A serious amount of eye rolling occurred. “It will come out like a regular baby: without teeth and with blue eyes. And there’s Dr Fielding at the hospital, along with a whole host of other medical staff who know full well that Withernsea is full of supernaturals. Mine isn’t the first supe baby to be born here.”
“I still can’t get over that. Even though we run a dating agency for them, so many people here are like the undead, or have real life talons. Must be a twat having a manicure if you’re a bird shifter.”
Shelley ran her hands through her hair. “Can you go to your office now? Time’s up and you’re wearing me out.”
“Thanks a bunch.”
As I stood up to leave, the door banged open and Lucy walked in clutching two coffees. She passed one to me, sat opposite Shelley, and put the other one in front of her on Shelley’s desk.
“What’s happening, dudes?”
“We are not dudes.” I protested. “I hate people use that word for everyone. Makes me think I’ve grown a penis, and I didn’t realise.”
Lucy tilted her head towards me, then looked back at Shelley. “What’s got into her today, or rather not got?” She cackled.
“Oh just because you’re loved up.” I did a mock vomiting impression. “Anyway, how come you’re up at this time? Shouldn’t you still be at it with loverboy?” Lucy was dating my ex, Frankie.
“He’s sleeping. Vampire, remember?” She rolled her eyes. Why was everyone rolling their eyes at me today? “But for your information, I’m up keeping an eye on a client. The quicker I get my earth angel duties done, the quicker I can become an angelic housewife and just stay at home serving my man.”
We both gawped at her.
“Oh my God, you didn’t seriously believe that bollocks did you?” She guffawed.
“Are you supposed to blaspheme and swear when you’re a helper of the angelic realm?” I creased my brows at her.
She wafted her hands as if wafting my words away. “I can’t help blaspheming. After not being able to hear those words for twenty-odd years, I can’t stop saying them all. Holy moly, oh my God, oh my fucking God, Christ almighty. It’s so refreshing. Anyway, Angel Sophia told me that as long as I wasn’t actually harming anyone I was fine.”
“I’m not sure that’s what she meant, Luce. I think she was referring to that one specific occurrence of a rude word you did right in front of her.”
“Po-tay-to, po-tar-to,”
I stared at her, my hands on my hips. “Why was I expecting you to be all lovely now you are no longer a demon?”
“I’m a beginner earth angel; I don’t think we’re quite ready to move to the miracles stage yet.”
“So who’s this client then?”
She smiled brightly and rose an inch up off the floor, just hovered there and didn’t even notice. “He’s called Seth, and he’s a new assistant in Jax’s coffee shop, so I shall bring you regular coffees while I do my job.”
“And what do you have to save him from?”
Lucy pulled a dramatic face. “Oh I’m not allowed to tell you that. It’s a celestial secret. I can tell you one thing though. That man is hot. H.O.T. hot.”
“How else would you spell it?”
“Kim! Your grumpiness and rudeness is out of order today. Go to your office, right now.” Shelley glared at me again, and pointed at the door.
“Huh.” I stomped out, taking my coffee with me.
It was seriously like I’d been sent to the naughty corner. I powered up my laptop. No new clients had applied. FFS. If we’d had five—or even better, more than five—new applications for membership, I could have got away with having to find any. I moved onto my own emails. I’d start work in half an hour when my coffees had had a chance to kick in.
There was an email from Frankie.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: Wed 25 Jan 2018 Time: 10:02 am
Subject: General shifter information
Hey Kim.
While I dig a little deeper into the specifics, here are some factoids about the shifters in general. Document attached.
From your mate (get it? Lol)
Frankie
I clicked on the attachment and opened the document, saving it to a brand new folder I named ‘get self out of the shit’. Then I sat back and read it.
GENERAL WOLF SHIFTER INFORMATION
(Not to be reproduced. Copyright F. Love, 2018)
Werewolf (werwulf, man-wolf, lycanthrope)
The ability to shift into a wolf from human form.
The rumour that you can become a werewolf from a scratch is untrue folklore. In reality you have to either be born a were, or in the instance of a mate, bitten during the mating ritual under a full moon.
Weres are vulnerable to silver and can be killed by being shot by a silver bullet to the heart.
Weres can shift at any night through choice, but on the night of a full moon will always change. This is when mating rituals occur. It is not true that wolves rampage at this time with a lack of control over their animal selves.
Mates primarily come through the pack; however due to a lack of female offspring (8 out of 10 were births result in male children), mates are often selected from out of the pack. Weres mate for life.
A male werewolf is expected to take a mate no later than at the age of thirty years and can be ostracised from the pack if still single by then.
I clicked into Darius’ profile. He’d recently had his 29th birthday. That was a plus for me. I could just wait it out until he got desperate. Although what if he was already desperate and so mated with Sierra? Yes they were friends, but we all knew it was nigh on impossible for males and females to really be friends. Did that mean he might have shagged her before?
He will have slept with people Kim. You’re no saint yourself, remember?
I rang his mobile phone. Once again it went to his answering service.
