3. Nova
NOVA
“I’m Olivia’s assistant, for the time being,” I correct.
The man who found me purses his lips. Thick strands of black and silver hair stick to his face from the rain. Droplets roll down his mustache and beard onto his shirt, which is plastered to his skin.
I shouldn’t be staring, but this guy has muscles . His chest is twice the size of the tree that crumpled the hood of my car, and it looks just as hard. Between him and whatever is in the woods—I actually think he’d win a fight.
I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
“You’re qualified for the job, so you can call yourself a doctor.” His expression is dead serious. Like I offended him by referring to myself as an assistant.
“Right—I’m not used to the honorific yet. Just Nova works, too.”
Roen’s eyes stare into mine, turquoise blue and so light they almost have a silver glow. A sense of calm washes through me.
Even though it shouldn’t.
I don’t know him. He broke my car window with his bare fist, and I swore that growl sounded like it came from him. But something like that couldn’t be produced by a human. It was too deep. Almost beastly.
He clears his throat, and I realize we held eye contact for longer than necessary. “I’m sure Oliva wouldn't mind helping out, but since we’re headed in the same direction, I could give you a lift,” he offers.
Waiting for Olivia might be the better option, but the last thing I want is to spend any more time out in these woods. I glance around my wrecked car. “Unless you can smash the engine back into working condition, then yeah, I’ll take a ride.”
Something reminiscent of a chuckle passes his lips, a clipped huff. “I can bring out the tow truck tomorrow, then I’ll get to smashing.”
My pulse skips. I can imagine a few other ways his smashing would come in handy. Shit, I must’ve really hit my head. Or I’ve been listening to that audiobook for too long.
“Um…” I try to wiggle my way free, but between the crunched door and the steering wheel, it’s no use. “Could you maybe…pull me out? I’m stuck.”
This is so embarrassing. But Roen doesn’t make fun of me; instead, he stretches out his hand. My fingers barely fit around his palm. When our skin makes contact, it’s like a hot, pleasant flame. The sensation travels through my veins and shivers along my spine.
His tendons flex as he hoists me out of the seat. I groan, all the aches and pains coming back in full force. I don’t think I broke any bones, but I’m definitely banged up.
He tenses his arm to steady me, and I crawl the rest of the way over the passenger seat. I push back a wave of self-consciousness. It’s not the first time I felt awkward in my own body. Won’t be the last.
Finally, I step out and pull my hood over my hair to protect it from the rain. Just when I think the worst is over, my nipples pucker under my bra. I cross my arms over my chest.
Thankfully, Roan’s gaze is fixed above my eyes, his mouth slanted in a frown.
I raise my fingers to where it hurts the most. “Am I bleeding?
“Can’t tell.” He lifts his hand to my face. “May I?”
I nod. He brushes the pad of his thumb along the edge of my head wrap, and warmth overpowers the pain. My pulse flutters against his hand.
My gaze drops to his lips. Would I feel that same warmth if he kissed me? Would it spread to other places in my body…what if he kissed me down there ?
What on earth am I thinking?!
He pulls away, letting the cold rush in. “You’re not bleeding, but it’s starting to swell. And you’re exhausted. We should get you inside.”
I nod. Definitely exhausted. Maybe a little delusional.
“Wait inside my car. I’ll turn on the heat while I get something to patch up that window.”
“Okay, thanks.”
As I turn to follow him back to the road, he places a hand on the small of my back. I would normally push him off—but I don’t. Instead, I lean into his warmth seeping through my hoodie as he guides us up the small slope.
Then I spot something in the mud. A paw print. Bigger than any other I’ve seen before.
Roen stops and follows my gaze. I swallow a lump in my throat. “Is that…from a wolf?”
His blue eyes turn to mine. “Yes.”
I quickly scan the area. “I think I might have hit it. We should check?—”
“You didn’t. Wolves are smart enough to avoid cars. Usually.” He puts slight pressure on my back as we start walking again. “I thought you were afraid?”
