Chapter 18
It’s been hard to focus on the road when I have my mate next to me looking so damn beautiful. I squeeze the steering wheel and let out a low growl that’s only meant for my ears.
Ruka is in the back, along with Millie and Jess. Westin, Jazz, and Reina are in the truck behind us since we all couldn’t fit in mine.
Nariko turns around. “Ruka, no weather-related anything tonight. Tonight is all about having fun. No work.”
“I have a bad feeling, Nari. Look. There are three supercells right now.”
Nariko snatches the phone away from her brother and zooms in on the screen. “That’s impossible.” She gasps when a fourth pops up on the screen. “There’s no way. This has to be a glitch.”
A fifth.
And they all seem to form around something, circling an invisible object that we can’t see. There’s only a town there. The cells aren’t moving either. They are still.
“Okay. These aren’t anywhere near us. They are closer to Tulsa. I’ll make an update now so the word can get out.”
“Five supercells, Nari? That’s unheard of. All those people,” he whispers in horror.
I check the rearview mirror; his eyes look dejected.
“The cells themselves don’t seem too strong.” Nari squeezes her brother’s knee. “I’m in the chat right now with other chasers, and they said there are no tornadoes on the ground, and their own radars aren’t picking up those cells. Maybe it’s a glitch. We will check back, okay?”
“If it isn’t a glitch, these could be the storms that give us the chance to get into an EF5 funnel, Nari. You can get the photo no one has ever dared to get before. It would be famous. You’d be famous.”
“You want to go into an EF5 tornado?” I chime in with rage burning on the back of my tongue.
I can’t stop her, but no sane person would risk their lives going into a fucking tornado that powerful. No one would survive. I might not know much about storms, but I do know that.
“No. I mean, yes. I did. I do want to get that once-in-a-lifetime picture from a major tornado.” She keeps changing her mind.
She does. She just doesn’t want to upset me.
“Can we all focus on having a good time?” She practically pleads, widening her eyes and pouting that pretty bottom lip at me I want to nip.
“Fine,” Ruka and I relent at the same time, only for us to glare at one another in the rearview mirror.
“Ya know, I can’t believe you wouldn’t invite me to this sort of thing.”
Everyone in the car screams or shouts. I’m startled enough I lose control of the truck and swerve off the road.
Only to find fucking Lorcan in the middle seat between me and Nariko. He’s in his human form, wearing all black clothes, black boots, and has eyeliner smudged on his orange glowing eyes.
“Oh my god!” The girls scream, wondering how Lorcan just appeared.
“What the fuck, Lorcan! You can’t do that. You can’t just pop up out of nowhere. You could have caused an accident.”
I correct the truck, getting on the right side of the road. The tires screech and the scent of rubber billows through the vents. The backseat is panicked, screaming, shouting, even kicking the seats to be let out of the truck.
Fear cranks up in the cab, and it becomes difficult to breathe. The air is heavy, as if all the oxygen has been removed from the space.
Fucking. Chaos. All thanks to this damn Void. He always does this.
Lorcan realizes his mistake, and with a wave of his hand, everyone calms. “They think you’ve just picked me up from my house,” he whispers out of the corner of his mouth. “Sorry about that. I forgot about the humans.”
“You are so dramatic, Oakley.” He rolls his eyes, speaking louder, pretending we are having a normal conversation. “Nariko, you look lovely.” He takes her hand and kisses her knuckles.
“Hey.” I slap his hand away from hers. “Lips to yourself.”
“Ugh, fine. So, where are we going? I finally have the night off from Death. I can’t remember the last time I had a night to myself, you know? It’s had to be, what, four or five centuries now?”
I nudge him hard in the side, clearing my throat. “Working at the morgue must feel like such a drag for time to move so slow like that. I have days that feel like years too.” I hope he understands what I’m trying to do.
No one else in the car knows about the paranormal, and if Lorcan doesn’t shut his big mouth, this night is about to take a turn for the worst.
