Smiling, I pat the antique dresser I’ve just polished and step into the hallway, intending to shift back before Sophie returns home. A rustling at the front door tells me I’m too late. I dash into the living room to retrieve my clothes, hoping I have enough time to retreat to my bedroom before she opens the door. We’ve already gotten off to a bad start, and the last thing she needs to see is a werewolf in boxers.
But Zosia suddenly streaks past me and dives under Sophie’s bed. The fur along the ridge of my back rises in response; Zosia shouldn’t be running away from Sophie. My gut tells me something is definitely wrong, but I’m clueless about what—or who—is scaring Zosia. I drop my clothes onto my mattress and stalk purposefully toward the door. If someone is attempting a break-in, they’re going to have a big, furry surprise.
Suddenly the door bursts open, and two cops with guns drawn dash through. “Assume the position!” barks one of them, a towering man with light brown hair and a trim beard; his werewolf hovers just beneath his man form.
The other cop is shorter, with spiky black hair, butjust as muscular; he’s glamoured his faerie features to appear human. Waving a gun at me, he shouts, “You heard him. Assume the position!”
“Huh?” I grunt. “Wha-what?” I have no idea what position they’re talking about.
The werewolf cop must realize my confusion, because he snarls an explanation. “Hands up, turn around, and lean against the back wall.” I follow instructions, my insides shaking, and then he adds, “Now spread your legs, and don’t move!”
“B-but. W-why?”
“We’ll ask the questions,” snaps the faerie as his partner places an iron manacle around my right wrist. The cop forces my right arm behind my back and then my left, clicking the other manacle into place. Anger flares within me, but I control my wolf. There’s no point in resisting arrest; this is all some terrible misunderstanding. I’ve done nothing wrong, and the best course of action is cooperation.
“Who the blazes are you?” growls another voice from somewhere behind me. The werewolf cop spins me around, gripping my upper arm with one hand, his gun poised in the other.
The third man’s eyes glower at me, the gold around his amber irises flaring; another werewolf, and a huge one, bigger even than Jarrod, my old alpha. “Answer the question!” he barks.
“Name. Is. Ted-dy. Bark-er,” I yip through my muzzle.
“Never heard of you.” He glances at the two cops. “He’s clearly trespassing and—and practically indecent—arrest him!”
“Wait—” I start to object.
“Shut it, wolf,” snaps the faerie cop.
My pulse races, and my breathing grows raspy. Now I’m just plain scared. Supers operate on a different set of laws than humans; stricter, harsher, and swifter. I’m hauled outside and shoved into the back of a police van, heading to jail in the supernatural village I’d hoped would give me a fresh start.
Even worse, there’s only one person I know in Riddle Hill—and Sophie Spellman Brownlee would be only too happy if I simply… disappeared.
Chapter 6
Collect Call
SOPHIE
Later, June 22
Pru Albright, my friend from culinary school, checks her phone. “The guys will be here any minute.” Her fangs catch slightly on her bottom lip, the only visible sign she’s a vampire. Pru quickly tucks them inside her mouth, ensuring any non-super in the vicinity would think she’s just a cute redhead with green eyes and a smattering of freckles in designer jeans.
“I wonder why they’re running so late,” says Cassia, stunning as always, her long blonde hair cascading down her back. She’s wearing a short purple dress that I know is a size two, because I was with her when she bought it. My curvier size ten means we can never swap clothes; it’s a good thing she’s my bestie and I love her, because otherwise I’d hate her.
When we were teens I struggled with jealousy because the hottest guy in high school—and my secretcrush—pursued Cassia until she finally agreed to date him. Eventually she married him, but her new husband turned out to be as selfish as he was handsome. I’d dodged a bullet named Derek Taylor, but poor Cassia wound up with a broken heart. My cousin now works two jobs to make ends meet after Derek dumped her and their daughter so he could go to Hollywood. Last I heard, he’s an extra on a couple of dog food commercials.
Everyone in our family helps Cassia and her daughter as much as we can, trying to make up for all the hurt Derek has caused them. My mom is babysitting Olivia tonight so Cassia can have a rare night out with Pru and me.
I turn to Pru with a wry smile. “So tell me about this guy you think is my type.” We’re waiting outside on the dock for a table to open up at Pru’s favorite water-front restaurant in Sturgeon Bay, a non-super town about thirty minutes south of Riddle Hill. The crescent moon casts a blurry reflection in the harbor below us.
We’re still fully glamoured even though night has fallen; it’s the law. Don’t show your fangs, fur, wings, or tails in front of non-supers. Ever.
Secrecy keeps supers safe.
Pru smirks. “If I weren’t already in love with Vreeland, I’d snap Rafe up in a heartbeat.”
“Please elaborate!” I arch an eyebrow and grin.
“Rafe’s a tall, dashing werewolf with bodybuilder muscles and hair black as ink. He’s a personal trainer, the hunky kind that rich ladies hire so they can ogle him while they’re working out. He’s also the silent type, soyou’ll need to chat him up to learn about his personal life.”
