AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Because you belong with him.
The shout out from my inner voice was unexpected, leaving me feeling clammy and out of sorts. That wasn’t possible. I wasn’t going to succumb to something I’d dreamt about. I refused to listen to my body and I wasn’t going to surrender to the fear, or to any man.
No matter how intoxicatingly sexy he was.
After taking several deep breaths, I dared to move back toward the window, searching the entire area. He was gone.
Had I imagined the whole thing? No. The rumble of a motorcycle was unmistakable. I doubled over, holding my stomach as I tried to rationalize the last few moments. The dream had been troubling, the attack challenging my senses. That had to be all that had happened. I was allowed to feel out of sorts.
Then why did his scent continue filling my nostrils, lingering as if staining my skin?
I was a rational woman, one who’d spent years staring at black and white, digging through files to find the truth. The attack had spurred the nightmare, altering the events because of the horrible men who’d accosted me.
And the wolf who’d stood over you, protecting you.
“No!” I refused to believe anything other than my mind had played tricks on me then. I’d been smacked in the head with a gun, for God’s sake. There was no possibility anything I’d seen at that moment was remotely accurate.
Think like an attorney.
The three men from the bar had followed me back to the condo. That much I knew. I also remembered several lights were out in the garage. Then…
An arm sweeping around my neck.
A hard blow.
Several… growls.
His face.
The wolf.
No. No. I pressed my hand over my mouth, the single laugh creating a wave of pain. There were no such things as freaking werewolves. While the doctor had said there was no concussion, I was beginning to wonder. Maybe I should have remained in the hospital overnight, although all I’d wanted to do was get home and take a long, hot shower. Ridding myself of the filth of their hands was first and foremost in my mind. I’d finally closed my eyes close to five.
Two hours of restless sleep, dreams that were overpowering. Wonderful.
I thought about the statement I’d made to the poor police officers. They must have thought I was heavily intoxicated or worse. I’d actually stated that two beasts had been fighting, creatures of the night. That much I could remember. When they’d asked if I’d possibly seen two dogs, I’d challenged them.
I couldn’t blame them for rolling their eyes.
I took a tentative step away from the window, still trying to calm my breathing. Every muscle was aching and stiff, my body covered in scratches and I knew I would have a heady number of bruises at some point. I still felt unclean after scrubbing for fifteen minutes, but I needed some answers more than anything else.
Who had attacked me and why?
My suspicions revolved around Chris, although I couldn’t wrap my head around why he would bother doing something so heinous after I’d already signed the contract. Perhaps to keep me in line?
I didn’t believe in coincidences, allowing my instinct to take hold. Had the thugs been sent to harm or just terrify me? My mind was still foggy, unable to process all of the events. As I walked into the bathroom, turning on the light, the reflection staring back at me already appeared battered and bruised.
If mostly in my mind.
Well, I certainly had a legitimate reason to miss work for the day. I’d spend the time researching in an effort to find any answers.
As I quickly dressed, tossing on a pair of jeans and a sweater, my thoughts drifted back to the wolf. Correction, the Wolfen. Why had my mother saved the note for all those years? There was no point in asking her. She’d merely give me grief for going through her things. Besides, there was no freaking way I was telling her about my move or my endeavor. I was determined to do this on my own.
The nagging remained regarding the books I’d read as a child. If only I could remember the name of the one mentioning the Wolfen. After grabbing my phone, I walked toward the front door, studying the locks. They were still in place, no sign of an attempted forced entry. This was a secure building. I was safe. Safe. Yes… I stared at the door for a few seconds before shaking my head. I wasn’t going to fall into the victim mode. I hadn’t left my cushy job in Baltimore to go on a hunt without knowledge that there would be danger involved.
As I passed by the kitchen table, I noticed the wilted flowers, the half dozen petals that had fallen to the table. Another telling moment. I couldn’t even keep something so beautiful and innocent alive.
I moved into the kitchen, putting on a pot of coffee then shifting to my laptop. Today, I’d use the kitchen table as my office, avoiding contact with all humans.
