Tanya opened the door to the new apartment and stepped inside. Gabriel shadowed behind and closed the door before he got a chance to cast his gaze over the modern décor. He popped the catch and turned. The living room area had now lost the drab and dull appearance, and was now replaced by a bright, off-white that was lit by the afternoon sun which flowed from the rear, glass sliding door. It opened without a balcony of any description.

Gabriel walked to the kitchen and blissfully saw that all the cupboards were new and modern. Hopefully, he’d never again have to see anyone struggling to replace a hinge or a screw. He walked to the bedroom and pulled open the curtain. He glanced into the yard three floors below and he saw Kelvin happily, busily showering from just a pail of water.

The rest of the bedroom was light and airy, and no longer smelled musty from stale air. The construction workers had done a remarkable job, and Gabriel felt spoilt from having the chance to move back into the building that he loved so much. He dropped his bag onto the bed and tugged at the zipper. His head turned as he heard the sound of running water that was coming from the bathroom. He stepped from the bedroom and turned to see the bathroom door wide open.

Tanya poked her head from inside and suggestively raised her eyebrows. “Is that all you want me for?” Gabriel mocked. “Use me and abuse me, and then treat me like I’m just a piece of meat.”

Tanya rubbed her bare leg up and on the outside of the bathroom door and smiled. “Damn right it is boy, now get your ass in here.” She pulled the door open as Gabriel walked into the cloud of steam that exited from the bathroom. The glass shower cubicle frosted with condensation as hot jets of water crashed against the shower floor.

“Well this makes a change, hot water on demand,” Gabriel said as Tanya reached for the buckle on his jeans. “You’re a little keen.”

“We have unfinished business from this morning, and it’ll be good to christen the shower first,” she said as she bent her knees and pulled down Gabriel’s jeans.

She stood and grabbed the bottom of his shirt, and his muscular arms raised as she lifted the body-hugging t-shirt over his head. Gabriel stood in his shorts as Tanya popped open the buttons of her leather vest. Her breasts hung before her beautifully as she dropped the vest to the floor. Gabriel stood in awe of her beauty as she bit her lip firmly and slowly unzipped her own jeans. Tanya pulled one foot from her jeans and then flicked the other. She looked gorgeous, stunning. Her skin-tight pants hit the bathroom door and pushed it ceremoniously closed, as if she’d planned it that way. She had a look of seduction on her face as her thumbs glided inside the elastic of her pink and black, polka-dotted panties.

Tanya leaned forward, her hair fell over her shoulders and hung over her face as she wiggled her ass and slithered them over her slim hips. Gabriel reached for his shorts. Tanya snatched his wrists and pulled his hands away and placed them on her bare breasts. His hands cupped her as his fingers groped her pink tips. She sucked in short and shallow breaths of excitement as she pushed her hands inside Gabriel's shorts and sunk her nails into his firm buttocks. Her hands glided to his hips as she yanked his shorts down his thighs. She traced lines up his inner legs and felt the heat of his shaft as he started to become aroused.

“You want to do it out here or in the shower?” Tanya asked.

“We’re always doing it in the shower. Out here, for a change,” he responded as he turned Tanya to face the steamed-up mirror.

Gabriel reached under Tanya’s body and cupped her perky, poignant breasts. His fingers again fumbled with her nipples as he felt them harden. Now, he tugged on them gently, but firmly, enjoying the way he became more aroused as he did so.

Tanya reached back and took hold of Gabriel's shaft. Her hand gripped him and fondled him until his cock hardened into a steel-like magnificence. Gabriel moved back as Tanya spread her legs. Her hands rested on the counter as Gabriel pushed his arousal up and in-between her legs. He slid inside her and felt the heat of her body envelop him. He grabbed hold of her slender hips and pushed himself deep into her hot, perfect depths. Tanya tilted her head, her long blonde hair now laid on her back as Gabriel thrust himself harder and faster inside of her wetness.

