When the pizza arrives, we eat in silence. My brain is still too messed up to make polite conversation. Besides, I doubt I know how to be polite to Mr. Muscles next to me.
When we’re done, he gets up to leave. When he’s at the door, he tells me to latch the chain.
I do as he says, already fantasizing about hitting the bed.
Chapter Two
Matt
I was making the ‘before you take your clothes off’ small talk with Gideon when I heard keys jiggling outside. Oliver returning so quickly made me worried, so I focused in. The smell of fear mixed with Oliver’s sunshine, roses, and fresh ocean breeze raised my hackles. My legs rushed me outside before I could even comprehend what was happening.
He looked so scared, his blue doe eyes wide and body shivering. I wanted to hunt down whoever the fuck made my Oliver scared.
Knowing it was a werewolf made it worse. I swear to god, when I get my hands on this son of bitch, he’s going to regret being born.
When Oliver looked like he wouldn’t hyperventilate at the slightest breeze, I left him. His eyes were already drooping, probably tired from all the overthinking his brain was doing. With the adrenaline already worn off, he was dead to the world within minutes.
I jog up the stairs to the apartment of the only other werewolf in the building. Maybe I can wait for him to come back?
A strong smell of blood consumes my senses, dripping in fear and violence. It’s not bad enough for humans to catch on, but for me, it drowns out every other scent on the floor.
Whatever happened inside happened recently.
A chill runs down my spine at the thought that Oliver could have been inside that apartment instead of safely tucked in his bed. Red fills my vision, and my hands curl into fists. I take a few long breaths, fighting to keep my claws from sliding out.
I need to be sane right now. I can deal with my very complicated, very inconvenient feelings for the tempting little human across the hall later.
I put my ear against the door, listening for any signs of life. I concentrate hard. If anyone so much as inhales, my ears will catch it. As I feared, no one made it out of whatever happened in there.
Except Dalton Smith, who is now number one on my shit list.
I slide my hand inside my pocket for my phone, but it’s not there. Right, I left in a rush. It’s a good thing I was at least still wearing my clothes, or I would have given Oliver another scare.
Or would that have helped him?
Focus, Matt!
I run downstairs again. No point in breaking down the door and risking waking up the neighbors. No one in there needs urgent help.
I unlock my door. I need to call Nick and Meena. I push the door open. We might need to bring in the whole—
A squeak startles me. A man stands right in front of me, hishand in the air as if he was reaching for the doorknob.
Fuck, I completely forgot about the guy I left in my apartment.
Once he calms down, he looks up at me. “Do you still want to fuck?” he offers.
I check if my body has any fucks left to give and come up empty.
“No, man, thanks for coming though,” I walk inside, already looking for my phone.
“Whatever,” he says, angry. Guess I won’t be calling him again.
I locate my phone on the kitchen counter. I dial Nick and start pacing my living room. He picks up right away.
“This better not be a booty call,” he singsongs.
“Even I’m not desperate enough to sleep with my almost brother,” I blanch.
