The chaos around the room masked any attention on me. In a snap, I was behind the bar, taking Esme’s hand in mine. Her human brain would fill in the gaps in her memory of how I got to her so quickly. She was still focused on the lust-filled, darkening eyes of the male members of the pack. Fresh blood, especially from a beautiful woman, excited their wolves, making their bodies vibrate.
The danger she was in trumped any desire flowing from my wolf. Protection was instinctual. I would fight the whole bar if I had to.
Our first contact … I ran the faucet and placed her hand in the sink, ignoring how her skin was electrifying mine. A lot of blood mixed with the water trailed down the drain. “You hit an artery.” I ran my nose over the gash, sensing a small piece of glass still in the wound. “This will hurt for a moment.” Without pause or permission, I dug out the glass, keeping her hand under the water. “Done.”
Esme didn’t say a word as she watched me tend to her cut. Her eyes were wide in fear, but she allowed me to take care of her.
“First aid kit?” I snapped at Harris as if it were his fault Esme was hurt.
“Upstairs under the bathroom sink.” He flung a bar rag at me, but I let it drop.
“That’s dirty. I’ll take her upstairs.” My wolf preened as I lifted and cradled Esme to my chest. Our hearts beat erratically as they tried to sync with one another. Her body recognized me as her mate.
She cupped her hand, letting the blood pool from the wound rather than drip on the floor. Harris opened the apartment door but returned to work, settling his customers down.
In the upstairs apartment, I set her on the bathroom counter, and she dumped the blood down the sink. Her heart was racing, causing the blood to pump out of the wound faster. “Deep, slow breaths,” I said calmly, having her mimic me.
She complied but was still mesmerized by the event. I took off my jacket and hung it on a nearby chair. Being in such close proximity to her, heat was pouring off my skin. My wolf kept making me sniff the air close to her skin. Sweet freesia and bay leaves filled the small bathroom, tattooing their scent in my nose.
Gauze, Neosporin, and medical tape line the counter. The opening needed to be secured by a butterfly stitch before properly closing, but there was no stitch kit among the medical supplies. “Esmerelda, do you trust me?” Beautiful icy blue eyes connected with mine, and the world stopped. Lilac and blood-red waves connected with my greenish-gray aura, co-mingling in a dance. Trust was given, and her threads frolicked with mine.
I brought her hand to my lips and gave it a gentle kiss. Her eyes glowed and clouded over. A sight I had never seen happen in a human. My tongue licked the wound, depositing the anti-coagulants and antibodies evolution gave shifters. Esme’s eyes closed in pleasure, relishing my touch. I was thankful she didn’t find my behavior odd.
Plenty of gauze wrapped around a thick coating of Neosporin on the off chance her immune system was compromised. I still didn’t understand the nature of her illness. “I need you to lie on the couch and have some juice while I change out the ice chest. You lost a lot of blood.”
“Okay,” She whispered, as I picked her up again, settling her on one end of the large couch.
“You’ll stay here.” My wolf stomped in defiance at the thought of leaving her vulnerable and hurt.
“Yes,“ she answered me as if in a daze. I went into the kitchen and poured a glass of orange juice. Her gaze traveled with me, heating my skin and electrifying my spine.
“Take a couple of sips.” I pleaded. She downed the whole glass and handed it to me before lying back and closing her eyes. She was exhausted.
My wolf wanted more. To hold her and cradle her svelte body until she healed. He wanted to drench in her scent and rub my body over hers. The need to stay sentry over her was difficult to overcome. I held my breath, stepping away. My wolf’s opposition made me unsteady.
Harris ignored me as I yanked out the ice chest, bringing it out the back door and dumping its contents in the yard. Pounds of ice diluted the spilled blood, making it pink. Once everything melted, the glass could be easily picked up. After flushing out the container with a hose, I set it in the afternoon sun to dry.
The MCs had emptied the bar. Their motorcycles were still lined up. Cyrus probably made them take a run. None of my brothers would have hurt her, but their wolves probably wanted to make an appearance.
A bucket of bleach water was already set on the bar, along with a package of wipes. “You like her.” Harris stood over me as I began to disinfect the area. Not knowing exactly what to say in return, I concentrated on cleaning up as quickly as possible so I could check on Esme. I was anxious about being away from her, but happy to provide a service. “The last thing that girl needs is any monkey business.” Harris had my attention now. “You get me, son?”
“Esmerelda’s special. She deserves to be protected.” I needed him to understand I was different.
“Can’t argue with that. Looks like you have a lot of competition anyway.” He snickered and walked away. It took five full buckets of ice to refill the chest.
“If you’re set, I’ll go check on her.” Harris tentatively nodded his approval.
“Hey, check for a fever. They come on fast and intense.”
Esme was sound asleep when I returned to the apartment. Gentle snores wafted out of her small Roman nose. She cradled her bandaged hand to her chest as it softly rose and lowered. I could watch her sleep the rest of the night. She looked like Snow White with her raven hair, porcelain skin, and firm jaw. Long eyelashes fanned out, almost touching her high cheekbones. God, she was beautiful.
I didn’t detect a fever when my lips pressed against her forehead. My curiosity about this sickness Cyrus claimed she had would have to wait.
