine how amazing this cake could be if it weren’t for my killjoy groom.”
I snorted and shook my head, and she gave me a sly wink. “Get out of here. I’ll put the books back when I’m done. I think I’m going to stay a little longer,” I told her.
She gave me her signature beaming smile.
“And thanks,” I told her softly, hoping she understood just how much I was thanking her for.
“Of course, Rune. You’re not alone anymore,” she responded before beginning to walk away.
“And dress fittings are on Wednesday at five,” she practically yelled over her shoulder, eliciting a loud “Shh” from the librarian we’d encountered when we’d first walked in. Miyu’s answering giggle seemed to somehow fill up the entire enormous room as she disappeared from sight.
And then it was just me and a million books.
I spent another hour looking through the pile of books we’d chosen before deciding to peruse the stacks for more. I made my way down row after row, my gaze catching on a never-ending number of books I wanted to read later…like when I had my life figured out.
I was about to give up for the day when my eyes came across a book called Curses and the Forbidden Arts. Well, that kind of sounded promising, especially after what Alistair had done to me.
I picked up the book and settled back into my seat at my table. Flipping through the pages, my eyes widened as I read about all the terrible crap someone could do to you. Everything sounded so complicated as well. How did Alistair’s pack know how to do these kinds of things in the first place?
I finally flipped to a page entitled “Shakranda.” That was the curse that Wilder had mentioned to me at one point that he thought had been done to me. I read through the page, my heart picking up speed as I read through a very familiar description. Yep, this sounded exactly like what had been done to me. Alistair was a fucking bastard.
I got to the end of the page though, where it read, “The Shakranda is unbreakable to anyone but the original caster of the curse. It is impossible to lift the curse with any other means.”
I set the book down and blew some hair out of my face, my thoughts in a whirl. If Alistair really did have the Shakranda placed on me, then something really weird had happened last night. And even if I couldn’t figure out how to shift in the light of day, something told me that the curse had definitely been broken last night.
It was official—I was a freak. And something definitely strange was going on with me.
I was going to be living in the library for the time being until I found something out. I hoped that lady at the front would be okay with that.
13
Rune
“Burger, no tomato, and extra pickles,” the man at the booth ordered, his eyes still glued to the menu like he had more to order, while his wife sipped on her Coke through a straw, staring up at me like I was a freak. I’d noticed lately more people coming into the diner spending their time watching me. I wasn’t sure if it was related to the murders or the fact that the whole town seemed to be buzzing with news that I was spending so much of my time with both Wilder and Daxon. Though, I hoped it was the latter since the majority of locals had accepted I couldn’t be the murderer after word spread I had both men in my room during Asher’s attack.
That I guessed was where the gossip had started.
“And a side of fries.” The man stuck out the menu at me, then looked over to his wife, who popped the straw out of her mouth. “Caesar salad, doll.” She handed me the menu too, but didn’t let go when I grabbed it. “I’m curious, what’s it like being with two alphas at once? Do you enjoy seeing them fight over you? You know, we’re all taking bets on how long before you break them…just like Arcadia.”
My shoulders reared back, her comment taking me off guard. I stared at her grin while a rush of anger filled my veins. “Are you serious?” I snatched the menu from her hand, stunned that she so blatantly said that. And were people really taking bets on us?
“For fuck’s sake, Narell,” the man said on a groan. “You want her to spit in our food? At least ask her after we get our meals.” The awkward fake smile he gave me offered no consolation.
I huffed and marched back toward the kitchen, hearing them bickering behind me. What assholes. I stepped into the kitchen and slammed the door behind me, then sucked in shaky breaths, the menus shaking in my grip.
“How the fuck is it their business?” I mumbled under my breath, hating that people were gossiping about us but kind of understanding it too. Wilder and Daxon were both larger than life figures in this town. Of course, everyone would want to know everything about them.
“You all right?” Rae asked, and when I looked up, he was holding a sack of potatoes, which he proceeded to dump on the counter near the sink. His hair was pinned in a net, his apron covered in dirt from the sack.
“A customer just told me that people are taking bets on how long before I drive Wilder and Daxon crazy like their ex. Can you believe that?”
He dumped some of the potatoes into the sink. “Don’t pay them any attention. Most people in this town are bored out of their heads, and they would be entertained by a turtle race if it gave them something to talk about. Either that or they’re jealous as fuck, wishing they could be in your position.”
