S U M M E RLife had been a bit chaotic, and I felt that intensity magnified over the past few years.I was content with the path I had chosen, yet the echoes of my past were always lurking.Perhaps everyone needed those reminders to avoid making the same errors again.At least I had moved on from my old life and the guy who tried to hold me back, seeking new adventures.Still, it came with its share of headaches.I kept seeing the wolf card and let out a sigh. I really shouldn’t have stepped into that shop.Lumia's response was still heavy on my mind. The whole thing felt surreal, to say the least.Here I was, a scientist, and I couldn’t come up with a solid explanation.I knew I wouldn’t find any answers on a Sunday night.I knocked on the turquoise door of the charming Cape Cod house, feeling a bit hesitant as I waited. There was never a clear sign of how my almost sister-in-law would be feeling. Emily Abbott seemed like a genuinely good person. She was a wonderful aunt to my daugh
S U M M E RMy little minion took her sweet time getting ready for bed. When I walked in, she was still chattering away, holding out one of three different books for us to read."That one, Mommy! I love alligators. And wolves. Do we have any books about wolves?"Only my daughter would choose an alligator book over a cheerful dog or a cuddly teddy bear. But wolves?"I don't think we have any wolf books, but how about a doggie story?"She huffed and rolled her eyes. "Not the same."I couldn't help but think about the autopsy and the tarot card. No, I wasn't going there. I didn't believe in that stuff. Nope, not me."Alligators it is. Scoot over, sweetie." I dimmed the lights just how she liked them and climbed onto her bed. She had picked out her own comforter as a gift after our move. Deep down, she was a little princess but desperately wanted to be grown-up.At least her room still showed her age for now. I had a feeling that wouldn’t last long.As I began reading, she rested her head
J U L I A NWolfen Industries was operating smoothly, with offices, production sites, and dealers spread across various cities and rural areas in the U.S. We were also in talks with some European diplomats, but it seemed like Italy was really pushing back against our entry into the market.We had a meeting lined up with a group of Italians to try and ease the situation, but I wasn't too optimistic about it.From what I gathered, they were genuinely worried that we would capture an even larger share of the market than we already had. Should I feel bad for them? Not a chance.I had earned a reputation as one of the toughest businessmen in the field, and for good reason.The two production facilities located between Cambridge and Chicago were the original sites established by my great-grandfather ages ago. Although they had been upgraded with top-of-the-line equipment, they still retained their original charm.This included a set of offices on the ground floor of the very first building.
J U L I A NAs she hurried into the office, flipping her long bleached-blonde hair over her shoulder, her usual bright smile was noticeably absent. When she took off her sunglasses, it was clear she hadn’t had much rest.“Gentlemen, let me grab some coffee, and then we’ll head to the boardroom.”Today’s meeting was supposed to focus on selecting a new board member.Since we hadn’t gone public yet, we still had control over our board composition. With Tom Jones passing away from a heart attack, we needed to fill the fifth seat. He had been a dedicated member, living a long and fulfilling life.His death wasn’t unexpected; after all, we’re not invincible and can fall victim to anything from food poisoning to tragic accidents, illnesses, and organ failures.Nonetheless, it was a significant loss for us.Currently, our options were limited, and we needed to find a replacement quickly, especially with the upcoming votes on European opportunities. Our voting pattern typically leaned towards
J U L I A NCalix had no interest in hearing about the legends or the methods that had taken generations to shape our way of life. He despised the mandatory training, skipping more classes than he actually attended. Because of his refusal to adhere to the rules, despite being born an Alpha, his rank was demoted to a lower status. This marked the beginning of his disdain for who we were and where we stood."Supreme beings capable of slaying both wolves and humans," River recalled the ancient tales our mother had insisted we listen to.Admittedly, the old folklore about our curse to roam the earth as hybrids since the Viking era was hard to digest. It felt akin to a ghost story or a horror film crafted by humans.From my scientific understanding, we were created like any other creature, but we had found a way to evolve."What are we discussing?" Parker inquired as Calix continued to seethe.I leaned back in my chair, the thought of our predicament feeling like a personal nightmare. "Wer
S U M M E RFear.I felt a sense of numbness, a stark contrast to the emotions I had experienced the previous night. Sleep eluded me, just as I had anticipated.It’s hard to rest when all you can envision are sharp teeth. No, that’s a vampire. Werewolves have canines, right? Or are they also called fangs?Massive ones.And claws.Long and razor-sharp.And fur. A lot of rough fur. I had a sample to prove it. I should know; I had the DNA. I could run tests, and I had, though I worried the samples might have been compromised.For someone who usually excelled at focusing, my thoughts were scattered. Perhaps I had consumed too much coffee.I had made the mistake of researching wolf capabilities online before heading to bed. They were formidable beings, but they didn’t come back from the dead.“So, the police were here?” Todd inquired. He was one of my two assistants, alongside Daphne, my computer and 3-D specialist. He had a sharp wit but was undeniably brilliant.I was still lost in my th
