Celeste stood on her front porch, waiting for Dominic to pick her up. She was nervous. She wanted the night to be special. She planned on going all the way with him. No need to save her V-card for that special someone, when she knew in her heart Dominic was that person. They'd been seeing each other in secret for a year now. The main reason they kept it hush-hush was that he was 5 years her senior. Her parents would flip out if they ever found out she'd been dating a full-grown man. And Dominic was a real man, from his dark hair to his size 11 feet.
A memory of their first encounter came flooding her mind. Celeste remembered that hot day and the way his eyes sparkled when his views found her face for the first time. Something his eyes still did occasionally to this day. Celeste never understood why she never had the courage to ask him about his sometimes golden eyes. Maybe she was afraid of the answer she might get.
The cool breeze picked up in the night as it encased Celeste in a gentle chill. She inhaled, sucking up the crispy freshness of it all. She bit her lips, grinning to herself when she remembered how cocky and conceited Dominic was at their first meeting.
That day, Celeste recalled she went to the station to order Sheriff Black to look into the Henchman's property after a huge paw print was found at a crime scene nearby. Celeste still recalled the yellow eyes that flashed at her in the distance when she was babysitting the Henchman twins. She was in the kitchen washing the dishes when something big and furry zoomed past her vision through the window. She mentioned it to the couple who owned the property, and they looked at her like she had lost her mind. That family was weird anyway, and she was happy the day they called the babysitting company she worked for and informed them they didn't want her as their sitter anymore.
She settled in the chair in Chief Black's office. The gorgeous man was having a stare-off with the pretty little lady that had become a major pain in the ass. Celeste had been at his throat about solving the rogue murders for weeks now. But Black couldn't just tell a human that werewolves were real and that all the dead people were werewolves from his pack. He sighed. He just wanted to sign her community hours sheet and get on with his day. His son, Alpha Dorian, mindlinked him and told him about some dead warriors his grandson, Dominic, stumbled upon in the woods.
“Sheriff Black, are you even listening to me?” Celeste raved. “I'm telling you, these killings are all linked to that property. I saw something huge —"
“Look here, Bright Eyes, I've already signed your proper papers, now don't worry your pretty little head about these killings," the Sheriff smiled. “I promise you, I'll look into it.”
“That's what the deputy said a month ago, and still no one has looked into it.” Celeste scoffed. “Plus, that property gives me the creeps.”
Chief black almost spat his coffee out. He hated the Henchman too. They were a small pack of Lycans who loved to keep to themselves. Lycans and werewolves just don't get along. But he would have caught their scents if they were anywhere near the crime scenes. He even had some of his werewolf trackers go examine apart of their property, but nothing out of the normal was found. “Why do you think the Henchman property has something to do with these killings?”
“Well, I've seen things up there at their mansion. Weird things." Celeste sat closer to the edge of her seat.
“Weird things like what?” Black did the same.
“Like big wolves, the size of a minivan, and also the younger kids growl and bite people a lot," she explained. “And that lab nearby that Mr. Henchman spends most of his days experimenting on — God knows what.”
“So, what does this have to do with the killings?”
“Don't you see, the Henchmans are breeding big deadly wolves up there? Experimenting on animals and such. I feel it in my bones."
“Miss Bowen you can't make accusations like that –" His office phone rang. “Excuse me, Miss Bowen," he said. “Sheriff Black, here," he answered. “What? Ok thanks for informing me." The sheriff sighed. He picked the phone up again and he made a call. “Officer Dunn, get your ass in my office right now!” He barked. He was fuming wickedly as he clutched the edge of his wooden desk. He hung his head down low in a fit of anger, growling trying to contain his wolf.
“Are you okay?” Celeste asked, clutching her purse to her chest.
“I'm fine. Just acid reflux."
One officer came into the office. Celeste recognized him as one of the men that arrested the young guy before. “Yes, Sheriff, you called." he spoke.
“Why have you and your idiot men have my grandson locked up in cell 4?”
“Your grandson? You mean the perp in the leather jacket?"
“GET MY GRANDSON OUT NOW! He's no criminal," the sheriff barked at first but then he calmed down a bit. “Now Dunn — Now! Why are you still standing here?"
“Yes sir." Officer Dunn practically sprinted out of the office.
“Maybe I should go," Celeste explained.
“Perhaps you should.” Sheriff Black agreed. “And Celeste, please be careful. I would hate it to find you on one of those crime scenes."
