by Anna Lewis
“Like your condition?”
“You're being really pushy,” Hunter said.
“I just think I'm owed some answers, that's all.”
“I can't,” Hunter said. He ran his hands over his face. “I want to, but I can't. I know it sounds stupid especially since we don't know each other all that well but I'm drawn to you. Like a moth to a bright light.”
Scarlett screwed up her nose but couldn't stop a smile from blooming on her face. “Nice analogy,” she said.
“It's the truth,” he said firmly with a fiery passion in his voice. A shiver ran down Scarlett's spine. She rolled her shoulders and was tempted to put her coat back on but she knew the goosebumps on her bare arms weren't because she was cold. Hunter finished off his first pint and started on his second. “I can't stay away from you. I know I fucked up, but the fact that you're here means you're willing to give me a second chance, right?” Scarlett nodded hesitantly. “You know, your neighbor is more than he seems.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Scarlett asked.
“Just be careful around him, that's all. Guys like him, they're sneaky.”
“He's a historian,” Scarlett said disbelievingly. “Don't try to talk him down to me just because you're jealous that we went out to dinner before I came to see you.”
“You just don't understand,” said Hunter.
“No, I don't, so make me understand. You really shouldn't judge him you know. I did and I was completely wrong. He likes sex, yeah, but he's a decent guy. And smart, too. And rich, so he says.”
“Nothing against him personally,” Hunter said. “Him and me, we just wouldn't get along.”
“Don't knock it until you try it,” Scarlett said. She realized only after how much she sounded like Jenna. Maybe it was a good idea to take her friend's advice after all. “Look, why don't we all hang out? The three of us?”
“Like a triple date?” Hunter asked with a slight grimace.
“If that's what you want to call it,” Scarlett replied. “You owe me.”
“Will your neighbor be up to it?”
“I can text him right now if you want, ask him to join us.”
“No,” Hunter said quickly. “No. This is my time with you. If you want to set up this thing then fine but this is my time with you. I'm not going to share it with him. He already had you for most of the evening.”
Scarlett was taken aback but oddly flattered by his possessiveness. She'd never had a guy who cared so much about her that he would go to such lengths. And she felt like his jealousy was sincere. The way Hunter called her his came from a place of caring rather than just wanting to show her off.
“So another time, then?” she asked.
“If that's what you want,” Hunter replied. “I have the feeling I'd do anything for you.”
“Really,” Scarlett said flatly.
Hunter looked her dead in the eye and her whole body froze, like prey caught in the sight of a predator, about to be devoured.
“Really,” he said with finality. “Now drink your beer.” Scarlett did.
***
Titus agreed readily with an amused look on his face when Scarlett asked him the next day. She could have texted or called, but in her gut she knew it would be best to ask him in person. She needed to see him. The night before Hunter had dropped her off back at her building and leaned over the centre console to give her a hug. He smelled of fresh air and pine trees and the light stubble on his cheeks and jaw had scratched appealingly at her cheek. His lips had been so close that Scarlett had almost initiated her second kiss of the night, but Hunter had pulled away before she could and said goodnight. Scarlett kept replaying the scenario over and over again in her head.
“There's nothing wrong with a little healthy competition,” Titus said.
“That's not what this is about,” Scarlett replied.
“Oh?” Titus asked He leaned against the door frame of his flat. “What's it about then?” Scarlett blushed and ran a hand through her hair. She couldn't think of an answer. Titus chuckled quietly. “Ah, I see. Well, if that's what you want,” he said. “Anything for you.” Scarlett looked up sharply and narrowed her eyes. “What?”
“Hunter said that exact same thing to me. What is it with you two?”
