The seducing sound of a heartbeat pulls me from sleep. It’s close—veryclose—and the familiar slick of saliva fills my mouth. My fangs descend instantly, eyes snapping open…
Hunt. Food.
I lean in towards the open neck, a feast served on a silver platter, only to jolt back in horror when I realize it’s Evan.
It takes my brain a full ten seconds to register that he’s here… on the bed with me.
I scramble for every bit of control I possibly can. I fight the desire to sink my teeth in, the urge to taste his blood still unbearable. I long to feel it flow down my throat.
I’d never forgive myself if I hurt him.
My phone buzzes three times on the shelf above me in quick, short repetitions. I immediately sit up, snagging my phone from the shelf. Something outside must have triggered the alarm system.
Evan startles next to me, but I cover his mouth with one hand and hold a finger over my lips with the other. His eyes widen in confusion—and fear—but he nods, slowly registering the concern in my face.
After unlocking the screen, I open the app to my security system. Outside, three wolves prowl around the van, their noses pressed to the ground. Shifters. But how did they find us? Why? Did Evan accidentally park on their territory? Probably. He wouldn’t know how to distinguish shifter land from human—it’s not something I knew until very recently.
Evan taps my arm to get my attention, then mouths,What’s wrong?
“Shifters,” I whisper, holding up three fingers.
He frowns but doesn’t look away, waiting to see what I’ll do. Hell if I know. The few shifters I’ve come across since being turned haven’t exactly rolled out their welcome mat to me. In fact, most have been outright hostile, lumping me in with freaks like Foxx and his minions.
Not that I blame them. I deserve the hate after all the innocent lives I’ve taken.
Evan props himself up on his elbow, leaning in trying to see the screen. When our heads bump, he gives me an apologetic smile before he turns his attention back to the shifters. His nearness distracts me, the delicious lemongrass scent taunting me. I close my eyes and inhale.Whydoes Evan have to smell so damn good? He was already a temptation when I was human, but now he’s just plain torture.
I have never wanted anyone so badly in all my life, I realize. And it’s no wonder I ran. Because of this. Because I can’t be around him without thinking like an idiot.
I flinch when a wolf near the door yips at his pack mates.Dammit. Focus, Jericho!
“They know we’re in here,” I whisper.
“What are you going to do?”
I shrug. The only thing I can do. “Try to talk to them.”
I crawl over him, willing my body to calm down. The hardness in my pants might be able to pass as morning wood if my lust isn’t plainly obvious. Fuck, he can’t know how much I want him. He’d hate it.
As I’m reaching for the door handle, I pause to look at Evan. “Stay here.”
He grits his teeth but doesn’t argue. He has no idea what he’s walking into. Or maybe he does. Maybe he had more experience than me as a kid. My foster parents kept me pretty sheltered, rarely letting me spend time with other kids, let alone supernaturals. I only had rare glimpses of them until I moved to Comstead, and even then, my experience with them was few and far between.
The wolf nearest me startles when I open the door. Two others sprint over, baring their teeth as I climb out. I throw up an arm to shield from the bright sunlight before sliding the door almost all the way closed, giving Evan the chance to listen in.
“I apologize if I’m on your territory. I was just passing through and needed some sleep.”
In a flash, the largest of the wolves shifts to a tall, broad-shouldered man with peppered-gray dark hair. He looks to be in his mid-forties, which probably means he’s over a hundred. I take notice of the permanent kink near his left wrist, jagged like it had been broken once and not set properly. Curious injury, for a shifter, since they just need to change forms to kickstart their healing.
“Who are you and where are you from?” The leader then.
“My name is Jericho. I’m from Comstead, Idaho. As I said, I’m just passing through.”
One of the wolves sniffs the air, and all of their attention focuses on the door of the van. Snarls and bared teeth erupt from the group.
“Is someone with you?”
There’s no sense in lying. They would’ve picked up on Evan’s scent before I ever opened the door. “Yes. Just one other. We mean no harm.”
