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Both of us lived in jeans and t-shirts or tanks. We were usually covered in grease and grime. I insisted tonight we should put some effort into our appearance. River opted for a new pair of jeans but gave in and wore a long-sleeve black dress shirt. I broke out the only pair of black dress pants I owned and a blue dress shirt. My leather jacket was the only piece I couldn’t give up.
“Fine. Since she knows about shifters, I forget that most of this is new to her. But I’ll give her my option, just in case,” he grumbles. “My wolf wants to show off to her.” He paces the living room.
I’ve never seen him so nervous about anything. Ava is already necessary to him. He’s been struggling for a while now, traveling extensively, running from his past. It was a big deal for him to settle down here again. Deep down, he wants to make a good impression. I do too.
“I would advise against it. We want her to like us. She’s nervous around us already.” I pick up my jacket and slip it on.
“I’m curious about her hesitation,” he says. “You didn’t see her face when her brother was speaking.”
“I don’t like the idea of her brother. He has to have something to do with her caution with us,” I muse.
“I don’t like him at all. He is an ass. If she would let me, I would just kill him,” he states.
“Don’t mention that to her,” I scowl. “Tone down the crazy for tonight. After we learn all the facts, we can decide together if he needs to be killed.” I open the door.
“Deal.” River nods. He walks ahead of me. “Is there going to be food there?”
“Serenity said she would have something for us. I don’t know where you put it.” I shake my head as I lock the door.
“Ava fed me cookies today,” he states proudly.
“I know. You’ve only mentioned it a million times.” I roll my eyes.
“It’s an important fact, Kerian,” he says sternly.
“Of course,” I mumble.
I hope we can both keep our shit together tonight. Ava has our futures in her hands. I’ll drown in a bottle if she rejects us, and River will go off the deep end.
***
We pull up to The Mark, the club Ryker and his business partner Bash own. Ryker is a five-hundred-year-old vampire. We never crossed paths until a few months ago when he asked for help with a situation involving his mate Serenity. He was reluctant to involve us but River, being River, butted in, forming a relationship with his mate. He quickly saw the value of our participation. I have always known of him, his coven, his power, and his role as the King of The Vampires.
Wolves tended to stick close to our own kind, never needing outside relationships. I casually dated a few humans and had one-night stands with other wolves but tried to avoid anything serious. I had hope that I would eventually find my mate. I didn’t care if she turned out to be human or a shifter, as long as she was mine. Everything revealed about my past changed the way I thought about other species. My grandfather and father were wolves, and my mother was a panther. If two opposite species mated, which was extremely rare, the children of that couple would take after the same-sex parent. The mating bond is sacred. If nature puts you together, there is a reason, and it couldn’t be denied.
You could be changed or born a shifter. River and I were born shifters. Ava, being a human, would have to go through the painful change to become one when we bite her, marking her as our mate if we convince her to become ours. Thinking about the change failing caused a shudder down my spine. I can’t let any thoughts of complications take root. Her change can’t fail. I won’t let it.
“Holy fuck,” River breathes.
I fight my wolf, pushing to get out, when I see the reason for River's awe.
Ava is standing at the club entrance, looking at us with irritation, her hands on her hips. We had both been lost in thought for too long. She’s breathtaking in her beauty. She’s wearing a silver dress that clings to her body. The thin straps on her shoulders would be so easy to snap in two with our teeth. The sparkly fabric shines in the colored lights bouncing off the building. It’s short, showing off her toned, tanned legs.
“Kerian, if anyone looks at her, you will have to stop me from killing them,” River growls.
“We will have to give Ryker that task. My wolf is going crazy, and I won’t have the willpower to stop you,” I grit my teeth.
We step out of the car with jerky movements, trying to hold back our wolves' anticipation to get to our mate. River just barely stops before mauling her.
“Cupcake,” he gushes. “You look edible.”
“Thanks, I think,” she says. She smooths down her dress. “You both clean up well.” River preens under her gaze.
“Ava, you look beautiful.” I have to push River out of the way to bend to kiss her on the cheek. A blush stains her cheeks. She is trying to act like she isn’t affected by us, but her heartbeat and body's reaction can’t lie.
“This dress isn’t meant to stand out in the cold,” she says. She turns to the door.
A sharp hiss escapes me when I see the back of her dress. Miles of silky skin is revealed by the barely-there drape of the back, which ends at the top of her ass. I slap a hand on River’s chest to stop him from attacking her. The bouncer watches her and us with suspicion. I have the fleeting thought of gouging his eyes out. Ryker would be pissed, but it would be worth it.