Celeste didn't reply, she just hustled to her feet and scrambled towards the exit and bolted for her car.
Officer Dunn released Dominic, and he and his wolf followed Celeste's scent to the car park. He saw her leaning on her car with her head tilted, enjoying the shade beneath where her car was parked.
He trudged up to her, pushing his black Harley with him. Her scent was stifling him, making his head hazy. He froze when her head rose, and now her eyes were watching him. They then trailed and settled on his belt buckle, which grabbed her fascination. It was made of genuine leather, with a square shaped bronze buckle. There was a precious black stone, engraved with an O, centred in the square. It glistened even more as the sun touched it. Celeste wondered where she saw it before, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
“Like what you see?” His crisp, sexy tone interrupted her thoughts. He had an annoying grin on his face. What the hell was he smiling about? she thought. Celeste rolled her eyes and turned to open her car door.
“Hey,” he called, and she looked over her shoulder as if she didn't know he was talking to her. “It's you, I'm calling you,” he stated as he parked his motorcycle and began jogging closer to her.
“Oh, if it isn't the delinquent from earlier.” Celeste grinned.
“My name is not delinquent, it's Dominic," he said in a smug tone. “And I bet you are Gorgeous?” He smirked.
“OK Mr. Smooth. That was an awful pickup line," She threw her bag on the passenger's seat. She just wanted to go home.
“Wait, you're just gonna leave and not tell me your name?” He wondered. “I told you mine.”
“I didn't ask what your name is,” she huffed, turning to look at Dominic. Her heart slammed in her chest when she saw him swiping his thumb and forefinger across his bottom lip, like he was trying to figure her out. “What do you want,” she asked, annoyed.
“You,” he answered boldly.
“Wow, you're very ambitious for a criminal,” she retorted, and he laughed.
“What, that inside there?” He motioned to the building. “That was just a misunderstanding, which has been sorted out. I promise.”
“I bet,” she looked at him with scrutiny.
“So, are you from around here?"
“Yes and you?”
“I live a couple of hours away, in a town called Onyx Grove.”
“Hmm, never heard of it.”
“It's quite private," he rubbed the back of his neck as he explained. “How about I take you out on a date?” He begged. “I promise I will be on my best behaviour.” Celeste giggled while she got in her car. “Lunch then?” He countered. Celeste placed her dark glasses on her face. “Coffee?” Dominic was near panicking. She started her engines and settled her gear stick in drive, revving her engine.
“Nah, I'm not short on dates, but I do need someone to weed my gardens. If you think you can handle my rose gardens then give me a call," she smirked. “ My number is 555-873-8253," she yelled out the last digits while she sped off, leaving Dominic fumbling to get his phone out of his pockets to save the number.
“Did you catch that, Onyx?” he asked his wolf.
“Yes, she said 555-873-8253, which is the same as 555-UR-FUCK'D.” Onyx purred as Dominic wrote her number on his phone, realizing it did spell, UR FUCK'D.
He smiled as he jumped on his motorcycle. He was going to do anything to win over his mate's heart.