“I’m not able to take your call right now and if you are Kim, quit ringing. I told you we’re done.”
Rude.
We’re done. Were done. Hahahahaha. He’d said a joke without realising.
Not to be thwarted from my current mission, I sent a text.
Kim: I really am very, very, sorry. BTW your voicemail is rude and unnecessary.
My phone soon beeped with an incoming message alert.
Darius: Stop texting.
Kim: I will if you’ll meet me to talk.
Darius: I have nothing further to say to you. You brought shame on me.
Kim: Give me a chance to make amends, pleeeaaassseee. Pretty please with cherries on top?
This message failed to send <
Had he blocked me?
My bloody arm set off with another hot flush. “Ah, Hell, it’s not my fault he won’t date me.” I yelled in the direction of the floor. Then I realised it was my fault, so I sat and sulked for a minute.
Then I tried to ring Jett.
“I’m not able to take your call right...”
“For crying out LOUD.” I ended the call and threw my phone on the desk in temper. Thank God it had a protective case. Well, there was nothing else to do, so I should just get on with my work, which included finding five new customers. I stood up, grabbing my jacket and handbag. I’d go to Jax’s coffee shop. Not only could I look for potential new clients and get some lovely coffee but I could have a nosy at this sex god, Seth. It would take my mind off other things.
* * *
Whoa!
The queue to the front of the coffee shop counter extended out of the main door. No way was I waiting in that. Jax was my friend. I passed a load of women in the queue and then as I got halfway I stopped—stunned.
In front of me was a blonde haired guy in jeans and a white tee wearing a barista apron that said ‘Jax’s’ on it. What played in my head was a fantasy movie-reel of him in a shower, the spray bouncing off a hard ripped man chest, while he bit his lip and lo
oked at me with a lusty wink.
“Kim!” Jax shouted. “Come meet the new guy, Seth. He’s proving a hit. We’ve never been so busy.”
Much to the consternation of the rest of the queue, I stalked right to the front making sure my skinny-jeaned ass sashayed as I did so. I held out a hand. “Hey, Seth. I’m Kim. I work at Withernsea dating just upstairs and along.”
He gripped my hand. Hmmm, firm handshake, smooth warm skin. Clean fingernails. All good signs.
“So what can I get you? I guess as a regular I’d better make sure to remember your order.”
A bed and your cock please.
“A latte and a chocolate doughnut please.”
Down, girl.
“Coming right up.” He beamed a huge smile at me. Oh God he had cheek dimples. I was going to be a puddle on the floor in a minute.
When he served me my coffee, I leaned closer. “So, Seth. Sorry to be so direct with this but I’m looking at this queue. Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No. I got divorced recently. My ex cheated on me.” He shrugged.
“Do you fancy joining the books?” I asked him. “Say, one month's free trial?”
“Sure, why not? Drop me a form in.” He said.
I went into my purse where I always carried a few copies. “Can you get it back to me by five?”
“Okay.” He served me my order and a side of another beaming smile.
* * *
As I walked back up the queue, I stopped to talk to the other women waiting. “Hey, I’m Kim from Withernsea dating. We just signed Seth onto our books and we have several other men just like him if any of you are interested in signing up.”
I walked out with twelve new applications and some of them had ticked the ‘extra supelemental information’ box (it looked like a typo to humans but actually wasn’t) the dating agencies code for supes. I’d eaten my doughnut and drunk my coffee while women filled out the application, so I walked back to the office and knocked on Shelley’s door.
“Come in.”
Her face flashed with annoyance as I walked towards her.
“Where have you been? You’d think given our conversation this morning that you might have actually stayed at your desk and worked.”
I placed the application forms on the table. “Twelve new customers, and a ‘lucky’ thirteenth shall be here and on your desk by five-thirty.” I high-fived myself. “You were saying?”
Shelley grinned. “I was saying what an asset to my company you are, Kim. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
I felt good, so I sashayed out of Shelley’s office too.
Now there was just those pesky wolves to deal with.
Chapter Two
Darius
“How long are you going to be wearing that face?” My younger sister Alyssa asked.
“I’m not wearing a ‘face’.” I protested.
She tilted her head to one side. “You look like someone tea-bagged you with a sweaty bollock.”
“Alyssa Dakota Wild, you’ll have your mouth washed out with soap if I hear you say that again.”
“Sorry, Mum.” She said, while simultaneously rolling her eyes at me.
Fifteen-year-old sisters were a challenge. I couldn’t imagine trying to parent her.
“Look at him though, Mum. He’s been like it for days now.”
My mum came over and sat beside me on the couch.
“It’s true you’re not yourself, Son. I know you were disappointed about the woman, but she still might be the one. We have to wait now.”
“I really liked her, Mum. But what she did, dating Jett. I’m not sure I can forgive that. I don’t understand why she’d date him and not me.”
“She’s asked to meet you. Why don’t you go and see if she can explain? It’s better than sitting looking constipated.” Alyssa sniped.
“How do you know she’s asked to meet me? Oh my God, have you read my messages again?”
