Callie lay in her bed, twisting and turning. “Jesus!” She punched her pillow for the hundredth time, wanting to fall back asleep so she could get back to the dream she’d been in the middle of.

It had been a hot one. So much so that it left her panting for more. The images of an unknown male kissing her, tasting her—nearly drove her insane.

“It’s been so damn long,” she whispered out loud.

And it had been. Years.

She punched the pillow one last time before giving up on the idea of falling back into the delicious dream that made her body flush with a desire that she’d been without for far too long.

“Enough.” She could only hope, after her long day ahead, she’d fall back into bed where her mystery lover would visit her once again. Somehow, he’d invaded her dreams every night for the past three months. Each dream more erotic than the last.

Vivid images flashed through Callie’s mind as streams of hot water poured over her back. She closed her eyes, somehow hoping it would make the images real. Recalling the scent of the mysterious male, she suddenly found herself once again enveloped by his scent. It was almost as if he stood in the shower beside her.

Visions of the stranger leaning in to kiss her sent heat flooding to her core. Her body trembled, wanting something it had been denied. Something she would have thought impossible to live without. A shiver raced over Callie’s body as her hand slid down her stomach, reaching for the bundle of nerves between her thighs.

A knock sounded at the bathroom door. Callie quickly pulled her hand away.

“Are you almost done in there?”

“Never fails! So much for a nice, peaceful shower,” Callie mumbled under her breath. Quickly finishing up her shower, she dried off and grabbed her robe. What she wouldn’t give for an apartment with two bathrooms, but with funds as scarce as they were, they were lucky to have the apartment they had. A second bathroom was a luxury she was going to have to live without.

“It’s all yours, Mom.”

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feelings the dream had left her with. All week she seemed to be walking around in a daze, waiting for the opportunity to close her eyes, to once more find her dream lover.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah, Mom. I’m okay. Have you ever had a reoccurring dream? One that you’re not quite sure what to do with?” Callie asked.

“What are the dreams about?”

Ugh, there was no way she could bring herself to explain what was going on in her dreams. She imagined the words flowing from her mouth, “Well, Mom, it’s like this. I have this complete stranger, who happens to be a total fucking hottie, seducing me every night when I close my eyes. Not only that—I want him more than I’ve ever wanted any of the men I’ve actually been with.”

No way.

She wasn’t ready to go there with her mom. Not only would it be a whole lot of TMI that she had no desire to share—her mom would think she’d lost her damn mind. And rightfully so.

“I’m not quite sure I’m ready to talk about it yet. I’m still a little shaken.”

“Well, I suppose you’ll tell me when you’re good and ready.”

Or not.

Somehow, Callie managed to get herself dressed and ready for work in record time. She stopped to peek in at Max. Tiptoeing into his room, she placed a light kiss on his forehead and whispered, “Have a good day with Gram-gram. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

Her heart melted each and every time she looked at his tiny face with his chubby little cheeks. During her pregnancy, she’d had no idea how much she would come to love her little guy at first sight. From the moment he’d breathed his first breath, cried his first cry, she had been a goner. Head over heels in love.

When she held her precious little boy in her arms, she could almost forgive all the bullshit her ex-boyfriend, Trevor, had dished out during their time together. Throughout their brief and tumultuous relationship, she’d lived under constant fear of being beaten to death by the man who had sworn he loved her. The thought of never seeing her baby’s first smile or holding him in her arms plagued her unexpected pregnancy.

As bad as it sounded, Callie had never thought she could be happy when death found someone far too early in life, but she’d been wrong. When word reached her that Trevor had been killed in one of the former Alpha’s wars, she’d nearly jumped with joy.

Her son would grow up without a father, but it had to be better than being abused by a man who was supposed to love and cherish him. She’d seen how he’d treated his other kids and had been horrified. By then, it was already too late. She was already trapped in the web of sweet half-truths he’d weaved. The promises of a better life. Having someone to love for an eternity.

Nothing but lies. With no possibility of escape.

The whole relationship did a number on her mind and cemented her resolve to remain single. Never again would she open herself up to that kind of blind trust. In her opinion, it had only led to a whole lot of pain and suffering.

Sensing the direction her thoughts had taken, her mom whispered, “He’ll be fine. Trevor can’t hurt either of you anymore.”

Callie sighed. “I know. I can’t help but worry that he might be out there somewhere—still alive. Waiting for revenge. It’s not like we went to his funeral or even saw his dead body.”

Unlike the human world, shifters didn’t usually mourn the loss of life with funerals. It was Callie’s understanding that each pack treated death differently. Sometimes the bodies turned to dust, disintegrating moments after death. If there was a body—and it was recovered and intact, some packs would bury them. She had also read somewhere that some would eat them.

Yuck!

She was still adjusting to her new life filled with monsters and magic. Though she’d met a few shifters before, Callie had never considered dating one until she had met and fell blindly in love with Trevor. And now, she lived in a town full of them. Trevor had brought her to Twisted Tail, and it was where she’d remained, even after his demise.

For the most part, she’d been ignored by the pack until their new Alpha had taken over. He and his mate had taken her and Max under their wings, even helping her land a job at one of the newly opened local diners. It wasn’t much, but it helped her keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. Calder had also been kind enough to help by moving her mother across country so she’d have family around to help with Max.

She’d thought about leaving a million times over, but knew she’d need the support of the pack when Max got older. His father had been a shifter. Common sense told her—her son would be, too. Not only that, it didn’t escape Callie’s attention how drastically the town had changed after Calder had taken over, and again when he’d found his mate, Daisy.

The once desolate town had transformed before her eyes. Gone were the drugs and crime. Now it was all about family and community. Somewhere she’d be proud to raise her son.

“I better get my butt moving before I’m late for work.” Callie hugged her mom and headed for the door, ignoring the nagging feeling that something was coming that her dreams had left her with.