Chapter 1 #2
So werewolves didn’t just exist. Humans could become them.
I should’ve been horrified, but I wanted to know how it worked.
Abby added, “It’s kind of hard to explain, but basically, when a werewolf meets their soulmate, they end up stuck in their wolf form while they decide whether or not to make the relationship official.
That’s why Nico was a wolf when you met him, and it’s why Stella disappeared.
She’s been trapped in her furry form since she met Graham, and she literally can’t talk to you. ”
“So you want me to believe this without any proof?”
There was a beat of hesitation. “Well… she actually just shifted back recently. I thought she would’ve called you by now, to be honest, but I think she’s otherwise occupied.”
“Otherwise occupied how?”
“I can explain better in person. Two of our pack members are going to come pick you up. They’re already in town, and we’re not quite there yet.”
“I have my own car, Abby.”
“One of them can drive it, so you have time to process.”
“You know I process better on my own.”
A gigantic body took the seat next to mine. The guy was so big, I could practically feel him towering over me. The chest-achingly familiar smell that came with him caught me completely off guard.
Inhaling deeply, my eyes closed at the scent of home.
Motor oil.
Tires.
Sweat.
I had avoided mechanic shops like the plague for years. Now that I was finally smelling one, it made my throat thick.
It didn’t bring back any specific memories… just feelings.
Strong ones.
“I know, but this is a lot, Jade. Even for you. Let us make it easier.”
“It would’ve been easier if you told me the day she disappeared.”
“I know. We thought about it, but it’s kind of against the rules, and none of us thought Stella was going to hunt this long.”
“Hunt?”
“That’s what it’s called when you’re trapped in your wolf form after meeting your soulmate. A mate hunt.”
“Lovely.”
“Yeah. I know. It looks like the guys are there. Just… give them a chance?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Alright. See you soon. Love you.”
“Do not bring up the L word while I’m considering strangling you,” I said flatly.
Abby laughed. “Fine. I will see you soon, though.”
“You’d better.”
I hung up, dropping the phone on my lap and taking another deep breath.
The scent of a mechanic shop after so many years missing it should’ve distracted me.
Instead, it sort of… relaxed me.
It made everything feel easier, somehow.
Which was insane, and completely illogical.
Then again, so were werewolves.
The giant next to me lifted his heavy, beat-up work boots onto the coffee table. His thick thighs and muscular calves caught and held my attention as he stretched his legs out in front of him. The grease marks on his dark work pants were impossible to miss.
I could hardly take my eyes off his legs, so I didn’t dare let myself look at the rest of him.
“I assume you’re from Abby’s pack,” I said, forcing my gaze off his legs.
“Feet off the table, Mr. Jones,” Cynthia barked. When I looked, I found her glaring at him. Whether it was because of the grease, the boots, or something else entirely, I didn’t know.
“Yes ma’am,” Mr. Jones drawled. His low, gravelly voice sent goosebumps over my arms.
He dropped his feet back to the floor.
“Abby said she was sending two of you,” I said.
“Finn’s waiting in the truck.”
“Why?”
“He’s got a complicated history with women.”
“Fantastic.”
Mr. Jones grunted. “Ready?”
“To find Stella, yes. To find out whether the werewolf thing is true or not? Not even a little.”
“It’s not that big of a deal. We’re just people who turn into wolves.”
“I’m a scientist, Mr. Jones. People who turn into wolves are a pretty big deviation from normal.”
“Maybe normalcy is overrated.”
If all werewolves had legs like his, maybe it was.
“Maybe all of this is a bullshit attempt to drag me into some sketchy underground conspiracy,” I countered. “Maybe werewolves still aren’t real.”
Mr. Jones stood up.
Fuck, he was huge.
He dragged his stained, white tank top over his head and tossed it onto his chair before he turned to face me. The bastard met the stereotypical mechanic description to a freaking T, plus a few inches of height and a metric ton of muscle.
Don’t quote me on that, obviously. I didn’t legitimately weigh his abs.
Though I did kind of want to.
Ahem.
Anyway.
“Please keep your clothes on in our lobby, Mr. Jones,” Cynthia said in a shrill voice.
He ignored her.
I was too busy staring at his abs to look up at his face. But considering he was currently stripping in the middle of a hospital waiting room, I was pretty sure there was nothing official enough about this man to justify calling him Mr.
Just Jones fit much better.
My eyes widened when he unbuttoned his black work pants.
“What are you doing?” I asked, finally regaining control of my voice.
Did it sound lower than usual?
I didn’t know.
I should’ve been horrified, but I was actually kind of turned on. Between the smell of a mechanic shop and the muscles on the man, I was somehow still at ease.
“You wanted to know if werewolves are real,” Jones said.
“That doesn’t mean I want your dick in my face.”
He snorted. “You can’t shift in clothes, Jade.”
My name shouldn’t have sounded that good in his voice.
I was being ridiculous.
Illogical.
Insane.
Completely and utterly insane.
He pushed his pants down his thighs, and I finally lifted my attention to his face.
I hadn’t missed seeing his cock.
Definitely hadn’t missed it.
He was only partially erect, but hot damn, even at half-mast that thing was the biggest I’d ever seen.
My eyes met his, and his entire body went still.
He was gorgeous, in a wild, rugged way. His choppy, brown hair reminded me of a surfer’s, falling nearly to his chin at the longest parts. His skin was light and his face was chiseled, his blue eyes so bright, I couldn’t look away.
After a moment’s pause, the blue shifted completely.
And glowed a bright, electric red.
There was a rumbly sound that made me freeze. It had come from Jones, but it wasn’t a human sound.
Maybe it was even a wolf sound.
Through gritted teeth, Jones managed to get out one word.
“Mate.”
“No,” I said immediately. Rapidly. Sort of panicky too.
His pants hit the floor in an instant, and I watched in scientific enthrallment—which definitely wasn’t a real term or thing—as Jones changed from human to wolf.
The transition was so smooth, it almost looked… dare I say… magical.
Shudder.
And then there was a wolf in front of me.