And the man was a werewolf, for heaven’s sake.A werewolf!
But my mother would tell you I could be impulsive at times—that I didn’t think things through from beginning to end. Too rash and hotheaded. Just like my father. She also referred to him as a monster on more than one occasion.
Despite all reason and my better judgment, I thrust out my wrist at him. “Okay. Fine. Give me the charm.”
He tried to hide a smirk at the corner of his mouth, but it only accentuated his infuriatingly cute dimple. As he attached the charm to my bracelet, his fingers grazed the inside of my wrist, shooting electricity up my bare arms.
I ground my teeth together, doing my best to ignore the sensation.
This man was trouble. I’d be smart not to forget that.
CHAPTER TEN
Travis
Ipropped my boot on the lower rail of the fence, leaned on the top rail, and looked around my family’s property. Darkaway Ranch was located a few hours outside of town, in the shadow of the Mystic Mountains. These lush acres of rolling pastures and forests had been in my family for generations.
Hell, if I was going to let a half-brother I just met have this place. My father’s will was a sham, signed by a confused, angry old man. I wasn’t about to stand by and let the chips fall as they may.
“Glad to see you’re heeding my advice.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of my best friend’s voice right beside me. Correction—assholebest friend. He loved doing sneaky vampire shit like this.
“What the fuck?” I glared at Alexander who was casually looking up at the crescent moon rising on the horizon.
“Getting plenty of moonlight is going to help that knee heal faster,” he said, ignoring my biting tone. At the hospital, he’d described it like humans getting vitamin D from the sun.
I chuffed. “Ever thought of calling first before materializing—or whatever the fuck you call it—out of thin air?”
“It’s calledfading, but I didn’t. I flew here.” Alexander stretched out his arms, and his shoulders cracked. “Long day in the ER, so at nightfall when my shift was over, I decided to go flying. Thought I’d pop in and see how the contest was going.”
The doctor came from a vampire lineage that could turn into bats, ravens and owls, but not all the undead had this special skill. Some could turn into wolves, others to smoke. And some couldn’t shift their forms at all.
At the thought of shifting, I gripped the top rail tighter. I yearned to run through the woods, feel the earth beneath my paws, and howl at the moon. But Alexander had advised against changing into my wolf form for the next few days to give the injury time to heal. It was like seeing a cupcake on the kitchen counter after a workout. Knowing I shouldn’t have something made me crave it even more.
“I should revoke your invitation,” I growled to Alexander.
He grinned, flashing some fang. “That only works for buildings, my friend, not land.”
“How’s that coyote shifter pup doing?” I asked, changing the subject. “The one who was hit by the car.” The boy had been on my mind ever since he was brought to the ER and rushed on a gurney past my room. Alexander was a talented doctor, but he couldn’t perform miracles.
My friend’s expression softened. “It was touch and go for a while, but he’ll be fine. Looks like the family will be spending their vacation in the hospital, though, instead of on the beach.”
A cheer went up from inside the main barn, and Alexander cocked his head in that direction. “Find the future Mrs. Monroe yet?”
I’d confided in him earlier about my father’s will and Jada’s ridiculous contest. He knew my goal wasn’t to find an actualwife. Just a fake fiancée to satisfy the mating ceremony requirements, thus saving the ranch.
“Not yet.”
My thoughts strayed to Daphne again. The bit of attitude she gave me at the charm ceremony had made my inner wolf perk up and want to play. I’d been a total dick to her, yet she held her own against me. I respected the fuck out of that.
“I’m glad you’re going this route instead of hiring a Cupid,” Alexander said. “I dated one once, and it didn’t end well.”
Just one? I stifled a laugh. I’d known him for a long time. The guy was a total fuck-boy and had probably dated dozens from that fairy lineage over the years.
“They’re doing the first part of the Ranch Challenge now, which is supposed to show their aptitude for ranch life,” I said with finger quotes. “Not that I plan to live here when this is all over, but that’s irrelevant.”
Alexander snorted. “And they callmea cold-hearted bastard.”
