by Starr, Maia
Addison stood up, knowing Lindsay wouldn’t take no for an answer, and smiled weakly at her friend. “Fine, I’ll do as you say. I’ll take a day—”
“At least two days.”
“—two days off. Though I’m sure I’ll die from the sheer boredom of it all.”
Lindsay gave her a look, and Addison stepped forward to hug her friend.
Lindsay returned the hug but whispered in Addison’s ear: “Can you imagine what some of our coworkers would think about their boss hugging you? The scandal!”
Addison chuckled and broke away, gathering her things and heading for the door.
“And please, maybe think about finding a boyfriend?” Lindsay called after her.
Addison rolled her eyes. “We’ll see.”
* * *
Addison’s walk back to her apartment was just as wet and gray as the day before. And the day before that… and the day before that. It was as if the weather was trying to tell her something. Addison pondered this until she stepped inside her apartment building and made her way to the elevators.
Maric Devoy, the giant beast of a man who had evaded police capture just a day prior, entered her mind then. In her two years’ worth of experience so far, Addison’s encounter with Maric had been the most dangerous moment of her career. Never had she expected things to go from honest journalist work to a near-death experience. The truth of the matter was that the whole incident had rattled her.
As the doors to the elevator clicked open and she stepped inside, Addison put her hands in her pockets, flinching as she touched something cold and hard. Pulling the object out, she realized it was the gold locket she had found at the bookstore. Addison had forgotten she had stuffed it inside her jacket. Was this fate? Addison had a few days off… she could use the time to take the locket to the police and see if she could dig up a story. Or maybe she should return the locket to the victim’s family…
Stepping off onto her floor, Addison made her way down the hallway, shoving the locket back inside her jacket and rummaging for her keys, making a mental note to pay the victim’s family a visit.
However, when she approached her door, she found she didn’t need her keys. The door, standing ajar and bore a mess of marks and scratches as if an animal had attempted to open it. Addison took a last few cautious steps toward the door and pushed so it swung inward. Her jaw dropped at the sight before her.
The usually sleek, modern, and cozy little apartment was trashed. Someone had ripped open the sofa and smashed her dining table and chairs to pieces. The glass from a dozen shattered picture frames littered the floor. Her kitchen was the worst: her pots and pans strewed about, large holes in the cabinet doors revealing smashed glasses and bowls inside—like someone with huge hands had punched through each one.
Trembling as she took a few steps inside, Addison barely noticed when she stepped on the splintered pieces of a picture frame containing a recent photo of Lindsay and herself. A tented piece of paper on the kitchen counter drew her attention. Walking over and picking it up, she saw that someone had addressed it to her. Addison took a deep, calming breath, hoping to brace herself for whatever she read.
Dear Addison,
You may remember me as the man whose life you ruined yesterday, but you probably remember me better as the man who nearly strangled you to death. Either way, you’ll never forget my name: Maric Devoy.
See, I was happy with my life here in Seattle. I was free to do whatever I wanted. You have no idea how good it felt to flex my wings and live a little by kidnapping those people. I had a little fun with them, and my life was good.
But now, you’ve gone and ruined it, so I think it’s time for a little payback. I broke into your apartment, hoping you would be here, but you aren’t, so I’ve given you just a taste of what you’re in store for. I’m going to find you, Addison, and I’m going to do to you what you did to me: ruin your whole life. The police can’t help you, nor can anyone else, so you better start running while you still can.
Maric
Tears of both fear and anger welled up in Addison’s eyes, and she tore the note to shreds. She thought about going to the police for help, but if Maric could evade them so easily, then how could they protect her?
There was only one real option. If Maric planned to hunt her in Seattle, then Addison needed to leave the city.
Her mind and body shifting into overdrive, Addison rushed into her bedroom, noting the destruction of her bed, nightstand, and TV. Maric had ripped the clothes off the hangers in her closet and flung them across the floor; more clothes hung out of her dresser drawers.
