by Dannika Dark
Izzy leaned forward, eyes wide. “That would be perfect! Rosie is wasting her time in a place like this. She could totally manage a store on her own, and she’s already experienced with hiring, firing, and reviewing inventory. Jake really leans on her for a lot of stuff.”
Lexi nibbled her lip, clearly excited to have support on the idea. “Mum’s the word. I don’t want her to think I’m plotting her future when I haven’t even asked if she’d be interested. I’m still not sure how much she makes here compared to what I’d pay her, not to mention she might not like the atmosphere. It’s laid-back.”
Izzy rubbed at the scar on her wrist. “Trust me, laid-back is a good thing. We’re busy in the store, but it’s a breath of fresh air to not have a slobbering drunk calling you a whore when you don’t bring their beer fast enough. I have yet to meet an upset customer—except for that woman who insisted there was a hair in her cake and wanted a year’s supply of free food. The hair was blond. We don’t have any blondes working in the bakery. Bitch.” Izzy pursed her lips and then gracefully sat back. “Hiring Trevor was the best decision you ever made. Our customers love him. I’m so used to working with bitches with attitudes, so it’s nice to actually look forward to going to work around people who aren’t acting like vultures for tips. Rosie would fit right in running a shop like ours.”
I watched Izzy touch her scar again. “Does it bother you to have that?” I asked bluntly, abruptly shifting the topic.
Her smile withered. “No. Once in a while I get a jackass who wants to point it out, like I’m flawed, but you have to ignore that kind of thing.” Her eyes skated up to my lip and forehead.
The cut on my head had healed pretty well, and since my hair naturally fell over it, people didn’t seem to notice. But the indentation on my lip couldn’t be ignored. Lipstick would conceal it fairly well, but I rarely wore makeup.
“I really don’t care what I look like,” I said. “But if people are going to treat me differently because of one stupid scar—”
“You have nothing to be concerned about,” Ivy said, touching the tip of her cane, which rested against the table. “Most Shifters don’t care about such small things since we can scar as children; it’s other Breeds who are more preoccupied with perfection. Scars are a testament to your bravery, not a symbol of weakness or inferiority.”
“I could have lost a leg or fractured my face. Would I have accepted Denny’s claim had my injuries been worse?”
“Denying him would have meant turning away from the love of your life,” she said.
“Who’s to say he would have even wanted me?”
Ivy smiled knowingly. “The true test of a man’s love is whether or not he can love you because of your flaws, not despite them.”
“A scar isn’t a flaw,” Lexi said, eating a giant nacho chip dripping with processed cheese. “That’s what you call character. They’re sexy as hell on a man, so I don’t see why it should be any different for a woman. I think scars make a person more interesting because it says they’re a little tougher than the rest of us. Although—no offense, Naya—I’d rather not see all of Wheeler’s scars when he’s parading around in that skimpy underwear you keep buying him. Boxer shorts I can deal with, but there’s barely enough material to make an eye patch. Some things are just not meant to be seen.”
Naya twirled a lock of hair around her finger when we giggled. “I think he’s sexier undressed,” she said with a purr. “Scars, tattoos—the whole package. And yes, ladies, it’s a big package.”
Lexi rolled her eyes. “Yeah, we’ve all seen that package. But would you mind telling him to put on pants before digging in the fridge while I’m eating breakfast? If I see much more than I already have, we might end up being legally married in some states.”
“Speaking of,” Naya said with a wink. “Have you talked Austin into a traditional wedding?”
“That’ll be the day,” April blurted out. “She’s been putting that bug in his ear for ages.”
Naya frowned at Lexi. “Don’t give me your bitchy face. It’s a legitimate question.”
“I’m not a human anymore,” Lexi said with an indifferent shrug.
I poked her arm. “So? You grew up human, and how much fun would that be to have a real wedding? I don’t see why he would be against it. We’d have an excuse to have a huge party at the house. All you have to do is suggest beer kegs and classic rock and I bet he’ll be all for it.”
