by Dawn Wilder
I looked up at the knock on my doorjamb.
“It's lunch time. Do you want me to order something?”
“No! I mean, I can go pick something up.” I popped out of my seat and grabbed my purse.
Some time away sounded like a nice reprieve.
Roth raised an eyebrow.
“Do you have any preferences?” I asked, stopping in front of him because he was blocking the doorway.
“Anything is fine.”
“OK.”
When he didn't move, I angled my body sideways and squeezed past through the narrow opening he'd left.
I almost shuddered as my breasts grazed his hard arm.
Get a hold of yourself woman!
I practically ran out of the office, would so tight it was a wonder I didn't twang when someone bumped into me in the lobby.
Getting out onto the street, I took a deep breath of non-Roth scented air gratefully.
Damn it.
Well, I needed comfort food. So Roth was just going to have to have tacos again.
I took my time walking, stretching out the time alone. But I couldn't be gone forever.
But the respite had helped me calm down a little. My nerves weren't quite as frazzled as I rode the elevator back up.
Philomena and I gave each other fake smiles as I walked past her.
If I'd thought she'd eventually warm up to me, I'd have been wrong.
Maybe she was actually made of ice and would melt if she displayed any warmth.
The office door was closed, but I simply gave it a cursory knock before opening it and stepping inside, comfortable enough now that I didn't think twice about it.
“I hope tacos are OK,” I said, turning to close the door.
I froze as a familiar scent hit me.
“There you are. Reggie, this is Stephan Rio.”
Not seeing any out, I turned slowly, my eyes meeting a pair of familiar gray ones.
His eyes widened, flicking over to Roth before turning back to me.
“Nice to meet you,” I said with a smile I knew had to be strained.
I could almost see him decide not to mention he knew me, his eyes turning calculating.
“You as well.”
I looked over at Roth to see he had a slight frown on his face as he took in our somewhat tense interaction.
“I left a file on your desk concerning Mr. Rio's business. Could you please give it a quick skim?”
“Yes, of course.”
I almost ran into my office, shutting the door which I rarely did anymore.
The other shoe had to drop at some point. I'd already been wondering how much longer I could realistically stay here.
Now my hand was being forced. I had to either come clean or leave.
Mind spinning I opened the file that was on my desk, but the words simply blurred together as I stared at them.
Ten minutes later, I was still on the first page when Roth knocked on my door.
“Come in.”
He opened the door and walked inside, glancing down at the open folder.
“Are you OK?” he asked, his face concerned as he stepped closer.
“Yes, I'm fine. Just a little tired I guess.”
He scanned my face, and for a moment I was afraid he'd press me harder. But he didn't, reluctantly nodding.
“Hungry?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.
“Sure,” he said, sitting down in his usual seat as I came around the desk with the heavy bag.
The meal was a little subdued and I could feel him watching me, but I ignored the silent question hanging between us.
I slogged through the rest of the day, Roth almost hovering over me, distracting me and making me irritable.
Finally, I'd had enough when he walked in using another flimsy excuse to check up on me.
“I'm fine!” I said exasperated. “I can't do my job if you hover over me like this!”
He nodded sharply and retreated back to his desk.
Immediately feeling guilty for losing my cool, I dropped my head onto my desk.
Maybe it was time to go home.
Getting up, I went to the adjoining door.
“I apologize for snapping at you.”
He pushed back from the desk and nodded.
“It's fine. Frankly, I'm surprised it took you this long to tell me off.” He had the ghost of a smile on his lips even as his eyes bored into me.
“Is it OK if I head home early today?”
He nodded slowly.
“Of course. You can leave now, there isn't anything urgent. If you still feel rundown tomorrow, please take it off too.”
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
Gathering up my things, I left the office.
It was early enough that the sun hadn't set yet. I decided to walk home rather than take the train or a taxi.
Maybe it would help me clear my head so I could formulate a plan of action.
I'd only gone about a block when I smelled that familiar scent again.
“Reggie.”
I had the urge to drop everything and run. But I was perfectly safe out here on the public sidewalk and I knew Stephan could outrun me in any case.
I turned around.
It had been years since I'd seen my old pack mate, but he looked much the same. We'd never been close, but everyone knew each other in a pack, especially one of that size.
“Stephan. What do you want?” I asked, shifting my purse on my shoulder.
He spread his hands out with a smile as if to say he was no threat.
I wasn't buying it. There was no reason for him to seek me out like this unless he wanted something.
“Reggie, come on. Don't treat me like a stranger.”
When I didn't respond, just stared at him, he dropped his arms and the act, his face serious.
“Roth obviously has no idea his pretty assistant isn't exactly what she appears to be. I couldn't believe it myself. Why can't I smell your wolf?” He stopped to take a deep breath, his face puzzled.