“Oops,” he mutters. “Just kidding! You ever had a job that just drags?” He groans with theatrics, meeting Ruka’s gaze in the mirror. Lorcan spins around and holds out his hand. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lorcan. Oklahoma’s bestie.”
“You are not my bestie…whatever that means.”
Millie and Jess giggle, both of their faces turning red from Lorcan’s bad boy looks.
“I’m Jess. This is my wife, Millie.”
Lorcan kisses each of their hands. “Such lovely creatures.”
“You’re kind of weird, aren’t you?” Ruka tilts his head, analyzing the Void.
Nariko’s brother is smart. I wouldn’t put it past him if he knew Lorcan was otherworldly. If he figures Lorcan out, he’ll figure me out, and then he will know about Westin and Jazz too.
“I am a little weird. Guil-ty,” Lorcan singsongs. “I’m Lorcan.”
“Ruka. Nariko’s brother.”
The moment they meet hands, Lorcan yanks his arm away. The Void peers up at me; his usual bonfire eyes have shifted to the empty abyss they usually are when he is in his other form.
“What just happened?” I ask, every word sharp and concise.
Lorcan whispers in my ear, cupping his hand around his mouth so no one can see what he is saying. “Do not let him leave your sight. He isn’t meant to die tonight, but if he chases, he won’t see morning. I need to go have a talk with Death to see if I can’t try to change the course of Ruka’s life.”
My palms sweat from his words. Nothing can happen to Ruka.
“You’d do that? On your night off?”
He doesn’t answer me. His eyes return to normal, bright flames dancing in the irises again.
Plastering a smile on his face, he waves at the backseat.
“Tootles, everyone. I have to go. It was lovely meeting you all. Such interesting creatures, truly. Do The Dust Bunnies allow ride-alongs? If so, can I come? You know what? Let’s talk about that later. My boss.” He gags. “Am I right?”
They will forget I was here; he inserts his words into my mind.
And then he’s gone, leaving me confused, worried, and scared. Ruka and I might not see eye to eye, but I don’t want him to die. Nariko would never forgive herself for not protecting him. His death might kill her, and it’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen—that it can’t ever happen.
Fuck.
I’m going to have to change him into a vampire one day. I know it.
“How much longer to the bar?” Nariko asks, a howl ripping through the air.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I hear it. It isn’t like a wolf shifter’s or werewolf’s call.
I keep Lorcan’s secret to myself. The last thing I want is to cause panic.
The mood shifts in the truck. Everyone is peeking out the windows, holding their breaths, a crackling amount of curiosity seeping into my chest.
“What. Was. That?” Nariko presses her face against the glass, the hot air puffing from her mouth, fogging the window.
Another howl surrounds the truck. It’s closer. I wouldn’t be shocked if it was hiding just beyond the tree line, staying hidden within the darkness and safety of the woods.
“That was a wolf.” Ruka seems unimpressed. “Or a coyote.”
I shake my head, keeping one hand on the wheel to hold on to Nariko’s with the other. “Wrong. You guys haven’t heard of the lore about The Oklahoma Dogman?”
“Oakley,” Nariko deadpans. “Be serious.”
“I am serious,” I laugh.
“The Oklahoma Dogman?” Ruka crosses his arms. “Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?”
I shrug a shoulder, keeping my eyes on the road. We’re only a few minutes away from the bar. This is the perfect story to kill some time.
“There’s a legend.”
“Wait!” Nariko pulls out her phone and aims the camera at me.
“What? It’s good footage for the followers.
Say hi, everyone!” She pans the phone left and right.
“Dust Bunnies, long time no see! Sorry it’s been a few days, but I’ve been a little busy.
” She points the phone at me next, and I tip my hat.
“That’s my boyfriend,” she whispers, only for them to hear, but regardless, I smile from ear to ear knowing she wants to show me off.
“Tell us, Oakley!” Millie leans forward, her eyes seeming bigger behind her big thick lenses.