I shake my head. “That’s when I thought it wanted to eat me. Wolves don’t hunt humans, right?”
He doesn't respond. I glance at his face and catch a tic in his jaw.
Oh, shit. Maybe these ones do.
When we reach his car, I notice it’s the same make and model as mine but several years newer. He opens the passenger door and leans in to fiddle with the dash, then steps around to the trunk as I climb in.
I watch as he carries what looks like tape and a plastic bag back down to my car. Fog rolls between the trees, rain dripping from their leaves and branches.
Even though there’s no sign of the beast—or wolf, if that’s what it was—I get the sense that I’m being watched.
Yeah, I’m going insane.
I puff out a breath and let it blur the window. My eyelids drop as I lean into the seat. Maybe I need a few minutes to rest, just until Roen comes back…
My mind slips into a dark, sluggish haze. Thick fur brushes over my skin.
It’s warm and soft. I inhale the scent of clean rain on minty pine trees. Salty ocean air. I snuggle closer, and the fur wraps around me like a blanket to stave off the cold.
Something slides between my thighs. Slowly, back and forth. Drifting higher and higher. I realize I’m not wearing any clothes, but that’s okay. I’m surrounded by fur. I’m safe.
My clit thumps as the tail swooshes a little higher…
Beneath my hand, I feel a shallow rise and fall. Inhale. Exhale. Wait . I open my eyes to see a wolf staring back.
Bright blue eyes. Silver fur with a red stain around its muzzle. Stained with blood.
No, no no no ? —
I try to back away, but it stands over me and snarls. My nipples tighten as the wolf’s breath hits my bare skin.
I can’t move. Can’t run. Sharp teeth clamp around my neck, pinning me down. One wrong move and it’ll rip open my throat.
Its tail flicks again. My clit thuds. I jolt awake just before I near climax.
Disoriented and sticky from sweat and my damp clothes, I flail on the mattress. A heavy blanket slides off with a thud. I still, my heartbeat filling the dark silence.
Was the car accident a dream, too?
Reaching out, I feel the edges of a table, then a metal lamp stand. I click on the light and glance around the unfamiliar room. A stone fireplace crackles across from the bed, built between two tall, empty bookcases. On the other wall hangs a closed curtain over what must be a window.
Besides the lamp is a stack of folded clothes with a note on top. I lean forward and pick it up.
Didn’t know if I should wake you, so I carried you inside your apartment. Left some fresh clothes. I’ll tow your car in the morning. Also, left an extra venison burger and some fruit in the fridge.
Roen
P.S. Lock the door from the inside when you wake up.
Guess he was real. A chill settles in my bones. Was the wolf more than a nightmare? No, I’m psyching myself out.
I turn to the pile of clothes—obviously Roen’s. Hesitantly, I bring them to my nose and inhale the clean, line-dried scent. The best part is that when I put them on, they aren’t tight around my curves.
After changing, I get up and stretch. Where’s that door Roen mentioned? If there really are man-eating wolves, I should take all necessary precautions. Navigating through the spacious living area and kitchen, I find the front door and turn the deadbolt.
I frown. It was already locked.
Spinning, I take another look around. There’s a door down the hallway that has a deadbolt. Right, Olivia mentioned someone lives on the second story. It’s probably a staircase that connects the floors.
Hold on. If the front door is locked, how did Roen get out? Unless…he lives on the other side of that door. Which would mean I'm sharing a house with a man who’s willing to fight wild wolves.
That’s not as comforting as it should be.
I retreat into the kitchen, where large bay windows overlook the sink, and a sliding glass door leads out to the yard.
I go to check the lock, but when my hand touches the handle, I pull it open on impulse.
Rain falls in a lazy drizzle. The breeze slips under my clothes and chills my feverish skin.
I look out into the darkness.
Two luminous eyes stare back before disappearing into the fog.