normal size, tipped with black claws, and they launched themselves at Jameson’s people. Two fully shifted werewolves sailed through the doors, jaws snapping and drool hanging from their black lips.
Jameson was on top of the table before I realized he was moving. Spence placed himself in front of the booth, his wolf rising inside him. I heard his bones snapping and popping over the noise of the bar as he shifted. I was frozen in place, fear cementing me to my seat as my skin went cold with sweat. Kyle grabbed me, pulling me out of the booth as Jameson barked orders from his place on the table. I wanted to warn him, scream at him to get down, but then Spence rose up as a great blond beast, a long howl ripping from his throat. He was huge, seven feet tall at least, and his shoulders were as wide as the table.
Kyle lifted me out of the seat, hefted me over his shoulder, and ran for the bar. I saw Jameson’s pack gaining the upper hand on the intruders, but before I could fully process the tornado of claws and teeth, Kyle was vaulting over the bar and kicking open the back door. I saw the bartender racking a shotgun as the back door fell closed.
Chapter 8
At Kyle’s suggestion, I drove us to The Brownie’s Bite. He claimed he hadn’t eaten in a while, and during the week of the full moon, Weres had to be careful about getting enough calories. Their metabolism sped up to meet the wolf’s needs, and if they went too long between meals, they risked losing control of their wolf. I drove a little faster than I intended to just to get to the restaurant.
Kyle held the door open for me, and the warm air scented with bacon and maple syrup washed over me. I hesitated at the door, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath of the wonderful smell. I loved that place.
Finn, the brownie woman who owned and managed the restaurant, waved from behind the counter, indicating a bank of empty booths. Kyle took the lead and walked to the booth farthest from the front door, keeping the windows next to us. Kyle was careful to slide into the side facing the door, putting his back to the wall. I sank into the bench seat, throwing my bag into the corner, and sighed loudly. My stomach made a rude noise, and I felt the flush of heat on my face.
Kyle smiled at me and said, “Yeah, thought you were hungry too.”
I crumpled a napkin and threw it at him. It bounced off of his chest harmlessly and fell to the floor.
Finn waddled up to us, pen and pad in hand. She lifted her thin brown eyebrows that nearly disappeared against her dirt brown skin. She was already scribbling on the order pad. “Your usual, Mattie?”
“Yeah, that’ll be great.”
“And for you?”
“Hmmm,” Kyle said as he studied the tiny plastic menu clipped above the napkin dispenser. “Double bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on top, and fries and a Hobgoblin ale, thanks.”
“Two usuals coming up,” Finn said, clicking her pen closed and waddling away.
Kyle shot me a surprised look, and I laughed, feeling the tension of the night slowly slipping out of my shoulders.
“Figured you for a garden salad with dressing on the side kind of girl,” Kyle said.
“You’re thinking of Ronnie,” I said with a wave. “I like being on top of the food chain.”
“Almost at the top,” Kyle said with a wink. His bright white smile curved across his dark skin.
“Almost,” I agreed.
“So how are things with you?” he asked as a young brownie boy darted up to our table and delivered our ales.
We both ignored the glasses he offered and drank straight from the bottle.
“Oh, you know, hexes and spells, charms and potions,” I said with a shrug. “Same old, same old. How about you?”
“Oh, full moons and fangs, you know.”
“No, no,” I said. “You gotta give me more than that. How’s it going with Frankie?”
“Right to it, huh?”
“I’m sorry, I just don’t get it.”
“Get what?”
“You and her,” I said.
“Should I be offended?”
Jameson was on top of the table before I realized he was moving. Spence placed himself in front of the booth, his wolf rising inside him. I heard his bones snapping and popping over the noise of the bar as he shifted. I was frozen in place, fear cementing me to my seat as my skin went cold with sweat. Kyle grabbed me, pulling me out of the booth as Jameson barked orders from his place on the table. I wanted to warn him, scream at him to get down, but then Spence rose up as a great blond beast, a long howl ripping from his throat. He was huge, seven feet tall at least, and his shoulders were as wide as the table.
Kyle lifted me out of the seat, hefted me over his shoulder, and ran for the bar. I saw Jameson’s pack gaining the upper hand on the intruders, but before I could fully process the tornado of claws and teeth, Kyle was vaulting over the bar and kicking open the back door. I saw the bartender racking a shotgun as the back door fell closed.
Chapter 8
At Kyle’s suggestion, I drove us to The Brownie’s Bite. He claimed he hadn’t eaten in a while, and during the week of the full moon, Weres had to be careful about getting enough calories. Their metabolism sped up to meet the wolf’s needs, and if they went too long between meals, they risked losing control of their wolf. I drove a little faster than I intended to just to get to the restaurant.
Kyle held the door open for me, and the warm air scented with bacon and maple syrup washed over me. I hesitated at the door, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath of the wonderful smell. I loved that place.
Finn, the brownie woman who owned and managed the restaurant, waved from behind the counter, indicating a bank of empty booths. Kyle took the lead and walked to the booth farthest from the front door, keeping the windows next to us. Kyle was careful to slide into the side facing the door, putting his back to the wall. I sank into the bench seat, throwing my bag into the corner, and sighed loudly. My stomach made a rude noise, and I felt the flush of heat on my face.
Kyle smiled at me and said, “Yeah, thought you were hungry too.”
I crumpled a napkin and threw it at him. It bounced off of his chest harmlessly and fell to the floor.
Finn waddled up to us, pen and pad in hand. She lifted her thin brown eyebrows that nearly disappeared against her dirt brown skin. She was already scribbling on the order pad. “Your usual, Mattie?”
“Yeah, that’ll be great.”
“And for you?”
“Hmmm,” Kyle said as he studied the tiny plastic menu clipped above the napkin dispenser. “Double bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on top, and fries and a Hobgoblin ale, thanks.”
“Two usuals coming up,” Finn said, clicking her pen closed and waddling away.
Kyle shot me a surprised look, and I laughed, feeling the tension of the night slowly slipping out of my shoulders.
“Figured you for a garden salad with dressing on the side kind of girl,” Kyle said.
“You’re thinking of Ronnie,” I said with a wave. “I like being on top of the food chain.”
“Almost at the top,” Kyle said with a wink. His bright white smile curved across his dark skin.
“Almost,” I agreed.
“So how are things with you?” he asked as a young brownie boy darted up to our table and delivered our ales.
We both ignored the glasses he offered and drank straight from the bottle.
“Oh, you know, hexes and spells, charms and potions,” I said with a shrug. “Same old, same old. How about you?”
“Oh, full moons and fangs, you know.”
“No, no,” I said. “You gotta give me more than that. How’s it going with Frankie?”
“Right to it, huh?”
“I’m sorry, I just don’t get it.”
“Get what?”
“You and her,” I said.
“Should I be offended?”
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