by Bella Devine
Ah! The full moon might explain some unusual behavior, but nothing this extreme.
Aylin stepped closer to me.
Connor grabbed her slim body from behind and gently coaxed her away. When she protested, he growled in warning. "Don't make me go formal on your ass."
She swiveled, her fist raised.
"Stop!" I growled.
She eyed each of us before taking a quick step back and lowering her hand. Her posture relaxed. Her face flushed bright red. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I suddenly needed to see you."
It was as though something had snapped her back to reality. I tried to unite with her inner wolf, but she was the only wolf on the planet who could block my intrusion.
"What drugs are you on?" I asked again.
"None, I swear." She rubbed her chin. "I was asleep. Then I was heading here. I thought I would die if I didn't get to you." She lowered her eyelashes, refusing to meet my glare.
"Boss, I'll handle Aylin while you go see Doc." Connor placed his hand on her shoulder. "Maybe I should watch her for a little just in case something comes up."
***
I jogged the ten miles to the outskirts of the town my pack owned and incorporated. We needed plenty of room to roam in both our human and wolf forms.
The fast pace centered me while I contemplated the craziness of the past few hours. A carnal need raced through me. My heart hammered with desire for my mate. The thought of being away from her drove me insane. I wanted to run until I found her, and the imprint tingled in agreement.
First, I had to deal with another kind of crazy. The kind that could pull a grown man to his knees and ask how he got there. The kind of foolishness that Doc provoked. But what else did I expect from a man who lived alone and refused to leave the sanctuary of his house?
Why anyone wanted to be isolated from the pack, I didn't know. But Doc seemed content to be left alone — a rarity among wolves. He was not a physician, healer, herbalist, or any other medical specialist. No, he was an elder, someone the pack members went to for guidance.
Deep, dense pine trees surrounded his small cottage. The evergreen scent tickled my nose as I knocked on the quaint wooden door.
Doc's gravelly voice wafted through the cracks. "Enter, only if you must."
I ducked my head to accommodate the short entryway. The door squeaked ominously at the intrusion. Long strands of beads caressed my skin as I stepped inside. "Doc, it's me, Liam."
His ancient frame was stretched out in a recliner, his maroon sweatpants and shirt vibrant against his frail, leathered skin. Prominent wrinkles etched his hands and sunken face, and his hair was a mess of thick gray spikes. He pointed a bony index finger, causing his long robe to sag. "You're late."
"I didn't have an appointment." No one called in advance. The old man didn't have a phone and refused any forms of modern technology.
I tilted my head and fanned my damp shirt. The heat in Doc's house had me sweating more than the jog here.
He waved his hand, the light from the candle projected a shadow from his movements against the dark wall. "My boy, I'm not talking about relative time, but theoretical. I have waited for this moment for two decades."
"You know why I'm here?" My eyebrows rose as I sat next to him.
All the blinds were drawn. The darkened room matched the inner turmoil waving through my body.
"I have dreamt of this day many times over many years. I knew the moment you were born that today would come." He pointed to my left wrist. "You have been imprinted, no?"
"How can I be soulbonded to a woman I've never met?" Once again, my limbs shook with the fear of not being strong enough or quick enough to save her."I dreamt of trying to get into a room. Getting inside was imperative, but I couldn't break through the boundaries. Then I woke up with this." I shook my wrist. The crescent moon shone with a dim light.
"Tell me, son, have you heard about the birds and the bees?" Doc swatted the air as if trying to catch those creatures he had mentioned.
I muffled my laugh. "You're seriously going to discuss sex with me? I need answers on this imprint."
I felt like a preteen with sweaty palms getting a lecture from my date's father before a school dance.
"No, son. I'm trying to tell you about the crescent moon. The rebels call it a curse, but that's hogwash. The imprint is our history and our destiny! Once you're imprinted, pheromones increase in the bonded pair, causing an immediate physical attraction. It will be hard for you to resist each other. Other strong beings will sense the increased pheromones, but the imprint won't allow a connection to anyone other than your mate.
“The soulbond won't be complete until the bond itself is consummated. Once complete, you and your mate will be connected on all levels; you will become one. Your power will feed each other. True love knows no boundaries."
My inner wolf's ears perked up. He liked what Doc had to say much better than I did. I still wasn't sure about true love and being connected on all levels. It seemed too easy. Too mystical. It made me nervous.
"And if we don't complete the bond?" My heart rate spiked. I wanted the bond completed, despite my reservations, for our pack to have a real chance to grow like it once had.
"You will. You have to. There hasn't been a birth in your pack for almost twenty years. Fertility will be guaranteed between you and your mate. You will start a new revolution."
"And the rebels? I won't put my pack or my mate at risk." I twitched. My wolf wanted to fight. A battle was brewing and we were ready. I wanted the physical release of a scuffle, but first, I needed to find my mate.
Doc swatted the air. "Nobody said it would be easy. The rebels won once, but when they killed the soulbonded shifters, they weakened their own shifter genes as well."
