by Sara Dailey
“Are you okay?” she asked, pulling away from me.
“I am now,” I said, and I trailed little kisses from her cheek down her neck. She giggled and the sound nearly drove me crazy.
“Want to talk about it?” she asked.
Reluctantly, I stopped kissing her. “It’s just a little family drama.”
“Well, you came to the right place. I’m the expert on that.”
We sat outside on her porch. After a moment I began, “My biological father—”
“Mr. Walker?” Teagan interrupted.
“Yeah, him.” I’d forgotten she’d caught him staring at her after the musical. She’d definitely remember him. “Well, today he kind of blindsided me. He announced that I would be taking over the…uh, family business. From the reaction of the…company and the look on Cade’s face, no one knew about it,” I added, trying to be honest without revealing too much. I wasn’t sure how much she could handle.
“Is he, like, wanting you to take over the business now? You’re only eighteen,” Teagan pointed out. “Isn’t that a little young to be running a company?” She laughed.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I don’t know what he’s thinking. But he expects me to start working with him as soon as I graduate. I’m not even sure if he expects me to go to college.”
“And he didn’t mention any of this beforehand?” Teagan asked.
“Well, kinda. But I thought he was crazy. I thought it would pass. I didn’t know he was going to announce it to everyone! I can’t imagine why he would want me to take over and not Cade. I don’t even know him well enough to guess at his motives,” I said, realizing that was true.
“Maybe you should get to know him better. You know, before you decide anything. Just a suggestion,” she said.
“Yeah, maybe,” I agreed. The problem was, I didn’t know if I wanted to get to know him. From what I already knew, he was an ass. Anyone who’d put me on the spot like that didn’t really care about me; that much was clear.
“Hey,” Teagan said, scooting close. “You’re a smart guy. You’ll figure it out.” Then she leaned over and kissed me.
As her lips covered mine, all other thoughts disappeared. All I could think was, God, she tastes good.
I wasted no time kissing her back. There was no hesitation, no doubt from either of us. Whatever this was, it was definitely right. It was the only thing that I was absolutely sure of anymore—which scared the hell out me. One day soon I’d have to tell her the truth about me.
But not now. What if she freaked out? I couldn’t risk exposing the pack if she didn’t understand, and I couldn’t count on her being as accepting as my father Paul had been. We needed more time. When I was sure about her feelings, I’d tell her the truth. When I was sure she trusted and wanted me.
Was it truly possible she didn’t feel the same way about me that I did for her? Given that kiss, I’d say no. Given the reactions of our bodies… She moved me in a way no other girl ever had. I might even lo—
No. I wasn’t ready to think about that just yet.
38.
Peter
Peter watched through the window as Teagan Rhodes met her gentleman caller on the porch, more than a little curious to see if it was the same bloodthirsty animal he’d seen her with at the diner. Unfortunately, the blinds obscured an absolute identification.
“Soda, Peter?” her father asked, getting up from the sofa.
“Yes, please. That sounds great,” Peter replied.
This was his opportunity. As soon as James was in the kitchen, Peter walked over and pulled the blinds aside. He pulled out his phone and discreetly took a picture to add to his research. In the picture were the two lovebirds, and what else he saw caused a grin he couldn’t stop from spreading across his face. It was indeed the wolf-boy. And he recognized the Jetta.
Teagan laughed at something the demon wolf said. She, Peter realized, would be the key to getting to the rest of this pack. She was his plant, his “in.” He desperately needed to recruit some believers.
He hurried from the window as he saw Teagan head back inside.
“Dad, I’m taking off for a bit,” she called, poking her head in the door. Grabbing her coat, she left without waiting for a reply.
Peter wanted to stop her. He wanted to yell, “Don’t go! He’s a killer.” But he couldn’t. Not yet. Not until he had what he needed. What happened to the girl would remain to be seen. It couldn’t really matter to him. She was just a pawn in the game, and he needed her.
“I don’t like that guy Teagan is hanging out with,” James confided as he returned with a couple of Cokes.
Peter smiled. It was time.
“Can I talk to you about something, James?”
“Sure, what’s on your mind?” the older man replied.
“It’s the reason I’m here in Red Ridge….” Peter took a deep breath and prepared to unveil his deepest secrets. It was now or never. “When I was young, I witnessed something unspeakable. In the years that followed, I was locked away, labeled insane, but now I have proof. I finally have all the evidence that I need. I can, finally, after all this time, avenge my uncle’s death. You can avenge the disappearance of your wife. You can save your daughter from a similar fate!”
Confusion and concern filled James Rhodes’s voice. “What the hell are you talking about? What about my wife and Teagan? Avenge them?”
“The guy your daughter is hanging out with, the man your wife left with, and the wolf that killed my uncle…well, they are all the same. The same breed of evil. They are werewolves,” Peter whispered. He’d argued with himself for some time before deciding on the lie about James’s wife—he had no idea what happened to her after she split town—but he figured it was the best way to motivate him.
The look on James’s face was familiar: Distrust. Disbelief. Not anger. Not rage. Had he misjudged the man after all?
“What? I don’t know, Peter. You can’t be serious. Werewolves? That just can’t be.”