Titus glanced away, his face growing stony. “You're hard to stay away from,” he replied. “Text me the details.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek first, then shut the door in her face, not unkindly. Scarlett went back to her own flat to plan. She settled on Friday night. The bars would be crowded so nothing untoward would happen and she wouldn't have to worry about work the following day, leaving the night open for any number of things to happen. She sent the same text to Hunter and Titus. Again she thought about what Jenna had said, for what felt like the hundredth time. Was she taking things in that direction? She thought about the dream she had had about the two of them just after she met Titus, the feel of her body pressed in between theirs. Suddenly she felt the need for a cold shower. Her brain didn't know what it wanted, nor did her heart, but her body certainly did.
The cold shower put goosebumps over her entire body but it did help quell her desire. She shrank into herself and forced herself to stand there for a good five minutes before she quickly washed her body and her hair and hopped out. She dried herself quickly and fell into bed naked with damp hair, curling up into a tiny ball beneath her blankets. She shivered until her own body heat warmed the blankets, but she knew she would be far warmer if she had Titus and Hunter next to her. It was the 21st Century, she reminded herself, just like Jenna had said. What was so wrong about having both things she wanted? As long as everyone was okay with it. She would find out on Friday, when Hunter and Titus met for the first time.
The week passed in a drag. Jenna gave her knowing looks but didn't say anything else about what she had suggested. The more Scarlett thought about it the more she thought that Jenna might be right. Hunter and Titus were two totally different men, but Scarlett liked both of them the same amount, in different ways. The closer Friday grew the more nervous and excited Scarlett got. She hoped they would like each other, that they could find something in common other than her. She knew how men could be; jealous and standoffish. If Scarlett played her cards right and gave them both the attention they desired, then everything would work out the way it was supposed to. If it didn't... well then Scarlett would have to make a choice; one of them, or neither.
Each time she had gone out since she had met Hunter she had dressed casually. Now she took the time to make herself look nicer. She took a shower as soon as she got home from work and styled her hair, and spent a good fifteen minutes picking out what she was going to wear before settling on one of the few skirts she owned and a pair of leggings under it to combat the cold, a pair of heels, and a loose, low cut, almost see-through blouse. Tonight was an important night, worthy of more than a simple t-shirt and jeans. If Titus and Hunter didn't appreciate that, then there was something wrong with both of them and they weren't worth her time.
Titus had other business and said he would meet them both at the pub. She refused Hunter's offer to pick her up, preferring to walk, as she usually did. When she was a couple blocks away from her home, though, something in the air began to feel wrong. She huddled into her coat and walked just that much faster. It was fairly late, although early for a Friday, and Scarlett knew there were plenty of drunks around and not all of them could still keep their heads on their shoulders. Some of them could get stupid ideas in their brains and decide the best thing to do was to act on them. It made things dangerous for a woman like Scarlett. For any woman. Suddenly she wished she had taken that lift from Hunter. She was fishing in her bag for her phone when she heard loud, slurred voices from around the corner. She took a deep breath to steady herself. She was tough, she told herself. She could handle herself. She called Hunter anyway. She didn't know where Titus was, but she assumed Hunter was the closer of the two, just in case something did happen. The churning in her gut made her wary.<
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Hunter didn't pick up. Maybe he couldn't hear his phone. If he was already at the pub Scarlett knew that it would be loud. A phone on vibrate shoved into a pocket wouldn't be heard and probably wouldn't be felt either. She tried again as she rounded the corner. A group of three lads were in front of her, clearly drunk and stinking of alcohol so potent that Scarlett could smell it from several feet away. She looked past them down the street. She could see the pub on the next corner. All she had to do was get to the end of the street and she would be fine. She made to cross over to the other side of the road, hoping that the lads hadn't noticed her yet, but had no such luck. One of them called out something obscene that made Scarlett's chest tighten with anxiety but made her flare with anger.
“Fuck off!” she called and made and offensive gesture towards them, a scowl on her face. The boys roared with laughter. All but one of them. His face darkened.
“What was that?” he slurred, coming towards her. Scarlett quickened her pace. She should have just kept her mouth shut and her head down.
“I said fuck off,” she repeated. There was no point in backing down now.
“Fucking slag,” the boy said. “Who the fuck d'you think you're talking to?”