I jumped to my feet and paced the cottage’s worn wooden floor, although there wasn't much room in cramped space.
"We will win this time. I already sense your power growing."Doc smiled wistfully. "Once you find her, will you introduce me to her?"
"If she wishes." I didn't question whether I would find her. I knew I would. Her aura lived within me and the familiarity of it drove me crazy. I strode to the door.
"That's the spirit, son. Well, go find her! Your journey will be an interesting one, but you must have faith in your destiny and your mate. Not all blessings come out singing praises. Some are dull solos that turn into the most joyous harmony you will ever hear."
And there was the riddler. I smiled. I almost had a full conversation with him before his nostalgia appeared. "Okay, Doc. Thanks for the advice."
Cool morning air whispered across my skin. The crescent moon called to my inner wolf, but I tamed him.
For now.
Chapter Three
Bryn
I curled into the slight caress sliding down my leg. It's time to get up, a comforting voice echoed in my head. Exhaling a soft breath, I opened my eyes hoping to see the man from the dungeon. The one who had my heart racing and my blood boiling.
But no one else was present.
I jumped off the office couch and turned on the light. A small, glittery, pink laptop sparkled in the otherwise messy area; papers were strewn across the desk. Invoices were scattered everywhere. Stacks of file folders decorated the cluttered floor. The chaos matched my internal disarray. I was torn between my solitary life and what this man could offer. A connection. A love that would probably cause me to fall. Hard.
Who touched my leg? It still tingled — a sensation I was becoming too well aware of. It was him! I craved his touch like no other.
My imprint shimmered approval. Crescent moons, true love, soul mates! What next? At this rate, I'd be sprouting a second head at any moment. I rubbed the back of my neck and felt my cheeks and my head. Oh, thank the Goddesses! There is only one.
Conscious that my appearance might resemble the disheveled room, I finger-combed mohair to find some sort of balance. Some sort of control over what I was bound to face.
&nbs
p; Rising on my tiptoes, I stretched my arms upward, loosening my tight muscles. The sweet aroma of carrot cake wafted through the office. Glancing at my watch, I shuddered. 7:30 p.m. I had slept for thirteen straight hours? When was the last time I had slept so deeply and for so long?
The fading smell of lavender tickled my nose. Lavandula Angustifolia — Nadia's signature ingredient in her non-medicinal remedies. Perhaps she had used some to calm my nerves.
Recently, I couldn't even sleep four hours on a given night, and even that precious time was haunted by monsters. I shivered thinking of the monster in the dungeon. His size and motions ready to destroy. But his eyes? They were familiar.
buzz. Buzz. BUZZ. The front doorbell rang.
"God damn it!" Mitch snarled from the kitchen. "One fucking moment."
I frowned. His vulgar language was foreign to me. He never used four letter words unless he was extremely angry and even then, he was creative with slang, such as "son of a biscuit eater" or my favorite, “mother flipping pancakes." I chuckled, recalling his shouting "cheese and crackers" one morning.
I shut the office door behind me and moved to the kitchen. Mitch's casual, carefree aura was gone. His bleach blond hair stood in spikes. His shirt was soaked with sweat, and the sleeves of his chef's outfit were wrinkled and rolled slovenly up his smooth arms. I suddenly felt bad for leaving him in such a state. The bakery was busy most days and today appeared to have been no exception.
Despite the worn look, he adeptly decorated the carrot cake. The creamy cheese melted over the cake, which Mitch spread layer upon layer until the thickness of the frosting formed evenly around his masterpiece.
The sweet vanilla scent filled the air. My mouth watered and my stomach growled.
I read the calligraphy.
You're my candy carrot. Every day you sweeten my garden of life!
A deep laugh escaped my lips. The words were crowded on the round cake, but the declaration was sweeter than even Nadia's special carrot cake.
Mitch's exhausted face turned at my laughter, his red-rimmed eyes blazing into mine. His childish features were gone as he took a step toward me.
My blood ran cold. I placed my clammy hands up to halt his progression. He glanced at my wrist. As if waking from a daze, he shook his head, but didn't retreat.
My internal organs shuddered from Mitch's odd behavior, but instead of backing down, I casually placed one hand on the counter. My stomach roiled at his nearness — an unfamiliar response to my normal interactions with him. My friend wasn't supposed to cause my stomach to churn. But also shouldn't leer at me as if he desired me one second and hated me the next.
His features relaxed, but his jaw clenched tight.
Talk business. Maybe he was just having a bad day. That happened to the best of us. I pointed to the cake. "What did Mr. Amami do this time?" I glanced around. "And where is Trevor? Your shift ended hours ago."
Mitch tilted his head as if carefully processing my line of questioning. "That fucking hyena called in. Again. I told Nadia not to trust someone who has no moral compass." He took a black marker and hastily marked out Trevor's name on the schedule hanging on the fridge. "He's done. Over. Fired."