S U M M E R"I won't fall for your trick of calling me about an emergency with Britney. That's an old ploy, and trust me, men see right through it. They no longer buy into the babysitter-calling-with-an-emergency routine," Melissa stated firmly, as was her style."They will if you sell it well!" A driver behind me honked aggressively, tailgating me. If I weren't already speeding close to eighty miles per hour, I would have gladly slammed on the brakes. Honestly, I could use a new car anyway."That's nonsense, and you can't wiggle out of this so easily. You agreed to the date. Remember?""I was... pressured." It was a stretch, but I couldn't let my best friend know how thrilled I was. She would never let me forget it. "Just do it, please?"As the rude driver sped past, giving me the finger, I instinctively rolled down my window and shouted, "Right back at you, jerk!""Wow, girl. You might want to consider some anger management," Melissa chuckled."It's been a rough week." I had been bl
J U L I A NMy behavior was out of the ordinary.Demanding.In need.There were reasons behind it, some driven by instinct alone. I had a strong sense that she was in peril, but that wasn’t the sole cause of my possessive instincts.My wolf had fully emerged. He was restless, and while she was a significant part of that, she certainly wasn’t the only reason. Just the thought of her stirred something deep within me. I cursed under my breath. I needed to clear her from my thoughts. Frustrated, I raked my fingers through my hair. It had been a long time since I had lost control, and experiencing it twice in such a short span was concerning.I had to focus on the real problem at hand. I had dissected everything I’d heard during the council meeting, along with what Mother had shared with us.Tales.Over the years, I had come across numerous tales about the Wolfen—our kind. These stories came not just from my mother but also from others within the pack.There was a time in my childhood when
S U M M E R“Shush or you’ll wake the sleeping princess,” I told him as he carried me down the hallway. My pussy was still aching from the rough round of sex, but I wanted more.I craved everything the man could and would give me.“That’s tough around you, little wolf,” Julian said in a low and husky voice, easily finding the bedroom in my tiny house. Once inside, he struggled to close the door without slamming it.He’d ruined my panties and I had a feeling that was a habit I’d need to break him of. As soon as he tossed me onto the bed, he yanked down my skirt, pitching it aside within seconds.His needs were insatiable, more so than before. What we’d endured had changed him.The events had changed me as well. I was no longer the kind of nerdy girl who’d adored romance, but had given up on finding the right one.No matter how I played it in my mind, he was the right one. The only one.He didn’t bother removing any of his clothes before climbing onto the bed, lifting and spreading my l
J U L I A NI slipped my hand to the back of her neck, pulling her around to face me. “Stop worrying about things you have no control over.”“That’s the problem. I have no control and it’s driving me crazy.” She nuzzled against my hand as I shifted it closer to her cheek. “I really am a part of Wolfen. Aren’t I?”“Yes. I know that upsets you.”She rubbed my face. “I’m not certain it does any longer.”“That’s good to hear.” Her arousal was increasing.“Your eyes are glowing. Do they always glow in the moonlight?”“I honestly don’t know.”“I think they’re perhaps the most beautiful pair of eyes I’ve ever seen.”“Do you want to talk about my eyes?” I was still burning for her, even more so now.“Not really,” she mused.“Good, because I need to devour you.”Her lips parted as if in a blatant invitation, which I took. At this point, I would refuse to allow her to say no. I crushed my lips to hers, feeling the quiver of her body against mine.She was more nervous than before. Perhaps she wa
J U L I A NI felt her presence even before she walked into the kitchen. The burning sensations were more intense than before, my hunger entirely different. Our connection was growing stronger with every encounter.“There is nothing quite like watching a man washing dishes with a towel stuck into the side of his pants. I must admit, pretty sexy. But I do have a dishwasher.”Only after finishing washing the last plate and placing it in the dishrack did I turn around to face her. The shorter skirt accentuated her long, tan legs, the flimsy tee shirt unable to hide her fully aroused nipples.I yanked the dish towel into my fingers, wiping my hands as I allowed my gaze to fall. “I thought I’d keep myself busy while you were getting Britney to bed.”Summer walked further into the room, taking a deep breath as she did so. “You are quite the hit with my daughter.”“I am, huh?” I returned the towel to the spot where she’d hung it over the stainless rung on the microwave and leaned against the