“Well, you do leave your phone hanging around.”
I stood up and got right in Alyssa’s face, I saw the yellow flash of my wolf eyes reflected in the shades she was now wearing. She thought they looked cool. It wasn’t even sunny, and we were indoors.
“Keep out of my stuff and my business, or I’ll borrow your DKNY sunnies and accidentally sit on them.”
“Darius, sit back down. It’s not your sister’s fault things have been a little rough for you lately.”
Alyssa moved her glasses up to the top of her head so I could take in her smug smile.
“Alyssa. The dishes need taking out of the dishwasher. Go make yourself useful.”
She huffed and left the room.
My mum stared at me a moment and then began speaking. “So, I went to see Ebony today.”
I scrubbed a hand through my hair. “Mum, why did you do that?”
“Honestly? Your dad had pissed me off, and I decided to go have a good spend, and her boutique is the best in Withernsea. But as soon as I got in there she started with the visions. I actually felt sorry for her. They give her terrible migraines.”
“She got the vodka out then?”
“Yes and I had one, so she didn’t look odd. Poor woman, it’s the only thing that helps her.”
I clasped my hands tightly, my knuckles whitening. “Go on then, you know you’re dying to tell me what she said.”
“Darius. I’m not dying to tell you. You’re my oldest son and I’m looking out for you, that’s all.”
I sighed. I really was a grumpy bastard of late. “Sorry, I know. I’m just frustrated with all this mating stuff.”
Now I was in my thirtieth year the pressure had ramped up. I’d wasted months trying to pursue Kim Fletcher, the super-hot woman at the dating agency who handled the organisation of dates for our kind. My mind floated back to when I’d first properly met her…
* * *
I’d seen her before, around Withernsea. Her long dark hair framing a heart-shaped face. But it was her smell that appealed the most. She smelled to me like the finest scotch, mixed with sex. She smelled like she was mine. I’d been called to the agency after there’d been a fire bomb aimed at Shelley’s office. I’d made sure my cop uniform was on point, my police shirt tight against my pecs and my slacks hugging my arse. One thing all the running around in the woods did was give you a great ass and thighs. I knew I looked like a walking Magic Mike stripper.
As soon as I’d walked past her, she’d yelled “Holy fuck,” before covering her mouth and pretending to have the hiccups. I’d tried not to smile at her reaction, which wasn’t all that difficult because when I met her gaze something strange happened. It was like we were locked in a staring competition. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
It took for Shelley to remind me I’d come to view a crime scene before I’d been able to break away.
When I’d returned to Kim’s office I started staring at her again. There was something in me, like an invisible thread that was dragging me to her, and that smell… I just wanted to leap over the desk and bury my nose in her neck and nuzzle her.
I’d needed to leave but didn’t want to. What could I say to get her attention? I decided to remind Shelley about my application hoping Kim would take the hint and date me herself.
“Just to say that I sent in an application for the agency. I’m young, free and single. Well, I’m not free on a full moon, but the rest of the time.”
But Kim only nodded her head before her gaze had returned to her computer screen.
* * *
She’d been in a casual relationship with a magician called Frankie before Satan had smote him and he’d ended up turned into a vampire. Since then I wasn’t aware that she’d dated anybody. I’d thought I was in with a chance, but then she’d arranged dates for me with other women, and herself flirted with other men.
When I’d seen her in a restaurant with Jett Conall, one of our enemy pack, a few days ago, it had been the last straw. If she knew what she had started I’d never be able to forgiv
e her, and that’s why I’d been putting off seeing her.
“Earth calling, Darius.” My mum nudged my shoulder.
I turned to her. “I’m listening.”
“So Ebony says Kim’s actions will set in train a challenge between you and Jett for Kim’s heart, but there is also a shadow hanging around, a third suitor. She foresees not only a challenge for Kim, but also one to our pack as the wolves of Hogsthorpe will be able to challenge Withernsea for power if Jett mates with a Withernsea resident.”
“So how come they haven’t already made such a challenge? There are plenty of single women in Withernsea.”
“The rules are that they can’t seek a date, but in this case Kim asked him. She looked him up on the computer. They were finding a loophole anyway. Applying to the agency was a way of meeting a woman. If he’d gone out on an arranged meet and convinced his date to ask for a second date that would have done it. It was only a matter of time. The wolves are bored in Hogsthorpe—restless. Ebony says she can hear their inner wolves howling with confliction.”
“So Kim did this, but the chances were it would have happened anyway?”
“Yes, Son.”
“And not only is Jett my enemy but there could be another man?”
Surely it couldn’t be Frankie? He was loved up with Lucy now.
“That’s what she said. Now you need to have a really clear think on whether or not you’re going to pursue Kim. If she is the one for you, I will help you all the way, Darius. But it will not be easy. We must speak to Alpha Edon and listen very carefully for his directions. This is very much pack business, Darius, even though it’s your mating and your heart.”
The Complete Collection: Supernatural Dating Agency Books 1-6 Page 26