"Yeah. My mother's kind of a free spirit, a hippie type. Fantasy writing phase when I was born, so Adriana it was."Viktor's surprise softened into a genuine smile. "I like it."My blink betrayed my shock. "Well, good, I guess." A laugh bubbled up as a thought struck. "Thankful Mom wasn't in her sewing and quilting stage. Bobbin or Thimble? Can you imagine?"His rich chuckle washed over me, warm and disarming. His scowl seemed to melt away. I felt the tension drain from my shoulders as I looked across the table. This was the man Beth and Ruth had gushed about the charming heartthrob setting Stump River ablaze. Twinkling eyes, a dazzling grin against his scruffy beard - enough to melt glaciers, and apparently, my composure. My heart did a little tap dance, and my mouth felt suddenly parched.Thankfully, Lucy reappeared with cutlery and water. As she took their orders, I stole a moment to gather myself. Viktor might be a looker, but arrogance wasn't a good look on anyone. Ego in check
I pushed off the wall and sauntered over to Adriana, who sat waiting for me."Lucy was keeping you company, I see.""Uh-huh. Filling you in on all your dirty little secrets."I stiffened, suddenly wary. "Such as...?"Ria looked at me strangely. "Relax, it's just a figure of speech."Mentally kicking myself, I forced myself to relax and tried to cover my mistake. "Yeah, you never know with Lucy.""Relax, really. She was actually complimentary. Apparently you and your friend Stephan saved her and another girl from some bikers."Leaning back in my chair, relief washed over me. Of course Lucy didn't know any of my secrets; she wasn't even aware I had them. This whole damn situation just had me on edge. I gave Ria an easy smile, keeping my eyelids lowered to shield my inner turmoil, and raised a hand towards the bar. Armand, the bartender, caught my request for another beer without fail. It always amazed me how he could pick up on the smallest gesture when it came to drinks, yet turn a bl
I waited for Viktor's decision, feeling stuck in interview limbo. Itching to push, I knew I had to be patient. Otherwise, he'd reject me, just to show me who's boss.My days were a lazy routine. I slept in, drove to town, and spent mornings at the Gazette, where Josh and Beth kindly let me use their internet. The phone line at the cabin was still a dream, and I suspected the company just didn't want the hassle of a one-time trip to Stump River. But hey, at least Aldrich couldn't reach me.The call to the lawyer was my daily dread. Around noon, I'd leave the Gazette's office and take a walk around Stump River (which wasn't long, but it helped pass the time). Then, I'd head to the diner to make the dreaded call.The calls were all the same. He'd ask for updates, I'd say I was waiting, he'd make a condescending remark, and that would be it. Barely five minutes, but it felt like an eternity, leaving me drained.Thankfully, I had coffee and conversation with Ruth, Al, and Lucy to look forw
"Alright, I'll whip up a list of questions and get it to you by tomorrow. Will a day be enough to look them over and prepare some answers?""That should work. If not, I'll let you know." He seemed to loosen up a bit. "Great. Now that that's settled, how about a grand tour?"Glad to feel the tension dissipate, even if its origin remained a mystery, I agreed. When I struggled to rise, Viktor chuckled and offered his arm, pulling me to my feet.The heat radiating from his hand burned through my thin sweater, and I imagined a lingering mark where his skin touched mine. I stole a glance at his face, but he was already releasing his grip and heading towards the door. I hurried after him."The roof was first on our agenda," he explained over his shoulder as we walked, "followed by a complete rewiring by an electrician. The plumbing's been redone in the kitchen, my downstairs bathroom, and one upstairs bathroom, but the laundry room's still on hold." He pointed towards the back of the house.