“I understand your disbelief. But, James, I know what I’m talking about. I have dedicated my life to unveiling the existence of these beasts, and I have done all the work. I know where they live, what they look like, and unfortunately what they are capable of. James, did you know that your wife was seeing another man before she mysteriously vanished?” Peter felt bad about having to ask the question, but it was necessary. He wasn’t certain what James had uncovered on his own, and this lent validity to the rest of the story.
“Of course I knew,” James said through gritted teeth. He put his head in his hands.
“I did a little research. He was definitely one of them,” Peter said. “And now your daughter is dating one of them. Do you want to lose them both?” He was becoming irritated by the man’s lack of trust. What more did he need to say?
James sat back in his chair and reflected. After a moment: “You said you had proof?”
Peter felt a heavy weight lift off his shoulders. A small smile spread across his face and he said, “I do.”
James released a large breath. “I’m not saying that I believe you, Peter, but I will want to see your proof.”
“Next time we meet, you’ll have all the answers you need,” Peter replied. “Then you can help me destroy your daughter’s boyfriend. We’ll destroy all those goddamn monsters, every mutilating one.”
As he was leaving, Peter felt better than he had in years. It was finally going to happen; he would finally have his chance. It didn’t matter about collateral damage, the important thing was that he’d finally have revenge.
39.
Teagan
Just seeing Aiden filled my body with warmth despite the chill returning to the December air. He sat back with his hands stuffed in his coat pockets and a baseball cap on backwards, looking straight up like an Abercrombie & Fitch model, and I couldn’t help but ask myself again what the hell he was doing with me. What did I care, though? I’d given in and abandoned my fears. So far it was worth it.
He
pulled away from an all-too-brief kiss, gave me a knee-weakening grin and said, “Let’s get out of here.”
My God he was hot. Where was he planning on taking me?
He threw his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. “It’s not too cold for a walk, is it?” he asked.
There was no way I was going back inside my home, and I didn’t want to go anywhere with people. I kind of just wanted Aiden all to myself, without every girl that passed checking him out; so, even though it seemed to be getting colder I said, “I can handle it if you can.”
Aiden stopped in mid-step and put his other arm around me. “Oh, I think I can handle it. I’m sure we can find some way to keep warm.”
Before I could respond, he leaned down and gently pressed his perfect lips to mine again. His hands moved up to my face and brushed the hair away from my cheeks, and I melted into his embrace, wishing this kiss would last forever. But all too soon he pulled away and said, “Come on. Let’s get out of here. Don’t want any more run-ins with your dad.”
We made our way down the driveway. I ignored the urge to pout and instead cuddled back up under his arm. We continued down the street in silence.
My mind was running a mile a minute trying to think of something clever to say, trying also to disregard my he’s-way-too-hot-for-me thoughts and fears.
Aiden broke the silence. “So, tell me something about yourself.”
Shit. Really? Why did this suddenly make me nervous? “Well, let’s see. My favorite color is orange.”
Aiden smiled, but his eyes didn’t quite meet mine when he glanced my way. “Seriously? That’s what you got? Your favorite color is orange?”
“Yeah, orange,” I said. “Your turn. Tell me something about you.” Turnabout was fair play.
“Okay,” he said. “I don’t really have a favorite color.”
“How can you not have a favorite color?” I snapped. “Everyone has a favorite color. It’s like the first major decision you make as a child.”
Aiden laughed. “Huh. Well, I guess if I had to choose…I’d say silver.”
“Silver?” I repeated with a smile. Was that even a color? I didn’t know why I was grinning, considering I’d been nervous about playing this game, but I couldn’t have contained my pleasure even if I wanted. Something about this guy made me grin like a giddy schoolgirl. It was the same thing that made the rest of me tingle in a very different way.
We made our way down the quiet street. Aiden squeezed my hand. “Tell me something else.”
“Um, I don’t know,” I said. “There’s not much to tell.”
“Sure there is. Okay, I’ll tell you three things about me, and then you have to do the same. Deal?” he asked.
“Deal,” I agreed. There seemed no way out of it.
Aiden thought for a few seconds before he rambled off a list. “My favorite food is lasagna, I miss warm weather, and my family is absolutely nuts.”
“Okay, let’s see,” I said. “I miss warm weather, too, as you know because we’ve discussed it. You’re already well aware that my father is crazy, so I can relate to that, and my favorite food is macaroni and cheese.”
“Hey, you can’t just steal mine! You have to think up something else,” Aiden complained.
“That wasn’t in the rules. You’ll need to be more specific next time,” I teased.
Aiden laughed and shook his head. “Okay, fine. Tell me something else, though. One more thing and I’ll let you off the hook.”
I couldn’t think of anything that was actually interesting. Not anything that I wanted to share with him, at least. Not yet. For that reason I responded, “I like animals.”
Without a second thought he blatantly responded, “Well…I like you.”
“You hardly know me,” I countered. I’d said it before I even thought, but it was true. I liked him, too, but I didn’t necessarily think the feeling made any sense. Well, apart from it being natural to desire the hottest guy in the whole damn world. What I felt for him was irrationally powerful. More powerful than anything I’d felt for that douche bag Alex Foster, which made it even more dangerous.
