Arec shook his head and said, “How about we get that to-go box? I’ll even order a dessert to go.” Without taking her eyes off the window, Eve nodded. Arec signaled the server and asked for the take-out boxes. He also placed an order for two chocolate lava cakes to go. Eve continued to stare out the window as he spoke. After the server left, Arec turned back to Eve with a worried look. “Once the server returns with the food, we’ll head out, okay?” he asked. Eve nodded and said, “I can’t wait to get outside. I need to get some fresh air.” “The server should be by in a moment, then we’ll head outside,” he told her. She nodded, still staring out the window. Once the server came with their food and the check, Arec paid and stood, holding out his hand to help her stand. She looked away from the window long enough to reach for his hand, then turned back to the window. Gasping as she touched his hand, her eyes grew wide as she looked back at Arec, yanking her hand out of his.
Eve screamed as the large, hairy form leaped from behind a car at Arec, knocking him to the ground. She scrabbled at the door handle until it opened and got out of the car, hurrying toward where Arec had last been. She had just reached the other side of the car when an enormous wolf-like creature stood on two legs, holding the wolf in its muscular arms. The wolf struggled, trying to bite the arms holding him. Eve opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. She stepped backward and ran into a parked car, stopping her from retreating further. She watched as the creature wrestled with the wolf. It picked the wolf up and threw it over the tops of the cars into the field next to the parking lot. It leaped over the car roofs as it followed after the wolf. Eve could see the two figures circling one another in the darkness beyond the lot and moved closer, drawn by some invisible force. She crouched behind one of the cars and stared at the figures. The wolf jumped toward the
Eve’s eyes widened as Arec told her he may have been run over by a werewolf. “You think it was a werewolf that ran into you?” she asked. He nodded and said, “It sure did look like a large wolf to me, but then again, that may have just been my stress level taking things out of proportion.” She looked around, chewing on her lower lip, and asked, “Do you think it’s still out here?” He shook his head and said, “I’m sure we’d know by now if it was still in the area.” Eve relaxed as he said this, then looked at him again. “What about that other creature?” she asked. “Did you see that one?” He looked at her with confusion and asked, “What other creature? What are you talking about?” “You mean to tell me you didn’t see that huge wolf-like creature fighting with the other wolf?” she asked, her eyes wide. “I mean, how could you miss it? It was enormous!” Arec shook his head and said, “I didn’t see anything.” “What about them fighting?” she asked. “Didn’t you at least hear that?” H
Eve’s hand flew to her mouth as she gasped upon seeing the deep impression in the ground. She stepped away from the window and muttered, “What the hell is that?” Moving closer to the window again to get a better look, she peered out and shook her head. “I need to get out there to see what this is,” she muttered, shaking her head. She hurried toward the bathroom to change out of pajamas and rushed outside. As she rounded the side of the building, she slowed her pace and looked around. Nothing looked out of place. She reached the depressions and kneeled to get a closer look. Reaching out her hand, she ran her fingers over the impressions, shaking her head at how large they were. Standing again, she wiped her hands off and looked around. A glint of light reflecting off an object in the bushes caught her attention. Frowning, she moved toward it and reached out. Before she could pick it up, a voice behind her made her jump and whirl around, putting her hand to her chest.
Sabrina bumped into Eve as she passed, causing the coffee to slosh. Luckily for Eve, it didn’t go over the edge of the mug onto her shirt. Glaring at Sabrina, she growled low in her throat before walking away. Sabrina smirked at her before turning and pouring herself a cup of coffee. When Eve returned to the office, she paused to calm herself before walking through the door. “Here you are,” she said, walking into his office. Arec had been slumped in his chair with his hand covering his eyes. He sat up when she spoke, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the steaming cup she held out. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted sugar or creamer, so I brought some of both,” she told him, setting the packets and containers on his desk. “Thank you,” he said, tearing open three sugar packets and pouring the contents into the cup. He opened the creamer and poured it in, stirring it into the coffee. Finally, he took a sip and sighed with pleasure, his eyes closing and his lips curving into a
Craig smiled and looked down at the table. Lifting his head to peek at her, he said, “If I was, would you say yes?” Eve took a deep breath and pursed her lips before saying, “Craig, I really enjoy our lunches together, but I’ve had a rough week, what with starting this new job. I’m going to take the time this weekend to just relax and not do anything. I’m sorry.” The smile left Craig’s face, and he nodded. “I get it,” he told her, sitting back in his chair. Eve shook her head and said, “It’s not like that, Craig. I’ve just had a rougher than normal week and want to relax this weekend.” He stared at her for a moment before smiling. “I get it,” he said again. “New job, new stresses. Maybe next weekend?” She nodded, unsure, and said, “Maybe.” Pausing, she glanced around before looking back at him and adding, “We can meet up for lunch again during the week at least.” He smiled, not as big as before, and said, “That’d be nice. I’d like that.” “Me, too,” Eve told him. The se
