***Alastair***

 

“Yo, A, what’s the rush, man? Where are we headed?” Os asks.

I swing my leg off my bike and face him. “Zero five hundred, let the dice roll, train station on the right.”

Os lifts his chin and cracks his knuckles. Not that I need his help, but it’s nice to know he’s always ready to have my back. That’s the way it should be, loyal to each other. I’m the President of the Death by Reaper MC, Hell Charter, and he’s my VP. Death by Reaper MC is scattered all over the world.

We have many Charters because there are a lot of different paranormal types out there. Each paranormal type has its own Charter to handle their own shit. For example, we happen to be Hellhounds, so that puts us in a Hell Charter.

As Hellhounds, we are the first line of defense that handles the balance between life and death. We’re reapers so to say, clearing the earth from scum. Well, most of them anyway. Don’t think of us as angels, because we’re quite the opposite.

We shift into Hellhounds when the opportunity calls for it. Hence our enhanced abilities such as extraordinary strength, hearing, and noses being not just for breathing purposes. Not only can our noses pick up a trace from miles away, they also give us every single piece of data on a person. The essence of a human seeps through their pores, giving us a blueprint of their soul. Pretty neat, right? Because everybody lies, so there’s no fucking use in letting folks talk before I reap their souls. We also have the ability to not be visible to the human eye or to present ourselves.

The job we’re off to now? There is a ‘let the dice roll’ element to it. That means there are two souls in the alley and it could go either way. I get to decide what soul comes with me. If you’re wondering who gives us our jobs, it’s The Orderly. You might refer to them as the guy upstairs, the one in control. I wish it was that simple, but it’s not. When I get a new job to handle, I hear different voices, so I know it’s not just one guy giving out the jobs.

Curses flow through the air, reaching both our ears.

“Guess the party already started without us, ay?” Os chuckles.

Picking up our steps, we go around the corner and take in the scene in front of us. There’s one human facing me, beer bottle in his hand, swearing his ass off, getting in the face of the person in front of him.

All I see of the other guy is his back. A hoodie is covering his head but that ass, though. Wait. Inhaling deep, I let both scents run through my nose, allowing me to filter the information I need from each person. The one with the hoodie is a chick. Not only a chick, but her scent is tainted with something and I can’t get a full read on her. That, and I’m hard as fuck.

“This cannot be fucking happening right now.” I groan, grab my junk and adjust it.

“What’s wrong?” My VP asks, one eyebrow raised, probably because I’m still rooted to the ground, holding my junk.

My upper lip rises in annoyance as I growl, “Her scent is off.”

Os takes a whiff and closes his eyes to concentrate. “There’s something alright, maybe she has a block, doesn’t raise any other flags with me. Meh, probably just some blanks in her blueprint, other than that, she’s got a squeaky clean soul. Maybe too squeaky perhaps? So, we’re going for the guy? ‘Cause this fucker is long overdue.”

I swing my head to the left. “Is your dick hard?”

Os chuckles and shakes his head. “Dude, I’m on edge and ready for some action, that shit always gives me a semi, but no...not hard, man.”

Shit. How can mine be steel and ready for that chick in front of me?

“Fuck off, it’s never going to happen,” the chick growls and pushes the guy in front of her. The guy is clearly drunk and stumbles back, dropping the bottle in an effort to maintain his balance.

“You’re dead.” The drunk sneers.

The chick squats down and snatches up the half broken bottle. She throws a quick glance over her shoulder, probably to look for an exit strategy. That’s the moment we lock eyes. The corner of her mouth tips up in a smile, as if she fucking sees me. Sliding her eyes slightly down, she eyes the right side of my cut where it states ‘Death By Reaper MC’.

Os slaps the back of his hand against my pecs. “Dude. Are you visible right now? ‘Cause I swear it seems as if she’s looking right at you.”

Normally we keep in the shadows, it’s just easier that way. Like now. I know I’m not visible to humans, but it seems she can see me.

“Now you’ve done it.” Her voice is like a gentle caress when she talks to the drunk. “The reapers are coming for you,” she adds in a fucking sing-song voice.

“What the fuck? She knows what we are?” I growl. “How the hell…”

I don’t get a chance to finish my sentence because the drunk lunges forward. Before I can reach the chick, she sidesteps and kicks him in the back, making him face plant into the pavement.

The chick throws the crushed bottle she’s holding against the wall. “You two can handle this further, right? I have a train to catch.”

What the? “Os, reap the drunk’s soul,” I order before I catch up with the woman who’s hightailing it out of here and heading for the platform.

With her next breath, I’ve got her pinned against the wall with my body, blocking her every exit strategy. My nose trails a path down the curve of her neck. The hoodie she’s wearing over her head falls down, exposing her neck some more. Underneath her skin I can clearly see a vein where her heartbeat picks up speed. My fangs elongate and my mouth waters from her incredible sweet scent as I nuzzle her neck.

I just can’t help myself, it’s like an automatic craving that has been triggered. It seems to be the same way for her because her lower body arches forward in the limited space she has. This chick shivers in my grip and with that releases a turmoil of emotion inside me. Reaching the spot where her neck meets her collarbone, I have no control over what happens next.

