Much to my relief, the door buzzes open.I push in to the lobby and take the steps two at a time.Elias’s scent thickens and my body reacts as always.There’ll never be another man for me.He’s ruined me for all others.Whatever it was we had going can’t be replicated.
She opens the door as I reach it and I see him standing behind her.He has brooding good looks that get me every time as do his eyes that flash with alpha confidence.
“Wonderful to meet you.”I hold out my hand to her.“Though I beg to know your name.”
She takes it, her skin warm and soft.“Maisey Shaw.”
I resist the urge to pull her wrist to my nose and find out if the faint scent of ash is in her veins as well as in the air around her.I suspect it is but I might be mistaken, in which case I could scare her off.And I don’t want to do that, now that Elias is here taking an interest in her.
It’s not hard to see why.She has tumbling dark hair that falls in wide curls almost to her waist.Her eyes are dark, as are her lashes and brows.There’s a cute freckle to the right of her full top lip and her chin is faintly pointed.
Elias has always swung both ways.Before me, he was married for two years.Losing Zena had almost killed him, had certainly shredded his heart, until I had helped heal it—or so he’d told me.
“Elias.”I step further into the apartment and breathe deep.Yes, definitely something unique going on here, the smells bombarding me are a feast for the senses and a mystery.“You beat me to it.”
“I didn’t know it was a contest.”His voice is low and gruff.
“You didn’t think I’d want to find the beauty who spotted our little adventure last night?Why not?A chase is always fun.”
“What are you doing here?Really?”she asks and flicks her hair over her shoulder.“Tell me.”
The room fills with human smells, shampoo, soap, maybe elderflower and juniper too.“I am here to answer your questions, Maisey.I’m sure you have some.”
“Not as many as five minutes ago.”
Ah, so Elias hadn’t arrived long before me, no wonder his scent had been so strong when I’d followed hers.“And what have you learned in the last five minutes?”I ask.
“That this man—Elias—is a wolf shifter.”She raises her eyebrows as though daring me to dispute the fact.
I don’t.
“And now.”She gestures to me.“I’m wondering what you are?”
“No guesses?”
“From what I saw, a cat, a big cat.”
“Sharp observation, well done.”I point at myself.“I’m a panther.”
She inhales deeply and then moves to a chair.She pulls it out and drops onto it.
“It’s a lot for you to take in,” Elias says.“Shall I get you a glass of water?”
“What?No.”She shakes her head.“I need proof.The video is gone.I want to see proof that he’s a panther.”She points at me.
“You want me to shift?”
“Sure.Perhaps I was hallucinating last night.I’ve had migraines before like that.Seen things move on their own, had weird premonitions.Strange things happen to me, you know.”
“No, I don’t know, but I can believe it.”Elias glances at me.
I nod, we both know there’s something else at play here.She is more than she appears.
“So.”She tilts her chin.“Prove it.”
“And what will you do with the information?”I ask.“No one will believe you, there’s no evidence, it’s my word against yours.”
“I just need to know I’m not going mad.”She rubs her brow.There’s a tremble in her voice and I suspect it’s not from fear but from holding back things she isn’t saying.