Eve typed, “We just had dinner and talked for a while. We didn’t realize how long we’d been there until I glanced at my phone and saw the time. Arec was just as tired as I was today.” She hit send and muttered, “Linda would never believe me if I told her about seeing a werewolf, not once, but twice.” Hearing the indication that Linda had replied, Eve looked at the text. “So, things are going well at work, then?” she asked with a winking emoji. Chuckling, Eve replied, “You could say that.” “And what about your lunch dates? What’s going on with him?” Eve frowned as she read that. She thought for a moment before responding. “I get the feeling he likes me more than I like him. Don’t get me wrong. Craig is an interesting man, but the spark isn’t there between us.” “If you don’t want him, maybe I’ll take him off your hands,” Linda texted. “Are you feeling a spark with Arec, though?” Eve frowned as she thought about the spark she’d felt when she first shook his hand and muttered, “
Eve and Linda jumped and looked toward the fence. “Craig!” Eve exclaimed when she saw him standing on the other side of the wall with his arms crossed on the top. “What are you doing here?” Before Craig could answer, Linda asked, “So, this is the famous Craig I keep hearing about?” Craig perked up at this and grinned at Eve. “So, you keep talking about me to your friends?” he asked with a wink. Eve felt her face warm and glanced down at her food before looking back at Craig. “I may have mentioned you a couple of times,” she told him with a smile. “Good to hear,” he said, smiling back at her. Linda cleared her throat and said, “From what Eve tells me, you were the one who introduced her to this restaurant.” Craig nodded and looked at Linda, saying, “I did. It’s a favorite restaurant of mine, and I wanted to introduce her to it.” “I’m glad you did,” Linda told him, grinning. “Me, too,” he said, looking back at Eve. Linda looked at Eve, then at Craig again, and asked, “
Eve waited, holding her breath, as Arec listened to Michael on the other end of the phone. Arec listened, then looked at Eve and nodded. “He found them?” she asked, hurrying to his side. Arec moved the phone away from his mouth and told her, “He has their trail.” Eve put her hand over her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. She hurried to the couch and sat down. As she waited for Arec to finish his conversation with his brother, she leaned forward with her hands clasped so tightly that her fingers turned white. After Arec hung up the phone, he looked at Eve and said, “He’s going to track them and call back when he has more information.”“Do you think it will take long?” she asked, her brows drawn upward in concern. “I’m not sure,” Arec told her, walking to the couch to sit beside her. “Michael is an excellent tracker, so I don’t think he’ll lose their scent.” He reached over to unclasp her hands and held her hands in his. “Linda’s going to be okay,” he told her. “How do
Eve gasped as Arec made the suggestion that Linda had been abducted. “Do you really think someone took her?” she asked. Arec and Michael sniffed the air before looking at each other and nodding. “What is it?” Eve asked, looking at them. “What do you smell?” She inhaled, then shook her head. “I don’t smell anything,” she said. “That’s because your senses are dulled when you’re not in your wolf form,” Arec told her. “Whereas we can still access our Lycan senses when we’re not in that form,” Michael said. “So, what are you smelling?” she asked. Arec and Michael glanced at each other again before Arec said, “We smell Craig.” “What?” Eve cried. “You think he has Linda?” Arec looked at Michael before nodding. “His stench is all over Linda’s car,” he said. Eve ground her teeth, and her hands balled into fists. Her eyes narrowed as she sniffed the air. She shook her head before she said, “I can’t smell anything, but I will find him and make him give Linda back!” “You
“So, how was your day with Linda?” Arec asked when Eve returned to the house, carrying her purchases inside. “It was nice to see her again,” Eve told him, smiling as she set the bags down. “You look like you had a good time,” he told her, grinning and nodding toward her shopping bags. Her smile widened into a grin as she waved toward the bags. “I think we bought out the entire shopping area,” she said. “At least, it felt like it.” Arec smiled and shook his head. “Should I even check the bank account?” he asked. Giggling, Eve shook her head and said, “It’s probably best that you don’t.” “Then, I won’t,” he said before picking up some of the bags in his left hand while holding out his right arm for her to grasp. She picked up the rest of the bags and slid her arm through his. They walked out of the living room toward the staircase. When they reached her room, she dropped her bags and dug her phone out of her purse. “Let me text Linda and tell her I made it home safe,”
