Ava

by Michelle L De La Garza

  “Damn. Isiah’s going to be pissed.” Repositioning my stance keeps Chad and the girls in view and lets me deal with the Kweo.

  Tessa pushes by Chad’s arm that’s blocking her exit. She gets halfway past him, then is slammed against the wall.

  “Stop it, Chad.” Fear surrounds Tessa like a thick cloud.

  My wolf issues a low, throaty growl. “Enough.” Raising a leg, I do a front kick.

  The blow connects under the lycan’s knee with a pop. The guy falls to the ground, yelling, and I take off running toward the girls.

  Fuck. Isiah’s going to be more than pissed. Double fuck, the words swirl in my head. Hell. I didn’t start it, but I sure as hell intend to finish it.

  And at this point; I’d like nothing better than to beat the fuck out of Chad because the lycan can’t seem to get his shit together. And evidently, he doesn’t know how to take no for an answer. Yeah. The lycan needs to be taught a lesson.

  “Fresh meat.” Chad grabs the blonde. “I think I’ll fuck you first.”

  My inner wolf’s rage nips at the core of my being, driving me forward with one thought in mind, protect.

  Blonde hair, as smooth as strands of silk, splay across her shoulder, then curl around her slim, elegant neck. She takes hold of Chad’s hand, rips it free of her arm, and then she twists the drunk lycan’s wrist.

  “What the fuck?” Chad falls to his knees.

  The silver container slips out of his other hand and bounces on the carpet, spilling the contents. His face turns red, his eyes bulge, and he grunts.

  I approach, taking in the hold the blonde has on Chad’s hand.

  Hell, she seems to know what she’s doing.

  “You ever touch either of us again,” the blonde says, barely above a whisper, “and I’ll break your arm. Are we clear?” She pauses. Her voice, calm and steady, keeps an even cadence. “I expect an answer.”

  “Fuck you—you bitch.” Chad glares at her. “Is that enough of a fucking answer for you?”

  “Let’s try this again.” The blonde twists his wrist a bit more.

  Chad’s head bobs up and down. “Yeah. Okay.” His response comes out more of, a whimper than words. “I didn’t want your skinny ass, anyway.” A high-pitched moan of pain passes his lips. “So, get the fuck off me.”

  “Good.” The blonde glances at me, then turns her attention to Tessa. “You okay?”

  Tessa nods but doesn’t verbally answer.

  My wolf smells Tessa’s fear, which adds fuel to the raging anger building in the pit of my stomach.

  She may not be blood-related, but she’s like a little sister to me.

  “Now, apologize,” the blonde demands.

  “Fuck you.” A fine mist of spit sprays the air. Chad lunges forward, swinging his other arm.

  Footsteps pound behind me.

  Tessa’s eyes widen. “Look out.” Her brows shoot up.

  Spinning around, I deflect the oncoming approach of the lycan I punched earlier and flip him over, slamming guy to the ground. “Stay down.” My narrows his eyes.

  “Wrong answer.” Without relinquishing her hold, the blonde twists out of the way of Chad’s oncoming assault. “You’re either not very bright, or you’re not listening.” She sweeps Chad’s feet out from under him, and he comes crashing down to the floor. “You shouldn’t have done that.” She grabs his arm. “I warned you. You should’ve listened.”

  A distinct popping sound resonates down the hall.

  Chad screams. “You fucking bitch.” He rolls into a tight ball and cradles his arm to his chest.

  The young woman takes Tessa by the hand, leads her past Chad, then guides her to the bar. Tessa, still shaking, slides on to a stool.

  I approach the bar with Ethan on my heels.

  “You okay?” The blonde brushes a loose strand of hair out of Tessa’s face and hugs her.

  “I’m fine.” Tessa’s eyes fill with tears that spill over onto her freckled cheeks.

  “What the hell is going on?” Isiah plods up to the bar. He studies Tessa’s face then hands her a napkin. “Well?”

  Isiah’s gaze trails down the hall to where Chad is still on the floor, rolling in pain.

  The two Kweo members kneeling over him, make eye contact with the Alpha. In unison, they rise and then head for the exit.

