My mouth parts, and Kai lets out a laugh as he moves past me. “Sofa it is.”
With a sly wink, he moves to pick up the guy from the booth. I give his shoulder a playful smack before I turn to leave.
“That’s a good little Beta,” I mock.
Kai’s shoulders relax and a chuckle escapes him as he hoists the man over his shoulder. A wave of relief washes over me as I watch my brother and best friend carefully carry the detective up the stairs to my apartment.
I questioned what could have caused him to drink so much. Why was he here alone?
The sun is just starting to rise as I walk into my upstairs apartment. Stretching my neck from side to side, I drop my keys on the kitchen table. With a tug, I pull my jacket off and hang it over the nearest chair. Sighing heavily, I grab hold of the back of the chair with one hand, and reach down to unzip my leather knee-high boots, pulling them off. My feet are absolutely killing me.
I groan at the pure relief as I sink my toes into the plush rug under my feet. Two of my bar staff were no-shows last night, so I had to stay and work longer than I would’ve liked, but it was one of the busiest nights of the week. The band always brings in a crowd on Friday nights. I took a risk at hiring two college students, but humans repeatedly have excuses for not showing up. I don’t think they’ll end up lasting the month.
Walking into my small kitchen, I open the fridge, reaching for the orange juice. I’m just about to grab a glass when I hear a shout from the parking lot out back. My gaze swings to the sofa on the far side of the room. No passed out detective there anymore.Damn it.
I sprint out the door, the cold air slapping me in the face as I descend to the ground level. My bare feet barely make a noise as I run down the stairs. My feet hit the pavement and I round the bend before skidding to a stop at the sight in front of me. Three of my wolves are surrounding the detective, who is slowly backing up toward a gray Ford Explorer.Thatmust be his car.
He hasn’t noticed me yet, so I have a moment to take in his features now that he’s awake.
He looks like shit. His ebony hair’s a disheveled mess, with pieces that seem to stick up in all directions. Bloodshot eyes lift, taking in each of my wolves. They’re a striking pale blue and hold a haunted look. He’s not afraid, just resigned to his fate. I hate that look.
Rose snaps at his feet in warning, and he steps back again. Grady moves too close, and I’m not prepared for the fury that sweeps through me at seeing their aggression directed at the detective. The urge to protect is instantaneous, and I can’t control the shift. Before I know it, I’m barreling into Grady, sending him rolling across the asphalt.
I plant my paws in front of the detective and give a low snarl, snapping at them to back off. My stance is protective and threatening as I stand in front of the man with the haunted look in his blue gaze. I back up until I hit his legs and sit at his feet.
‘You will all leave now,’I growl.
‘We found him sneaking out of your apartment, Alpha,’Grady says in confusion.
‘And what? You decide to attack him?’
I stare over at Rose, a young gray wolf, then turn my gaze on Grady and Lucy, the mated pair each having a coat of a darker gray with white markings. I can sense their confusion stirring through the pack bond like a rippling wave. They thought they were protecting me. So, they don’t understand why I’d be protecting this man.
I can’t say that I blame them. I’m at a total loss as to how to explain the overwhelming urge to defend this man. I don’t know him at all. I don’t fully understand what’s happening with me. My thoughts and emotions in this moment are conflicting.
A flash of guilt stirs in my belly as Rose slowly slinks back, her head lowered and tail between her legs. Grady and Lucy are slow to follow their daughter, but after a moment's hesitation they turn to run into the woods.
I sense the detective shift on his feet behind me, but I don’t move yet. I watch the woods until I’m sure the coast is clear. Once I’m sure they’re gone, I stand and wrap my body around the detective’s legs. My head comes to his chest in my wolf form. I know exactly what I’m doing. I just can’t seem to stop myself from marking him with my scent.
I haven’t had this sort of primal reaction to anyone. Ever.
Chapter Two
Logan
Istandstockstill,mesmerized by the sight of the snow-white wolf as it circles me. To say I’m taken aback by the sheer size of these wolves would be an understatement. Their bodies are immense compared to the size of ordinary wolves.
When the others cornered me, I thought I was going to be their breakfast. Wolves generally don’t come into town, but the bar does back onto the woods.
I slowly reach out, unable to control the temptation to stroke the fur, and trace my fingers along the wolf's back as it circles me. The wolf pauses at my touch, and my heart thumps wildly in my chest. This is not helping the massive hangover I’m currently sporting. It sends nausea rolling through me, making me take quick shallow breaths until the feeling passes.
The wolf looks up at me and I’m captivated by its eyes. They’re a strange mixture of green, blue, and yellow. The yellow seems to glow, but I’m sure I must be mistaken. That’s not possible. My heart pounds against my ribcage, and I take a shaky step back, which seems to break through whatever spell’s had us trapped.
The wolf shakes its head like it’s confused and starts backing away. My body jerks, stepping forward in response. I want to stop it, to call out, but that’s stupid. What I need to do is get home and sleep this hangover off. My day to grieve has passed. Now I need to pull my shit together.
I watch as the wolf turns and bounds off toward the side of the building, disappearing from sight. I release a long breath and stand there for a few seconds, gathering myself before I turn to unlock my car. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I tip my head back, closing my eyes. A headache is forming in my temples, and I need to get home before it hits hard. I had way too much to drink last night.How did I even end up in the apartment upstairs?I guess I should just be happy I’m fully clothed still. This time of the year is always hard for me, especially yesterday.
Thoughts of my brother flash through my mind. We were inseparable until the day everything changed. His screams still echo in my head twenty-five years later. But I will never forget what happened. It will haunt me every single day. The wounds still ache as if they were fresh. The taint on my soul will be with me forever. Like the moon, there will always be a part of my heart covered in darkness.
