Lara

The next morning I woke up alone, but it wasn’t long until I saw Hector walking back into the bedroom. He was in a pair of boxers only. I didn’t just dream of his magnificence, he was a real flesh and blood stud. “I’ve got to let you go. Yes, brother. I’m sorry. Please take care. I’ll do what I can on my end, but stay away for a while, especially from the other one. Fine, see and then let me know if it burns. Take care, Diego,” he said, hanging up the phone and giving me a wink.

“What time is it? My phone is in the other room.”

“It’s ten. How are you feeling?” That felt like a loaded question. I was confused and scared that I rushed this. What if he left me? I stared into his gray eyes. They were beautiful. It was interesting that for as menacing as he looked yesterday, his eyes were soft and gentle now.

“I don’t know. I’m sore, but I want you again. It wasn’t as crazy as yesterday and my body doesn’t feel like I’m getting hot flashes. But what is this between us?”

“I know this is going to sound crazy, but I’m…well…my brothers and I aren’t normal.”

“What does that mean? Besides being so damn sexy, what else?”

“We’re not quite human.” I rolled my eyes like I was going to fall for that shit. Yes, our attraction was so dangerous it should be illegal, but I’m supposed to believe that? I got off the bed and grabbed my clothes. Forgoing a response, I went into the bathroom and showered. I wasn’t in the mood to play around.

As I was getting dressed, I heard the thunder tearing through the sky. “Lara, are you all right in there?” he asked through the door. I could hear the worry in his voice and felt like a bitch for just leaving him there. Even though it was a joke, I was being stupid. It must be this whole, I gave my virginity to a stranger thing.

I opened the door to see his face heavy with regret. “We need to talk, Lara.”

“Okay, I’m sorry. I just don’t know how to handle this. I was a virgin after all.”

“I was too.”

“What the hell…can you please be serious? I don’t need to know details, but I am not in the mood for you playing with me.”

“Sit your pretty little ass down and listen to me.” He sat me on the foot of the bed. Then paced the room at least three times, looking at me nervously on each pass. I was about to say something when he raised his hand, silencing me. He finally stopped by the dresser and stared at me. “Please don’t say anything. Everything I said is true. What you believe is based on it not being possible, but it is. I’m a shifter. I can shift from a human to a wolf at my will.”

“You’re fucking…”

“Stop…think about what you felt last night. It was intense and it’s still insane, right?”

“Yes, but…” His hand came up again.

“No buts. It’s the truth. We’re mated. You’re mine and I’m yours for keeps.”

“Will you hurt me?”

“Never. The thought of anything happening to you would destroy me. And I’m not a werewolf like in scary books and movies. Let me show you.” I nodded because if nothing else, I’d just write this off as a terrible mistake. A part of me was feeling gullible because I wanted to believe him, but it was silly. The man obviously needed mental help.

~~~~

“Lara, mi amor, wake up. Please, I need you to wake up,” Hector called out, panic in his voice. I opened my eyes and we were in the bedroom. It was just a dream. I smiled at him.

“I had the weirdest dream.” I shook my head and sat upright. That was when I noticed what I was wearing. My eyes met his, back down to my clothes, then to the window where the rain was coming down hard. “It wasn’t a dream was it. You really just turned into a wolf?”

“Yes, I did. I promise this doesn’t change anything for us,” he said, brushing a stray hair away from my face and tucking it behind my ear. “Tell me what you’re thinking, por favor.” I sat there looking at him wondering what this all meant. My world was now completely different, but that didn’t mean bad. I was nervous about the future and had a gazillion questions, but for now I was just glad he wasn’t crazy.

“I’m shocked, but I guess you’re not ready for the mental institution.”

“No, I’m not. All I can say is that we live longer than the average human, have families too, and mate for life. You’re my one and only.” He wasn’t lying about it being his first time then either and that meant he was all mine. I loved that and wanted to see him in his other form.

“That is pretty cool. Can you do it again for me and I promise I won’t faint again.” And I didn’t. He was majestic looking and strong in his gray wolf form. He switched back just as his phone rang. Damn, that was fast.

“What’s up, Alejandro?” He nodded his head at me with a sheepish smile. “Yes, I did. Okay, hold on.” He handed me the phone. “Your sister wants to talk to you.”

“Tara, what’s going on?” I asked, wondering if she was freaking out about the same thing.

“Holy shit. Did you? Like do you know what they are?”

“Yes, I fainted the first time.”

“Wow, me too. But I’m good now. Something about it is super sexy to me. You know they have another brother.”

“Yes, they do. Are you thinking Diana?”

“Yes. What if they are mates too?”

“It would fit.” The phone started going in and out, but I managed to say good-bye before the call dropped.

“Sorry the weather is bad now. Reception is going to be shit until the storm passes. We’re safe here, but we’re only going to have each other to occupy our time.”

“Damn it. I wanted to call Diana and tell her to meet your brother.”

“Not yet, muñeca.”

“Why not?”

“Do you remember the overwhelming heat taking over your body? Well, that’s what happens when we meet our mate. Until we actually mate that doesn’t go away.”

“So what? They meet and get it on like we did.”

“No, when we mate it’s only during a full moon.”

“Well that is a major downside. Sex only once a month?”

“No, we mate the first time on a full moon and then we’re bonded for life. Sex can be any time we want after that. They will have to wait until the next one.”

“Okay. Well, that sucks. I’m going to have to find a way to get her here when the time comes, but not until then.”

“That’s fine. The storms will make the roads too dangerous to drive on, so the police won’t let her pass until it’s clear. Then you can call and tell her you’re safe.”

“I’ll definitely do that. Diana is the stiff older sister who means well, but she’s a bit too overprotective and a party pooper.”

“That’s hilarious. That sounds just like Diego. They’ll do well together.”