CHAPTER ONE-A DREAM

      "How was work, babe?" Keith didn't even look up from the television show he was watching when Gretchen came through the door. Throwing her keys on the entryway table, Gretchen sighed and shook her head as she let her hair down from the clasp that held it back in her top knot.

"Don't ask." Gretchen was dressed like a top-level professional today for her meeting with the leaders of the surrounding packs in her black business suit, pearls and heels. The leader of her pack, her mother Stella, was a stylish and smart woman and Gretchen tried her best to emulate her.

As she peeled off her blazer, Gretchen kicked her heels off by the couch. "They killed Uncle Billy and a new witch took over at the Order in Savanna. He's killing off people left and right trying to get rid of anyone who's not a full blood witch."

"Oh shit." Keith had a right to be a little concerned seeing how Gretchen herself was a witch-werewolf hybrid.

Sinking back into the brown leather couch she bought him when she convinced Keith to move to her little town, Gretchen sighed and put her feet up on the coffee table. "It's just fucking crazy. Those assholes don't even see how hypocritical they're being. Unless you're born in the realm, there's always going to be blood mixing with humans, Lycans or Vampyres. Dad's hiring more security just to be safe, they should be here in the morning."

Keith put his arm around Gretchen's neck and pulled her close to kiss her forehead. "Exciting meeting then?"

Gretchen smirked as she rested her head against his chest. Having Keith tucked away on the edge of town was like a mini vacation from the responsibilities of her life. As soon as her pack business was finished, she'd sneak over to see him but all that was about to change. "Yes, very. Did you send the check to the caterer?"

Keith wasn't thrilled about the prospect of becoming a house husband because he'd worked hard to build his own business from the ground up, but he loved Gretchen and wanted to see her achieve everything she deserved. His popular restaurant in the city would just have to go on without him. "Signed, sealed and delivered."

Rubbing her hand up and down his thigh, Gretchen felt like the Queen of all things. She was getting married, becoming the alpha of her territory when her mother stepped down soon and her parents were giving them their beautifully restored old farmhouse. Everything she ever wanted was falling into place for her. "Great, one less thing to worry about. Before you know it, I'll be Mrs. Gretchen Jackson, and we'll be on our way to Cancun for our honeymoon."

Her tendency to treat Keith less like a partner and more like a pet was a difficult habit to break. Being human, he was more or less defenseless, and she took a lot of grief from her pack and parents about allowing him into their world. But that only made Gretchen's defiance about not waiting for her mate even stronger. She wasn't about to allow anyone to tell her who she could or couldn't love, even if she didn't really love him at all. "By the way, I don't want you going out without security, so just hang tight in the morning til the new guys get here. I can't let my handsome human get scuffed up."

Keith chuckled to himself then pulled Gretchen's hand away and kissed it. "I can't fucking wait til the weddings over. It'll be nice to be able to show my face around the pack without them giving me those shitty looks. Those people hate me."

Gretchen lifted her hair off her shoulders as she shook out her messy golden-brown curls. "I know it's not easy, I was hoping everyone would come around to me marrying a human, but I honestly don't give a shit anymore. When I take over after the wedding, no one will say anything to you ever again. I promise you."

The warm musky smell of her hair made Keith wish she hadn't come home so late. He knew he'd always play second to her pack and family, and he was happy to get any piece of Gretchen that he could. Even though he'd worked all day, he made sure that she wouldn't have to lift a finger once she got to him. "Hey, by the way, I left dinner in the oven."

"I know, I could smell it a mile away. Thank God I'm marrying a chef or else I'd starve to death," said Gretchen. "I appreciate you staying here in this shitty little apartment, Keith. I just wanted to spruce up the house before we moved in. All those wolves running in and out over the years really messed up the floors and carpet. The painters finished up today and the new appliances came, you should see it. That old farmhouse has never looked so good."

"I can't wait, babe," he said. "Now go eat so we can go to bed. I'm exhausted."

While she wrapped up her shower after dinner, Gretchen stepped out onto the bathmat and started to dry herself off. Keith got under the covers and turned on the television then started to go through the selection of movies on Amazon. "So what are we watching tonight babe?"

Gretchen spit her toothpaste in the sink and shrugged. "How about something scary?"

Laughing to himself, Keith shook his head. He'd woke up to Gretchen screaming for nearly a month now. "You seriously think that's a good idea? Your nightmare game has been strong the past couple weeks."