S U M M E RAll three girls lifted their sunglasses at the same time to get a better look. I was almost ready to punch every one of them.“Stop it,” I hissed.He was taking long strides and only had eyes for me. He’d found me immediately from a hundred yards away.“Whew. Would you feel that electricity in the air?” Carmilla said, pushing my arm with her elbow.“Look at the goosebumps on her arms,” Susan said, pointing toward me.“The woman is in love, ladies. You can feel the extreme heat between them from here.” Melissa backed away before I could punch her.I couldn’t save myself from them. Lowering my head and groaning was all I could do.“He’s making a beeline for you,” Carmilla whispered.I took a deep breath, his presence more commanding than ever.“Good afternoon, ladies,” he said after making his final approach. As always, his deep and velvety rich voice had my heart pitter-pattering.On any other day I would be swooning and pining away for his touch, but this wasn’t just anoth
S U M M E RI was unusually hot for this time of year. I was sweating like a dog. There was no perspiring like a dainty girl in high humidity.“Bring on the plasticware,” Carmilla demanded.“Hey, Johnny. Don’t pull her hair or I’ll pull yours,” Susan yelled at her son.The rest of us shook our heads. “Such a quiet woman,” I told her.“Hey, my Johnny isn’t an angel like your Britney.”Melissa snorted and yanked out the first cork. “You babysit her.” She winked at me.Smiling, I turned my attention to the group of kids. They were jumping and hollering like five- and six-year-olds should be doing. “The party was a great idea.”“Yeah,” Susan agreed. “They’ll be exhausted by six tonight. I won’t have to fight the little brat to get him into bed. For a change.”“I don’t think I ever want to become a mother. Between the two of you, y’all make it sound horrible.”I grinned at Carmilla. “Use the word challenging. Not horrible. I love being a mother, but kids can make you age.” I started pourin
S U M M E RThe day was insufferable. My mind was frazzled. My heart ached. What could be a worse combination?I was on my way to my daughter’s birthday party, my little girl being chauffeured by my best friend instead of her own mother. I was a horrible mom, but I’d wanted to head to the lab to start a few tests, a few I had to send off to a friend of mine back in Chicago who would keep quiet. Or so I prayed.I’d found some surprises for my baby girl downtown, happy with my purchases. I’d been headed to the party when I turned down the wrong street.Passing the tarot card reading shop. While I’d done my best to ignore the draw, I couldn’t seem to help myself. It was as if my willpower was gone now that I knew… That I assumed…“No. You won’t go there. Not yet. Not until the evidence is in.”Not only was I talking to myself as I sat in my car a block away from the tarot place, but I was acting as if the entire situation was one big crime scene. Well, in a way it was.I hadn’t asked Jul
S U M M E RWolves were definitely real and super dangerous. This one looked like it could end my life and have me for dinner. Something inside me said I needed to face this beast before my time was up. I dropped to my knees, trying to steady my breathing while I searched for something to use as a weapon. Luck was on my side for a moment, and I found a sturdy piece of wood. But I was running out of time. In a last-ditch effort to escape, I took off in a different direction, sprinting as fast as I could. I didn’t even notice I was heading back toward the driveway until the bright lights came into view. I felt a wave of relief, but it quickly faded when I turned around. I had seen that video too many times—the guy coming back to life. The blurry footage had shown me enough horror and fascination as I watched him grow larger, his spine twisting. But those white lights wrapped around the trees gave me a chilling realization.I could no longer hide behind science.The high-pitched howl
S U M M E R“What are you doing?”The wind wailed like a mournful wolf, whisking my words away into the night. I pressed on the sharp edges of pebbles and stones biting into my worn tennis shoes. Despite my cautious escape, I quickly felt lost. My heart raced, adrenaline coursing through me, keeping my mind sharp for the moment. But I wondered how long that clarity would last amidst my swirling emotions. Suddenly, I stumbled forward, losing my footing on a smooth stone. The sounds of rushing water surrounded me, leaving me uncertain of the river's depth. Damn it, I had lost my way in the darkness. Clearly, my eyesight was no match for a wolf's. Shit. I felt the urge to shout out one of my favorite movie lines at the top of my lungs.“Why can’t I have a normal boyfriend?”Instead of a savage wolf.It was ridiculous to think that way, but my mind was incapable of processing it any other way. I’d just seen the most bizarre yet insanely gorgeous eyes that were entirely those of a wolf.
J U L I A N“You witnessed the beginning of their shift with your own eyes.”“I was exhausted. I was angry at being forced into working on a case that shouldn’t have been mine. Nothing else.”Her fear had finally stripped her of being able to look outside her scientific box.I wasn’t going to get into a brutal verbal game I wouldn’t win. At least not at this point. “You should try and get some sleep. You’re exhausted and overwrought. I’ll show you where your room is. I assure you that I won’t bother you tonight.” When she continued to glare at me, I stood and started to walk away.As much as I adored her, humans could be a pain in the ass. Work needed to begin in the lab almost immediately. However, the FBI also needed to be watched. I would assign Calix to that duty. He would enjoy aggravating members of the FBI.“I know what I witnessed in that lab those two horrible days. The incidents are unexplainable, especially to a doctor of science, but I cannot and will not believe one hundr