Naya studied her black nail polish. “Lexi wants it to be his idea, and I agree. A woman shouldn’t have to pressure a man into romance or else the gesture doesn’t mean anything.”
“That’s true,” Lexi said. “Anyhow, Austin will never be able to top blowing up my car.” After a sip of her drink, she gave me a cursory glance. “Here’s some awkward news. Nadia has been calling the house. It’s been going on for weeks.”
My brows popped up. “Did you tell her about us?” Suddenly I felt territorial about Denver, something I’d never experienced. It must have been my wolf, because I wrestled with a primal urge to locate Nadia’s car and destroy it.
Lexi licked the cheese from her finger. “Yep. She knows all about you two and apparently doesn’t give a shit.”
“In all fairness, darling,” Naya began, “Denver and Maizy aren’t mated. Shifters believe anyone who isn’t mated is pursuable. Nadia isn’t a bad person; I would never fix anyone in our pack up with a heartless toad.”
“Well, she needs to stop calling because it’s pissing me off,” Lexi snapped. “Denver’s been ignoring her calls, so now she’s taken it upon herself to call the house. I can’t put her on call block because she finds ways to get around it. Don’t be surprised if she starts calling you,” Lexi said, giving me a tilt of her head.
I shrugged. “Let her. Maybe she has more to offer Denny, but she’ll have to fight me for him,” I said with a conniving smile.
Lexi wrapped her fingers around her beer bottle. “Don’t even entertain the idea she has more to offer. Nobody outshines my baby sister, no matter how wealthy she is. Plus, Denver will take a bribe of Pringles over a new car any day.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, breaking into a laugh.
She sat up tall. “Denver is a man with unique priorities, and nobody knows that better than you.”
I clinked my bottle against hers and set it back down. A waitress rushed past our table with a tray of burgers, and the flavorful aroma made my mouth water.
“So what’s your craving?” April asked. “Reno’s so funny. He acts like his craving is no big deal, but he’s grumpy if he doesn’t get his bacon after a shift.”
“Promise not to laugh?”
Who was I kidding? They were going to laugh.
Everyone put on their best honesty face and held up their hands in a solemn promise.
I uncrossed my legs and played with the hem of my white skirt. “I haven’t told Denver yet. He hasn’t asked, but…”
“Well, go on,” Lexi said, bubbling with anticipation.
“Cheese puffs. Either the round balls or the long puffs. Classy, huh? Denver will probably get a huge kick out of it since it’s one of his favorite snacks.”
Izzy opened her mouth and laughed. “I can’t say a thing about it since I’ll take a man down for a bag of popcorn. What is it with us and junk food? Lexi has the pudding thing, and Naya won’t even tell us.” Then she gave Naya a sly look. “I bet it’s beef jerky and she’s too embarrassed to admit it.”
Naya merely splayed her fingers in front of her face and admired her manicure.
Izzy sipped her soda and laughed quietly. “Ivy’s the only one around here with a semi-healthy craving. At least you can put cream cheese on celery.”
Ivy stroked her hand down her braid and smiled warmly. “Yes, but I prefer it straight out of the container.”
April poked out her tongue in horror. “What does Lorenzo like?”
“Honey. Although he swears by the gods it’s really me he craves,” she
said with a blush on her cheeks.
Lexi took a sip of beer. “That’s what they all say. There’s no denying that men get amorous after their shift.”
April snorted and feathered her hair away from her face. “Reno likes spooning.”
“At least he doesn’t bring dead animals to your bed,” Izzy said with a snort.
This was a new aspect of Shifters I was learning about—the inside scoop on what it was like to be mated to one.
Mated. My gosh, was I considering that? I wondered if I should wait, or how the whole thing worked. Would I be allowed to stay in the house? Would Denver be able to commit? Did I need more time?
