I giggled, for the first time that day. “Are there any decent guys left in town?”
She shrugged and pulled a funny face. “Now you’re asking.” Fixing me with a smile, she raised her glass. “It’s my day off tomorrow. Let’s hit the Trafford Centre. We can go shopping, have a liquid lunch, and go the movies in the afternoon. What do you say?”
“You’re on.”
Chapter Thirteen
For the first night since I’d left New Zealand, I didn’t dream of Levi. I tossed and turned in my bed, my thoughts consumed with brilliant blue eyes, and arms that could hold all my fears at bay.
Would I ever meet a man like that? Maybe I should go on holiday to Snowdonia and do some digging into my own family history.
The next morning, Mum gave me an update from the vet. Charlie was hanging on, and responding to medication, but the prognosis was still uncertain. Sadness draped around me like a blanket over my shoulders, but I tidied my hair, applied a little makeup, and went to meet Becca.
She hugged me. “I love your new haircut, by the way, Jess. It makes your cheekbones really stand out.” My friend’s mop of dark hair reminded me briefly of Levi, before I wrenched my focus back. Today was about spending time with real people, not mooning over someone who existed only inside my head.
Becca hustled me into her aging car, selected a noisy playlist from her iPod, and we set off for the short drive to the mall. The music was too loud to hold a proper conversation, but we had all day to catch up.
Over a platter of dim sum, we put the world to rights. Two glasses of wine probably helped, and I felt almost mellow as we wandered through the galleries, browsing the goods on display, and trying on a few clothes. Becca snapped up some leather boots in a Christmas sale, and I bought some more presents to add to the pile under the tree in Mum’s lounge.
The movies would be a good place to chill out, and we headed for the booking office to check the timings. We had to walk past Levi’s bench, as I now thought of it, and I gazed at it, as we approached. Instead of a hot blue-eyed guy, it was taken by an elderly woman with a mountain of shopping.
I paused, and checked my phone, in case there was any more news of Charlie, but there was none. While I stood there, lost in thought, Becca nudged me.
“There’s a guy over there waving at you. Yum-mee. Look right.”
What? I looked up, and saw Levi.
My heart thudded so hard that my ribs would be bruised. I must be asleep. But…memories of the day so far flickered through my head. No dream would be this long, this detailed.
“Now he’s kinda hot.” Becca's murmur shocked me into alertness. “Seems to know you.”
Levi strode toward us, looking the same as in every other dream, yet subtly different. He wore a scuffed leather jacket over the T-shirt, had a pack slung carelessly over one shoulder, and a cautious look in his eyes.
This couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t.
Had I gone insane? If I was hallucinating, then Becca was too. None of this made any sense.
He paused, a step away from us. “Jess.” He was the only person who could say my name with so much feeling.
“Levi?” It came out as a squeak. “What, uh, why…I mean how? How did you get here?” I flicked my hand at the nearby shops. “Here.” I repeated.
“Waitin’ for you, Jess.” He’d said that in my dream. I dug both fists into my temples. There had to be a rational explanation, I just couldn’t see it.
“Um, if you’re not going to introduce me, I’ll do it myself.” Becca thrust out a hand to Levi, who shook it firmly, his gaze never leaving me. “I’m Becca Maddingly, Jessie’s best friend. And you would be…?”
“Levi Hapuku.” He dropped Becca’s hand and reached out to me. “We met in Wellington. You haven’t forgotten me already, have you?” Mischief danced in his eyes, and I swallowed down the hysterical laugh that threatened to erupt.
“We did?”
He cocked his head slightly to one side, eyes searching my face. “We danced at Mighty Mike’s. And went up the Rimutakas together.” His hand closed around mine, and he tugged me gently into his embrace. After a long frozen moment, I snaked my arms around his neck and let him hold me. I was trembling from head to toe, but when I breathed in the oh-so-familiar forest scent of his skin, my racing heart began to calm down.
“I’ve surprised you.” His voice rumbled over my head, and sent a fresh set of tingles through my blood.