Sighing, Addison set to packing the essentials. When she had gone over everything she’d packed a couple of times, hoping she hadn’t forgotten anything important, she zipped her bag and hurried to the door. With one final glance over her shoulder, she left her home behind.
Chapter Two
The Man
It was nothing but a dream, but it still felt so real.
Flint stood among the trees of Silverwood Island, watching a brunette woman dance away from him. Thin and graceful, she swayed and twirled, moving steadily through the forest. Rooted to the ground, Flint could only watch as the woman disappeared from sight. But he didn’t stay still for long; his inner wolf howled and raged, overpowering his human strength and pushing Flint forward. The wolf went wild, narrowing his vision.
Flint wanted that woman… no, he needed her!
Chasing the shadow of the woman only made his wolf more restless, but he never got any closer, the woman somehow outpacing him, popping in and out of sight. Flint’s inner wolf wanted to go feral, to let loose and never go back, but Flint knew better… he couldn’t just give in.
The woman vanished into the trees again, and Flint followed, waiting to catch another glimpse of her, but she never reappeared. Snarling, his wolf tried to force itself out to track her down. Blood rushed in Flint’s ears, his mind went blank, and, soon enough, he began to howl at the sky.
And then, Flint startled awake with the urge to look over his shoulder at the woman in his bed. He twisted around to look at her, but there was one problem: there was no woman sleeping next to him. That spot was empty. Flint grunted at the nothingness beside him, his wolf whining unhappily, but he forced the wolf to calm itself as he ripped his gaze away from the vacant expanse of sheets. He sat up with a sigh and pinched his temples.
Swinging his feet over the side of the bed, Flint stood and walked to the window, brushing aside the curtain and peering outside. Early morning sunlight streamed into his face, but his eyes adjusted quickly, and he stared out at the cluster of trees and the small pond decorating his land. The view made him long to let his wolf loose, to stretch his legs and get some exercise in before his workday began.
A rap at his front door interrupted his thoughts. Leaving his window, Flint ducked out of his bedroom and padded to the door, and, without checking to see who it was, he opened it. On the threshold stood a familiar, well-built man with light brown hair, eager eyes, and a broad smile. He was shorter than Flint by half a head.
“Flint!” the shorter man greeted him, looking him up and down. “Do you always sleep half-naked?”
Flint rubbed the nape of his neck, glancing down at his rippling, naked torso. “I do. It feels more natural. Ash—”
A woman, even shorter than Ash and just as broad-smiled, appeared beside him, leaning over Ash’s shoulder.
“—and Callie. What brings you two to the home of the Alpha this early?”
Ash chuckled. “Aw, come on, Flint. Don’t be like that! I’m your little brother. Can’t Callie and I drop in whenever? I know you like your seclusion and all—”
Flint cracked his neck, growling. “I don’t like seclusion, Ash. I just like a little peace and quiet.” He glanced between them. “Besides, it’s not like I stay here all day, every day. I just sleep here to get away from all the midnight yapping at the Den.”
His brother leaned in. “Come on, can’t you sp
end some nights with Callie and me? Our place is always open to you, brother. Maybe spending more time with us will help with that loneliness.”
“Yeah! It would be awesome to have you over,” Callie added. “I bet the whole pack would be overjoyed.”
Flint looked away. “Maybe.”
Ash exchanged a glance with Callie. “I guess you’ll do whatever you please, no matter what, won’t you? Anyway, let’s get in a jog before we round up the other wolves.”
Grinning, Flint nodded. “Alright, but let’s make it a race. Really flex our muscles this time.”
Ash puffed up. “Deal! Where to?”
“Let’s aim for the edge of the lake in the middle of the island.”
Ash thrust his fist forward. “Loser has to help May at the inn?”
Feeling his inner wolf itching to get out, Flint fist-bumped his brother. “Fine with me, but you won’t win. There’s no way I can lose.”