Tanya panted in ecstasy and pushed her ass back to accommodate the full length of Gabriel's rock-hard cock. He thrust his hips faster as the sounds of their bodies crashing together got lost in the moment. Tanya rocked her hips as cries of pleasure bolted from her mouth. Gabriel sank his fingers into the velvety skin of her ass as Tanya reached forward and wiped her hand over the condensed mirror. Gabriel looked into the clear glass as streaks of water ran down it. Tanya licked her lips as she held her breast with her wet hand.

“Harder, I’m close,” she cooed as her eyes became fixed on Gabriel's sweat-covered chest.

He obliged and placed his hands back onto her hips and thrust his loins faster and with more gusto. Tanya rounded her back as her hips made slow and subtle circling movements. Gabriel ground his body against hers. His tempo increased and he felt he was nearly at his peak. He held back until Tanya started to purr.

“Oh Gab, I’m coming,” she yelped with pleasure. Her hips bucked with sexual abandonment as Gabriel let himself go.

He thrust wildly as he felt himself spill over into her perfect, moist depths. He pushed again and then he felt his hot seed shoot from his body. Tanya panted and bowed her head. Her fingers gripped the counter as her long blonde hair fell toward the creamy-whiteness of the ceramic sink.

Gabriel smiled as he stepped back from Tanya’s pleasured body. She turned and rested her back against the counter. She smiled as she slid the door open to the shower. She stepped inside, and the hot jets of water dampened her hair against her head. With a seductive grin, she clutched hold of Gabriel's fingers and hauled him into the shower with her. Their bodies rubbed against one another as she reached for the sponge and rubbed it over his broad, perfect, muscled chest.

“A nice warm shower and then we can dry off and move to the bedroom,” she murmured, through jets of water that bounded from her brow.

“You want to christen the bedroom as well?” he asked.

Tanya grinned wickedly as she ran her fingernail over Gabriel's tiny male nipple. Her head lifted, and she looked deep into his eyes. “You know us alphas have a strong sexual appetite.”

Gabriel rubbed his soap-covered hands over Tanya’s shoulders. He watched as the white foam ran down her silky-smooth skin. He smiled. “See, I told you that you only wanted me for my body.”

Tanya kissed Gabriel’s chest. She looked up at him with intent. “Don’t forget your head. I want some of your head when we get into the bedroom.”

Gabriel laughed at her words. “That’s one thing I’ll never complain about. You can have all the head you like!”

* * *

Maria sat in the office with just the table lamp casting a dim white glow over the bountiful desk. The glare from the computer screen lifted her face from the darkness of the office. Maria felt alone without Declan's support in a matter like this. From what really seemed like something that was in no way related to the pack. Or was it? Maria had an inkling that it had everything to do with them, in one way or another.

Maria was still as she stared into the darkness and thought about who she could call on for support. Dustin was surefire, he’d always been there. Kelvin was a definite loose cannon, in comparison. Maria knew most of it was to try and impress her, and to impress her enough to get her into bed. The thought made her smile. A boy trying to be a man; a wolf, was vying for her attention.

Gabriel was supportive, although he was (still) only human, and if anything went awry, he was only any good on the rational side of things, now that he’d realized his past mistakes. That was pretty much it, she had Dustin and Kelvin, and that was nowhere-near enough if there was going to be any momentous trouble. Maria snapped herself out of it, she’d probably think herself into a fit of hysteria if she carried on with her thoughts. She flicked the TV remote and turned to the news. She listened as she finished entering the bills for the day’s construction, and, looking at the time, she saw it was a little after nine. She’d been sat in the dark for well over three hours.

Maria felt bleary-eyed as she slipped the final bills into the folder and rolled her neck to relieve the stiffness. She heard the muscles crack as the computer shut down and left her with only the table lamp and the flickering images from the TV. Then, she switched off the lamp and a near-complete darkness fell over the office. She leaned back in the chair and listened to the TV. Local news flashed back to the scene of the hospital, and the newscaster was about to interview Sheriff Delaney for an update.

“Is there any update on the theft of blood stores at the hospital, Sheriff?” the reporter asked.

“Unfortunately, we have no leads. We thought there would be witnesses of the event, but mysteriously, it appears no one heard or saw a thing.”

“What about security footage from the hospital, Sheriff?” the reporter asked, now holding the mic under Delaney’s mouth.