I pinched my lips to the side, still annoyed by her comment.
“Did you know I get all my gossip from a ketchup bottle?” Rae said, catching me off guard, and I glanced up at him, confused by his comment.
He took my confused look as an okay to respond.
“It’s a very reliable sauce.” He chuckled to himself as he started washing the potatoes.
“Your joke
s are getting worse,” I teased. “But at least that one made me smile.”
“Then my job here is done.” He started humming to himself, and I gave him the order I’d just received.
Once in the main diner, I set the menus back into the holder on the front counter, scanning the tables for dirty dishes to collect, any refills needed, or anyone trying to grab my attention. It was a quiet day with only half a dozen customers, so I was managing the floor alone.
The front door bell chimed, and I turned around to greet the customer, but instead, my gaze lifted to meet Wilder’s. My heart fluttered in my chest at his arrival, having no idea why he’d visited, but it did the trick of dissolving the woman’s words from my mind. Wearing a checkered button-up shirt, with his large build and those powerful biceps, he looked every bit a rugged cowboy. His jeans hung low, his silver belt buckle glinting against the light pouring in from outside, and it took every inch of strength to not throw myself into his arms.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he said, leaning in and stealing a kiss, ignoring everyone else around us. I could feel all the busybodies watching. I felt their stares on my back, but maybe it was worth giving them a show rather than pretending nothing was happening with Wilder and I.
Stepping closer, I cupped his face and kissed him hard, a warm feeling spreading from my chest all the way down to my toes. The delicious sweet taste of him flowed into me, seeping deep into my bones. He’d just walked into the diner and I had seen him yesterday, yet I was clinging to him, drawing him closer, ensuring he knew how much I missed him. I pressed my breasts against him.
The sharp ding of the kitchen bell broke through the spell, and I drew back, licking my lips. “It’s great to see you,” I said. “Why are you here?”
“I’m hungry,” he admitted, and his features softened. “Plus, I wanted to see you. I sure hope I’m the only customer who receives that sexy welcome.”
The bell rang again, and an urgency raced up the back of my legs to serve the finished meal. Quickly, I grabbed a menu and said, “Don’t you know it.” I winked, then turned and waved for him to follow. “This way.” My voice had been louder than I’d intended.
I guided Wilder to the booth near the bar area and away from the other customers in the diner, not wanting them anywhere near to hear us. “I’ll be right back.”
I darted to the kitchen window and collected the first two plates for table four. As I delivered them, I noticed the two older men starting at me strangely. Had they bet on me? I hoped they lost every last cent.
Despite their wry expressions, I delivered a gloriously happy grin. “Hope you enjoy your meals.”
Then I made my way back to Wilder, unable to keep away from him. Overhead, a slow pop song played I hadn’t heard before, and as I paused near his booth, my toe tapped to the tune.
“Have you decided what you’re having?” I asked, watching the way he folded up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows, my attention fixated on his powerful forearms, his muscles and sun-kissed skin, but most of all, thinking about how incredible it felt to be wrapped in them.
“Ribeye steak, rare, with grilled vegetables.”
“You know Rae makes the meanest steak in town, so good choice.” I reached down to collect his menu, and he took my hand in his, his touch lingering, sending jolts of excited shivers up my arm. “And for dessert, you can take your break.” His grin was pure evil, and my mouth opened with a response, but the words remained stuck in my throat.
I didn’t have anything to say, since I had no problem being his dessert. He was my temptation, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he came to the diner for the purpose of reminding me how weak he made me around him.
“Bring the chocolate sauce too,” he whispered, and something inside me flared, something so deep and explosive that I found myself clenching my thighs at his offer.
“I-I’m alone serving today, I can’t leave Rae alone. But maybe later?” I chewed on my lower lip, my mind desperate to know more about Wilder, me, and the chocolate sauce.
He laughed, making that hypnotic sound that had my knees shivering. When the kitchen bell chimed again, I sighed that I was being called from Wilder’s side. And I didn’t move at first, unable to get my legs to move when I wanted everything he promised me.
“If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll be enjoying you as my dessert right here on this table.”
My pulse skipped a beat as images flooded my mind, of me naked and lying on the table before Wilder, his hands forcing my legs wide as his mouth devoured me. I shivered thinking of the possibilities. I was driving myself mad with desire.
