VIOLET

I was in an alleyway running as fast as I could from some faceless, nameless men. I ran as fast as I could, but they were faster, eating up the distance between us like I was their only meal.

Maybe I was.

Everywhere I ran in search of help was devoid of humans. I’d cry out for help and those who I thought would save me would then drop to their knees and turn into bloodthirsty wolves who later joined in on the hunt.

They wouldn’t stop chasing me and I was getting restless. My feet were bare and my soles were bloody and bruised.

‘We’ll take turns breeding you,’ one of the men called out just before he morphed into a wolf.

He pounced on me. I stumbled to the ground. When I opened my eyes, all I saw were sharp canines dripping with saliva.

I screamed.

---

I jolted upright on the bed, gasping for air. I looked around the room and after gaining my bearings, I tried to calm my racing heart. My whole body was trembling. I wiped my hand across my forehead over a sheen of sweat.

“It was just a dream,” I mumbled to myself.

Right…just a dream. Only my dream had already become a real nightmare.

I swung my feet off the bed and padded my way across the wood floor to get to the door. I slipped down the hall into the second bathroom, filled a cup with faucet water and sipped it as I stared in my reflection in the mirror. I looked like a complete and utter mess. I unwrapped my ponytail holder, smoothed my hair back with the palm of my hand and tied my hair tightly in a bun.

After my heart stopped racing, I slipped from the bathroom, but I headed down the hallway in the direction of the living room. I was surprised to see Jayce lying on the couch fast asleep. He looked so peaceful. He was on his back with one leg hanging off the side. His body spanned the whole length of the couch and then some. He had taken off his shirt and dropped it over the back of the couch. The waistband of his jeans sat low on his hips and his chest rose and fell slowly as he slept. Even now, every inch of muscle on his torso was on display.

I must have been breathing too hard. His eyes opened and he sat upright on the couch.

“Is something wrong?”

“Um…no. I just…I couldn’t sleep,” I said. “I’m sorry I woke you up.”

“Well, do you need something?” he asked, standing up.

“I guess I’m not used to it being so quiet.”

“I can make some noise if that would help you sleep.” He grinned.

I chuckled. “A little white noise maybe. I’m living in the city, so we have the nearby freeway and even some train tracks behind our subdivision. I’m used to sleeping alone, and I’m ashamed to admit, but most nights I sleep with the TV on. “

Jayce picked up the remote from the coffee table, turned the power on, and then pointed to the ceiling fan overhead. “I’ve got you covered, but sleeping on the couch probably isn’t as relaxing. I can make it comfortable for you if that will help you sleep better.”

“Okay,” I said, nibbling at my bottom lip.

He handed me the remote. “Be right back. I’m going to go get some pillows and some blankets,” he said, backing out of the room and turning the ceiling fan on with a switch on a nearby wall.

With a heavy sigh, I slumped down onto the couch and tried not to think about the incident that brought me here to begin with—the incident that resulted in a nasty nightmare. It was easy to delve on the fact that I was somehow connected to Jayce and that I was extremely attracted to him, but I still couldn’t forget the mess I got myself into at the gas station. Maybe I wasn’t as strong as I was trying desperately to be. Something like this should have broken me. What mattered is that I had gotten immediate help and had found a support system with Jayce and his cousins.

Jayce returned with some folded blankets and a couple fluffy pillows. We laid them out together and then Jayce went to bolt the locks on the doors. I wasn’t sure if he was sleeping out on the couch initially to ensure that I didn’t take off or if he was making sure he didn’t get any unexpected visitors in the night. Either way, I wasn’t going to run and I undoubtedly hoped the rogue wolves were done with me.

“Thanks,” I mumbled. “I’m not always so high maintenance.”

We were standing close, only about a foot apart. I wanted to kiss him badly. My body had never been so responsive to any man and I believed the reasons were more than just the mate marks driving us together. Even if we weren’t connected that way, I’d still have the hots for Jayce Pembroke. What woman wouldn’t? He was sexy and rugged and nothing like the uptight city boys I was used to.

“Sweet dreams,” he said, touching the side of my face and leaned in to kiss me on the temple, sending a warm chill down my spine. As he put some space between us, we made eye contact. His nostrils flared and the look in his eyes became more feral. I wasn’t afraid. I was aroused.

His body turned slightly like he was going to back off and leave, but I didn’t want that. I wanted him.

I reached for him, wounding my fingers around his forearm. “Wait. Can you stay with me? Just for a little bit. I…” My fingers glided up his arm and along his smooth skin. I couldn’t help myself. There was this connection between us that I didn’t want to break. At this moment, we wouldn’t go back. I couldn’t go back.

I threaded my fingers upward until they were entwined with his thick hair and pulled him downward.

“Violet,” he whispered, curving down into me and against me.

He took my lips with a fiery passion, kissing me thoroughly before moving down to lick at the column of my neck. He smelled of the earth and of the outdoors. I wanted to bury myself in his arms for all eternity where I knew I’d feel secure and protected.

The way he groaned and growled against my skin excited me even more. He held me against his taut body and bare chest like I already belonged to him. I felt like I did belong to him.

Jayce grabbed my hips, holding me close until I felt the outline of his hardened cock.

“Is this what you want?” he rasped against my delicate skin as he pressed kisses along my throat.

“Yes,” I breathed. “Please don’t stop this time.”

Hooking his strong hands around my thighs, he hoisted me up. Instantly I wrapped my legs around him and held on tight with my hands at the back of his neck.

“I want you in my bed,” he growled.

I nodded.

Jayce wasted no time. He tore off down the hallway carrying me, kissing my exposed skin along the way. Once we were inside his bedroom, he released me and I slid down his legs until my feet were on the floor. He hooked his thumb under the strap of my tank top and exposed my breasts. He bowed his head and sucked one already sensitive nipple between his lips. I arched into his mouth. Within seconds, he exposed the other breast. His tongue felt like heaven against the taut bud. He licked and flicked until my knees were about to give out from under me.

I entwined my fingers through his hair and directed his mouth from breast to breast, vowing to let go of any and all inhibitions.