“A twathead,” Scarlett replied. “Bugger off back to your mates.”
But he didn't. Scarlett hurried away from him but her path took her past one of the many narrow allies so prominent in British towns and cities and the boy was taller than her, with longer legs, and not in heels. He caught up easily and grabbed her arm. When Scarlett couldn't wrench away she screamed until a hand was clapped over her mouth. The lad's mates stood on the other side of the street, looking unsure of what to do. Scarlett struggled and tried to open her mouth to bite but before she could she heard a dog-like growl, followed by a startled shout and the sound of a body hitting brick. A chorus of “what the fuck”s echoed from across the street. Hunter had the first lad up against the wall by the collar of his shirt. Or at least Scarlet thought it was Hunter. Something about him looked wrong. His eyes were the wrong colour and his nails were... claws, and his teeth somehow seemed longer. Scarlett wished she had some kind of pepper spray, any weapon at all that she could use. But unless she wanted to hit what she was pretty sure was Hunter across the back of the head with her purse she had nothing, so she stood her ground.
“Apologize,” Hunter said in a voice entirely unlike the one Scarlett knew. It was low and rough, more of a harsh bark than a human sound. When the lad protested a proper growl ripped from Hunter's throat. “I said apologize!” he shouted. The hairs on Scarlett's arms and the back of her neck stood up.
“I'm sorry, I'm sorry!” the lad shouted.
Hunter shoved him violently into the street, hands curled into talons at his sides. “You and your friends fuck off now,” he said. “I don't ever want to see the three of you here again.” The boy looked like he was about to piss himself. He and his mates hurried away, looking fearfully over their shoulders. Hunter rolled his neck and shoulders. When Scarlett next blinked he looked like himself again, albeit angry. “Are you all right? He didn't hurt you, did he?”
“What the fuck was that?” Scarlett asked instead. “What the hell happened to you? You were... I, I swear I saw...” She started to ramble, not entirely sure what she was saying any more than she was entirely sure what she had seen.
Hunter looked almost ashamed. “I guess it's time to tell you about my condition,” he said. “But we'd better wait for Titus. If what I smelled on him is any indication, he has something to tell you too.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Scarlett asked, almost yelling.
Hunter shushed her softly. “Come into the pub, all right? We'll wait for Titus and I'll get you a drink. I don't think he's far away.” Scarlett let Hunter lead her out of the alley and down to the corner, into the dark, hot, loud and crowded pub. Scarlett was sweating under her coat but she was cold and refused to let Hunter remove it for her. With light but firm guiding hands on her shoulders her took her to a corner booth where they wouldn't be disturbed and went to grab three drinks from the bar. Scarlett's phone pinged. She looked at it to see a text from Titus asking if she was okay and saying that he was only a couple minutes away. She ignored it, but before Hunter came back with the drinks Titus entered the bar, his face lined with concern and the dim lights glinting off his golden hair. It only took him a few seconds to find Scarlett and though he kept his steps even it was clear that he was trying not to rush.
“I'm fine,” she said before he could speak. “Just sit down. You and Hunter both have some explaining to do.”
Titus' look of concern morphed into one of confusion. “I'm afraid I don't understand,” he said.
“Just sit down,” Scarlett said firmly. Titus sat. Hunter came back over almost immediately after with a tray bearing three beers with foaming heads. He gave Titus a nod in greeting and put Scarlett's drink in front of her first before setting the other two down. He sat on Scarlett's other side.
“Will one of you please tell me what the hell is going on because you two are acting far different than any guys I've ever met and after what I think I just saw Hunter do I don't know what's going on. Unless I'm hallucinating or this is all some kind of weird dream. I want answers.”
“You're not dreaming,” Hunter said. He glanced at Titus. “I know you can smell me,” he said. “I can smell you, too.”
“Smell what?” Scarlett butted in, confused. “Both of you stop dancing around the fucking issue and just be straight with me for once! Do you have a 'condition' too, Titus? Is that what this is about?”
