Madison stretched her arms over her head before rolling over in bed. The soft comforter beneath her felt different than the one she usually slept with. And the pillow left a lot to be desired. Where they fuck was her memory foam, squished to just the right softness pillow?

Peeling her eyes open, she took in her surroundings and cringed. This was not her room. She rose up and propped herself up on her elbows.

“And this isn’t even my fucking house,” she said, confused beyond belief about where she was. She didn’t remember drinking the night before. No, wait…she’d had a shot of fire-in-the-pit-of-her-stomach scotch before crashing for the night.

It wasn’t until she got up and looked out the window, the morning dawn barely breaking signaling the beginning of a new day, that she remembered where she was. The Neutral Zone in Deals Gap. Home of hybrids and outcasts; or as she liked to think of them, the shaken and stirred. Pure breeds didn’t have anything on them. They were the best of both worlds. Speed. Strength. Power. Skill. They got all of the good parts and only one or two of the bad. Well, she was constantly told her short fuse was one of the bad.

“Whatever,” she mumbled and searched for her bag. Finding it propped up on a chair, she dug through and pulled out clean clothes. A shower to wash off the road grime from the day before was in order before she tracked down some coffee. Preferably a strong, dark brew, which knocked most men on their asses.

It didn’t take long for Maddie to get cleaned up. She harnessed her dark hair into a bun. Slapped a miniscule amount of make-up on. No need to scare the natives so early in her stay there. She’d give it a couple weeks before she went back to au natural. She slipped into a pair of tight but well loved jeans, and pulled on a simple light pink T-shirt. Bending over at the waist, she made sure the girls didn’t fall out of her bra or shirt. Satisfied, she laced up her sneakers and went in search of her beloved friend, coffee.

Her trek downstairs was uneventful, and she easily found the huge industrial kitchen. She hoped like hell she’d be able to find what she searched for, or someone who could point her in the right direction. On her second spin, in her attempt to take in the entire room, Sienna showed up.

“Oh, thank god,” Maddie said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Coffee?”

Her cousin chuckled. “Give me a minute and I’ll get it going.”

“If I’d known where everything was, I would have started it already.”

“That’s fine. You’ll get the hang of this place in no time.” Sienna glided through the room and Maddie tracked her movements. She made mental notes of where everything was, so next time she wouldn’t have to rely on someone else.

“Why don’t you sit down over there?” Sienna pointed to the island and the three stools pushed up under it.

She could take a hint when it was given. Maddie sat and waited. When Sienna pushed a mug over to her, along with sugar and creamer, Maddie ignored the offerings and picked the cup up, taking her first life-saving sip. “So good. Thank you.”

Sienna chuckled and fixed her own drink. “You ready for your first full day?”

Maddie finished off her coffee and set it down before answering. “I am now.”

“Good. Grab whatever you need and let’s take off. I’d like to get started a little earlier today. Gage and I hope to have a little “us” time this afternoon.”

Maddie raced back upstairs and grabbed her small backpack. She tossed her wallet, phone, and charger in there, just in case she needed them. Strapping it onto her back, she met Sienna and Gage out front. Sienna hopped on the back of Gage’s motorcycle.

“I thought we were carpooling.”

“Sorry, I know we planned on it, but Gage is going to pick me up right when we close.”

“Alright, give me a second so I can get my keys.” She turned to head back inside when a guy came out of Dark Moon.

“No need doll, you’ll be riding on the back of my bike.” He grinned, and his too damn pretty face lit up. A flush rushed to Maddie’s cheeks at the thought of wrapping her body around the man. In her life, she’d only been that close to one man, Mack. She’d hugged Van, but he always pulled away quickly.

The man whose bike she was supposed to get on the back of, held out his hand. “I’m Greer.”

“Madison, but most people call me Maddie.” She slid her hand into his, the calluses on his palm sending a wave of tingles up her arm and down her spine.

“Don’t let that pretty face fool you, Maddie,” Gage said. “He’s one badass dude and a whole heap of trouble.”

Maddie laughed and climbed onto the back of Greer’s bike once he was situated. She leaned into him slightly and took a sniff. “You smell like cat and wolf too.”

“That’s an awfully developed nose you’ve got there,” Greer said over his shoulder, wariness lacing his voice. He fired up the motorcycle, drowning out anything she could have said to soothe the suspicious thoughts he might have had about her.

It took them no time at all to get from Dark Moon to Sweet Retreat. Greer pulled them to a stop and she got off. “I’ll be back to pick you up later. I’m sure Sienna will call Gage when she’s ready. I’ll come over with him.”

Maddie nodded, and he put the bike back into gear. She dropped her hand on his arm. He shot her a questioning look.

“We develop and train our sense of smell starting in middle school. Where I’m from, it’s a good idea to know whom we’re tangling with. Being able to sniff out the parts that make the whole keeps us out of trouble.” She winked. “For the most part.”

Greer chuckled and backed up. “You’re a boatload of trouble, aren’t you girl? I’ll see you later.”

She waved as he drove off and waited by the door for her cousin, who was lip-locked with her mate again. She was beginning to think the reason they came in early was so those two could make out.

Maddie dug out her phone from her backpack and shot a text to her mother; letting her know she’d made it safely, and that she was staying at Dark Moon for now. It was something she’d forgotten to do the day before.

By the time she put the phone away, Sienna had unglued her face and waved goodbye to her mate.

“Let’s get this donut party started. Maybe if you pick things up really quick, I’ll be able to take a couple days off.”

“I’m here to serve.” Maddie sketched a bow, and the women giggled.