Callon ducked into the first alley he could find, tipped his head back, and roared as loud as he could.Any human passing by would have simply seen a lunatic yelling at the sky, commonplace in New York City.Callon wished he could fully transform into his feline form.Such a hope was common among his kind.Every Damarian wanted his mate so their magical abilities would come to fruition, but this was the first time Callon could ever remember wanting a mate, not for the magic it would grant him, but for the actual woman herself.
Against his better judgment, he found a spot that would allow him to see inside ofNNPso he could continue to keep an eye on Lola.To keep her safe,he told himself.He didn’t add it was also because the idea of her being out of his sight for longer than a few minutes made his already agitated state even worse.Callon knew he was going to have to get a grip or he would scare the hell out of her and she’d go running for the hills.Then again, the curious nature he noted in her might override her fear.That nearly made him smile.His mate— he’d given up not mentally claiming her— was inquisitive.No.She wouldn’t run.She’d face him head on and probably bombard him with a barrage of questions.It was a moment in time that he found himself desperate to reach.If this was what finding a mate was like, Callon couldn’t decide if he liked it, or loathed it.He had a feeling that might not change for a while.
Chapter 4
We’d Make Beautiful Babies.
“There are moments in our life that, at the time, feel incredibly scary.But sometimes those moments turn into things that, years later, we will look back on and laugh.I don’t think that this is one of those moments.”~Lola
“Oy,” Spike said suddenly, “I told you to dye it blue, but I guess you were right.The ladies like the green.”He looked back at Lola.“Does this mean you’d rather givehimyour number?”
I’d rather not meet customers with weird, disappearing tattoos, creepy, swirling eyes, forked tongues, nictitating eyes or skin that turns into scales.Not to mention the claws she saw on one of her customer’s hands the other day.That guy had a wolf tattoo that sat up to howl at the moon.Nope, I’d rather not see any of those things.Forget giving out my number.I just want to serve pizzas and love werewolf books.A voice in the back of her mind whispered, ‘Liar.’Fine.She didn’treallywant that.A part of her wanted all of these things to actually be happening— for there to be some secret cult of people who had supernatural powers.But she would never say that out loud, not even to Katy and Maddie.Especially Katy.She’d never let Lola live it down.
“Is that it?”Green-Haired Guy asked.“You want my number?”His words pulled her from her thoughts.
“Nope,” she blurted.“I don’t have a phone.”
“You mean that thing in your back pocket?”Spiky asked.
Of all the times a guy has to actually pay attention to me.“You’re only aware of it because it’s attached to my ass.”
“Probably,” he said with an unrepentant grin.“Won’t lie, it’s a nice one.”
“Not really.It’s an older model with a cracked screen.I didn’t realize you could see it through my jeans.”
“Oh, she’s got jokes,” Green-Haired Guy said with a smile.Thankfully, his tongue stayed inside his mouth.
“So, no number then?”Spiky asked.
Lola couldn’t help but be flattered, even if there was something off about these three.“Sorry.”She shook her head.“I don’t give my number out to people I don’t know.Stranger danger and all that.”
“Good policy,” he said amiably.Spiky tossed several large bills on the table and stood.“Hopefully that will cover any trouble we caused by taking up so much of your time.Not to mention the glares your two friends keep giving us.”He motioned behind her, and Lola turned to see Katy and Maddie staring at them, their eyes narrowed like twin hawks.
“Yeah, sorry,” she said.“We’ve had some interesting customers as of late.They’re just watching my back.”
The other two guys slid from their side of the booth, and Lola took a step back, feeling crowded by their large forms.“Males been giving you trouble?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Okay then.If you decide you can’t handle them, we’ll be around,” Green-Haired Guy said.“Even if you don’t want our numbers, we’re happy to keep away anyone who’s messing with you.”
Lola tried not to seem suspicious.It was a peculiar offer coming from total strangers.“Uh, thanks?”She wasn’t entirely sure if she should be thankful or not.
“Oh.”Shaved-Head Guy paused and turned back to her.“If you do decide to get a tattoo, really, go to Wild Ink.”His eyes did the swirling-thing, looking like liquid silver.
“Yeah,” Spiky added.“That stuff is on you for life.You don’t want some wanker doing a shite job of it.”He winked at her, reminding her of Wyatt from the first group of too-handsome guys that had shown up, and then strolled off.Green-Haired Guy and Shaved-Head Guy both lifted their chins at her as they followed their friend out the door.
“Sure,” she said, then turned to retrieve the money they’d left on the table.She froze, staring at it.
“Did they seriously just give a three-hundred-dollar tip?”Katy stepped up beside Lola and scooped up the money.“Are yousurethese guys don’t think you’re a porn star?”
“Ha.Ha.”Lola deadpanned.A shiver ran down her spine and she looked around the room.This had been going on since the day after the first group of guys had come into NNP.The hair on the back of her neck rose, and she could feel someone watching her.This was another thing she hadn’t shared with Katy and Maddie.
“What’s wrong?”Maddie asked when Lola reached the counter.Katy held out a hundred-dollar bill to each of them and pocketed her own.
“Nothing,” Lola muttered, taking the money.
“Really?Because you’ve got that spooked look again,” Maddie said.“Did they say something to you?”
