Her Ancient Hybrid by Marisa Chenery

with Waverly? I’m not liking that she’s not back here and the trash bags are just left as if she dropped them.”
    Brolach knew who the note was from. He scanned the area, still not seeing anything, as he spoke. “The human servants to some vampires have taken Waverly since she’s my mate.”
    Devin snorted. “Vampires, dude? You expect me to believe that crap?”
    “Yes. Just as I’m a hybrid who is half vampire and half werewolf.”
    He gave him a big smile and flashed his fangs. He didn’t bother to explain anymore and shifted to his wolf form. Brolach heard Devin’s cry of surprise, but ignored him. In human form, Brolach’s sense of smell was better than a human’s, but as a wolf it was even better than that.
    Brolach put his nose to the ground and sniffed around the garbage bags, hoping to pick up a scent trail. The scents of two other humans were mixed with Waverly’s. No vampire had been there, but he didn’t really expect one to have been. It was still daylight. He followed the scents to the parking lot where they ended at one of the empty spaces. Obviously, they’d put her into a car and had driven away. He couldn’t follow the trail any farther.
    He returned to Devin, who stood where he’d left him with a look of disbelief on his face. Brolach remained in wolf form and padded over to him. Since he was larger than a wild wolf, his back reached Devin’s waist. Brolach jammed his nose into the hand that held the paper and gave it a good sniff.
    “Whoa,” Devin said. “Please don’t take my hand off. If it’s the paper you want to check out, here.” He held it out in front of him as Brolach continued to smell it.
    It had the scent of one of the humans and a vampire. The latter wasn’t as strong, but it was one Brolach would never forget. The vamp had taken part in his parents’ deaths. He’d actually been the one who’d tried to behead him.
    He shifted to his human form. “I need your help, Devin. I can compel you to, but Waverly wouldn’t be happy with me if she found out. I need you to remain calm. If you don’t, it could mean the life of your sister.”
    Devin took a deep breath. “Okay, I won’t freak out. Holy shit, you can change in to a wolf. I just had to say that. Now what do you need me to do?”
    “We have to get Waverly’s cell phone. I know she keeps it in her purse while she’s working, which is locked away in her locker.”
    “That isn’t any problem. I know the lock’s combination.” At Brolach’s raised brow, he quickly added, “Waverly gave it to me, just as she has mine.”
    “All right, let’s go inside, but I don’t want you to say anything to let anyone know that Waverly is missing. You can help me with the cell phone, then finish out your shift as if nothing has happened.”
    Devin shook his head. “No way. If someone has my sister, I’m coming with you.”
    “It’s vampires who have her. They’re stronger and faster than you.”
    “I don’t care. I’m going or I’ll raise the cry that Waverly has been taken.”
    “Fine, but you’ll do everything I say. No refusing.”
    “I promise.”
    Brolach and Devin headed into the coffee shop and then went to the area where the staff lockers were located. Devin didn’t waste any time in unlocking Waverly’s and taking out her purse. He handed it to Brolach, then the both of them returned to the back of the building. They continued on to the parking lot.
    He opened Waverly’s purse and fished out her cell. He handed it to Devin. “I have to make two phone calls, but I don’t know how to use the phone, and I can’t read anything on it.”
    “I hate to say it, but you sound as if you came from the Dark Ages. Everyone knows how to use a cell.”
    Brolach growled. “When you’ve ‘slept’ buried in the ground for two thousand years, this world has to be relearned. I’ve only been awake for a few days.”
    Devin’s eyes widened. “Holy shit again. When this is over, we’re having a long talk