It was the conclusion I'd come to, but having it confirmed was nice. I'd managed to push my wolf down so far that her natural musk didn't seep through and mix with my human scent.
But I wasn't about to tell him that.
When I stayed silent, he shrugged.
“I doubt he'd take kindly to a spy in his midst. Don't you agree? And why else would a wolf hide her true identity, not pay her respects to the local pack?”
The growl that rumbled through my throat surprised even me.
Stephan smiled, his eyes hard as he took a step closer.
“But don't worry. I have no plans to out you. We can come to a mutually beneficial agreement here.”
“Fuck off.”
“Reggie, Reggie. You can't afford to be so rude to your savior. All I'm asking for is a little information. Then you can continue to play human while Roth pants after your ass.”
I kept my face stony, knowing he was looking for a reaction.
I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
“Think about it. You can keep your nice, cozy life. I get the deal my pack- the pack you should still be loyal to- wants. We all move on. Nice and easy.”
He stepped around me, leaning in close enough that his breath touched my ear.
“Think about it, sweetheart.”
I waited as I heard his footsteps receding.
There really was no choice.
Evan
I prowled around the office, fighting the urge to go after Reggie and demand an explanation for what was really wrong.
I'd never seen her react to anyone like she had to Rio. There was something there.
Maybe just an old ex-lover?
I felt my hackles rise.
I had to fight the sudden urge to call Rio back and tear into him.
It was common for wolves to take humans as lovers, though we tended to settle down with wolves in the end.
The strain of a secret like that was too much on a relationship.
>
You know what? I just needed to know what the deal was. My concentration was shot.
I was going to her apartment. She'd damn well let me in and give me an explanation.
I turned to the door, ready to walk out and follow her, when it opened.
Reggie stepped inside, her face white, mouth pressed into a thin line.
All of my frustration and anger drained away as I saw how much stress she was under.
“What? What is it?”
Fuck what was appropriate.
I crossed the room and pulled her into my arms.
She resisted for a moment, but then melted against me.
“Tell me. Tell me what's wrong,” I murmured, dropping my head to her hair and breathing in her scent.
She nodded her head against my chest.
“OK. But you need to let me go.”
My arms tightened reflexively.
But I wanted to hear what she had to say.
Reluctantly letting her go, I took a step back.
Reggie
I felt even more alone after Roth took a step back.
But I couldn't get everything out while he was holding me. I didn't want to feel him distance himself both physically and emotionally at the same time.
It would break me even harder than I knew I already would be.
“Stephan tried to blackmail me.”
There we go. Now there was no going back. I just had to plunge deeper.
“What? What was he using? When?”
“Just now.” I took a deep breath and let it out. “He knows something about me.”
God, just spit it out Reggie.
“What does he know?”
I dropped my eyes, not able to maintain eye contact anymore.
“That I'm a wolf.”
Not wanting to have to spend time with questions and answers to prove it, I reached down inside, to the cage that I'd painstakingly created for my other half.
I mentally unlocked it.
And then quickly realized my mistake.
The wolf had been caged for so long that she'd almost turned rabid. There was none of the calm that I'd always felt with the wolf before.
She was a predator, a hunter. She usually saw the world in a very practical, clear way.
But I'd suppressed her, trapped her for too long.
She lunged out and took me over violently.
I felt as if I'd been hit by a mac truck.
And then it was lights out.
Evan
I stared at the place Reggie had just been a moment ago.
In her place, a wheat colored wolf fought out of the remnants of her clothes.
A wolf.
Reggie was a werewolf.
Reggie, who'd I'd become closer to than anyone else in my life in just a few short weeks, was hiding a secret so huge I couldn't even digest it.
The wolf-who-was-Reggie trotted up to me with a canine grin. But something was wrong.
Crouching down, I took her sleek head into my hands and stared into golden brown eyes lined in kohl.
The wolf nuzzled at me.
But Reggie was not in there.
Contrary to pop culture, the person was always in charge. Unless there was a traumatic event or mental health issues, the person was always in there.
But I knew in my bones Reggie was not looking back at me from those eyes.
Feeling a chill crawl up my spine, I tried to think.
Usually, if the wolf was in charge, it was violent and crazed. But Reggie's wolf was happily cuddling up to me, no violence in sight.
So something else was wrong. Something I didn't really have the expertise to deal with.
But an Alpha would.
Decision made, I went to my desk and pulled out the collar and leash that I kept in case of emergencies.
A collar was always a good disguise.
And especially with Reggie's coloring, she could almost be mistaken for a golden retriever mix of some kind.
She didn't fight me as I fastened the collar around her neck, rubbing her silky ears afterward. The leash also wasn't an issue.
Opening the door, I walked out, Reggie's wolf trotting along happily beside me.
“Sir, is there- eep!”