Aiden stopped walking. He turned our bodies so that I was facing him. “Well, I know you better than I did five minutes ago, and I know enough to believe that these feelings are real. I liked you long before I knew anything about you, before you even said a word to me. I like you even more now.”
I glanced away, unable to believe what this perfect specimen of a human being was saying to me. Danger, my mind screamed. The rest of me just tingled.
Aiden placed his fingertips against my chin and turned my face so that he could look into my eyes. “Really, Teagan, I feel so strongly about you that it hurts. I don’t know if you feel the same way, though, and I really need to. Is it just me, or do you…like me too? Because I’m ready. I’m, like, bare-my-soul-and-offer-you-a-promise-ring, introduce-you-to-my-parents ready. I’m ready to call you mine forever. Am I crazy?”
Un-freakin’-believable. I didn’t know what to do.
Jump his bones, kiss him until you can no longer breathe, make him yours too and never let go! That’s what my body was begging for. I’d never felt anything like this. The burning in me was more intense than anything I’d ever felt, way more powerful than what I’d felt with Alex Foster. And it wasn’t just Aiden’s words that swayed me but something else, something primal.
Thank goodness my head kept my hormones in check. I managed to reply, “Are you seriously speaking in hyphenated modifiers right now?”
Hurt flashed across Aiden’s face. He took my hand and said, “Are you seriously questioning my use of linguistic devices? That’s what you have to say?”
“Aiden, this is just…all kind of sudden. I guess I’m shocked. That’s it,” I replied. I kept my voice low. My heart was screaming.
His eyes drifted to the ground, and then Aiden turned and started walking. As he dropped my hand, emptiness filled my body and a sudden chill ran up my spine. I just stood there, silently cussing myself for not saying the right thing. But what was a girl supposed to believe?
Aiden only took a few steps before he stopped, turned around, and walked slowly back. Without a word, he opened his coat, pulled me inside, and stood there silently holding me. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against my hair. “Guess, I’m crazy, huh?”
“No, you’re not crazy,” I said. “I am. For not telling you how I really feel.”
He didn’t move. I could feel his breath on my ear and wanted nothing more than to admit how much he scared me. I remembered Alex Foster, and I was terrified Aiden would hurt me in the same way. My dad’s comments from the other night ran through my mind no matter how hard I tried to ignore them, too. How could I trust Aiden wouldn’t love me then leave me?
Aiden interrupted my internal debate. “Well, tell me now. How do you really feel?”
“Honestly?” I asked.
“I would expect nothing less.”
“Worried.”
Aiden pulled away, but it was only so he could find my eyes. The look on his face told me everything I needed to know. He was scared too. He no longer looked like the womanizer that prowled our school hallways. He was just a guy—albeit a really hot guy—and he was worried just like me. When I looked into his soul, he was nothing like Alex. And yet…
“Why?” he asked.
“I’m worried that you’ll break my heart.”
No, I didn’t ever want to feel that way again, the way I’d felt when Alex professed his love, screwed me then dumped my ass at school the next day. I’d been devastated, and the way I’d felt about Alex paled in comparison to how I felt about Aiden. If Aiden were to break my heart, I might not ever recover. But my feelings were too strong to deny, and I honestly didn’t believe he was the same type of person. I couldn’t say no to him. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t help but think again and again, “It’s better to have loved and lost…” or whatever that damned saying was.
“But…I like you too, Aiden. Mor
e than I should. And I have for some time.”
Without warning his lips covered mine. I didn’t hesitate to deepen the kiss, either. I wanted this. I wanted to be Aiden’s and for him to be mine. Scared or not, this was right.
My lips parted and our tongues met, dancing to the rhythm of our beating hearts. He breathed in and came back for more as if he couldn’t stop if he wanted. But he didn’t want to stop, and neither did I. My body became mush beneath his gentle hands, and he pulled me even closer. My fingers found minds of their own, and they ran up the back of his shirt, relishing the rippling muscles of his back and shoulders. A small moan escaped him.
All too soon he pulled away, resting his forehead against mine. Out of breath he whispered, “I won’t hurt you, Teagan. Just give me a chance to prove it.”
Before I knew, I’d whispered an answer.
Things would never be the same.
40.
Aiden
I was falling in love. Teagan was it: The One. So many things had changed in my life recently, and this was just another; but it was a very, very good change. I could only hope Teagan felt the same.
The ride back after returning her home was a strain. Her scent, still so strong on me in the tight confines of my Jetta, was overwhelming. Not that I was complaining. I freaking loved her scent. I just wished I hadn’t had to get her back home. But it had been getting cold, and I’d been worried that if we stayed out there too much longer I would get carried away. We were finally making progress, and the last thing I wanted to do was scare her off.
All good times ended when I pulled into the driveway of our house. Marcus’s car was there, and Dad was outside drinking a beer, which was never a good sign. I knew I was in trouble, too. He shot me a look that said I owed him big time. I wondered what happened after I left the meeting.
“Hey, big guy, what’s all this about?” I asked.
“You better get in there,” he said, pointing with his beer toward the door.