“Yes.” Everything about him felt familiar. Safe. Even if it made no sense. “I didn’t expect to see you. Ever. I don’t understand how you’re here.”
“I’ll explain later.”
Explain? How would he possibly be able to do that?
“Hey.” Becca interrupted. “Instead of going to the movies, why don’t we grab a coffee? I can see you two might like some time together. We can all get acquainted.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I was glad when Levi replied. I wasn’t capable of speech. God knew how I’d explain this to Becca, when I couldn’t rationalise it myself.
I disentangled from Levi, and shoved my treacherous hands in my pockets. Left to their own devices they’d probably grab hold of him and never let go. Maybe I was psychic? Dad had always muttered about having a sixth sense he couldn’t explain away, and I might have inherited that, although why it’d never manifested before was anyone’s guess. Or maybe I was just crazy. First the talking wolf-dog, and now Levi.
“Where to, girls? I’m a stranger here.” He hitched the pack higher on his shoulder, and smiled. Jesus. That smile was doing funny things to me. I shoved away the memories of dancing with him, of his molasses sweet voice in my ear, his hands on my skin.
Inside, I jumped up and down, and pointed at him, while squealing like a little girl. You’re real. Really real. With Becca beside me, I had to behave normally, and try to pretend I’d met him in the usual way. All the questions I wanted to ask would have to come later.
Becca snagged us a table at the nearest café, chatting with Levi as we sat down. I followed in a daze and rapidly tried to pull myself together. I couldn’t stop staring at him. I wanted to touch his chest, rub my knuckles across his delicious stubble, and to convince myself he was really there.
“So,” she began in a bright voice. “You met in Wellington? That’s cool. Are you here on holiday? Or did you fall madly in love with Jess and follow her half-way around the world?”
Levi’s smile was for me alone. It promised sin and pleasure in equal portions, and I felt my cheeks heat. How did he do that? Just one look and I was squirming in my seat. “Something like that,” he murmured. Dipping into the little bowl on the table, he pulled out four sachets of sugar and dumped them all in his black coffee. Becca and I both watched, bemused. “What? I need the energy.” The lazy smile flashed again. “I’ve been awake for most of the past thirty hours, and I’m going to crash soon. Can you tell me where I can find a backpackers?”
I forestalled Becca’s question. “They’re called hostels here, and I’ve no idea. Where were you planning to go?”
He shrugged. “I’ve got friends in Snowdonia. I was heading there.”
Becca leaned forward, her drink forgotten. “It’s hours away, do you have a car? And if you’re tired, you shouldn’t try to drive so far.” She glanced at me, and winked. “I could put up a folding bed for you above the pub if you like. It wouldn’t be very comfortable, though.”
Levi opened his mouth, but Becca continued. “Hang on. Don’t you have a spare room at your mum’s, Jess?”
They both looked at me, Becca the picture of innocence, and Levi with amusement. “Yes, we do. You’re welcome to stay at my parents.”
Fifteen minutes of small talk later, we all squeezed into Becca’s car along with Levi’s pack, and our shopping, and then we headed for home. We would have stayed longer, but Levi looked wiped out and ready to crash at any minute.
When Becca parked outside Mum’s, she gave me a quick hug. “Come and see me tomorrow. I want to know
everything.” She’d be lucky. I didn’t know anything myself. At least, not yet.
Of course, Mum and Dad were both already home, so there was still no chance to talk privately with Levi. I’d texted Mum to warn her, and they both came to meet Levi the moment we opened the door.
“Sorry about this,” I muttered. I fully expected a cheerful welcome for him. My parents loved to meet my friends, and were usually perfectly genial hosts.
I closed the front door. “Mum, Dad, this is Levi.” I was in the process of wriggling out of my coat when I realised my parents—and Levi—were all silent.
Dad sniffed the air, like a hunting dog scenting a rabbit. His eyes narrowed and he took a step forward. “Come with me, Levi. Let’s go and talk in the kitchen.”
Chapter Fourteen
Dad closed the kitchen door with a firm clunk behind him, and I was left staring at Mum. “What the hell? Levi only wants to stay the night, not move in or anything.” Dad had never behaved like this before.