Pulling her tank top down over her head as she walked out of the bathroom, Gretchen climbed into bed beside Keith and snuggled up in is arm against his chest. Gretchen hated that she was powerless to the dreams that haunted her. She worked so hard to come across to the people in her pack as a tough leader, but at night she was a crying, trembling mess because of the man who tormented her. "It's so weird. I have this recurring dream about being kidnapped by some man wearing a cloak. I keep trying to run away from him and the harder I try to get away, the closer he gets. No matter how much I fight or bite or growl, he just won't fucking leave me alone."

Keith kissed Gretchen's forehead then clicked ok on the remote. As the intro came across the screen, Keith said, "Yeah, I know, I hear you screaming out his name. Oh, Damien!! Oh, Damien!!"

"It's not funny," Gretchen said as she slapped Keith's arm. Turning over as she rolled on top of Keith, Gretchen crossed her leg over his hip and straddled him then ground herself slowly into him "They're terrifying. I keep trying to run home, and he keeps appearing in front of me. I can't shake him no matter how hard I try. I think he wants to kill me.

Keith grabbed Gretchen's ass cheeks in his hands and started guiding her movements. "I think he wants to fuck you Gretchen. I actually can't say I blame him. I've been thinking about it all day myself."

"Is that so? Well, I guess ole Damien will have to wait his turn tonight then," said Gretchen as she pulled off her shirt and threw it to the floor. Shifting from side to side, Gretchen shimmied her boxers down her legs and kicked them off. Her body was perfect and Keith thanked his God every day for bringing Gretchen to his restaurant that day. His life had been an exciting whirlwind of mystery and discovery ever since. He felt like he was living in a dream most of the time.

"Damn, Gretch, no panties. What a naughty little witch you are!" said Keith as he ran his hands up her chest and lightly squeezed her breasts.

"Not tonight, baby. The full moon is out and I'm just your dirty little Lycan bitch tonight," she said as she rubbed herself against his boxers. Keith didn't mind being controlled unlike the Lycans Gretchen had been with. They wanted to dominate her and make her submit, but Keith was just happy to be part of their world. He'd let Gretchen do just about anything she wanted if it made her happy.

Keith blew out through his mouth then curled his lips under as he grew against her. Every inch of him tingled as Gretchen growled low in her chest. "Does that make me little red riding hood?"

As she slid down his body, finally ready to claim her prize, Gretchen hooked her fingers in Keith's boxers and kissed his body along the way as she peeled them off. "No baby, I'll be the one doing the riding tonight."

After a quick round of sex, Gretchen fell asleep in Keith's arms. As her mind drifted off into the world of dreams, Gretchen walked down a dirt path through an ancient forest. She'd been there many times, and she never got to the end, the hooded man always stopped her along the same stretch. As she approached the ambush point, the little hairs on Gretchen neck and arms stood on end in warning but being asleep, the wolf in her didn't recognize the real danger that was pulling into the parking lot outside Keith's building.

As Gretchen slowly creeped down the path and her eyes darted around the darkness while she awaited her attackers, two giant black wolves suddenly blocked her path. It was always the same two Lycans. She shifted and fought the wolves off then ran down the dirt path away from her attackers only to have the hooded man approach her with his hands up saying, "Gretchen, wake up now."

With her heart beating against her chest, Gretchen sprinted towards the man then quickly darted around him and ran as fast as she could through the forest. No matter how fast or far she went, the cloaked figure appeared in front of her and said, "Wake up, my love."

Outside the apartment, the hit squad slowly came up the stairs then waved the leader through when they saw that Gretchen had no security. The young alpha had made the fatal error of thinking that if she kept Keith out of the pack that he'd be safe. But it wasn't the pack she needed to protect him from, it was being with her.

As she came to the ruins of an ancient building, Gretchen ran inside for cover and hid behind a stone pillar. While she panted for air, she was suddenly grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. When Gretchen looked up, the man stood over her and said, "Wake up Gretchen, they're coming." Then, he grabbed her by her throat and said, "Wake up, now."

Gretchen's eyes snapped open as the door to Keith's bedroom was kicked in. Before she had a chance to react, she was placed under an immobilization spell. Unable to move or speak, one of the invaders grabbed Gretchen by her hair and dragged her from bed then threw her to the floor and lifted her head so she could get a proper view of what they were about to do to the young lovers.

Gretchen's eyes widened in horror as five attackers drew knives and surrounded Keith as he lay incapacitated in bed. She kept trying to reach her wolf, but the spell had put that part of Gretchen to sleep. She cried out in her mind to her mother and father. She shared a psychic connection to her parents and the other members of her pack, but Gretchen was staying at Keith's apartment on the edge of town, miles from the nearest soldier and her family. They'd never be able to reach the apartment in time.

The tallest among the intruders knelt down beside Gretchen and slapped the broad side of his knife against her forehead. "Keep your fucking eyes open you half-blood bitch. You're not going to want to miss this."