What was happening between Wilder and me, even Daxon and me, came down to pure chemistry. The kind that felt like it might explode inside me if I did nothing about it.
“It’s so hot in here,” I said, letting my thoughts spill out, gaining myself a gorgeous grin from Wilder. My cue to go and do my job came with the next ring of the bell from Rae, who seemed very impatient all of a sudden. “I’ll be back.”
Swerving around, I made a mad rush across the diner, noting a couple waited by the cash register to pay.
“I hope you enjoyed your meals today,” I said as I punched in their bill, easily remembering what everyone ordered. After collecting their payment and thanking them, I rushed to collect the next plates. I was so distracted by Wilder’s comments that it didn’t even bother me when I delivered them to the gossiping couple.
“Enjoy your meal,” I said, sliding their plates in front of them, smiling and quickly turning from them.
“Hmm, there’s no ketchup on the burger,” the man said.
With the earlier frustration rising once more in me, I collected the bottle of ketchup from a nearby table and brought it to him. “Here you go, sir,” I answered through clenched teeth, noting his wife studying me with a strange look.
“I don’t blame you,” she whispered, then glanced over her booth to where Wilder sat at the end of the room, and then back at me. “Every woman would kill for a night with him.”
Her husband didn’t seem to hear and was already biting in his burger, sauce dripping down his hands.
I had no words and didn’t want to encourage the flames of gossip, so I gave her a slight nod and returned to clean the table from the couple that just left.
By the time I finished, my breaths were ragged, but I patted down my hair and quickly removed my apron as I made my way back to Wilder, finding myself putting an extra swing in my hips.
“Hi there,” I said, aware that his presence was making me act stupid.
“Been watching you,” he said, leaning an arm on the booth behind him, half twisting in my direction. “At how much your ass wriggles when you’re bent over the table, wiping it down.” His gaze blazed over me, and that earlier heat now shot right to my cheeks. Only when I spotted the gossiping woman wrenching her head back to look at us did I realize I’d completely forgotten to put his order in with Rae.
Crap. What was wrong with me today?
“Hold that thought.” I whipped around and rushed into the kitchen, drawing in fast breaths, my heart going a million miles an hour.
“Ribeye, rare, grilled veggies for table seven,” I puffed out the words.
Rae gazed at me with hooded eyes. “Girl, you’re so transparent, even the Martians could see how much you’re lusting over Wilder.”
I stiffened. “What are you talking about? It’s hard being out there on my own.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “You’re not fooling anyone, but the guy is into you. You don’t even need to try.”
I blew out a long sigh. “I get so hot and nervous around him, which is stupid.” I headed to the fridge and opened it, then bathed in its coolness for a few moments.
Rae laughed at me. “Miyu was the same when we first met. She tripped over her own feet, forgot how to speak sometimes, and that’s when I knew she was the one for me.”
He could have been talking about me right then and the way I’d been ac
ting around both Wilder and Daxon, but did that make them the ones for me?
“You better get back out there,” Rae said, and I grabbed a cold bottle of water, a glass from the rack, and headed out to where more customers had entered the diner. I delivered the water to Wilder and got back to work.
The next couple of hours were a blur of customers coming and going, and as much as I wished I could have spent more time with Wilder, that wasn’t possible. He watched me the whole time though. I’d never imagined having someone looking at me could be such a confidence booster. Usually, I was trying to run away from attention.
By the time I finally collapsed in a seat to rest, only one customer remained and even Wilder had gone into his office in the back, saying something about paperwork.
“Why did I agree to work a shift on my own again?” I murmured to myself.
In that same moment, Licia and Marcus waltzed into the diner, both of them co-owners of Moonstruck Diner along with Wilder.
Right behind them, Daxon stepped inside too, and I instantly straightened at his arrival. Suddenly, the air in the diner thinned and my heart raced. He wore a black leather jacket over a black shirt and dusty blue jeans that hugged his strong thighs. His wind-blown hair framed his handsome face. To say his presence left me overwhelmed in emotions was an understatement. He was a freaking god.
He scanned the place, and then his gaze settled on me. His smile brightened everything, and he strutted over to where I sat, his attention sliding up and down my body. Every part of me tingled with excitement. Wide shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist. He moved more like a lion than a wolf, silent and powerful.