Running with Direwolves (Monsters of New York #1)

Chapter One

Sienna peered through the bars of the dark cage. The latest arrival into her care was a direwolf, and she could hardly believe she was looking at it in the flesh. The huge canine had been considered extinct since the Ice Age. She’d learned that at college when studying zoology, yet now here was one right before her. Its glacial blue eyes were piercing and its shoulders were over a meter from the ground. Never had she seen such a big wolf, or one that exuded such strength.

“Where have you been hiding?” she murmured as the creature continued to stare at her. “How did you evade humans for millennia?”

The wolf blinked, stood, and turned away, showing her its long dark back and thick tail.

It had been picked up in Montana by a ranger checking on his cattle. How he’d done it without getting mauled was baffling, but she was grateful because now the beautiful, mysterious creature was here, in her zoo, in her canine compound.

The other wolves—the regular gray wolves—were howling from their enclosure next door. They had been since the direwolf had arrived. Clearly, they could sense it, smell it, and they were on edge. With a bit of luck, they’d get used to it after a few days and quiet down. Because the direwolf was staying. This was his new home and his new life. He would be their star attraction with visitors from all over the world and from every scientific discipline.

“Try and get some sleep,” she said to the animal. “And I’ll see you in the morning ready for your big reveal.”

A huge press conference had been organized before the first visitors to Central Park Zoo were invited to see the famous new arrival. Sienna hoped the crowd wouldn’t upset the precious direwolf further. He hadn’t eaten since his capture three days ago and that worried her.

She once again checked the lock on the gate, secured the keys in her locker, then turned. A sense of remorse nipped at her. The majestic creature had been roaming free in the Rocky Mountains, minding its own business, and now it was locked up, and would be for the rest of its days. A team of zoologists were out in the mountains searching for more direwolves. There must be more, they said, a species had to breed. They’d also be locked up when captured. Perhaps her direwolf would be happier when he had company.

“Good night, Ted.” Sienna waved at the night guard who was sitting in his office by the staff entrance. The glow of screens lit his face. “Have a good one.”

“I will if your wolves pipe down.” He poked his finger in his ear.

“They will, hopefully.” She chuckled and slipped her purse strap over her head.

She took a well-lit path toward the main road and decided a drink would settle the uneasy feeling about the direwolf’s capture.

The Gin Room was her usual haunt after a long day. She slipped through the door illuminated by the neon pink sign above it, and made her way to the bar. “Bombay with elderflower tonic,” she said with a smile to the barman.

“Coming right up, Sienna.” He reached for a glass. “Good day?”

“Not bad, you?”

“New kid dropped a crate of glasses but other than that…” He tutted as he poured. “You got that direwolf at your place?”

“Yes.”

“Thought you would have, you work in the wolf bit, right?”

“Yes, I’m head keeper of the canines.”

“What’s it like? The dire?”

“Big. Bright blue eyes.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

“You will soon.” She took her drink and set down a few bills. “Thanks for this, I need it.”

“No worries.” He smiled and moved on to another customer.

Sienna glanced around. The bar was half full. A mixture of couples and groups of friends. She found a seat in a booth and was glad to get the weight off her feet. It had been a long day.

Pulling out her phone, she checked her emails. Several journalists had reached out directly about the direwolf as well as a TV news channel. She ignored them, the zoo’s marketing department handled that stuff. Her priority was the welfare of her animals.

She sipped her drink and thought of the direwolf. His eyes brimmed with intelligence, as though he knew something she didn’t, as though he understood things she never could. His lack of appetite concerned her. Was it because he was scared? Maybe it was a protest hunger strike. How could she tempt him to eat? Had they presumed his natural diet was the same as other wolves, or did he have a different set of nutritional requirements?

“Can I sit here?”

Sienna looked up at the sound of a deep voice. A tall guy, early twenties, dressed all in black, nodded at the opposite side of her booth.

“Oh … I…” She looked around.

“There’s nowhere else,” he said and took a slug from a bottle of beer.

It was true. The Gin Room had suddenly gotten busy. “Sure, go ahead.” She smiled and went back to her phone, bringing up a research paper on wolf nutrition in the hope of solving her problem.

The man sat, he was quiet as he poked at the label on his beer, perhaps listening to the jazz playing from speakers. After about twenty minutes he spoke, “Want another?” He nodded at her empty glass.

“I…” She studied him. He was young and handsome, there was no denying that. He had a long straight nose and a dimple in the center of his chin. His jawline held a shadow of stubble and his eyes were piercing blue, just like the direwolf’s.

“No strings.” He shrugged. “I’m just going to the bar and it’s busy up there now.”

“Okay, thanks, I’ll give you some money.” She didn’t want to be indebted.

“My treat.” He stood and walked away.

For a moment her attention lingered on his jean-clad ass. It was damn cute and a perfect handful.

It had been a long time since she’d had any bedroom action. Since splitting with Graham, she’d thrown herself into work. Her friend Mae kept telling her to get back in the saddle, even if it was just a one-night stand. Maybe she should. Maybe Beer Guy could come in useful. Scratch the itch. No … he was too young. She had to be fifteen years his senior.

She squirmed on her seat as she watched him at the bar. His shoulders were wide and his light brown hair licked the base of his neck. Beneath those clothes was a damn fine body—she’d bet good money on that.