Callie rolled her eyes as Ash leaped off Flint’s porch, stripping off his shirt and pants with his trademark impatience. Callie and Flint followed suit, undressing and shifting into their wolf forms.
Flint’s restless energy evaporated as he morphed from his human form into the large, light brown Alpha form of his wolf. Padding forward, he watched as his brother’s darker brown wolf and Callie’s tawny one shook their bodies and howled into the morning sky. Ash took off toward the trees a moment later, quick as lightning, with Callie right on his tail.
The forests on Silverwood Island were dense and often damp from constant rains, but on this day, the air was crisp and cool, and the ground solid and fresh. In his wolf form, Flint forgot about all his worries and troubles, letting his mind wander. He forgot about how empty his bed had felt that morning and instead immersed himself in the company of his brother and sister-in-law as they made their way through the forests like they did every day.
Within minutes, Flint overtook Ash and Callie, his adrenaline and animal instincts making him competitive. Ash yapped in delight at the new enthusiasm in his brother and fell in by his side, but then, he promptly tripped over a root and tumbled face first into the dirt before rolling back to his feet and hurrying to catch up to his brother.
Without an ounce of sympathy for his brother’s fall, Flint was the first to pounce on the bank of the lake, his wolf howling in triumph. Ash was second, growling in defeat as he hung his head. Callie came last, prancing in more than happy to give the two brothers their space.
Ash shifted forms first, rising to his feet and pointing a blaming finger at Flint. He grinned, jokingly speaking like a man from medieval times. “Cheat! Have you no honor? Care you not for a man who succumbs to the whims of the forest?”
Chuckling and shrugging as he shifted and stood, Flint gazed at his brother with the intensity he always wore when the two competed. “It’s not my fault you’re too slow!”
Ash bristled at the jab. “Then why don’t we settle this a different way?”
Just under his skin, Flint felt the itch for a brawl, and he licked his lips. “Try me. If you can best me, I’ll relinquish my Alpha status to you. That sound nice?”
Crouching low, Ash crept forward, ready to pounce at any moment. Callie, now back to her human form, sat near a tree, leaning against it and pulling her legs up to her chest while she watched. As his brother stalked toward him, Flint braced himself, hardening his muscles into an impenetrable wall for Ash to crash into.
Ash dashed forward, attempting to tackle Flint to the hard, rocky shore of the lake, but Flint was ready. He caught Ash with both arms, the two wrestling and falling to their knees, rolling onto the ground. The two fought and jabbed at each other, sweat pouring and muscles tensing as the fight wore on. Eventually, Flint locked Ash’s head in his arms, and he chuckled as Ash tapped his bicep in submission.
Flint held onto Ash a few moments longer for good measure, then let his younger brother go. Ash coughed and scrambled away from his Alpha, and Flint laughed as they both rose to their feet. Callie jumped up to join them.
“Good!” Flint said. “You’re getting better, brother. Maybe when I’m old and gray, you’ll actually manage to pin me down.”
Ash wiped spittle from his mouth and scowled at his brother, but his eyes sparkled. “I’ll get you before either of us grows old, you mutt.”
Flint chuckled and came forward, ruffling his brother’s hair as he squirmed away.
“I, for one, am perfectly fine not having to deal with my husband being the Alpha,” Callie said as she walked up to them, kissing Ash on the cheek. “I don’t need the responsibility of looking after a reckless leader.”
Ash growled but said nothing. He sat and crossed his arms, gazing out at the lake as Callie joined him and snuggled into his side.
Staring at Callie and Ash as they held each other on the bank of the lake made Flint’s heart clench uncomfortably in his chest, and so he turned away, crossing his arms across his lean torso and watching the way the light reflected off the lake’s surface. Flint realized his brother had bested him in at least one way: Ash had a mate and Flint didn’t. It was a simple truth, one that irked Flint in every possible way.
Ash had someone to come home to at the end of the day, someone with whom to share his bed, to warm himself with during long nights. Flint didn’t want to feel the jealousy that twisted inside him, but when his inner wolf howled for a mate with none to find on Silverwood Island, it was hard to let the matter go.