Now I sat at the table as one of the women in our pack, seeing each of them in a new light. How gorgeous April was, still keeping her hair cropped and trendy, still picking out wild colors for her nail polish. Reno adored her and had even built a giant bookshelf on one side of their bedroom. She was still as clumsy as ever, but it was endearing because it was just a part of who she was. Izzy was still the fiery redhead of the pack, but she also had a calmer side that kept Jericho anchored. Naya was a shameless flirt, but her intentions were in the right place. Lexi would always be my beautiful sister who looked opposite me with long brown hair, brown eyes, and high cheekbones. I used to want to be just like her when I grew up, someone who was easygoing but yet not afraid to speak her mind. In many ways, those traits had rubbed off on me.
Through changed eyes, these women were now extraordinary to me. Even Ivy, who was part of our extended family. I’d always liked Lorenzo, despite his brutish ways. He protected those close to him and adored his family. He and Ivy were a different kind of couple than Lexi and Austin, but still balanced.
I wondered how I balanced with Denver—if we complemented each other in a way that would impress others. Or maybe we were just the comic relief in the pack.
“Earth to Maizy,” Lexi chanted.
“Sorry. I’m having adjustment problems.”
Izzy arched a brow. “Just wait until you meet our wolves.”
Naya waved a waitress over. “Can’t be any worse than when my panther met the pack.”
Izzy continued with one of those you had to be there stories. “Jericho’s wolf is obedient to Austin, but he’s also fearless. At least until Naya shifted. He went ballistic—barking and growling at her. Austin had to intervene and talk him down. When Jericho’s wolf realized she was a new member of the pack, he peed on the floor.” Izzy laughed so hard she began coughing, then took a quick sip of soda to clear her throat. “My poor man. He knew attacking her would jeopardize his rank with Austin.”
Panthers are a natural enemy to wolves, and it amazed me how easily the pack had accepted Naya’s animal. “What about Denver’s wolf?”
Their faces were stricken with unpleasant memories.
“Well,” Lexi began, wringing her hands under the table. “Denver was another story.”
Naya played with a thin gold chain around her neck. “Darling, you have nothing to worry about. Denver and I tangled for a little bit, but neither of us took it too far.”
“He fought you?” I asked in horror. I’d never been able to attend one of those things because the animals sometimes got out of control.
She pursed her red lips. “We have no control over our animal’s behavior. They worked it out. Wheeler was there, and the pack trusts him. Between him and Austin, they got it under control. I can’t say we get along famously,” she said, waving her hand, “but then again, Denver’s wolf isn’t much of a social butterfly.”
It made me think about how Denver had pushed people away his whole life. Had those feelings somehow influenced his wolf, or were some wolves just naturally more aggressive? Denver ran with the pack, but he often went off on his own.
Ivy rubbed my back. “You needn’t worry. He’ll know who you are. He’s always known, and it won’t matter what form you take. I have no doubt his wolf will hunt for you.”
That was a habit mated wolves did if their other half was in wolf form. Jericho’s was the exception as he occasionally brought in a rabbit to Izzy. She’d wrinkle her nose and kiss his muzzle, but it was a pretty gruesome thing to wake up to at the foot of the bed. Sometimes the animals were still alive, and on three occasions, April had been able to save them. That was about the time they began imposing the rule about wolves in the house, but Jericho’s still managed to find a way to get inside. The Cole brothers were to blame for that; they thought it was hilarious to see him trot up the stairs with a dead animal in his mouth, ready to woo his woman.
“I hope you have an appetite. Hot and tasty! At least, that’s what my mate tells me,” Rosie said with a giggle. She rolled a cart near the table and proceeded to set our plates down, each filled with a mega burger, onion rings, and a jalapeño on the side.
“You are a goddess.” Lexi admired her perfectly cooked burger.
Rosie put her hands behind her head and circled her hips. “That’s what the mister tells me every morning.”
“After?” Izzy said with a smirk as she gobbled up an onion ring.
Rosie winked and turned around. “Before. That’s how we get to the after.”
***
Our night out was amazingly fun. I’d always loved going to Howlers as a kid, including the few occasions I’d come home to visit. But now I was experiencing things from a whole new perspective—as a female Shifter.