“I don’t know, love.” Taking my arm, she guided me to the living room. “He’ll have good reason though. Let’s give them a few minutes to talk before we go and rescue your boy.”
I dropped my bags on the carpet and sank into an armchair next to the Christmas tree. As usual, it was completely overloaded with sparkly baubles and tinsel, and all the toys and trinkets I remembered from childhood. At least some things hadn’t changed.
One spinning ornament caught my eye. A tiny wooden wolf, carved in intricate detail. We had a full set of these, had hung them up for years, and I’d never given them a second glance. Now though, I looked at it properly. That crazy talking-dog in the pound had been a wolf, I was sure.
“Mum, where did these wolves come from?”
She looked up from her phone. “They were a present from some of your dad’s distant cousins. They were carved in Wales.” I knew before she said it. “In Snowdonia.”
“Levi has friends there. I don’t think I’ve ever been.”
“We took you when you were little. One of your father’s family research trips.”
“He doesn’t bother with that any more, does he?”
Mum stood, and walked to the windows, to adjust the curtains. “No, love. He told me some secrets are best left hidden. I think he found something he didn’t like.”
“What, like a murderer or something?” My imagination ran riot.
Her reply was halted when footsteps sounded in the hallway, and Dad came into the living room, followed by Levi.
Dad smiled, but it looked forced. Behind him, Levi shuffled his feet and stared at the carpet. Anxiety clawed inside my chest at yet another outbreak of craziness. Did my father already know him? How could that be?
“It’s getting late. Levi can stay tonight, and I’ll drop him at the station in the morning.” Dad’s voice was gruff.
I took a deep breath, and pushed to my feet. “What’s going on? You don’t act like this with any of my other friends.”
“Jessie,” he began, but Levi interrupted, his gaze seeking me, and locking on to my eyes.
“She deserves to know, Mr. Morgan.”
Dad shook his head. “I disagree.”
There was something terribly wrong with this picture. Common sense told me to trust my father, but my gut screamed to go to Levi. I covered the few steps between us, and reached out to take his hand. His fingers instantly tangled with mine, and the butterflies in my stomach calmed at the touch. “Dad. I have to know, whatever it is. I know you’re hiding something, but Levi is…” I groped for the right words. “He’s important. To me.”
“You met him an hour ago.”
Time to face up to the crazy. I lifted my chin and met Dad’s hostile stare. “I’ve been dreaming about him all week. Vividly. I know I’m about a psychic as a teapot, and I can’t explain it, but it’s like we’ve known each other for much longer.” I swallowed hard. I loved my parents, and hurting them would be the last thing I ever wanted to do, but this had to be said. “I don’t want to fight with you, but I won’t let you cut Levi out of my life. Not when he’s only just come into it.”
Levi lifted his free hand and ran his knuckles down my cheek, mimicking the thought I’d had earlier. Soft and gentle, he soothed me even with the high tension levels in the room.
Dad blew out a noisy breath, but then Mum cleared her throat, and the room fell silent. “I dreamed about you, Alec. You came to my dreams every night after we met. You followed me back to Yorkshire and convinced me I wanted to move to Manchester.” She stepped up, and slid her arm around Dad’s waist. “You’re not so different.”
“I don’t want our only child living half way around the bloody world.”
“Whoa.” This was getting out of hand. “What are you talking about now?”
“Your father’s worried that you’ll follow me back to New Zealand.” Levi’s smile suggested he was joking, but his eyes darkened.
I laughed. “Talk about a whirlwind romance. Do I get a say in this?” My words hung in the air and I looked back at Dad. Lines dug into his forehead, and his jaw tightened. He didn’t think it was funny.
“Levi looks as though he’s dropping where he stands.” Mum broke the silence again. “I’ll make up a bed for him, and then we’ll have dinner.” She smiled at the man holding my hand. “I’d love you to join us. And then after we’ve eaten, we’ll talk. All of us.” Her last words were directed at Dad, who continued to hurl death-glares at Levi.
