Chapter 2

I Straddle the stranger throwing punches. “You let that killer getaway, and now he has killed again,” I hiss, throwing a punch towards his face, but he catches it with his hand. “STOP!” He shouts, shoving me off him.

“You have 5 seconds to tell me how you found me and why you are here?!” I snap, glaring at him. “Well, for starters, I’m a wolf so I can follow your scent genius, and I am here because I want to help you catch this guy,” He answers, standing from the floor.

“Not just no, but hell no! I work alone,” I declare. “I am helping you. That 15-year-old girl was from my pack.” He announces not able to look me in the eyes, my expression softens and sigh. “Fine, you can come along, but I make the calls. I tell him sternly. He nods in agreement.

I hold my hand out, “I’m Sloan” He hesitates for a moment then grabs it firmly and shakes. “I’m Maverick,” He replies. “Who names their kid Sloan?” Maverick questions, lifting a brow. I roll my eyes. “It’s not my real name dog, and don’t ask me what it is,” I retort. “You know I take offense to be called a dog,” He informs me.

“Yeah, I figured, but I didn’t agree to spare you feelings,” I say with a fake smile. Maverick laughs, looking around my cabin. “So you stay here alone?” He asks, bringing his gaze back to me. “I’ve been alone for the last 98 years with only my family. I think I’ll keep it that way,” I reply with an annoyed expression.

“You’re 98 years old? How do you keep that figure? You must tell me your secrets,” Maverick chuckles. “Haha, you’re so funny, and no, I’m actually 116,” I answer, not looking amused. “You’re so lively. No wonder everyone is knocking your door down to be your friend,” He says sarcastically. I stare at him blankly, annoyed by his presence.

“Well, this has been a blast, but you annoy me, and I don’t do the conversation thing,” I say, shoving Maverick towards the door. He turns abruptly, looking at me with a smirk. “So, talking to me this long means you like me?” He asks, laughing. “No, you idiot.” I retort, pushing him out the door and slamming it shut.

Maverick yells through the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

I roll my eyes even though he can’t see my irritation, “Be here first thing in the morning, dog,” I shout back. I hear Maverick step off the porch, and I head to my bed.

The next morning I wake up packing a bag with some clothes and a couple of guns with ammunition. My phone pings on the nightstand, I pick it up, looking at the text.

Daniel: “Morning, Sloan, we received a tip that Drake was spotted in Salem last night.”

Sloan: “Okay, thanks, Dad, I’m leaving now, text me with any more details.”

Daniel: “Be safe, honey.”

Sloan: “Sure thing, dad” I put the phone in my pocket and grab my bag, heading for the door.

I swing the door open to reveal Maverick standing on my porch. “Ready?” He asks, yawning. “As ready as I can be to work with a wolf which, by the way, is my natural-born enemy,” I reply, walking past him.

Maverick follows at my heels. “Drake was last seen in Salem last night we need to start there,” I say with my back to Maverick. “So, where is your car?” He asks, searching around. I turn back to him. “I don’t like cars, plus I don’t want to be stuck in a car for hours with a wolf,” I declare, and He rolls his eyes.

“I have an extra bike in the shed over there, but if you scratch it I’ll rip your head off and hang it on my wall as a trophy,” I warn, turning back to my bike. Maverick turns to the shed and opens the door to reveal a bright red Yamaha R6 with black wheels that has a tag with the name Ezra on it.

Maverick pushes the bike, stopping next to me. “You’re making me ride your ex-boyfriend’s bike, seriously?” He asks with a snarl. I turn to look at him with confusion. He points to the name, and I look away for a moment. “It was my brother’s,” I whisper, getting on my bike.

Maverick’s face has an expression of regret. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to bring it up,” He says, feeling like an idiot. “It’s fine, let’s go,” I reply, starting the engine and bringing the kickstand up. I race off, down my driveway, turning on the highway with Maverick right behind me.

Maverick and I ride for about an hour when we make it to a bar outside Salem. I pull in, parking my bike. Maverick parks next to me, we both get off the bikes I take off my helmet, and I can feel Maverick staring at me. “What?” I ask, lifting a brow. He looks away abruptly. ‘What is this wolf’s problem?’ I think to myself.

“We need to see if anyone has seen Drake,” I say, walking for the door. I step in, going to the bar, “Excuse me, have you seen this man?” I ask the bartender showing her a picture on my phone.

“Yeah, he was in here last night, and this morning he tried to hit on me, but I declined his offer, and he said he was leaving town today,” The bartender answers. I sigh and place my phone back in my pocket. “Thanks, can I get two beers, please?” I ask, looking over to Maverick, sitting at a booth. The bartender hands me the beers, and I slide her some cash.

Walking to the booth where Maverick sits a man steps in front of me. “Hey there gorgeous, what do you say we go someplace alone?” The man says with a wink. “Nah, I’m not interested” I retort and walk past him, but he grabs my hand, I can see Maverick starts to get up from the table, but I spin around and grab his hand, twisting it behind his back all while holding the two beers in my other hand.

