But humans didn't have that.
His lips curled into a grin as he chased after her. Hewasa wolf, a predator, and he was made for the chase.
She scrambled around a corner, slamming into a wall and pushing herself off of it with surprising force. She was faster than she looked.
But not fast enough.
Nico loped after her, his pace almost lazy. Even in human form, running was second nature and his inner wolf pushed him faster and faster, his shoes eating up the distance like it was nothing. Her scent surrounded him, amplified by her fear and exertion, and he breathed deep. Yes, this was exactly as it was supposed to be. He needed hernow.
But he had to earn it.
He heard a curse, if "darn it" counted as a curse, and rounded a corner to find his little vet desperately trying to open a door that was obviously locked. She had both hands on the handle and was tugging with all her might. Her knuckles had gone white with effort as she threw her weight into it. He wasn't sure if she was trying to push or pull, but either way it wasn't working.
And did he smell …
She whirled around, and whatever wrongness he'd thought he smelled dissipated. Her bright blue eyes were wide enough he could see white all around them, and she was breathing hard enough to hyperventilate. A flush crept up her neck, and Nico knew he really was a bastard because his wolf was howling for more.
"You … this … please, just let me go. I won't say anything." She held her hands up like that would be enough to ward him off.
Nico should probably feel bad about this. But his blood was singing in his veins. He almost dropped his guard enough to let her slip by and continue the chase.
But Cole was at home, maybe dying, and Nico had to put an end to this.
He stalked forward until he was close enough to touch the vet and caged her in with his arms on either side of her, pressed against the wall.
"I won't hurt you," he said. He leaned in, unable to resist now that he was so close. He buried his face into the curve of her neck, nose just barely brushing the skin, and breathed deep. God, she smelled delicious. He wanted to swipe his tongue over that exposed stretch of her neck and feel her pulse leap.
He'd never understood vampires before, but tonight, he came close.
"Fuck!" A zap of electricity sizzled over his skin, almost like a snapping punch to his side. His little vet was looking at him, wide-eyed, and he covered her hand with his own, taking whatshe was holding. She had her fingers clenched around a small object, and struggled against him as much as she could until he forced her hand open. A set of keys and a strange keychain. "Did you try and tase me?"
A wolf wouldnever.
But he wasn't dealing with a wolf.
"I—"
"Nuh-uh." He looked at the keys, trying to find the weapon. Mostly, they just looked like, well, keys. But hanging on a small chain was what looked like a small flashlight that was activated by a pinch. It was about the size of the tip of his thumb. Tiny. No wonder he barely felt it. "Is this your little taser?" he asked. He couldn't see how to activate it, but he wasn't going to ask for instructions.
"Clearly not a good one." She sounded more frustrated than scared right then.
The corner of Nico's mouth lifted as he smiled. Something in her scent changed, and she dragged in a deep breath. Nico's own body responded. He knew the subtlety he was smelling.
Not desire, not yet, but the precursor to it.
She was scared, yes. But notonlyscared.
Some more of her hair had fallen out of its tie, and Nico couldn't resist tucking it back behind her ear, the fine strands silky. He refused to imagine what it would feel like against his skin or wrapped around his fingers when …
Fuck. No.
It was a good thing humans couldn't smell for shit or she'd know exactly what he wanted from her.
"You ran, you tried," he said, aiming for reasonable. "But we both know you're not going to get away from me with this little thing." He tossed the keys over his shoulder and heard them thunk against the wall somewhere behind him. "What's your name?"
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, and Nico had to clench his teeth from making a noise. "Elise. I'm Elise."
"That's good, thank you, Elise." He savored her name on his tongue. He couldn't taste her, but at least he could roll her syllables around and savor those. "My name is Nico, and I need your help. Will you please come with me?"