A couple of girls to his right were checking him out, nudging each other. He turned, drinks in hand, and wandered back, appearing not to notice his admirers.

Quickly she studied her phone again.

“Here.” He slid a gin and tonic her way. “I asked the barman what you drank.”

“Ah, thanks. Yes, he knows. I pop in often enough.”

“Nice to have a regular place.”

“I guess.” She paused as he sat. “You from the city?”

“No, just visiting.”

“Work?”

“Something like that.”

“Man of mystery, eh?”

He kind of smiled and took a drink of his beer.

Sienna set down her phone. “So, if you’re visiting, have you done the tourist sights?”

“You mean the Empire State?”

“Yes, that, and Statue of Liberty, Central Park…”

“I’ve been in the park all day.”

“And did you enjoy it?”

“Busy, I’m not used to so many people.”

“That’s the Big Apple for you.” She glanced at the two girls who’d been regarding her drink companion. They were wandering off. “What’s your name?”

“Tarl. You?”

“Sienna.” Tarl, that was an unusual name. It suited him, though. There was something curious about him but she couldn’t put her finger on what.

“You live here, Sienna?”

“Yes, just around the corner.” She glanced at his ring finger. It was empty. Of course it was, at his age he hadn’t had time to find the love of his life.

“Not sure if I could do the city full time.” He scooted along a bit so he was directly opposite her. “I like open space.”

“Room to roam, right?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, exactly that.”

“So how long are you staying?”

“I’ll be out of here soon … I hope.”

Ah, so if she wanted some fun there was no time to waste. She sipped her drink and studied his face. Did an age gap really matter if it was just a one-night stand?

He was looking at her with equal interest. There was sparkle in the depths of his eyes and his lips were damp where he’d just licked them.

Was he thinking the same as her? Was he thinking about sex and wondering just how good they’d be together? If so, there was only one way to find out.

“Wanna get out of here?” she said, feeling both bold and nervous. He might cut her down, tell her she was too old. Reject her the way Graham had. But life was too short not to take a chance.

He raised his right eyebrow. “What you got in mind?”

“I’ve had a long day, my brain is frazzled. I could really do with some fun.”

“Fun?” He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Fun of the bedroom variety?”

“It would be more comfortable than the back-alley variety.”

He smiled. “To tell you the truth, I’ve been damn stressed too, some fun sounds like a good antidote.”

Her heart rate picked up. She hadn’t read the signals wrong, thank goodness. She took a few big gulps of her drink and slipped her phone into her purse. “Can you promise me you’re not a serial killer or a terrorist?”

“I’m many things, Sienna, but neither of those.” He finished his beer and banged it on the table. “I’m also quite capable of taking you back to my hotel room if you don’t want me to invade your space.”

Having Tarl invade her space was all she could really think about. It was what she wanted suddenly. “I live a few doors from here. Add not being a thief to that list and you are cordially invited.”

“I’m no thief.”

“Good.”

He stood and held out his hand. He really was very tall, his limbs long, and his pants sat low on his hips, his abdomen flat as a board. She took his hand, his flesh warm against hers, and stood.

The barman glanced their way and an expression of surprise crossed his face. He’d never seen Sienna leave with someone before and it clearly was notable. If Tarl turned out to be a freaking weirdo, at least there was a witness to who she’d left with.

Stepping outside, she shook that feeling. Tarl radiated a sense of calm confidence that was very attractive and reassuring and was unusual in such a young man.

It was raining lightly and a cab passed, its tires splashing in the puddles. Tarl switched sides with her, so if there was any stray water it would hit him and not her.

She glanced over the road at the park. She thought of the direwolf, and hoped he was at least trying to eat some of the meat she’d left out for him.

“This is me,” she said after just a minute.

“You weren’t lying, you really do live close to The Gin Room.”

She smiled, took out her key, and opened the door.

They paused in the tiny hallway that led to her small living space with a sofa, a bed behind a curtain, and a small functional kitchen. It was warm and smelled of the jasmine reed stick she’d set on a shelf. When she shut the front door, silence wrapped around them.

She swallowed and looked up at Tarl. Shadows enveloped his face as he leaned down and cupped her cheeks.

“How’d you wanna do this?” he murmured.

“Do what?”

“Do you want me to seduce you?” he asked. “Or just get to the business of fucking?”

“Can I get both?”

He grinned. “Sure thing.” His mouth brushed over hers, a gentle kiss that tasted of beer.

She gripped the material of his slightly coarse sweater and pressed in close. He was warm and smelled of the outdoors. He moaned slightly and pulled her closer, his embrace firm and full of desire.

Sienna closed her eyes and gave herself up to him. It had been so long since she’d enjoyed any kind of passion and now her body craved joining with another.

He pulled back and knotted his fingers with hers. “This way, right?”

“Yes.”

He tugged her forward a few steps and flicked on the overhead light. Sienna blinked in the harshness and quickly drew the curtains and turned on a table lamp with a red shade that gave a softer glow.

Tarl turned off the overhead light and sat. He bent and began to undo the laces on his thick black boots that looked more suitable for a mountain hike than the city.

His sweater stretched over his shoulders, his hair hung forward, and his long elegant fingers worked efficiently.

Damn, she’d gotten lucky. Her day had really taken a turn for the better.