“Whoever did this was careful, the tapes were taken. It was as if they were ghosts, and they came and went with no sound at all. We are still unsure how they forced the doors. No vehicle markings were anywhere near the door, and there were no marks on the handles. It was as if some huge beast ripped them from their hinges by hand,” the sheriff replied, knowing his answer was so farfetched he would make himself look stupid. But it was the truth.

The reporter turned her gaze to the camera and smiled. “So, it seems that you think there is a monster out there who has a blood lust of some kind?”

“No! That isn’t what I meant at all. I was meaning the doors were just pulled off by other means than a vehicle dragging them off their hinges. That was my meaning, no more and no less.” The sheriff half-desperately grabbed hold of the mic in a vain attempt to make sure he got the last words in.

“No update from the hospital,” said the smiling reporter. “From me it is goodnight, and I suggest everyone be very careful of those bloodthirsty monsters out there. This is Georgia Parker signing off.”

Maria laughed as a bemused sheriff had the smile wiped from his face as the reporter got the last word in before the feed was cut. Even the sheriff hadn’t considered that it might’ve been one person’s blood they were after, but that still left the questions of who and why. Maria turned off the TV and grabbed her torch on her phone. The office fell into darkness; apart from a dim glow from the glass in the door. The low beam of the reception light was on, and Maria could see the shadow of Suzy walking back and forth through the frosted glass. Her eyes adjusted, and her inner wolf could see everything as if the main light was still on. She scanned the office to make sure everything was turned off and put her hand on the door handle.

Maria gladly stepped into the lobby of the apartment, and the only sound was from the heel tips of her black boots hitting the marble floor. Suzy glanced up from the desk and smiled. “Evening Ma’am. I thought I was the only one down here,” she said, now tapping a stack of papers onto the reception counter.

Maria strode behind the counter and sat on a tall wooden stool. Her hands relaxed on her knees as she looked at Suzy. “It’s this damned construction. The paperwork’s never-ending,” she replied. “At least there isn’t that much left to do. I have Garrett coming tomorrow to check what he has spent his money on.”

“It was a hell of a gesture, and it shows how grateful he was in the end toward Declan,” Suzy commented.

“It sure is, both of Noelle’s parents hated his guts, but when they saw how he cared for her and the love he showed, they were delighted. There was also the fact that he made sure none of the hunters were killed during the fight, all were turned as he intended.”

The door to the apartments burst open, and Kyle staggered in covered in blood. Maria jumped from the stool and ran toward him. “Kyle, are you okay?” she asked, worried.

“I’m fine, but one of my human friends isn’t. I went to meet him for a beer or two, and as we left the bar we were attacked,” he explained.

“Who attacked you?”

“It was dark, I’m sure it was a woman. Fast as lightning, and there was nothing I could do but run. I tried to change to my wolf but it’s new to me and I couldn’t.

“That’s expected. It can take a while to get used to calling on your wolf in an instant —so where’s your friend now?”

“Dead. God, that’s why I’m covered in blood. I sat with him in my arms as blood poured from his shoulder,” Kyle explained.

Maria’s face went pale. “Did you call the cops?”

“No, I ran back here as soon as he took his last breath,” Kyle explained, through lips that trembled from shock. A large tear welled up in his eyes. “I’ve never seen a dead body before.”

“It sounds like you did the right thing. At times like that, running is the best option.” Maria signaled to Suzy to call the cops.

Maria held Kyle as she walked him toward the reception desk. Suzy stood with the phone pressed against her ear. Her eyes were fixed on the small TV. “The cops have found your friend, and it seems they aren’t the only one who was killed,” Suzy said, placing the receiver back onto its cradle.

Maria spun the TV, so they could watch it from the counter. The reporters were already on the scene of a second murder that happened on the far side of town. Silence washed over the lobby as they stood and listened to the reporter.

“This is getting too much. We need to do something,” Maria said. “I feel this could be worse than the hunters.”

“Who’d be doing this if it isn’t hunters?” Suzy said, muting the TV.

Maria felt a tremendous amount of pressure build up inside her. Her lips tightened as she shook her head. “I don’t know, but we need to find out as soon as we possibly can.”

“Bad things never come in showers, it always pours.”