"And Mr. Amami?" Mitch capped the marker and took three deep breaths. "Mr. Amami's life is no concern of mine." He placed the cake in Nadia's signature pink box and wiped off the counter. "Yours, however, is."
His wicked smirk had me straightening my spine. My mind raced with thoughts of our friendship. On a normal basis, I would be honored at his concern, but the grin made me pause. This wasn't normal circumstances and he seemed off, unbalanced. I placed my hands on my hips. "My life is no concern of yours."
"Oh, sleeping beauty, your life is becoming a grave concern of mine." He took another step forward. The spark of hunger in his eyes chilled my blood. "Nadia said you would be out for a couple more hours. I was so looking forward to spending the night with you." He looked back toward Nadia's office.
My face flushed with the heat of anger. "Over my dead body will you ever spend the night with me."
The implications of his statement made me believe he was thinking of more than just hanging out for the evening. For some reason, that pissed me off and sent my barely controlled emotions into hyper drive.
But part of me couldn't believe his reactions today. They were wrong. Mitch was a player, who knew I was off limits. I didn't date. Period. I had friends and sometimes casual relationships, but never with friends or coworkers. I. Did. Not. Have. Beaus.
Mitch touched my hair. "Princess, don't play coy with me." His fingers moved to the back of my neck. He lowered his head.
I carefully raised my knee, but before I could make contact, erratic sneezing interrupted me. Mr. Amami scurried into the kitchen, knocking over boxes and seasonings as fits of sneezing took control of his body. His short arms and long legs flung out in sync with the eccentric behavior.
Mitch pulled back.
"You said five minutes. It's been ten." Mr. Amami's nose twitched.
"Of course. My apologies." Mitch handed him the box. He appeared calm, but his hands shook as Mr. Armani grabbed the box. "I will be more than happy to check you out in just a moment." His gaze returned to mine. The hungry glaze disappeared from his golden eyes.
"Go ahead and take care of Mr. Amami." Relieved, I moved to the huge metal door that led to the back exit of the little bakery."I have an appointment with Nadia, so I must be on my way."I looked at my watch and noticed that he only had five minutes until closing. "You good with closing up, Mitch?"
His body tensed. "Wait. I'll drive you."
Mr. Amami headed for the front of the bakery.
"No, I need to walk after my siesta." I waved goodbye.
Mr. Amami froze in mid-step, put his nose in the air, and inhaled deeply. His body shook then slumped as he exhaled. The cake box trembled in his hands.
What odd behavior.
My need to speak to Nadia kept me moving toward the door. I would analyze the men's behavior later.
I quickly exited through the back door, which squeaked as it latched. I headed toward Nadia's apartment.
The street lights flickered. The wind howled. Leaves rustled. Chains clanked.
Chains?
Clanked?
I froze. A vision of the mystic figure chained to the wall flashed before my eyes. The memory sent shivers down my spine. In my hurry to escape the bakery's poisonous atmosphere, I forgot my jacket. Rather than go back for it, I increased my pace.
A figure ahead darted behind a tree. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. No figure appeared or reappeared in the distance. Turning in a half circle, I looked behind me. The three street lights on the block were out. The waxing moon and stars illuminated the night sky.
Turning back around, I continued to Nadia's decrepit red apartment building. I spotted a mature oak tree. My heart raced. Was someone hiding?
"If anyone is behind there, show your face." My voice was strong and steady, but my legs felt like rubber. Just one step, then another, but the jelly-like sticks stuck to the sidewalk. My body fought the progression of the unseen threat ahead.
The cool October air sent shivers through my body as the leaves whispered taunts. The branches shook furiously. Finally, my legs decided to move. Increasing my speed, I passed the oak and refused to look back. Heavy footfalls echoed behind me. I whirled. Ready to fight!
"What the hell do you want?" I drew back my fist, but when I eyed the red-haired beauty in front of me, I lowered it. The woman's dark, forest green eyes sparkled with mischief. She stopped an arm's length from me.
"I apologize. I didn't mean to scare you. I must be a tad lost." She held her slender forefinger and thumb a minute distance apart. Her weighty hunting boots contrasted with her designer jeans and blouse.
I instinctively took a step back. "Where are you going?"
"Nadia's Bakery."
"It's three blocks that way." I pointed in the opposite direction. "But they close at eight."
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"Are you familiar with the bakery, then?" She flung her long red hair over her shoulder.
Goosebumps raised the hairs on my neck and arms. Needle-like pain pierced me, as if someone was trying to force themself into my head.
A strong, unfamiliar barrier shuttered my mind. No intruders would invade my thoughts.
"I'm sorry, but I'm late." I had taken only two steps before the woman jerked me back by the shoulder.
Squinting she grabbed my left forearm. "You have no clue who you are, do you? You need to be careful of the choices you make and the friends you trust."
The nauseating putrid scent of burning flesh filled the air. I shook the redhead's hand from my arm. A car's headlights swiveled in the distance, illuminating the deep red burn on her palm. .My eyes widened with surprise.