1.Once Upon a (Crappy) Time
Josh
My paws pound against the earth. The muted browns and greens of the forest blur together. Branches snap and wind whips past my face as I sprint through the trees.
Normally, I don’t mind stopping to smell the wildflowers or getting lost in the primal beauty of the forest.
But there’s no time to get distracted.
Can’t slow down now. Gotta hurry.
Weaving between the thick trunks of towering oak trees, my paws dig into the soft ground while picking up speed, muscles rippling beneath sandy blond fur.
Why rush through the forest like my tail is on fire? Am I on an important mission? Or racing to the assistance of a pack member in distress? Tracking elusive prey?
Nope. Just late for work. I lost track of time at The Clover Pack’s cookout and bonfire.
Once I hit the tree line and find the main road, I keep running. The sun sinks lower past the mountain range in the distance, creating a golden glow over everything the light touches.
Nobody will freak out over seeing a wolf bolt out of the forest. Everyone in the hidden sanctuary of Concordia has some connection to the supernatural world. Moving here at sixteen changed everything. No more hiding in the human world.
I love Concordia and the Clover Pack.
It’smyselfthat I’m still trying to figure out.
Crossing into the city, I shift back into my human form fully dressed thanks to the charm on my keychain. Ah, the perks of living in a magical city.
I catch a glimpse of myself in a shop window, the same hazel eyes and sandy blond hair that belongs to my wolf. In either form, I remain relatively small and slender, easily blending into the bustling crowd on the street.
Colorful buildings full of unique magical wares line up along the paved streets, run by the multiple covens who founded Concordia and continue to shield us from the human world.
“Look out!”
“Duck!”
A group of young witches zip by on broomsticks and I duck as they fly overhead. Their laughter rings out when they soar past, leaving trails of sparkling light in their wake. I grin at their antics.
The flashy red sports car speeding toward me at the intersection, however, is way less amusing.
The engine roars like a beast as the car takes the corner too fast, cutting me off. I leap back to the curb, all too familiar with the obnoxious vehicle and the more obnoxious man driving it.
Does Bane Blackwood think he’s above the laws of the road and plan to breeze through the red light? Arrogant asshole.
But he brakes hard at the last second, car tires screeching. The convertible restsjust overthe edge of where pedestrians can cross.
“Watch out!” I shout after nearly becoming roadkill. “You could have killed me!”
“Were we that close?” murmurs his companion in the passenger seat, voice carrying thanks to the top down in the red convertible.
“Not even.” Bane smirks, knowing I hear every word. “Besides, that guy is a wolf. He has fast reflexes. Or he’s supposed to.”
The Iron Pack lives on the other end of the city. As the Alpha’s son, Bane’s the epitome of arrogance, arrogance, and oh yeah, more arrogance.
The car idles in the road, waiting for the light to turn green. After already drawing enough attention to myself, I stay put instead of crossing in front of their vehicle. What if I walk by and Bane’s foot slips off the brake ‘accidentally?’ Not very likely but why give him a free shot?
Staying on the curb means I’m stuck staring at the side of Bane’s profile. His unfairly gorgeous profile.
Bane towers over everyone, a testament to his super tall, super jacked lineage of the finest specimens werewolfkind offers. Because life is unfair sometimes, he’s also effortlessly stunning. His winning smile, styled chestnut hair, and captivating golden eyes ensnare both men and women alike—something I’ve unfortunately witnessed more than once.