“I guess it is now,” Titus replied. He didn't look too happy with Hunter for having exposed him, but his annoyance didn't last long. “I'll let the wolf go first.”
“What?” Scarlett asked.
Hunter put a hand over hers. She didn't pull it away, but met his eyes boldly. “I'm not what I seem,” he said. “I'm not exactly... human. And neither is Titus.”
“What the fuck is this shit?”
“Be quiet and listen. You want to know the truth so let us tell it,” Hunter said. “What you saw before... it's what happens when I'm angry. Usually I can control it. If not it's worse. When I ran out on you the other night it's because I had to get myself to somewhere safe, to a room with my family where we can't hurt anyone by mistake. Did you notice that the moon was full?”
Scarlett stared at him in disbelief. “Are you some kind of fucking werewolf or something?” she asked. Hunter's silence was answer enough. She choked out a stiff laugh and turned her attention to Titus. “And you? Are you like this, too?”
“I was going to tell you,” Titus said. “But you must understand the need for discretion.” At the look Scarlett gave him he relented. “Yes, I am like Hunter, although of a different breed. Do you know why there are no dragons left, Scar?” he asked. Scarlett slowly shook her head. “Because they were hunted almost to extinction. There are still those who pursue my kind, and Hunter's as well. We are monsters to common men, threats to be eliminated, and so we must hide. I can tell that Hunter has imprinted on you, which makes it all the more of a shock that I have as well. I've never heard of such a thing happening before.”
“Me neither,” Hunter said, “but what Titus says is true. Imprinting is... a very strong connection. A desire to protect, to care for... to mate.” He rubbed his thumb along the side of Scarlett's hand. “Titus feels the same, I guess. It's up to you what you want to do. Which one of us you want. If you want either of us, after this.”
Scarlett let her eyes close and tipped her head back against the wood behind her. “I want to drink my beer,” she finally said, “and I want both of you to drink with me, and then I want both of you to take me home and we'll go from there. Okay? That's what I want.” The men, to their credit, said nothing. Hunter continued to hold her hand and Titus slung his arm around her shoulders. She didn't cuddle into either of them like she wanted, but she found that she appreciated the contact. So
on she grew too warm and removed her jacket. She didn't miss the sharp intake of breath from both men when they saw the top she was wearing and took joy from it. She liked that they wanted her, both of them. Once again she thought about Jenna's suggestion. Why choose, she asked herself. They both seemed eager to give her whatever she wanted. If both of them were what she wanted, she really had no reason to think they wouldn't comply.
She didn't get drunk. One beer was enough to maybe get her tipsy if it was strong enough, but it definitely wouldn't get her drunk, and she knew the boys weren't either. Hunter's metabolism let him hold a vast amount of booze, as Scarlett already knew, and she assumed that Titus was the same. They both had one, the same as her. No one asked any questions when the three of them left the bar together. Why would they? It wasn't unusual. She held Hunter's hand in one of hers and Titus' in the other. Titus had his car parked right outside the bar, by some miracle. They all crammed into it, Scarlett in the front passenger seat and Hunter in the back. There was a tension in the air on the ride back that made Scarlett clench her jaw and press her knees together. She knew what it was. She knew the boys did too. She wondered if they could smell it on her. If they knew how aroused she already was, just from being near to them. Maybe their imprinting affected her as well. How could it not? A connection like that had to work both ways. It explained why she couldn't chose either. They had both imprinted on her, and so she had on them as well. Titus drove with the window down, but somehow it didn't stop the air from feeling thick and heavy. Titus put his hand on her knee, high up, and Hunter leaned forward from his seat in the back to rest his chin by the back of her head, close enough that she could feel his breath on her ear, warm and gentle.
“Are you angry?” Hunter asked softly. Scarlett knew his words were meant only for her, but she had the impression that Titus heard anyway.
“No,” she said honestly. “I'm something else.” Hunter inhaled deeply and nuzzled the hair behind her ear with his nose. She heard his hands clench around the sides of her car seat.