Chapter 2

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

-MILA-

I stood in front of the full-length mirror inspecting my outfit of choice; a simple purple dress that sat about mid-thigh, I had teamed it with black heels.

Lowell sighed from where he sat on the bed, "I don't think this is a good idea, Milly. We have a deranged serial killer on the loose, you should be staying home where it's safe."

I turned to pout at him, "I know, but I haven't been out in so long. I won't be there for the whole party, just a few hours. Why don't you come with me?"

He shook his head, "I can't, I'm going over the files tonight and I need to be ready if there are any more murders."

"Do you think it's a Lycan?"

"I can't discuss that with you, Milly." He responded with a sigh.

I picked up my handbag with a huff, "I'll see you later." 

We had been together for years, but it still felt more like we were roommates than anything else.

Even our sex life had come to an abrupt halt recently.

Selena was already waiting for me when I stepped out.

"How long have you been sitting here?" I asked as I got into the car.

"Long enough. You look good."

I was about to respond when I felt a piercing pain in my head. It was brief but enough to make me wince.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded, "Yeah, just a bit of pain. But it's gone now." 

While Selena drove towards the party I was lost in my thoughts. The pain I had experienced caused me to worry a bit.

Lowell had explained that in a lot of books or movies, they would often say the mate would experience pain when rejected, but that wasn't entirely true.

Lycans were different from werewolves, and both were different in real life.

For instance, if a human was a mate to a Lycan, the human would experience pain when their mate was in trouble, much like some twins could. The Lycan half of the pair would experience pain if he attempted to have sex with a person who was not his mate. The human half of the pair would also experience pain if their Lycan mate was near but not marked.

This made no sense to me because I never experienced these pains with Lowell before.

Unfortunately, I couldn't continue trying to figure things out because we pulled to a stop at the party.

It was being hosted at a beautiful cabin right near the very same woods in which the latest body was found.

I had a queasy feeling in my stomach as we made our way over to where the bonfire was being held.

There were a lot more people than I had thought there would be, and most already looked drunk.

I turned, sure that someone had been watching me, but all the partygoers were involved in their own things.

"Here." Selene handed me a drink.

"So, where's your friend?" I asked, but my eyes were on the couple making their way into the woods. I felt uneasy about this.

"I don't know. Wait for me while I look for him?"

I nodded absentmindedly. I had a nagging feeling about that couple heading into the woods.

Selene had only just left me when I got a flash of hands reaching forward for the couple I just watched go into the woods.

I frowned, debating for a split second before I downed my drink and followed after them.

If they were in trouble, I couldn't stand by knowingly and do nothing.

I kept my ears and eyes open as I walked into the dark wooded area between the trees. It wasn't too dark, the full moon illuminating the way.

I knew Lycans didn't need the moon to change, but werewolves did.

It was as if the couple had vanished into thin air.

I heard a howl in the distance and froze.

Turning, I realized I had walked further than I thought and I had no idea how to return.

"Fucking hell. I never think before I do things." I was about to attempt to make my way back when I heard a gargled sound coming from deeper within the woods.

Now, I should have run in the opposite direction.

But I didn't. I made my way toward the sounds, unable to walk away and do nothing if someone was in danger.

Suddenly I was knocked to the dirty ground by something heavy and snarling. My lungs burned as the air was knocked from them.

I screamed and tried to get it off of me before I heard a grunt and spun to see a large feral-looking Lycan standing on its hind legs, its large muscular and hairy body huge compared to me.

A wolf was latched onto the creature's shoulder, but it was as if he barely noticed.

And then I met the Lycan's eyes and froze.

I knew those strange yellow-orange eyes. 

I would remember them anywhere.

Terror took over me and my body trembled involuntarily from fear.

Seemingly broken from the brief trance of our eye connection, he pulled the wolf from his shoulder and threw it, snarling at it causing the wolf to whimper and rush away.

I was still laying on the ground, frozen by fear as the Lycan walked towards me.

I forced myself to my feet and ran, but I knew it was no use.

Lycans were much faster.

As it grabbed me I froze, I couldn't even scream I was so scared. My body still trembling in fear as the hair on the nape of my neck prickled.

I could feel its claws against my arms, those sharp razor-like talons against my skin, and I was helpless. Tears silently fell from my eyes.

He spun me around and lifted my chin to look at him, but I squeezed my eyes shut.

He had always terrified me. But in this form, it was so much worse. I couldn't make myself look at him.

"Lala?" 

I knew it was him from the second I saw his eyes, but hearing his voice was something else.

I opened my eyes and came face to face with Lobo, my boyfriend's brother. 

He was in his human form now, and very much naked in front of me.

Despite my fear, my cheeks heated and I took a step away, wrapping my arms around myself and looking around.

"What are you doing here, Lala?" He asked, making no move to cover himself up.

"Uh, I'm with a friend." I awkwardly kept my eyes downcast.

"Where is Lowell? And what were you doing out here?" 

I looked over at him as he pulled a pair of pants on, "I heard a noise and I thought someone needed help. Not that I need to explain myself to you."

He stared at me, throwing on a leather jacket even though he had no shirt on, "Lowell?"

I shrugged, "Working. Lobo, did you see a couple who came in here? I think they may need help."

"They're dead," he responded casually, "Can I take you home?"

"Excuse me? They're dead?!" I began to pace, "No. I need to call Lowell. He has to come out here." I looked around the ground, realizing that I wasn't sure where my bag was.

"No, calm down!" Lobo snapped as his big hand clasped around my wrist, "You are not phoning anyone. You were at the party, you are unaware of anything that happened out here. Do you understand me?"

I squirmed in his grasp as I looked up at him, "Lobo-"

"No. You need to listen to me."

I was terrified of him, of course, I was going to listen. 

I had met Lobo once when Lowell banned him from being around me alone. That fuelled my fear of the huge and dangerous man.

"I need to go." I pulled at my wrist in an attempt to make him loosen his grip.

"I'll take you. I've been wanting to see my brother since I arrived."

I frowned, "Are you forgetting that you are not even supposed to be around me?" 

Lobo shot me a cheeky grin, "Are you forgetting that I don't follow orders?"

I sighed but said nothing as I followed him, but I still had a strange feeling that there was something in between those trees, watching and waiting to pounce.