SEVEN YEARS LATER CELESTE'S POVThe cold air fanned my face as I ventured deeper into the woods. The howling winds echoed in my ears, dampening my other senses. My eyes fought to see as the gigantic trees cast a dark, shadowy pathway for me to run.I glanced behind me as I trudged forward, looking for somewhere to hide. The footsteps behind me got closer and closer the more I ran. I made a left turn and collided with the shadowy figure that had been chasing me. The impact of the hit made me land on my ass, and before I could regain my composure, it lunged at me. Its eyes gleamed golden, and its teeth sharpened to points. It looked like a man, but it wasn't. It was a beast in the skin of Dominic.*Beeeep Beeeeeep*The sound of my alarm clock woke me from my nightmarish slumber. Feeling groggy and disturbed, I hit the snooze button on the noisy instrument and threw the bedcovers off my body. I'd been having the same nightmare every night for years now. My belly protested as I made my w
The night air was humid and thick with fume and fog. The smell of petrol, burnt rubber, and blood lingered and played with Dominic's senses as he pulled up to the crime scene. It was past midnight, and he was in the middle of a pack meeting when he was interrupted by a phone call, telling him there was another murder. He had to cut the meeting short and move to the scene. His pack members were getting restless lately, they felt like he was putting his job as a Sheriff before his duties as the Alpha. As soon as he exited his car, he knew what his sight would behold: another gruesome killing. Some kind of shifter was killing supernatural creatures; wolves and rogues alike. Even vampires and witches weren't safe. But his scent couldn't figure out what type of creature it was. It smelt of tar and sulfur, a combination that even the elders in his pack couldn't detect which creature it belonged to. "Hell of a night, Sheriff Black,” said Eric Fagan, one cop from the precinct. Dominic look
Two weeks had passed since Celeste was supposed to go to America, but something came up, and she had to stay behind in England to sort out some personal stuff with her son.DJ was almost seven, and he still wets the bed, so his pediatrician wanted him to stay back for a few more weeks so that they could run some tests on him to see what was the issue. Bed-wetting had never been a problem in her family, so she figured he must have gotten it from Dominic's side since the doctors believe it may be hereditary.Celeste giggled as she imagined Dominic wetting the bed as a child. She burst out full-on laughing like a maniac when she pictured a grown-ass Dominic wetting the bed.“Mum, why are you laughing like a loony?” DJ pulled on the hem of his mother's shirt. Celeste instantly got serious.“What have I told you about using those words?” She scolded him.“I'm sorry, Mum. I'm just nervous. I do not fancy it here," DJ stated. His mother snuggled up to him on the couch in the waiting area of
CELESTE'S POV I was running late, as usual, to catch my flight at the airport. It was all my mom's fault. She was so excited that I was coming home. We talked on the phone until it was 3 in the morning, well, it was 3 in the morning here in England and 9 am in America. Every so often the time difference gives me whiplash. I have never gotten used to it. “DJ, the taxi is here,” I shouted. Aunty Beverly came over to see us off. “I'll miss you guys,” she said as she kissed my cheek. “We'll miss you too, Aunt” I hugged her tightly. The taxi honked. “DJ, get your little butt down here now!” My head wanted to explode. “I'll load the baggage in the car. You go see what that little fellow is up to.” “Thanks, Aunt,” I said as I flew up the steps. I was about to yell when I saw him slumped over on the bed, video chatting on his tablet. “So, when will you come back to England?” Daphne's little voice was so sad. “I don't know, Mum says when she's finished with her work.” “OK then. I guess
Celeste was deep in dreamland, dreaming about those magnificent blue eyes that pierced her heart whenever they stared at her. It was a beautiful night to be dancing in the woods, especially since the moon was so bright and the blue tint that was cast down on the couple made their skins shine like gods in the night.With prowess, Dominic spun Celeste, they were both barefoot, and she could feel the soft earth squishing between her toes. Her fingers caressed his bare chest, using the tips to draw intricate circles on it. He leaned in to kiss her, his pink, soft lips inches near hers. She bit down hard on her bottom lip, anticipating the kiss. But then she remembered he hurt her. So, she forcefully shoved him back. This man almost killed her, he attacked her on that cold, dark night. She stepped away from him and looked him dead in his eyes that now glowed yellow. “Dominic, why did you bite me?” She yelled and with a jolt, her body shook awake. Celeste clutched her chest and inhaled, try
“Hey man, guess who's back?” Dominic heard the voice of his Beta over the phone.“And so? Why are you calling me? You know I prefer a mind-link. My phone is for Sheriff's business," Dominic sighed. “How soon can you get here? The pack members are getting rowdy again, and I need my Beta there until I finish up tonight."“So I guess you'll show up late again," Lucas huffed. “Look, man. I know you want to solve this case and the pack members want you to solve it, too. They just think you are acting like one of them, one of the humans." Lucas whispered the last part with his eyes roaming the area. “Anyway, I'm calling you because I need a ride from the airport and I didn't mind link you because I'm in a public place. What would the humans think if they saw my eyes stalk white and me standing drooling on myself?"Dominic chuckled, “You're right, they would think you're possessed, or worse, a zombie.” They both laughed. “I'm afraid I am swamped with work right now, so I can't leave the offi