Ash and Callie must have noticed Flint’s disposition, as they disentangled themselves and stared up at him.
“What are you thinking, brother?” Ash asked.
“We’re here for you, and not just so that Ash can wrestle you every other day,” Callie chimed in.
Flint grunted. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“It’s about not having a mate, isn’t it?” Ash said.
Flint answered with silence.
Ash sighed. “I would help you out, you know, if there were any women on the island available.”
“May Silver is available,” Callie mentioned.
Flint scoffed. “That old lady? I’d be stiffer for a rock.”
Ash threw a grin his brother’s way. “Careful now, she may be old, but she’s the only other wolf in Silverwood Island who’s not afraid to talk back to you besides me. Besides, she won’t stand for that tone of yours.”
Shaking his head, Flint motioned for the two to follow him. “Come on; we don’t have all day. Let’s get back and get dressed. The longer we keep them waiting, the more restless our wolves will become.”
The trio shifted back into their wolf forms and raced into the forest, back the way they’d come, Flint’s mind wandering as they ran.
* * *
The huge hall known as Wolf Den was situated deep within the forests of Silverwood Island where no humans ever ventured. As Flint, Ash, and Callie made their way through paths laid out by their predecessors, howls sounded throughout the forest, wolves appearing on each side. They yapped and bounded along in delight, most changing forms to greet Flint with a fervor befitting his Alpha status.
The closer they got to the clearing that served as Wolf Den’s main hub, the more Flint’s eyes flicked over coupled wolves running alongside each other. He tried not to focus on the myriad of mates, but his inner wolf grew restless, aching for its mate. The more he thought about finding one, the more his blood pumped and boiled under the surface of his calm demeanor, the wolf within lusting for the touch of another.
They came upon the hall soon after, with wolves coming from every direction, hundreds appearing from behind trees, all focusing on Flint.
“Everybody, file into the hall,” Flint called. “Let’s get this meeting started.”
Following the command of their Alpha, the wolves fell in behind Flint, Ash, and Callie, streaming into the hall.
The main meeting hall of Wolf Den was the breadth of at least one football field, containing a seemingly endless number of long tables and benches. Doors
leading to other rooms lined each wall. In the middle of the hall was a large circle where Flint, Ash, and Callie stopped and waited while the rest of the pack encircled the trio, their footsteps echoing in the hall.
When the hall fell silent, Flint raised his voice. “Alright, today’s meeting will be quick. Anyone with news that affects our clan, step forward now and speak.”
No one moved forward, but they glanced between each other, murmuring.
Flint frowned. “Really? Nothing at all?”
A young shifter stepped forward, raising his hand. Flint smiled at his approach. “This isn’t school, kid. Put your hand down and speak.”
Laughter echoed through the hall, but the shifter lowered his hand and cleared his throat. “Weather reports suggest there’s a storm coming in a few days. A big one. Might affect some of our jobs.”
Flint clicked his tongue. He hated storms. Storms were brutal and long and messed with his sense of smell. Not to mention, they were hell for his construction work. “Alright, we’ll keep that storm in mind. Anything else?”
Silence. Then, another shifter shouldered his way to the front; he didn’t waste any time before starting his story. “Apparently, we’ll be getting a new face in town,” he exclaimed. “A human female. Young and attractive. Heard from May Silver the other day.”
As if everyone had already known this news but Flint, every pair of eyes focused on their Alpha, letting their gazes communicate what they were all thinking. Flint guessed their thoughts without much effort; maybe this woman could be his new mate. It was no secret that the Alpha of the pack was still without a companion.
Flint cleared his throat. “Well, it’s always good to see a new face on the island.”
Many of the shifters grinned at his comment, and a few even giggled, causing Flint to stare them all down.
“Either way,” he continued, “if you meet this new woman, make sure she feels welcome here.”