Two figures materialized from the back hallway, dripping wet and clad in nothing more than skimpy shorts. My jaw practically hit the floor. They were both undeniably gorgeous tall, lean, and with muscles that rippled as they moved. I couldn't help but stare, mesmerized by the way water cascaded down their bare chests, highlighting their sculpted abs. Some droplets disappeared into their navels, while others trickled lower, disappearing beneath the waistband of their clinging shorts.Suddenly, a wave of heat flooded my face. I hoped they hadn't noticed where my gaze had been wondering. Unfortunately, the smirks playing on their lips told a different story. Both men looked to be around twenty, with blond or light brown hair that plastered itself to their heads, making it impossible to discern the exact shade. They seemed to be about the same height, though the one with hazel eyes carried himself with a certain presence that made him appear larger.He was the first to approach, extendi
Rain lashed against the windows, the storm showing no signs of letting up. I glanced at my watch – it was nearly four. "Probably won't stop until morning," I sighed. "By the time it clears, it'll be dark and too late to do anything."A whimper escaped my lips as I opened my eyes, meeting Viktor gaze with resignation. "If I remember correctly from the house tour," I began, "you don't have any spare rooms, do you?""Technically, there are tons," he chuckled, "but as you saw, they're sealed off. Leaky windows and no furniture, not exactly ideal." He winked. "Don't worry, you could always crash with me."My jaw dropped in indignation. "If you think for one second ""Hey, just teasing!" he interrupted with a cheeky grin. "The couch is actually pretty comfy. And hey, if you change your mind, my room's next door."Viktor's bedroom the one down the hall with its own bathroom and office access didn't exactly sound comforting. The other two men slept upstairs, leaving me alone on this giant cou
Leaning forward, I caught a mischievous glint in Stephen's eye. His voice dipped to a slow, creepy tone that sent shivers down my spine. "They say evil drops of water sometimes stalk unsuspecting maidens in the dead of night.""Not funny," I grumbled, shoving ineffectually at his thighs. "Get off me!""Don't think so, love. I'm perfectly comfortable right here."Heat flooded my cheeks. Not only was he on top of me, but his gaze lingered pointedly on my chest. The thin t-shirt offered little protection in the chilly room, and I could only imagine what he must be seeing.Just then, the door creaked open and Stephen's snickering was cut short by Stephen entering with a bucket. He chuckled, the sound laced with amusement. "Ria, mind holding off until I leave? Seeing Viktor 'get off' isn't exactly my cup of tea, good friends and all."My face burned like fire. "That's not what I meant!" I exclaimed, crossing my arms defensively. Stephen offered no apology, simply placing the bucket down wi
I arched my back as the sensations caused by his sucking mixed with the stroking of my swollen nub. Need coiled inside me and I abandoned his back in favor of gripping the bed sheets. He switched to my other nipple and I began to whimper, tremors starting to build. His stroking changed pace and he added another finger inside me, then a third. With the extra thickness stretching me, I went over the edge, convulsing as my release swept through me from head to toe, leaving me panting and limp.“Hmm… A much better morning expression; all happy and relaxed,” Viktor smoothed his hand down my body, sounding much too smug. If I hadn’t been so pleasantly relaxed, I would have slapped him. Not knowing and probably not caring about my thoughts, he continued on in a teasing tone of voice. “But, you look so much more relaxed than I do, and we really should be a matched set, don’t you think?” With that, he put on a condom, moved over me, and settled between my thighs.“Again?” I managed to make m
A week later, the world felt a little flatter. The police had finally wrapped up their investigation. It was a random act of violence, they said. Lucy, just in the wrong place at the wrong time. A stupid, pointless loss. The idea that Aldrich wouldn’t be blamed for anything grated on me, but I knew involving him would open a can of worms I wasn’t ready to deal with. It wouldn’t bring Lucy back anyway.We brought her home, to Stump River. The town was in mourning. Armand was a shadow of himself, the twinkle gone from his eyes. He disappeared for days after the service and I wondered if he’d turned into a bear and wandered off to grieve in the woods. Were his emotions as raw when he was in animal form? Or did he spend his time scratching at trees, trying to claw the pain away? When he finally reappeared, he looked haggard, but there was a strange kind of peace in his eyes.Beth and Josh went all out with the newspaper article. Pictures of Lucy, smiling and laughing, filled the pages.
Morning. I reclined in the seat as Viktor slowly drove the car out of the parking garage. We’d talked on and off throughout the night and I’d finally accepted the truth of what he’d been telling me. I was becoming a werewolf. There’d been anger and tears; he’d apologized, even though forcing my transformation hadn’t been intentional. Eventually, I’d come to a sort of numb acceptance of the fact.However, my whole life was changing now. I wasn’t just Adriana Watson, waitress and journalism student. Now I was Adriana Watson, secret werewolf. From what I could gather from Viktor's ‘crash course in wolves,’ they were social creatures and lived in packs. There was an Alpha who kept everyone in line and made the important decisions, though pack meetings were held to discuss options. Full moons were a time to party and, if you were new to the whole werewolf thing like me, you had no control and transformed once a month. Older wolves could fight the effects if they wished, though most didn’