  Isiah motions to Scott. “Assess the damage.”

  Without a word, Scott makes his way over to Chad.

  “So”—Isiah’s keen gaze drifts between me and Eli—“Someone going to tell me what the hell happened?”

  “Chad. I-it was Chad,” says Tessa between sobs. “He’s had too much to drink, again.” Red, angry splotches cover her arms. “Why do you even let him and his friends in here?”

  “Hey, Isiah. I’m gonna take him over to see Doc,” shouts Scott. “Then I’ll drop him off at Adam’s bar. They can deal with him there.”

  James “Doc” Cleaves, is one of a handful of practicing doctors in Kensington Cove. Only difference between him and his fellow practitioners, he knows about supernaturals: clans, covens, and everything in between.

  Isiah turns a hot, burning gaze on Eli, Ethan, then me. “What the fuck are you three doing? I know you’re aware of the agreement.”

  “Hey. Don’t look at us.” Ethan shakes his head. “We didn’t start this shit. And we’ve damn sure been upholding the truce on our end.”

  Isiah narrows his eyes. “Who took the first swing?”

  “It wasn’t them. They were just trying to help.” The blonde steps forward. “And that guy’s arm, it’s not broken. His elbow just needs to be popped back into place.” She pauses. “We encountered him in the hall by the bathroom. He grabbed Tessa and started groping her. She and I both asked him to stop, and when he didn’t, I subdued him. But he refused to stay down.”

  Isiah looks from the blonde to Tessa. “You okay?”

  Tessa nods, her face now streaked with tears makes her look far younger than seventeen years.

  “Come on.” Isiah takes Tessa by the hand and draws her off the stool. “Get your stuff, and go home,” his voice has a softer tone to it. “I’ll pay you for the rest of your shift. Eli can take drive you.”

  “Thanks. But I got a ride.” Tessa hugs Isiah then turns to the blonde. “Give me a minute, and I’ll be ready.” She takes a couple of steps then stops. “Hey, Ethan. Cole. She’s the surprise I was talking about earlier.” Tessa grins, but her eyes still contain remnants of tears. “Can you guess who she is?”

  My gaze roams over the young woman’s shirt.

  Johansson’s Martial Arts Studio streaks in bold lettering across her breasts.

  Looking up, bright, emerald green eyes hold my gaze.

  It takes a few seconds but then, recognition finally sinks in. Can’t be.

  “Hey, Cole.” A half smile rolls across her lips.

  The tall blonde, with the kick-ass body and moves is Tessa’s kid sister. And from the looks of things, she’s not little anymore.

  “Ava Johansson.” The corner of my lips twitch and a grin rolls across my mouth.

  Seems Ava is a woman who can take care of herself. A female that my inner wolf now has in his sights.

  I suck in a deep breath and breathe in her alluring scent.

  Chapter 2

  Ava Johansson

  THE INCESSANT RING of a phone resonates. Rolling over with a groan, I cover my head with a pillow, which does little to drown the unrelenting noise.

  “Tessa, answer your phone.”

  The device continues to ring.

  I huff a turf of hair out of my face, tosses the pillow at my feet, and then sits on the couch.

  The light shining through the window makes me squint.

  Rising, I stomp over to the desk in the living room to answer the phone, but the cradle is empty, which isn’t a surprise.

  “I love ya, Tessa, but you’d lose your head if it weren’t attached to your shoulders.” The phone keeps ringing. “For the love of—Man, If I’d s
lept at Pop’s house,” I shout, “I’d still be asleep right now.”

  Paint. I didn’t go home because there’s a fresh shade of God knows what color on the walls in my bedroom, which is the only reason I’m on Aunt Leyla’ couch.

  Benjamin Johansson, my father, decided to paint my room yesterday of all days. Exactly, what had possessed him to do it, while I was stuck on a six-hour flight, is beyond me.

  The sentiment, however, is nice and greatly appreciated, but it leaves me with an uneasy feeling.

  My room’s probably going to be a bold purple or bright fuchsia—or something frilly, especially if Tessa had a say in the color, the thought crosses my mind with a few other choice colors, and I groan.

  Ring. Ring. Ring.