Her head tilts, a submissive gesture, as if she’s granting me permission; offering herself to me. A true mate is one in a million, a connection that’s mutual, a pull you will only feel once in your life and know the second it hits. And it’s hitting me now, full force.

Without thinking, my teeth sink in. The taste that hits my tongue is what I imagine must be a piece of heaven that’s now flowing down my throat. The essence of purity. I growl and gulp down some more. She rubs her pelvis against me and releases one of the sexiest moans my ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing.

“There. All done, man. Hey, we gonna share this one?” There’s a sharp intake of breath followed by some curses. “What the hell? You’re claiming? Fuck!” Os’ voice penetrates my ears but all I hear are the words ‘share this one’.

He will never have what’s mine. In one fluent motion, I turn on my heels and have him by the throat and up in the air. “She’s mine,” I bellow right before I throw him a few feet down the narrow passageway.

He slides on his ass before he scrambles to his feet. I see his hands clench into fists and his eyes closing. He’s embracing the heat of the flames that are roaring inside him. I know that feeling because it is exactly what goes on inside of me as well.

My next step forward isn’t made by a human foot, it’s a jump forward in an inferno of flames. Like a switch that’s being flipped, my body shifts into the Hellhound, my alter ego that’s always underneath my skin.

I know damn well my VP is standing in front of me, and that there’s no need to attack him. Fuck. He would follow my direct order without thinking twice if I tell him to drive off a cliff. All of my brothers are that loyal to me. But he wanted to share what’s mine. I. Don’t. Share. I’m consumed by a primal need to protect my mate.

My nails scrape over the pavement, the huge paw leaves four gutters in the pavement, each the size of a human thumb. Yes, we turn into a massive Hellhound that’s ready to face anyone, or anything. I’m staring at my VP who mirrors my actions.

He’s now in Hellhound shape, his large paw scraping the pavement. Thick black fur covers his whole body, flames dance like mist wafting around his body. His ugly ass head, with long teeth in double rows like a shark, is out. But there is one huge exterior difference between him and me. I’m the Alpha, so I have two heads instead of one.

There is no beauty in us, only everlasting doom and serenity to do so. And yet that last part is lacking in this moment. Fuck the state of being calm, my emotions have all gone haywire. I’m bracing for attack when I hear my true mate’s sweet voice before she steps in between me and my VP. Courageous woman, why the fuck would she do that?

She points a finger that’s now dancing between my two heads as if she’s not sure which one to address. “Why are you covered in black fur and red flames? And for the love of God, two heads, really?”

With two heads I have a panoramic view, so without moving an inch, I see my VP shift back to human form. The fucker crosses his arms in front of his chest while he laughs and throws out a few words in between. “Yeah, A…for the love of God, do explain that one.”

The beauty in front of me swirls around. With her hoodie off her head, long, dark, strings flow in a chocolate colored rough sea while she growls, “Shut it, mutt, no one asked you.”

All my mind can think is ‘courageous woman’ before she’s facing me again. Bright blue eyes staring at me, she steps closer and reaches out. Before she makes contact, I shift back to my human form. I can’t bear the thought of her getting hurt. She’s human and with flames misting around my fur? Yeah, not going to try and see if she can handle all of me while I haven’t even filled her up with my dick yet.

“Name?” I ask. There might be a snap in my voice but I’m not trying to be rude.

She smirks and crosses her arms in front of her. “Oh, now we’re demanding formalities. Why don’t you give me yours first, A?”

“Sounds to me like you already know. Now quit playing games and spit it out already.” Everything from the moment I rounded the corner at the station, up to where I am now, shit has gone wrong. I need distance, a clear head, and a correct way to handle this.

“Fine,” she snaps. “Have it your way.” She points at me. “A,” jabbing her own chest, she adds, “meet E.” E scrunches her nose and starts to walk off.

Yeah, not happening. In three strides I’m in front of her, leaning into that pretty face that’s got the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. “Alastair.”

Her lips curl into a smile. “Yeah, that’s not my name so I’ll assume that’s yours. Mine is Eliana.”

“Damn… My Lord responded. That can’t be a coincidence,” Os mutters.

He doesn’t have to voice his opinion, because I’m very aware she’s got a Greek name. Just like us. The meaning of mine is defender of the people. Os’ full name is Osias my strength comes from God. We all live up to our name at some point, I wonder what her life story is.

Something in the back of my mind spikes my attention but it has to wait because she pats my chest. “Well, lovely to have met you, Alastair. It was fun. You saving me, biting me, fun, bet sex with you would be really…hot…especially with you turning into a big black furry wolf with two heads and flames and stuff…but like I said, I got a train to catch because it’s really late and I have to work tomorrow. Sooooo…bye now.”

I am stunned.

Until I’m smacked on the back of the head by Os. “Dude. Snap out of it, man. Did she have any of your blood? She’s your mate, yes? Did you finish? If not…you can’t let her walk away like that. She’ll be vulnerable. Do the sleep thing on her so we can bring her with us.”

Shit. He’s right. Fuck, I need to pull myself together. “Eliana,” I growl.

She doesn’t fucking turn but just waves her hand in the air. “Catch you later, A. Gotta run.”

Seriously? Why the fuck is she’s trying to run off…ditch me? Not happening. Spinning her around, I take advantage of her stunned expression and bark a puff of steam in her face. She goes out like a light.