I had to admit, it was pretty badass. I didn’t have any special powers outside of shifting, but I could suddenly sense who was Breed and who wasn’t. I had instincts I hadn’t before, and knowledge that my inner animal would protect me in all situations, as I would her. My wolf gave me vibes about certain people, and I wasn’t sure if it had to do with their tone, body language, or even a scent I couldn’t smell but she could.
A burly Shifter recognized Izzy from when she used to tend bar. He was blatantly hitting on her, even though everyone knew she was mated to Jericho. She entertained him for a short while, but as soon as he got too friendly, she cut him off and we moved to a booth.
Ivy was a different story. Men were intimidated by her regal demeanor, not to mention everyone this side of Austin, Texas, knew she was mated to Lorenzo Church—one of the most feared Packmasters in the territory.
A few beers later, Lexi decided to hit the dance floor and dragged April with her.
“Will you just look at that!” Naya exclaimed. “Those jealous little devils.”
Izzy peered over her shoulder. “Super. Girls’ night out just turned into wolves gone wild.”
The Weston pack strolled through the door like a testosterone parade, looking as dangerous and hot as any Shifter pack could. Wheeler eased up to the bar and slanted his eyes in our direction before ordering a drink. Jericho mingled with a small group of women standing by a pillar, and Austin leaned against the bar on his elbows, pretending he didn’t see us.
“Spies,” Lexi hissed as she returned to the table. “They just couldn’t keep away. Afraid the Weston girls were going to stir up trouble.”
Naya chuckled. “I thought that was our mission for the evening. Darling, just sit back and pretend you don’t see them. They can hardly help themselves. They’re staking claim.”
Ivy smiled and cocked an eyebrow. “I’m fortunate I don’t have to worry about such wolfish behavior from my mate.”
April peered around Lexi. “Think again. Look who just walked in the door.”
A gust of wind blew Lorenzo’s long hair forward as the door closed behind him. He had on a shirt with a wide collar and a beaded choker circled his neck. The jukebox played an old tune by Fleetwood Mac because Lexi had locked in the next hour with her music, and we’d been listening to Mumford & Sons for the past half hour.
“Not only are they all here,” Naya said discreetly, “but look at how they sexed themselves up for us. Unless I’ve had too many beers, it looks like Wheeler put a comb to his hair. Mmm, and he’s wearing my favorite sleeveless shirt—the one that’s so tight I can
see the lines in his abs.”
“Now that you mention it, Austin’s wearing those jeans that make his ass look hot, and he’s doing his lean,” Lexi said. “They’re baiting us!”
April played with her earring. “They’re trying to attract women so we’ll get jealous and run over to them. They’ve probably been creating ridiculous fantasies about how all the men up here are seducing us while they’re at home watching reruns of True Blood.”
Naya dabbed perfume on her wrists. “It’s a game of seduction.”
Lexi glared over her shoulder again. “Their game of seduction is going to turn into Game of Thrones. They’re going to start a fight.”
“Maybe that’s what they want,” I suggested. “Since when have the men in our pack ever been able to control that instinct? They want to fight for us.”
I glanced back wistfully and saw no sign of Denver. Perhaps in the human world this would seem like an act of immaturity, but among Shifters, there was a dance involved when it came to mated couples. The women were just as guilty of accidentally showing up at the bar when the men declared a night out. Not often, since boys’ night out usually involved laser tag or paintball. But on the few occasions they’d go to a club or bar, I vividly remember the women putting on their sexiest dresses and heading out the door.
Lexi stood up and slowly peeled off her light sweater to the tune of “The Chain” just as the lyrics kicked in. She draped it over her chair and flipped her hair back, then strategically turned around, just enough to give Austin her body profile, and pulled her tight tank top low to show cleavage. A chilly draft formed goose pimples on her body in every place where a man would desire them.
“You are a bad girl,” Naya purred approvingly.
Lexi leaned on the table, displaying her finest asset—one no red-blooded Shifter could ignore.
Especially the dark-haired man directly behind her who rose from his chair as if he were a marionette doll. “Can I buy you a beer?”