HarlowAfter we pulled up to Cyrus's house on his bike, he picked me up and carried me inside. It made me think of the first time he'd done that before we'd made love. Turning on the living room lamp, he sat me down on the couch and planted a kiss on my lips."Wait here a minute," he whispered, and he headed into the bedroom.I was becoming nervous. I'd have been lying if I said I wasn't, but I was also excited for what was to come. I would be like Cyrus and the rest of the pack members soon. If everything went right… It had to. Cyrus was going to be my mate, and it felt impossible that our love couldn't withstand my first shift. It made me feel invincible.Regardless of how sure I felt, my knees were shaking. I placed my hand on my neck, where my mating mark would be."Oh, God," I muttered. My pulse quickened, and I tried to force myself to keep my breathing steady. My mating mark… This was really happening.Then I felt Cyrus's familiar touch on my arm, and it had an immediate c
CyrusI held Harlow while she fell asleep. The sun had come up, and she'd be unconscious for a while after being bitten."I love you, baby," I whispered in her ear and kissed her mating mark. It was bruised, and the heat from the bite was quickly spreading to the rest of her body.Soon she'd have a fever. Then would come the pain of her human body being overtaken by the bite—a pain no one who was born a werewolf had to endure. Sure, the first few shifts were uncomfortable for born wolves, but what Harlow would be going through was an entire transformation; her DNA was rewriting itself.Hours went by before she finally began to stir. By that time, she was feverish, and it would continue to climb. Werewolves run hot."Hey," I said, helping her sit up. "How're you feeling?" I took the cap off a bottle of water and gave it to her with a straw."Ok so far," she said before drinking, then motioned for me to get into the bed with her, which I did. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed
CyrusEveryone else in the bar parking lot looked as shocked as I was. Madoc was still alive. But how?I pulled Harlow close to me. To my disappointment, she looked relieved to see him."Now, I know what you're thinking," the vampire said, from the middle of the road. "Where did he get a new suit on such short notice? Spoiler. I got it at Mega Mart. I also picked up a toolset for only ten dollars—""That's it!" Blayze roared as he threw down his cut, shifted, and charged the vampire.He slammed into Madoc, knocking him to the ground, but in seconds. Madoc was on his feet again, seemingly unfazed. The Alpha attacked again, this time snapping at him with his jaws, but to everyone's surprise, all he got was air as Madoc rushed out of the way and reappeared several yards away.There were gasps from all around at how fast Madoc moved."Look, I just want to talk," the vampire said. Undeterred, Blayze rushed toward him, but again, Madoc evaded his assault."Honestly, I just want to ha
Harlow"Come on, baby," I begged my 1972 Pontiac GTO. I peered around for a sign of civilization, but the last rest stop I'd seen was at least fifty miles back. It was dark in the New Mexico desert, and it was beginning to feel like mine was the only car on the highway. The squealing noise under the hood was only getting louder."Gnaw Bone – 4 miles" a bullethole-ridden sign read. In my twenty-one years, I'd never heard of a stranger town name, but it appeared to be my only saving grace at that moment."Just four more miles. You can do it." I tapped the steering wheel lovingly. But mere seconds later, the emergency battery light came on. "Crap." Then the car slowed despite my foot on the gas pedal. "Well, screw you, too," I sneered as I guided the car over to the side of the road and put it into park. "Please don't be the alternator," I said, even though that was where all signs pointed.With a huff, I turned the ignition off then tried restarting, but the car was dead. I flipped
HarlowI climbed behind Cyrus on his bike and caught sight of the MC insignia on the back of his leather vest. It said "Bone Hills Howlers" around the figure of a wolf howling in front of a full moon."I like your vest," I said."It's called a cut," he replied as he revved the engine. "Helmet," he reminded me."Safety first," I joked as I slid his helmet on.I leaned forward and grasped onto either side of his firm torso with my hands, breathing in a mixture of scents. Cologne and engine oil. Oddly comforting.Then we were off. Adrenaline rushed through me as we drove uphill and then sped down the other side. Each twist and turn of the road was exhilarating, and I found myself leaning into Cyrus with every bend in the road. We were soon at the outskirts of a small town."Welcome to Gnaw Bone, population 314," read a faded sign. The first building I saw was an old mechanic shop on the south side of the road. A bar with flashing neon lights sat directly across on the north.Wh
Cyrus"Get off of me!" Harlow's voice rang out from across the road. I'd just gotten her car into the garage and hooked up the OBD scanner. Peering out of the garage, I saw those two college-looking guys roughing her up and pulling at her clothes.It was all happening on Blood Dogs territory. Our paper-thin truce dictated that no one from either pack cross over for any reason. But I knew that the bar was so loud inside that no one would hear her. I had to do something. They were hurting her, and they were gonna do a lot worse.I didn't have time to weigh the pros and cons of breaking the truce. I saw red, and my body just took over. Before I knew it, I ran across the road and tore those motherf*ckers off of her.I could have just kicked the sh*t out of them and let them run away like the cowards they were. But guys like that didn't deserve second chances. The wolf inside me was begging to be set free, so I tore off my cut and let the beast come forward. Bones and muscles snapped
Harlow"Werewolves," I repeated Bonnie's last word. My gaze went from Red to Cyrus to Blayze and then to the dozen or so naked men and women standing around me as if this was just any other Sunday night.This wasn't happening. I must have gone completely insane. I winced as Bonnie put pressure on the wound on the back of my head."Werewolves," she said again. "But you've got nothing to worry about. We don't hurt anyone who's not a threat to us. You're not a threat to us, right?" She stepped back around into my field of vision.I shook my head vigorously. "I'm not. I'll get out of here and never come back. I won't tell anyone about this, I swear.""Not without a car, you won't," Cyrus said. "That'll take another day.""I can hitchhike.""Don't be silly," Bonnie said. "You've got a nasty gash on your head. You need stitches.""No!" I pleaded. "No doctors. No paperwork.""Relax," she said. "One of my guys can get you fixed up. You can stay on my couch tonight. My trailer's just b
Harlow"You wanna work for me?" Bonnie said over her cup of coffee."I'd offer to work it off over at the garage, but I get the feeling Blayze doesn't like me much.""Well, Blayze Rollins is a piece of sh*t, so don't take too much offense," she said. "You must have people. Someone you can call for help?"I shook my head. "I'm on my own. I find odd jobs here and there to feed myself and keep gas in the car."Bonnie contemplated my words for a moment, then finally said, "Red's been hounding me to get another bartender. Let's give it a try for a month. You can start tomorrow.""Thank you so much.""There's a vacancy a few trailers down, but it needs a lot of work done. I'll let you stay there for free if you can get it fixed up and ready for the next renter.""You own the trailer park, too?" I asked."Everything north of the highway for twenty square miles belongs to the Blood Dogs. What I say goes."She seemed to see the appreciation in my eyes. I was truly touched by the gestu