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Grabbing my bag, I got out of the car, thanking the Ashworths profusely as I did.
“We really hope you stay and that we’ll get to see you around,” Fiona called out the window as James drove away. He waved from the driver’s side window.
I scanned the town square and all the shops. Kids were lined up in front of an ice cream vendor wearing an old-fashioned paper hat. The library sat in the middle of the town, directly across from the town square. The antique store was next to it. All the buildings were old, historical, but well-preserved—no modern designs here.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was like stepping through a portal and landing backward in time.
Inhaling deeply, I filled my lungs with sweet, crisp air. The air was cleaner here, and for the first time in a long time, I could breathe and not feel like I was suffocating under the weight of smog and pollution.
As I worked my way around in slow circles, I took everything in. The town was…angelic—there was no other word for it—and I so badly wanted to belong here. This sort of place could become my forever home, a place where I could settle down, build a family, not be forced to worry every single second of every single day—if something like that was possible for me. In a place like Blackwood Creek, I wouldn’t have to look over my shoulder constantly or have persistent nightmares of losing control. For once, I felt like I could have had all this despite having a monster inside me.
Mentally, I smacked myself out of the dangerous daydream. My inner beast appraised the area. She wasn’t convinced yet, but when she caught sight of the forest wrapping around the town, she ached to roam free. I leashed her and shoved her deep into the recesses of my mind.
I wanted to see more of the town, to examine everything and everyone around me. I could only hope it wasn’t too good to be true. A lot of places looked good on the surface but were actually homes for hunters. Maybe that was what the Ashworths meant by “characters in town.” Leave it to the righteous to live in a place like this—a utopia of sorts.
A sweet, pleasant aroma tickled my nose, and I tensed. I’d never been so attracted and enticed by a mere scent. My wolf liked what she was smelling and wanted to track it down. It was the kind of scent that made my wolf riot for freedom, to take that scent, seek it out, and either roll around and cover herself in it…or destroy the owner. Dread settled in my gut as my heart beat erratically. If I didn’t get a handle on the beast fighting her shackles inside me, things would be bad. I could not lose control of this beast. The consequences would be beyond anything I could live with.
The charming scenery around me blurred and darkened as a violent, malevolent madness pounded inside my head. Sharp pain shot through my brain. I clamped my jaw, grinding my teeth as I fought the bloodthirsty rage battling to take control of my body.
My fingernails lengthened into talons, and I curled my fists. The scent of blood hit my nostrils. My hands went slick from the nails that had punctured my skin; fresh blood dripped down my wrists.
Stay put, Wolf. You’re not going to destroy this town!I screamed in my head.
Short, panting breaths puffed from my lungs as I pushed my wolf down to where I could lock her away and keep her hidden. My body tensed as I held each joint, muscle, and bone in a hard vise of determination that had me shaking from the intensity of my hold and the struggle for dominance raging inside me.
My panic increased as I watched the children playing and eating their ice cream, as mothers and daughters held hands while shopping. I couldn’t lose this battle and let my wolf hurt someone, some innocent who didn’t know the dark depths of the world.
Scanning the buildings, I launched myself through the closest door, which happened to be The Tipsy Tavern that Fiona had recommended. I hoped the smell of alcohol might overcome the scents that had triggered this latest inner fight.
The tavern had an old-timey essence—a dark wood bar, a scarred wood floor with deep cherry paneling. Everything was on the darker side of the spectrum, but there was nothing terrible, sinister, or dive-like.
I slid into a booth in the far corner, hunched over, and breathed in deep and slow, concentrating on every long inhale and every slow exhale in the hopes I could squash the intensity under all the air. I shuddered at the immense amount of control I had to exert. Sweat beaded on my forehead, then ran from my temple to my jaw, leaving damp tracks on my cheeks. I shut my eyes to keep the tears at bay.
Blood rushed into my ears, drowning out all the sounds around me—the clink of glasses, the whir of a fan overhead, the voices of others in the place. All I heard was the drumming of my heart. I was so drained, all I wanted was to curl into the fetal position. Between fighting the wolf inside me and the hunters who were always looking for me and others like me, I was fucking exhausted.
“Hello, miss.” A voice with a light French accent invaded my personal torture. I raised my head and met the man’s eyes, using them to center myself. “My name is Mateo.” He studied me carefully, concern clear in his eyes as he took in my disheveled appearance. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Is something wrong? Can I do anything to help?”
Dread coursed through my veins. It would be so easy—too easy—to hurt this man. To reach up, curl my fingers into his throat, and drag him down where I could tear him apart. It wouldn’t be me, though. It would beher. The beast.
Fuck.Was I about to kill this nice man? All because he had shown some concern for me? Was my time up? Had it just been luck that I had contained the wolf for four years? Was I doomed to live in hell? That fate seemed so cruel after glimpsing a small piece of heaven.
Swallowing was a battle, and every breath ached in my lungs. My mouth went dry, and my lips cracked and burned. Again, I couldn’t find the words to assure the bartender I was okay. I glanced up at him, and his dark eyes studied me. His forehead pinched with concern.
Out of nowhere, a pleasant, commanding, masculine voice cut through my panic.
“Mateo, give the lady some space and a martini.” His tone was deep and rich, but there was no mistaking this man’s command of the room. Heads turned, mine included.
And it was worth it. The voice belonged to the most attractive man I’d ever seen. Tall and dark. Hair like night. Eyes the color of coal. I was still trembling, though now I couldn’t tell if it was from fighting with my wolf or from my instant, burning desire for him. I was no virgin, had been with men before, but I’d never felt desire like this—desire that thrummed through my veins.
I had to be wary. It wasn’t normal to have this level of attraction from just a few kind words. A man like that would never want someone like me, not that I had time for love. Love needed time and trust, and I had neither to spare.
But his kind, beautiful smile kept me captive. We held each other’s gaze as I focused my attention on his eyes. I followed his breathing, nice and slow. In. Out. In. Out.
He slid onto the bench opposite me. “Is it all right if I sit with you for a moment? It’s been a long day at work, and this is my usual booth.” He lifted his brow as if he knew there was a battle for control going on inside me. “But I don’t want to bother you.”
Without answering, I stared at him as my feral mania ebbed and my control returned. Mateo appeared in front of us, sliding the martini in front of me, but he didn’t leave. I didn’t know if he saw the monster residing within me or if I was just in that bad of shape. Did he think I was going to hurt his friend?
Needing to take the edge off, I sipped at the martini. Slowly, the tension faded even more. My muscles relaxed, and my body calmed enough that I was almost certain the danger had passed.
