Running From the Vampire Into the Arms of the Wolf: by E A Price Page A

yet.  The scene was covered in wolfsbane, not even Don could get anything.”
    Don Cross was a wolf shifter and an excellent tracker but when it came to toxic wolfsbane even he had his limits.
    Acksel looked directly at his brother.  “We’re upping patrols, getting as many volunteers as we can.  I wouldn’t normally ask but...”
    “ I’ll do it.”
    Alec raised his eyebrows.   Hans had never agreed to anything so quickly in his life.  The wolf disagreed with everything just out of spite.
    “Thanks man.   If you could take the shift from 10 ‘til 3...”
    “No.  I want a later shifter.”  Alright, Hans hadn’t changed that much.
    Acksel acquiesced.  “3 ‘til 8 then.  You’re on the east border.”
    Hans nodded and openly glared at the Beta and his brother, willing them to get lost.   Thankfully they did, wishing them both goodbye Alec and Acksel left.  Acksel stared at Melody a little wistfully but decided not to say anything. 
    Melody stared at the table.   Reluctantly she withdrew her hand from his.  He lamented the loss of her tiny hand on his.
    “Finish your pizza.”  Hans ordered.
    Without thinking she did as she was told.   He looked at her thoughtfully, he didn’t like this quiet and subdued Melody.  It was unnatural.  His wolf whined at her evident melancholy.
    All she could think was it might be Him .  He might have found her.  He might be here.  He might try to rip her away from Hans.  Not that it would take much, Hans would probably gift wrap her and send her to Him .  He’d be glad to be rid of me she thought despondently . 
    T he warmth of his hand on her thigh had been nice, it had hinted at an intimacy of more than just casual sex.  No, he was probably just horny, and she was available.  Not to mention how horny he made her.  He probably laughed at how wet he made her, how aroused she was for him, and how little he cared for her.  She wanted to cry .
    After they finished eating Hans cleared away the plates and glasses and, before giving her an uncomfortable look, got back to work.  He was downcast for the rest of his shift, worrying about the mood change in Melody.  He watched her as often as he could.
    She had a fake smile plastered over her face as she served customers.   Nobody else seemed to notice the difference but Hans did.  The fake smile was all teeth.  When she really smiled he didn’t show teeth, her cheeks dimpled and her eyes sparkled.  Just like they did last night in bed right after they had sex, then again in the shower right after sex, then again today in the store room after a quick fumble...  His cocked stirred at the memories.  Fuck .
    He rearranged himself unobtrusively and tried to focus on making pizzas.  He had purposefully asked for a later shift so that he could walk Melody home.  He didn’t like the idea of her walking home late at night when potentially something was out there ripping women’s throats out.
    As an added bonus he could perhaps spend a little time testing out the sturdiness of her bed.  He wasn’t usually a happy-go-lucky kind of guy, but he saw the silver lining in his plan . 
    *
    The walk to Melody’s house had been quiet.  Neither one of them felt like talking.  Hans had walked closely to her, their sleeves brushing against one another.
    When they arrived they stood in the kitchen awkwardly.  His large frame making the room seem tiny.  “You want a drink or something to eat?”  She offered.
    He ignored her and came to stand in front of her.  Leaning over her he placed his hands on either side of her head and gently raised her to look at him.  “You’ve been crying. “  He accused her coldly.
    His wolf howled at him.  Howled at him to make it better, to make her happy, and worried that it had been him who had made her cry.
    Her eyes darted out of his gaze.  She had, but she didn’t want him to know.   She’d cried for the dead woman, for the fact that one day that would be her.  One day