  Frustration builds in the pit of my belly with each ring echoing in my ears.

  “Tessa. Where’s the damn phone?” Standing in the middle of the room, I listen. But the house remains silent except for the missing, ringing device of torture. “Tessa.”

  Crossing the living area, I make my way down the hallway.

  My bare feet press against the cold tiles.

  Goose bumps erupt up and down my arms and legs.

  It’s colder than I remember it being in Texas.

  Passing the thermostat on the way to my sister’s bedroom, I crank up the heat—why she lives here instead of at home with Pops is beyond me.

  I get not wanting to return home, which is why I moved out of state with Grandma Jane, but to live in the same town, and not go home, well it’s just odd.

  Damn. It’s like a deep freeze in here.

  Even in Michigan, in the dead of winter at Grandma Jane’s place, I don’t recall the house ever being this cold. Actually, Grandma, my father’s mother, keeps the temperature toasty during the cooler months and comfortable for the summer season.

  A little over six months, that’s how long I’ve lived with her, which has worked out well since the campus I attend is less than a mile away from the house. But it’s also been just as long since I was in Kensington Cove.

  My older sister, Tessa, stayed, stating she’d never leave the quaint little town, or so she calls it.

  So, during the week, Tessa helps Pops at the studio, taking payments, ordering inventory, and pays the bills, which is what Mother used to do before she died.

  Then on weekends, she waits tables at the Alpha Prime because the tips are good. But after last night’s event, I’m not sure any amount of tips are worth my sister being there.

  At the bedroom door, I rap three times.

  “Tessa.” Turning the knob, I open the door, and then steps inside. “Hey.”

  The ringing stops, but now, I’m wide awake. “Great. Just my luck.”

  I take in the colorful space that looks as if a rainbow threw up. But my sister’s room is empty, and the bed made.

  My eyes zoom in on the table by the bed, and I sigh.

  “Well, at least, I found the phone.” It’s on the corner of the nightstand.

  The clock on the table reads ten-thirty in the morning.

  Pivoting on the balls of my feet, I march out of the room.

  Halfway down the hall, the phone starts ringing, again. Turning around, I huff then make my way back to the bedroom.

  Nala, her sister’s cat jumps off the bed and approaches me. “Where’d you come from, you little hell spawn?”

  Earlier, I didn’t see the fur-ball.

  You must’ve been under the bed or hiding inside the covers.

  “Go away, Nala.” I shoo her, but the cat acts as if the gesture is an open invitation to rub against my legs.

  Plucking the phone off the nightstand, I say, “Hello.”

  “Hey. It’s me.” Tessa’s voice booms in my ear.

  “Oh. My. God. You don’t have to scream in my ear.” I hold the phone away from my head. “Where are you?”

  “I promised Dad I’d pick up the uniforms for his new class tonight, so I’m on the road.” The phone goes silent for a few seconds. “Are you going to help him out this evening? I know he was hoping you would. You know, like you used to before you went to live with Grandma Jane.”

  “Yeah. I told him I’d be there.” I make my way down the hallway. “Coffee. I need some and now.”

  “It’s in the top cabinet by the sink.”

  “Hey. Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “I figured you needed some beauty rest after flying in yesterday, and well, after last night . . .” Tessa’s voice cracks. “Ava, I’m glad you came home. I’ve missed you.”

  “Okay. Don’t get sappy on me. Hey, are you going to tell dad what happened at Alpha Prime?”

  “Do you want me to? I mean, it would just stress him out, right? And you know how he likes to worry. Wait. Hold on, I’m about to go through a tunnel. But I need to tell you something really quick. I have someone coming over to look at the heater because it’s not working.”

  “Yeah. No kidding. It’s like a deep freeze in here.” I step out of the hallway and into the living room. “What time are they coming?”

  Nala runs between my legs, causing me to stumble. I slam into the wall, but keep from falling, or killing her cat.

  Static crackles over the line. “Tessa. Can you hear me?”

  The cat runs back up to me, weaving in and out of my legs, making it hard to take a step forward.

  “I need to know what time they’re coming.” Dead silence hits the line and the call drops.

  “I’m already here.” A man’s deep voice fills the living room.