“AAAHHH!!” The man cried out in pain. “I told you no, do you fuckers think that means yes? I hate men like you, thinking you can take what you want. Well, guess what asshole you fucked with the wrong bitch” I say in a low tone. “I’m sorry it won’t happen again.” The man apologized frantically. I roll my eyes shoving him over the pool table.

The man lands on the other side and stumbles to get up quickly, running for the door. I turn back to Maverick and walk to the booth. I take a seat across from him. “That was interesting to watch,” He laughs.

I hand a beer to Maverick. “Yeah, I hate douchebags,” I reply, taking a drink of my beer. “So, what’s your story?” He asks. I look at him hesitantly. “I don’t have a story,” I answer, taking another drink. “Oh come on, we are stuck together for who knows how long you don’t want to know more about each other what if I’m a mass murder?” He says, laughing.

“I would just kill you, not even blinking,” I declare with no emotion on my face. “Why are you so difficult? who the hell hurt you down to your soul?” He says with annoyance in his voice. “I don’t have a soul, remember, I’m dead,” I reply dryly. He sighs, taking a swig of his beer. I change the subject. “Drake has been here, but the bartender said he left this morning,” I tell him. He takes another swig of his beer. “So I will track him first thing in the morning,” He says, looking over at the people dancing to a slow song.

The waitress walks over, “Would you like another round?” She asks. “Sure,” I say. The waitress nodded her head and walked back to the bar. My attention is brought back to Maverick who insists on having a conversation with me. “So, you’re not going to tell me a thing about you?” Maverick inquires. “What do you want to know, wolf?” I say, looking annoyed.

“How you became what you are?” Maverick questions, looking at me. I stare at my empty bottle, using my fingers to peel off the label. “I died when I was 18 end of the story,” I explain, never looking at him. “But that doesn’t answer why you do what you do and why you are so cold towards everyone,” He retorts, narrowing his eyes at me.

The waitress returns, “Here are your beers, is there anything else I can get you?” She asks. “Yeah, a bottle of Rum, please, if I have to sit here and listen to this dog all night, I need something stronger,” I declare, looking to Maverick. “Oh, you aren’t a couple? If that is the case, would you mind if I ask him for his number?” The waitress asks, looking at me.

“You don’t have to ask me? I barely know him,” I reply, grabbing the new beer. The girl turns her attention to Maverick, and I smirk. “I’m sorry, but I’m taken,” Maverick tells the girl, and she frowns. “Oh, okay, I’ll grab that Rum for you then,” She says and walks off.

“You’re in a relationship?” I ask, giving him a look of disbelief. “No, not exactly, but I have a mate, and I can’t go against that,” Maverick tells me, picking up his beer. “How does she feel about you out here with me?” I question him, smirking. “She doesn’t know we are mates yet,” He declares, looking away from me.

We have been in the bar for a couple of hours, and the Rum is gone, and we have had several beers, and I’m drunk. “I think we should call it a night,” He suggests and I try to stand, I stumble laughing. Maverick is at my side within seconds to catch me. I can feel his muscles tense against me. “You do know I am a vampire. I don’t need saving,” I tell him looking into his eyes almost lost for a moment before I shake my head out of this trance.

“Yeah, I know, but I’m a gentleman and I am not going to let you fall. ‘Is this wolf trying to be kind to me? I’m so confused we are supposed to hate each other,’ I think to myself. Maverick helps me out of the bar. “We need somewhere to stay for the night,” He insists, looking around, and his gaze stops on a small motel at the end of the block. He directs me towards it.

We walked into the motel. “Hi, we need a room for the night,” Maverick says to the clerk. “sure, we only have one room available,” The clerk says, looking between us. “Yes, that is fine,” He agrees, still holding my arm. He pays, and the clerk gives him a key, and Maverick guides me out of the lobby towards the room.

“I am more than capable of walking on my own,” I snap, pulling my arm away. “You really do hate everyone, don’t you?” Maverick retorts. He opens the room door and lets me walk in first. “I don’t hate everyone, I just don’t like you,” I say, laughing. He looks at me unamused. “I’m going to take a shower wolf, and no, I don’t need your help,” I giggle, walking into the bathroom and closing the door behind me.

I finish with my shower and feel like I’ve sobered up. I look at myself in the mirror, grabbing a towel to dry my long blonde hair. ‘Shit I forgot my clothes’ I wrap the towel around me and open the door to get my bag.

Maverick sits on the bed and looks up as I come out of the bathroom in only a towel. His eyes go wide. “Um... where are your clothes?” He stutters, never taking his eyes off me. “I forgot them out here,” I explain, I walk to my bag by the door and grab my things. I turn around to find him standing there, looking at me with an unexplainable face.

I dart my eyes around, “What are you doing?” I ask him, confused. He looks like he is about to say something but stops himself. “Nothing,” he says, turning to go back to the bed. I continue to walk when he revolves back around, running right into me, and we trip falling to the floor, and he lands on top of me and looks into my eyes with his mouth only inches away.