I waved at Philomena as I got into the elevator.
“Just going for a walk.”
She nodded, her eyes on what she probably thought was the largest dog she'd ever seen.
Hopefully she wouldn't think too hard about where the dog could have come from.
I moved through the lobby quickly, not wanting anyone to decide they wanted to pet Reggie's soft fur. I had no idea how far I could trust the wolf, so having strangers' hands near those sharp fangs was definitely not a good idea.
I'd texted Vincent on the way down, just in case his psychic powers hadn't picked up anything.
“Sir.” His eyes widened at the sight of the unfamiliar wolf I pushed into the back seat before I slid in.
“To the Alpha's house, Vincent.”
“Yes, sir.”
The drive there was uneventful. Reggie's wolf nosed around the back and sniffed at Vincent curiously before curling up next to me on the seat and laying her head in my lap.
I petted her silky head, trying not to think about what would happen if Andre wasn't able to fix this.
If Reggie was forever trapped inside.
I felt my heart clench in my chest.
No. That was unacceptable.
If Andre couldn't figure out a solution, I'd find someone who could.
Failure was not an option.
Vincent finally stopped deep in the heart of the forest, at the large house that the Alpha traditionally stayed in.
I knew Andre didn't exactly love how huge it was, but he usually stayed in it so that the pack knew where to find him.
I got out of the car and picked up the sleeping wolf, turning toward the front porch.
Before I could take the steps up, the doors opened and Andre stepped out, his eyes sharp as he took in the sleeping wolf.
“What do you need?” he asked, jumping the steps to land lightly on his feet.
“She's not in there. The wolf is in charge. I didn't know what to do.”
He nodded, gesturing for me to follow him inside.
Chapter 6
Evan
Andre didn't waste time asking me questions that weren't pertinent.
“How long has she been like this?”
“A couple of hours.”
“Was she violent?”
“No.”
“Has this happened before?”
“I don't know.”
“When was the last time she changed?”
“I don't know.”
My lack of information frustrated me, but Andre stayed calm, his eyes sympathetic and steady as he gave me a minute to get a hold of myself.
“Wake her up.”
“Is that a good idea?”
“I need to see how she behaves.”
Nodding, I shook her gently.
“Come on, baby. Wake up.”
Her eyes opened slowly and she raised her head a little before flopping down again.
“She wasn't like this before,” I said, my concern ratcheting up higher.
Andre crouched down in front of the couch I was sitting on and took her head in his hands, the brown of them contrasting with her lighter colored fur.
She growled half-heartedly as she tried to extricate herself from what I knew must have been a gentle but unbreakable hold.
“Shhh. Let me get a look at you.”
She subsided, looking into Andre's light brown eyes sleepily.
He stared into them, his eyes starting to glow slightly.
After a minute, he should his head, sitting back on his heels.
“I can't get through.”
I took a firm hold of the panic that threatened to rise. Panicking wouldn't help anyone and Reggie was counting on me, whether or not she realized it.
�
�Is there anything else you could try?”
He rubbed his forehead, staring at the wolf lying in my lap with half-closed eyes.
“Maybe...maybe if I brought her into the pack. But that requires consent.” He looked up at me questioningly.
“Do it.”
He raised a brow.
“Can you give consent for her?” he asked mildly.
I let out a frustrated huff.
“Yes. I'm responsible for her.”
He knelt down, his hands on his knees and just looked at me for a bit.
“I feel like it's my responsibility here, as your friend, to tell you that this might end badly for you. She might not take too kindly to having her choice taken away if and when she wakes up.”
“At least she'll be here to be mad at me,” I said grimly.
He nodded.
“Fair enough. Hold her down.”
I restrained her while he made a shallow cut on the back of her paw with a claw he let out.
She whimpered a little and tried to pull back, but then subsided, obviously too tired to resist anymore.
Andre cut his wrist and pressed it to her wound, the blood mixing together.
His eyes opened, the glow much more pronounced now. His forehead was sweating and he grimaced with effort.
Something was wrong.
“She's still tied to someone else. It's weak enough that I could cut it, but it might rebound on her Alpha. That's never pleasant. And if she wants to go back, I doubt he or she'll be able to break the bond I make.”
“Keep going.”
Her reaction to Rio didn't make me think she was eager to run back to her pack in any case.
He didn't bother answering, just closed his eyes and strained.
Letting out a huff of breath, his eyes opened again.
“Mine,” he growled.
The light slowly faded.
He pulled his arm back.
The slice on her paw was healed as was the cut on Andre's arm, only barely noticeable scars left, as if they'd been healing for weeks.
One of the quirks of the blood exchange.
Andre used his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face.
Leaning closer, he picked her head up again, shaking it gently until she opened her eyes to look at him.
“What's her name?” he asked, maintaining eye contact.