“Legend has it, there’s a creature that roams the plains of Oklahoma. He’s part man, part wolf.”
“So a werewolf,” Ruka bores, yawning.
“Don’t ever let a werewolf hear you say that.” I wince, forgetting no one else in this truck knows about paranormals except Nariko, and she hasn’t learned that there are so many creatures who walk amongst humans.
Another howl rips through the air, and Millie grabs her wife’s arm, staring out the window.
“It’s a cryptid. No one knows for sure if the Dogman is real, but it’s said it has canine-like features, a muzzle, ears, teeth, and its body is more human.
Apparently, it growls before an attack, stalks its prey, and loves to hunt humans, but I have had a sheep, or two, go missing throughout the years.
” I smirk, the rearview mirror showing Ruka gulping, Jess grinning as Millie grabs onto her so tight, her knuckles turn white.
“All our followers are saying it’s true!
” Nariko shares. “There are so many unidentified animal attacks. Some people think it’s a mountain lion or bears, but witnesses say something else.
Describing a creature that is upright with a long snout and dog-like ears.
That is amazing! I love Oklahoma.” Nariko’s fingers fly over her phone, messaging people back.
I lean across the middle seat and whisper into her ear. “I love you too, Sugar.”
She snickers, meeting me halfway. “You have a great sense of humor if you think that statement was about you.”
“Last I checked, I’m Oklahoma,” I sigh, shrugging a shoulder. “It’s just who I am.” I straighten, focusing on the road before I decide to turn this truck around and cancel everyone’s plans.
But I can’t stop thinking about Nariko’s body dancing against mine. I need that more than I need blood tonight. I want to show her off. I want all the men in that bar to see my hands on her and wish they were me.
“Keep it PG with me in the car, okay? I don’t want to get sick tonight.”
“Oh, grow up, Ruka,” Nariko snaps, never looking away from her phone.
Another howl surrounds us, and every person in the car gasps. Nariko drops her phone, and it bounces off the seat onto the floor.
That story will keep them occupied on every single chase. I’m proud of myself. Look at me, disrupting people’s lives.
Ah, shit. Maybe Lorcan is rubbing off on me.
Finally, Boot Knockin’s bright red sign comes up on the left. There’s a cowboy next to it too, leaning against the sign, hat tilted, and some mechanism has his arm moving to put his hat off and on.
The sign beneath it says, “Buy one beer, get the other half off. Ladies get in free tonight!”
There are a ton of people in the parking lot who are making their way over to the entrance. I’m driving slowly, my headlights beaming into people’s eyes. They won’t get out of the way. Men in cowboy hats and freshly tucked-in shirts look like they haven’t seen a real day of work on a ranch.
Finding a spot in the back, I park, and Westin is right next to me.
“Don’t you move,” I warn Nariko.
“Whatever you say, Cowboy.” This time, it’s she who winks at me.
My eyes flash in warning, daring her to play with fire. I’m on edge when my mate is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but tonight? Her outfit is clawing at my control.
By the end of the night, there won’t be any left.
I’m at her side and opening the door, offering her my hand.
“What a gentleman.”
I help Nariko down and spin her around, loving how her long dark hair fans around her. She’s so graceful in everything she does. I can’t help but watch her all the time.
“Looking gorgeous, Sugar,” I compliment, loving how bright she smiles when she hears my words.
No one could understand how deep my love goes for my mate. My love can be found in every little motion she does. The way she laughs, the sound music to my ears. The way she speaks or gasps. No one hears the slight high-pitched noise she makes in the back of her throat sometimes when she’s scared.
It usually happens when Kevin comes around.
She’s a brand new beginning, and I find comfort that there will be no end.
“Ready to knock boots?” I tug her close, bend my knee, and dip her over my leg.
She clutches onto my shoulders, laughter bellowing from her.
There.
Right there.
That’s where my love lives.
In her. In everything she does.