Linda craned her head to follow Eve’s gaze and gasped. “That sure does look like Craig,” she said. “What is he doing here?” Eve scowled and took her napkin off her lap as she stood. “I don’t know, but I’m going to go out there and find out,” she said. Linda put her hand on Eve’s arm, stopping her friend. “Are you sure that’s wise?” she asked. “How well do you actually know that man? What if he’s dangerous?” Eve glared at him through the window and balled her hands into fists while she said, “He’ll find out who’s more dangerous when I go out there and confront him.” Linda frowned at her friend, then released her arm. Eve glanced at her friend and told her, “I’ll be right back.” Linda nodded and watched Eve leave the cafe. Eve marched out of the cafe, glaring at Craig, who leaned against a light post with his hands in his pockets. He spotted her and stood up. Linda continued to watch the scene as it played out. Eve marched out of the cafe, her eyes trained on Craig, who co
“Where?” Eve asked. “Where is Craig?” Linda pointed to a man standing on the other side of the pond. When Eve looked at him, he grinned at her and walked away. “That sure looked like Craig,” Eve said, staring at his retreating back. “I wonder why he was out there.” “I wonder why he didn’t come in and say hi,” Linda said, frowning. “Maybe he knows about Arec and didn’t feel comfortable talking to us,” Eve said, turning to look at her friend. She chewed on her thumbnail as she looked back out the window toward where Linda said Craig had been. Linda leaned forward and grinned at Eve. “So, how are things going with Mr. Right?” she asked. Eve turned to look at Linda and smiled. “We’re doing good,” she said. “You must be,” Linda said. “I haven’t seen or heard much from you lately!” Eve’s face fell, and she said, “I’m sorry about ignoring you lately, Linda. I didn’t mean to shut you out.” Linda reached across the table to pat her friend’s hand and said, “Don’t worry about
Eve’s phone rang, startling her from her thoughts. Looking at the screen, she smiled before she answered it. “Hey, girl,” she greeted Linda. “How have you been?” “Long time, no talk,” her friend said. “I’ve been good. How about you?” Eve paused as she thought about the events since she’d last spoken to her friend before saying, “I’ve been good. What’s new?” “Just the same old, same old,” Linda said. “Still single and trying to mingle to find that special someone. Speaking of a special someone, how’s your man doing?” Eve felt her face warming as she smiled and said, “He’s doing good. We’re doing good.” “I haven’t seen you in a bit, so I wanted to give you a call,” Linda said. “I figured you’d been spending time with your man and forgot all about me.” Eve shook her head and said, “I could never forget about you.” “Glad to hear that,” Linda said with a chuckle. “So, what’s new with you?” Eve asked. “Found anyone who has stolen your heart yet?” Linda chuckled and said, “Not
Eve’s mouth dropped open at Arec’s announcement. “Fight you?” she asked when she found her voice. “Are you serious?” Arec nodded and said, “Of course I am. I’m the best option you have.” He held up his fingers as he counted the ways. “I’m your mate, so I’m not going to hurt you,” he said. “I know you better than Michael, so I should be able to anticipate what actions you’re going to take. Also, if you injure me, I won’t react like Michael would.” Turning to his brother, he shrugged and said, “No offense, Michael.” Michael shook his head and changed back into his human form. “None taken,” he said before asking, “Do you think it’s wise to do this, Arec?” “I would rather be the one to train her so that I can take the blame if any information gets out to the werewolves,” he said. “Plus, she’s my mate, so I don’t think she’ll tell them anything if it’s me she’s fighting.” “He makes a good point,” Bella said, tilting her head and pursing her lips as she studied them. “I don’t thin
“Is this really necessary?” Eve asked Arec, looking at Michael in his Lycan form on the other side of the gym. Arec looked at his brother, patiently waiting for Eve to finish warming up, and nodded. “You need to know how a Lycan fights so you can be prepared for what Sabrina may come at you with,” he said. “Michael won’t go full Lycan on me, though, will he?” she asked, still staring at him. “He will be full Lycan, but he won’t be using his full strength,” Arec told her. “He wants to teach you how to fight a Lycan, but he doesn’t want to hurt you while doing so. You won’t be able to fight a Lycan until you transform again during the next full moon.” Eve nodded, not taking her eyes off Michael, who noticed her staring and winked at her, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. She started, blinking her eyes rapidly. “Are you ready to begin?” Arec asked her, frowning. “Or do you want me to give you a few pointers first?” Eve tore her eyes from Michael to look at him. “You’d do
“What?!” Arec roared. “What do you mean this challenge is to the death?”“That’s how we settle things these days, bro,” Samuel said, smirking at Arec. “You’d know this if you attended more Pack meetings.”Arec looked at Michael and asked, “Were you aware of this?” Michael looked at his mother and said, “I had a suspicion that Mother might still follow the old ways when it came to this.” “What old ways?” Eve asked. Arec glared at his mother before turning to Eve and saying, “In the old days, Pack law was settled by a fight to the death, but these days, I thought we’d become more civilized.” Looking back to his mother, he added, “It seems that I was wrong.” His mother pursed her lips and looked away. “Too bad for your girlfriend,” Sabrina said, bearing her teeth in a grin directed at Eve. “Now, wait just a minute,” Arec said, starting to stand. Eve put her hand on his arm. He looked at her before sitting back down in his seat. “I’ve got this,” she told him, staring at Sabri