DOMINIC'S POVI was tired as hell, and I felt bad for standing up, yet another woman I was supposed to go out with. As soon as I closed my garage door, I dialed Chelsea, but an automated voice chimed in.'The number you have dialed is out of service.'What the hell, I thought as I looked at the phone screen. Shit. I cursed when I realized whose phone number I dialed. I entered my home, it was around 5 in the morning. I threw my keys in the little bowl I had sitting on the table and walked over to check my messages on the answering machine.' You have eight new messages' The automated voice said, then began playing my messages.“Dominic, dear, why won't you give your poor old mom a call? Your father and I will be in town this weekend. Maybe we could all get together. Call me, love you, bye.”Deleted. My mother/former Luna could be so overbearing at times. We were all together a couple of months ago for my inauguration ball. Why would she wanna 'get together' so soon? Knowing her, she p
Celeste tossed and turned in the wee hours of the morning. It had been hours since her body met with the plushness of her childhood bed, but even the comfort and familiarity of the room couldn't lull her to sleep. Her mind travelled back to when she was a teenager and Dominic used to sneak through her bedroom window. They would play a game where he would please her with his tongue while she tried to suppress her screams. She felt her entire body heating up, there was no doubt in her mind that her body was now coated in a rose-pink tint. With a yawn, she rose from the bed, realizing that sleep would not come anytime soon. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and checked the time. It was almost 6:30 am. Lethargically, she slipped her swollen feet into her bed slippers, the only thing she unpacked from her suitcase. Dragging her feet across the tiled floor, she headed to DJ's room. She wanted to see how her son slept his first night in America. She quietly nudged the door open, s
The sunlight curled through the windows and pulled at Dominic's eyelids. He stirred, feeling annoyed that the daylight was disturbing his slumber. He swallowed, and it was then he noticed the sharp, pointy metal at his larynx. His eyes fluttered open only to see a snarling DJ resting a knife at his throat. The seriousness on DJ's face told Dominic to choose his words wisely, or this brave little kid would slice his neck open. Dom wasn't worried about dying from the injury. He knew he would heal in no time. It was just that he just purchased his vegan couch, and he didn't feel like paying $5000 to get another because he spilled blood all over it. He cautiously raised his hands in surrender. “Hey there, little man. We're cool, right?" he asked slowly asked. “I don't know. That depends on your answer." DJ pressed the tip harder against his skin. “What's the question?” Dom urged, his wolf standing proud of how well their son could handle a situation. It was obvious the little man did
Dominic did his job by feeding the public a reassuring story about the Shunka Warakin and how they didn't have to worry because it was only a matter of time before they captured it and put it down. He convinced them that it was a rabid dog and that it would be taken care of. After ensuring everyone involved in the Shunka incident was doing well. Dominic sped down the quiet street as he made his way toward the Packhouse. He was worried about DJ, no kid should have to witness their loved one getting hurt like that and for his sake, he truly hoped his grandmother would pull through. He was zooming down the strip on Highway 91 when Lucas informed him that the kid was changing. He definitely had Alpha's blood for sure, Dom thought. And he figured now that he was transforming, they could finally catch his scent, so they could see if his lineage was of someone they know. He felt bad for the kid though, he was far too young to be in so much pain. He sunk his feet on the pedal and floored i
The sky was a mixture of ash and coal as the rain clouds rolled into view. Dominic smelled it days ago, that there was going to be a storm. The weather forecast predicted it to last at least three days, but he knew they were only getting a few scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the night. He was sure it would pass by the morning. He sat at his desk, and images of Celeste invaded his mind. He missed her, and seeing her again after all those years did something unexplainable to him. It made his emotions get the better of him when he kissed her. Even though her hand slapping him across his face made it perfectly clear that she didn't share the same feelings, he just didn't care anymore. The sheriff's office turned into chaos as the phones lit up with complaints. The Shunka was sighted by many of the town folks. Calls of a strange creature seen running rampant in the town's square, destroying buildings and vehicles. Some claimed it was a demon, while others reported it was a