Harris didn’t check on her, which vexed me as much as relieved me. I was able to stay next to her uninterrupted until the bar closed.
Condemnation was slow to form. I took my mate without her consent. She sank into my grasp as our orgasms retreated. We were floating outside our bodies in pleasure.“Ghost.” My name on her lips so reverently gave me hope. “What was that?” She purred at me.“I marked you as my mate.” The strength of my conviction waned as she tightened against me.“You bit me?” Her hand went to her throat to find the evidence. Fingers grazed over the four punctures, marring her beautiful skin. “Why did you do that?”Before I could answer, her hands gripped her stomach as it lurched. She looked at me in horror. “What did you do to me?” She shrieked in terror and jumped off me in time to vomit in a shrub.“What’s happening?” Her body shook and forced her onto all fours. “Ghost! Jake! What’s happening to me?” Pain and fear edged her words as I stood in my own shocked despair.Bones broke as they rearranged themselves for the first time. Esmerelda screamed and cried through the transformation process. Shif
The next month, I was happy playing house with my little witch. We still hadn’t discussed everything the Doc disclosed about her genetics or mine. She didn’t know shifters existed in the world. I had a suspicion she was aware of her abilities, even if just subconsciously.Our routine was firm. She slept through most of the morning while I worked until lunchtime in my office. We would have a long leisurely lunch, and afterward, Esme would spread her schoolwork out on the table and work until dinner. Short strolls around the property triggered her hunger, and we spent the night cooking and eating together. We slept entwined around each other all night.Her Friday and Saturday night shifts at the bar were the only deviations from our routine. Despite her insistence that she could handle the effort, I couldn’t help but worry. I sat at the bar, my eyes never leaving my girl all night.The school allowed her to finish Statistics and Psychology online, but she had to go in two afternoons to
Dr. Sawyer had Adam moved to his own room so we could have our privacy. Esmerelda was still under observation for her injuries. My body enveloped hers as we slept together on the small hospital bed. My mind raced from all the information I had learned. Witches were a lore I didn’t know truly existed. I began to wonder what other enhanced creatures there were in the world.For Dr. Sawyer’s research, I allowed him to take a sample of our blood. I trusted the information would stay safe since he and his son were also participants. I’ll have to meet with Cyrus tomorrow to update him on everything and my speculation about the shifter murders in the valley.“Ghost.”“I’m here, baby girl.”“I’m hungry.”“Cheeseburgers?”“Yes, please.”Deisal was still positioned outside the room. I shot him a text giving him our order. He sent back a thumbs up.“Deisal’s on it.” She turned in my hold to face me. Her mouth pressed on my neck, making me shiver. Soft kisses trailed toward my mouth. Our proper g
Gunnar and Deisel stood guard outside Esmerelda’s hospital room. My panic never calmed as I sped by them, giving a quick nod. My skills allowed me to skip the reception desk and the nurses’ station since my Deisel texted me her room number. I needed to see and touch her before I went insane. I could assess her condition better than any doctor.The door flew open, banging against the wall. My strength could not be contained. The sight of my mate lying in a hospital bed hooked up to beeping monitors released a menacing roar from my throat.The boy in the other bed woke, startled and scared. Esmerelda stayed asleep, partially unconscious. The guilt that I had left her unprotected was making me irrational and sick. I knelt in prayer beside her bed and took her hand in mine. The warmth of her flesh and the rhythm of the blood pumping through her veins began to settle me. I kissed her hand and placed it against my forehead.“She saved me.” The boy’s voice was stronger than I thought his thi
Ghost had only been gone a couple of days before the ache I felt for him overwhelmed me. I was edgy and unsettled. My tolerance for others was being irrationally challenged. I even snapped at Clara and Adam without real cause. I missed Ghost when he was away and pouted about it.The MCs were taking turns escorting me to and from school. Magnus or Deisel would bring me, and Gunnar dutifully waited to take me home. They acted friendly and supportive, but I felt like an added chore, adding to my vexation.My grumpiness didn’t deter Adam’s friendship. “We have our anatomy mid-term coming up. Do you want to come over and study?” He asked while searching for something on the ground.“What did you lose?”“An amulet my father gave me. I feel angsty without it.”“Maybe it’s back in the classroom? I’ll help you look.”“It’s fine. So you are coming?”“That would be great. Thanks, Adam.”“Thank you. My father would love to meet you. I don’t think he thinks you’re real.”“How so?” Adam looked away
After my Statistics mid-term, I sat at the desk reviewing my anatomy flash cards. The air in the room changed, sending a chill down my spine. The window was cracked to let fresh air in, but not enough for such a drastic temperature drop.“Esmerelda.” Ghost’s voice echoed in my head, seductively bathing me with my name. I leaned back in the chair, letting the sensation flow through me. A gentle kiss was placed on my neck, causing my back to arch in response. He was here like a phantom, only in spirit. My nipples hardened as I took in his scent. My belly clenched, remembering his handsome face and muscular body.I prayed he was real. Here in my bedroom. “You have something to tell me?” A longing whisper made my breathing stall. His hand caressed my throat, bringing my mouth to his. Our lips united, making every nerve come alive. He pressed our lips harder, letting our tongues dance. The heat between my legs caused my core to pulse and ache.His hand slipped into my tank, rubbing and cup