My heart pounded like a trapped animal as the lycans closed in, their red eyes burning into me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. These creatures were straight out of a nightmare."Adriana, get behind me," my voice was frantic as I shoved her aside, preparing to shift."Vik..." she whispered, clinging to my arm."Don't worry, Everything will be alright, just need to handle a few stray dogs that's all" I managed a reassuring smile, and then I charged. A towering black wolf replaced me, my fur bristling with tension.The air was thick with the metallic taste of blood and the sharp scent of fear. My senses were on high alert, every hair on my body standing on end. Dozens of pairs of eyes, glowing like embers, focused on me. A massive red lycan charged, but I was faster, slipping beneath its snapping jaws. I countered with a swift attack, his teeth sinking into the lycan's flesh.A deafening howl filled the cavern as the red lycan bucked me off, sending me crashing into the cold, damp
Adriana's povThe metallic tang of blood filled the air, thick and suffocating. Viktor and I stood frozen, our gazes glued to Aldrich's lifeless body slumped on the floor. A single, neat bullet hole marred his forehead. What the hell just happened?The echo of Mr. Greyson's voice shattered the stunned silence. "A pleasure to finally meet you both, Miss Watson and Viktor Donovan... or should I say Viktor Dominique?"My head snapped towards Viktor, relief flooding my chest at his presence. According to him, he was some kind of werewolf. Maybe, just maybe, with him by my side, I had a fighting chance.A nagging worry gnawed at me. If what Viktor said was true, then did that mean I wasn't entirely human? I shoved the thought aside. This wasn't the time to unravel my existential crisis. Getting out of this place alive was priority number one. Viktor could explain everything later.Viktor narrowed his eyes at Greyson, his voice laced with suspicion. "How'd you figure out my real name?"Grey
Viktor's povFollowing a hunch, I hailed a cab and rattled off the address for Greyson's estate. The city was a chaotic mess, a constant symphony of honking horns and shouted insults. I tuned it out, my gut churning with worry. My wolf whined its primal need to find Adriana, to know she was safe.The thought of her alone, grappling with the Change with no guidance, tore at me. Would her body and mind accept this forced transformation? Or would she fight it, a resistance that could be fatal according to Nadia? The icy grip of fear tightened around my heart.But then, a chilling logic surfaced. If she'd spilled the secret, if the wolves knew, she was already a dead woman walking. Was a swift death from the Change preferable to one at my hand? Could I even look her in the eye, deliver the killing blow?Alpha. Duty. The words echoed in my head, hollow and meaningless. Images of Adriana flooded my mind her warm brown eyes, the defiant lift of her chin, the way she'd make me laugh with her
Panic clawed at my throat as Lucy's ragged breaths became uneven. Her pale face, framed by blood-soaked blonde hair, sent a jolt of fear through me. My fingers trembled as I brushed her cheek, whispering her name, but there was no response. A string of curses ripped from my lips. This wasn't right. She shouldn't be hurt, possibly dying. This wasn't her mess. Lucy was pure sunshine, always radiating warmth and kindness. Guilt gnawed at me, reminding me of her playful teasing, the way she'd sashay around with a tray of drinks and a witty comment on her lips. I blinked back the moisture stinging my eyes. Steeling myself, I rose. Moving to the sofa, I sniffed where the unknown male's scent lingered. A scent and a maybe-name –l meager scraps of evidence in a city this size. The scent would be impossible to track, and "Greyson" meant nothing to me. What the hell was I supposed to do? Sirens wailed in the distance, a sharp reminder of the need to leave. Being caught at a crime scene would
The door suddenly opened and I was forced to abandon my conflicted thoughts. Jumping to my feet, I turned to face an obviously surprised Lucy. “Viktor, what are you doing here?” “Hi, Lucy. I… um… ” She walked up to me and kissed my cheek, before moving to take her coat off. “Never mind. I know the truth." “You do?” He stiffened, assuming the worst. “Of course. You’re sorry for your fight with Ria and came here to make up.” “Uh… Right. That’s it.” I latched onto the lifeline she’d unknowingly handed to me. “I’m here to make things right.” Lucy nodded, glancing at Adriana lying on the sofa, her face quickly changing from a happy to grin to real concern. “Oh, is she sick again?” “Yeah. She fainted coming into the building and I carried her up here. She has a fever. I was just going to give her an aspirin." “I’ll get some from the medicine cabinet.” Lucy turned to go. “No. I already checked. There isn’t any. Um… why don’t you sit with her and I’ll go to the store.” I f
I didn't know where she was. Just be quiet, I ordered myself, clenching my jaw. Creeping past the doorway, I peeked into the first room the bedroom. Clothes were strewn everywhere, a mishmash of Lucy's floral patterns and my own dark t-shirts. Her scent lingered, a familiar mix of lavender and something distinctly... her. The bathroom was empty, the towels abandoned in a heap. Back in the living area, a few papers lay scattered on the counter. Junk mail, bills, nothing interesting. But then aha! On a nearby table, Adriana laptop glowed, left open. Sitting down, I scanned the screen, my stomach tightening. My name stared back at me, bold and accusing, next to a picture file I knew for a fact I'd deleted. That little...! Somehow, she'd gotten more copies. Fury surged through me as I clicked on the document titled with my name. The more I read, the deeper my scowl became. By the time I reached the final paragraphs, I wanted to hurl the damn machine across the room. There it was, in bl
“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Lucy stared at me with a frown. “You still don’t look so good.” We were leaning against the kitchen counter sipping coffee and preparing to start our day. I, however reluctantly, had to head off to meet with Aldrich, while Lucy was going to spend the morning taking a bus tour of the city that I had recommended. Rolling my eyes, I reassured Lucy, yet again. "Honestly, I'm fine. The fever broke last night. My arm's not as sore. It's just a lack of sleep and nerves over this meeting that are making me look less than prime. I'll go see Aldrich and give him this report while you take a tour of the city. Then we'll meet back here for lunch and go shopping." "Why don't you just e-mail the report and come with me?" I sighed. "I wish, but Aldrich hates e-mail. He wants face to face contact. I think he likes to watch people squirm." Seeing Lucy's concerned expression, I added a light laugh. "Don't worry. I'll be fine." "Well… if you're sure." "Go." I