Dominic ran around in circles, trying to stain the forest with the kid's scent in order to confuse the creature. A Shunka Warakin was a very dangerous shifter, that ate other shifters and supernatural creatures. But it didn't do so of its own free will. It had to have a master who commands it. “Dominic, are we sure it is a Shunka, Lucas can be a little untrustworthy when it comes to delivering proper description.”“Onyx, you are right, but Lux was certain, and I trust Lux,” he told his wolf and Onyx grunted in agreement. What Lucas informed him about the piece of the creature's flesh that turned into ash made him wonder how to kill it if it's capable of regenerating. “We have to find its master. The one that controls it, and then stab both of them in the heart with a wooden stake.” Onyx explained. “But how do I figure out who its master is?”“You will soon. We'll just have to keep an eye out for anything or anyone that seems a little strange.” Onyx stated. “I think it's gone for
The stench of death permeated Lucas's nose as he stood to face his enemy. A creature so tall and ghastly he didn't know what it was at first. It had a dog-like face with a downward slope in its back like a hyena's. It was standing on its hind legs at a height of around seven feet. The beast loomed over Lucas as it breathed in the werewolf's scent. "No, it cannot be," Lux's shaky voice traveled in Lucas's head. "I haven't seen one of these in centuries," Lux explained. "200 years before I was reborn to you, I belonged to a human called Luther, and during the great famine, we ran into one of these things. It's called a Shunka Warakin." Lucas swallowed hard when the creature pressed its nose on his tummy, sniffing Lucas some more. "Should we run?" Lucas questioned his wolf. A slab of flesh from the Shunka's previous kill still hung on its lips. Lucas grunted when he smelt Gary's blood on the beast. "No, just stay quiet," Lux quickly intervened before Lucas got out of control. "It
Celeste tossed and turned in the wee hours of the morning. It had been hours since her body met with the plushness of her childhood bed, but even the comfort and familiarity of the room couldn't lull her to sleep. Her mind travelled back to when she was a teenager and Dominic used to sneak through her bedroom window. They would play a game where he would please her with his tongue while she tried to suppress her screams. She felt her entire body heating up, there was no doubt in her mind that her body was now coated in a rose-pink tint. With a yawn, she rose from the bed, realizing that sleep would not come anytime soon. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and checked the time. It was almost 6:30 am. Lethargically, she slipped her swollen feet into her bed slippers, the only thing she unpacked from her suitcase. Dragging her feet across the tiled floor, she headed to DJ's room. She wanted to see how her son slept his first night in America. She quietly nudged the door open, s
DOMINIC'S POVI was tired as hell, and I felt bad for standing up, yet another woman I was supposed to go out with. As soon as I closed my garage door, I dialed Chelsea, but an automated voice chimed in.'The number you have dialed is out of service.'What the hell, I thought as I looked at the phone screen. Shit. I cursed when I realized whose phone number I dialed. I entered my home, it was around 5 in the morning. I threw my keys in the little bowl I had sitting on the table and walked over to check my messages on the answering machine.' You have eight new messages' The automated voice said, then began playing my messages.“Dominic, dear, why won't you give your poor old mom a call? Your father and I will be in town this weekend. Maybe we could all get together. Call me, love you, bye.”Deleted. My mother/former Luna could be so overbearing at times. We were all together a couple of months ago for my inauguration ball. Why would she wanna 'get together' so soon? Knowing her, she p
“Hey man, guess who's back?” Dominic heard the voice of his Beta over the phone.“And so? Why are you calling me? You know I prefer a mind-link. My phone is for Sheriff's business," Dominic sighed. “How soon can you get here? The pack members are getting rowdy again, and I need my Beta there until I finish up tonight."“So I guess you'll show up late again," Lucas huffed. “Look, man. I know you want to solve this case and the pack members want you to solve it, too. They just think you are acting like one of them, one of the humans." Lucas whispered the last part with his eyes roaming the area. “Anyway, I'm calling you because I need a ride from the airport and I didn't mind link you because I'm in a public place. What would the humans think if they saw my eyes stalk white and me standing drooling on myself?"Dominic chuckled, “You're right, they would think you're possessed, or worse, a zombie.” They both laughed. “I'm afraid I am swamped with work right now, so I can't leave the offi
Celeste was deep in dreamland, dreaming about those magnificent blue eyes that pierced her heart whenever they stared at her. It was a beautiful night to be dancing in the woods, especially since the moon was so bright and the blue tint that was cast down on the couple made their skins shine like gods in the night.With prowess, Dominic spun Celeste, they were both barefoot, and she could feel the soft earth squishing between her toes. Her fingers caressed his bare chest, using the tips to draw intricate circles on it. He leaned in to kiss her, his pink, soft lips inches near hers. She bit down hard on her bottom lip, anticipating the kiss. But then she remembered he hurt her. So, she forcefully shoved him back. This man almost killed her, he attacked her on that cold, dark night. She stepped away from him and looked him dead in his eyes that now glowed yellow. “Dominic, why did you bite me?” She yelled and with a jolt, her body shook awake. Celeste clutched her chest and inhaled, try