  I come to a dead stop, then suck in a sharp breath of air.

  “Of course, you are.” Raising my gaze, I lock eyes with the male standing on the other side of the couch, Cole Cotter. The same guy I’ve had a crush on since the age of thirteen.

  “So, you’re a Cowboy’s fan.”

  “What?” His comment slams into my brain like a concrete wall.

  “The shirt.” A wolfish grin curls one side of his mouth.

  “How’d you—” Warmth rushes across my body, and I blush from head to toe.

  “No one answered, so I let myself in.” Cole holds up a key.

  His eyes drift to the tank top and fitted boy-cut panties I slept in last night.

  “So”—he points at the couch and the grin stretches from ear to ear—“you want a blanket?” His gaze rakes up and down my body. “Not that I’m complaining about the view.”

  A new wave of heat shoots through me. Grabbing the blanket off the couch, I wrap it around my frame.

  “And what, you didn’t think to knock?”

  “As I said”—he licks his lips—“I called, but there was no answer.”

  Chapter 3

  Cole Cotter

  THE WOLF INSIDE ME springs to attention.

  Taking in a deep breath, I drink in her familiar scent. It’s the same fragrant aroma that kept me up last night.

  “When did you get into town?” My eyes take in her form.

  Even under the blanket, I’m able to catch glimpses of her long, shapely legs. Smooth, sexy legs I’d like to touch.

  “Last night.” Ava chews on the inside of her lower lip.

  “And you went to Alpha Prime?”

  “Yeah. I didn’t have a key to my aunt’s place. Give me a minute.” She turns and makes her way down the hall to her sister’s bedroom. “I’m gonna change.”

  My inner wolf replays the image of Ava chewing on her bottom lip. It’s a quirk she’s had since she was a child. But now, at what, sixteen, it’s sexier than hell. It was all I could do to restrain the wolf, who wants to pull her close and nibble on that luscious, full lip, too.

  Damn. Get a grip.

  Soft footsteps patter down the hallway, pulling me out of my inner struggle with my beast.

  “I’m making some coffee.” Ava plods past me, avoiding my gaze. “Want some?”

  Hmm. Is she flirting with me?

  She’s wearing a sweatshirt and a pair of blue jean shorts that shows off her legs.
<
br />   “Yeah. I do.” I watch the sway of her hips until she moves out of sight.

  “One or two?”

  “Two.” My inner beast, awake and in prowl mode, has me ready to jump out of my skin.

  Making my way to the thermostat, I move on to the heating unit. All the things John suggested I check and do, doesn’t work. But then again, he didn’t think they would.

  I send a private message through Messenger.

  —wasn’t any of the things you told me to check.

  —can you and your Dad swing by later?

  Three wavy lines populate the screen, so I wait for his response.

  —the old man thinks it’s the default control board.

  —we’ll swing by in a couple of hours.

  —leave a key if no one is there.

  When finished, I step through the archway of the kitchen. The fragrant aroma of coffee fills the air.

  He takes in the curves of her calves. “How long you gonna stay?”

  A spoon slips out of Ava’s grasp and clangs against the tile.

  “Uhm.” She swings around. “Not sure. Maybe the semester. Gotta see how the holiday season goes first.”

  I stoop and retrieve the utensil. Rising, I glance over a shoulder and catch her checking out my ass. Turning around, her gaze lingers on my lower body then trails upward, slowly.

  When my eyes lock with hers, a grin spreads across my lips.

  Caught ya. My inner beast’s reaction to her scent and growing arousal causes me to salivate.

  “Want it?” I spin the utensil between his fingers.

  “Uhm.” Her face flushes, and she clears her throat. “Y-you can set it in the sink.”

  I set it down, then sit at the table. My wolf watches Ava’s every move, keen on her body’s reaction to me.

  Nala, Tessa’s cat, continues to prance in and out of Ava’s legs. The feline swishes its tail, sweeping the tip against her creamy-colored thigh.

  Ava retrieves a dish from the floor, fills it with food, and then she sets it on the tile.

  “So.” The word comes out as a squeak. “What’s up with the heat?”

  “Might be the default control board.”