“Thank you, Mrs. Morgan. I appreciate your generosity.” He squeezed my fingers, and didn’t let go.
Chapter Fifteen
Dinner was subdued, and I spent most of the meal sneaking glances at Levi, sitting opposite me. I still felt like pinching myself. Part of me feared this might simply be another dream. He’d been polite and respectful, insisted on helping to clean up afterwards, and then had given me that pantie-quivering smile. Surely no man could be so perfect?
And now, Levi and Dad took the armchairs, while Mum and I shared the sofa, in the living room. I’d never seen my father so stressed. He wasn’t able to sit for more than a few seconds. Instead, he paced, coming to a halt in front of the fire, and staring into the burning logs.
“I’ve never told anyone this story.” He turned and gazed at Mum, but his eyes were unfocused. Snapping to attention, he looked at me. “You must promise to never repeat it.”
Fear skittered down my spine, and I tucked my feet underneath me, feeling suddenly cold. “I promise.”
Still he paused, as though trying to decide where to begin. “My father died when I was a small child. Mum never recovered, and only lasted a few years longer, so my taid—my grandfather—came back to the shop. He brought me up. He was a good man, but had one blind spot. He refused to talk about what had happened to my dad, so I went looking for my own answers.”
His mouth twisted. “He’d been shot. Gunned down in a quiet country pub, with the group he was with. It was all kept quiet, but I found people willing to talk about it.”
Nausea rose in my throat, and I pressed my hand to my mouth. Mum had said he found something he didn’t like, and dear God, that was horrible. Common sense nudged at me a second later. What could that possibly have to do with Levi?
As though he’d read my thoughts, Dad gestured to me. “Go on. Don’t you want to know why he was murdered? Hunted, and put down like a wild animal?” He cocked his head at Levi. “He knows.”
Levi stood, and walked to the sofa, to crouch beside me. Catching my hands, he glanced over his shoulder at Dad. “You’re scaring her.” His face was serious. “Is that what you want?”
“I want her to be afraid of you. So scared that she never wants to see your kind again.”
My gaze bounced from Levi, to Dad, and back to Levi. “What’s he talking about? Will you tell me?”
“I’ll tell you.” Dad paced some more. “So there I was, digging back into my family history, tracking down a whole set of relatives I never knew existed. And when I asked m
y taid about them, he told me straight. Said he’d left Wales for good and didn’t want to be a part of them anymore. They were freaks. Abnormal.”
Levi’s hands tightened around my own, and his breath hitched, but he stayed silent, his eyes tracking my dad.
“My taid just wanted to keep his family safe. And he was right. If my dad had stayed here, things would have been so different.”
“What has any of that got to do with Levi?” My voice shook.
“Because he’s one of them.” Dad made it sound absurdly simple. “I smelled him the minute he walked in.”
“One of what?”
“Shifter,” said Levi, his voice so low I only just heard it. He blew out a breath, released my hands and stood, approaching my dad. “I’m so sorry for what happened to your family. I understand why you fear my kind, but it’s your heritage too. You have the bloodline in you, otherwise you wouldn’t have scented me.”
Something told me that when I asked the obvious question, I might not like the answer, but I had to know. “What does shifter mean?”
“Werewolf,” snarled Dad.
“No.” Levi spoke over him. “Wolf shifter. We have some unusual abilities.” He smiled at me, but it looked strained. “We can talk to our partners in our dreams.” Turning back to face Dad, he continued. “We’re stronger, and more healthy, and when we find our Mates—our life partners—we’re faithful and devoted.”
It was Mum’s turn to stand. She went to embrace Dad. “Sounds like Levi is describing you, my love.”
“Wait. What do you mean? Werewolf?” I had to be dreaming again. Werewolves didn’t exist outside of horror books and movies.
Levi gave me a ghost of a smile. “It’s very different. And if it’s any consolation, I would’ve spared you finding out like this. I planned to tell you when we’d got to know each other better. When you trusted me.”
My mind raced, but kept coming back to one freaky-ass word. Werewolf. I had werewolves in my family? I gazed at Dad, imagining he looked different. “Are you one?”
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