There were no exterior lights on the buildings and every other streetlight was out, causing the street to be more shadowed than light.As she continued forward, Summer swore that whatever was following her seemed to be herding her to somewhere specific.
The apartments and shops had given way to a more warehouse type of neighborhood, though even these buildings were many stories tall.
Turning yet another corner, Summer smiled when she saw neon lights glowing halfway down the block on the other side of the street.She jogged toward the lights, hoping someone there would help her get an Uber or a taxi so she could get home.
As she approached, she saw the neon spelled out Dante’s Warehouse in glowing red letters over a set of large double glass doors.Two men who looked like football players or body builders stood in front of the doors.A handful of people carrying suitcases, duffel bags, or backpacks were lined up on the sidewalk in front of the building.
These were the first people she’d seen since leaving The Gin Room.It was as if the entire city had gone to sleep around her.Pausing only a few seconds to debate, Summer jogged across the street to what she hoped would be safety.Stopping at the end of the line, she worked to catch her breath and overcome her fear.
Looking over her shoulder, Summer froze when she saw a man and what she swore were two wolves saunter into a pool of light at the corner of the building.They stopped and stared at her for nearly a minute before disappearing around the corner of the building.
The line moved quickly and in a few minutes she faced the men guarding the door.A glance behind her showed there were three men crossing the street toward her.Frowning, Summer studied them as they approached.They looked familiar.
Were those the men who’d been visiting the bar every night for the past week?
“Name?”The grunted question had her turning to face the two men.
“Summer Donovan, but I’m not on the list.C-Can I go in anyway?”She looked from the one on the right wearing his white-blond hair in a braid that trailed over his left shoulder to the one with sandy brown hair that appeared nearly as long, but was worn loose down his back
“ID, please.”
Summer fumbled to pull out the small wallet she always carried in the front of her work pants.Opening it, she handed over her driver’s license to Blondie while the other pulled a clipboard off a hook on the wall beside him.
She waited as the two men studied her from head to toe once again before looking at each other.They seemed to be holding a silent conversation for several seconds.
“I’ll vouch for her.She’ll be my guest for the hibernation.”
The deep voice spoke from directly behind her.Summer froze, afraid to turn around and confirm they were the men who’d sat in the corner of The Gin Room every night she worked for the past week.The ones who’d given her weird vibes as they watched her work each night, leaving just before closing time.
“Yes,Konungr,” the two men said in unison as they bowed low.
Chapter Two
Not sure how she’dfound her way to his bar, but pleased she did, Fenrir stepped up beside his sweet-smelling mate and offered her his arm.“Shall we?”
She looked up at him with eyes wide and the sour scent of fear rolling off her like fog rising from the fjords back home in Norway.Before he could assure her that she was safe with him, she pulled in a long, slow breath.
