2 Need a break.

I jerked awake to blinding light filling my room.

Squinting my eyes, I adjusted to the harshness when I realized I wasn't in my room.

Tartarus! I sat upright. I had fallen asleep on the three seater in my office. Papers was strewn around me in a disarray.

I groaned, twisting my head from side to side to relieve the knots in my shoulders.

Again, I wondered if it was a good choice to have my workstation in my home.

"Good morning, my prince."

Lucas popped his head into my office, looking presentable in his two piece suit.

"Lucas," I croaked, "what is the time?"

If he noticed anything about my wiped out look, he didn't say. He only glanced at his watch.  "8:05am."

I nodded and he retreated, returning moments later with a cup of steaming coffee.

"Thank you," I said, making quick work of putting my office in order. "How's my schedule for today?" I asked.

"Occupied."

When was it never. I glanced at him, waiting patiently as he scrolled through his smartphone.

"You have a zoom meeting with Joe Rimony in 30 minutes." Lucas started. "The luna expects you to call before 10:am. You have to be at the Sebastian's anniversary by noon..."

"Represent me," I cut in. I had no interest in visiting events where the chances of running into Anna was high. It would be a mess. 

Lucas paused. "They have been a major financiers for our many charity events."

In other words, he wanted me to go. "You will represent me," I said firmly.

Lucas straightened, detecting the authority in my voice. "Of course, my prince.

Fuck, I resisted slamming my head on my work table. Lucas had been nothing more than helpful and I was using the alpha tone on him.

He went on, "the sheriff wants to know if I can squeeze in time for a meeting with you."

"The sheriff?"  My brows drew low, cutting a crease between them. "You have any idea why?"

"Not really but the baron was found dead in his house this morning."

"What?!" Quickly I booted my computer, my eye bulging at the news of the baron's death. It was everywhere.

It was clear why the sheriff wanted to visit. As the council leader in charge of the werewolves in the human lands. He wanted to rule out the possibility of our involvement in the case. I downed my coffee in one go, already feeling the sign of a coming headache.

"What else?" I asked groggily.

"Ben stopped reporting to work yesterday," Lucas revealed.

Gods, I had almost forgotten that the head of my security team was getting married just like I would have. I gulped loudly.

"We are short staffed?" I said, recalling that my receptionist had retired and another of my security men was on leave.

Lucas nodded.

Ideally, it wouldn't make sense to have any more on the security team. Especially as I was well able to take care of myself. But as someone who ran a private investigating firm, a secret rescue organization and the council leader to the werewolves welfare, I have learned not to underestimate the enemies.

"I already put out vacancy position and I wanted you to be aware," Lucas said.

"You're a life saver." I told him and waved him off.

"What?" I asked, surprised he was still standing.

Lucas shifted his weight to his other foot.

I arched a brow. "What are you nervous about? Spill."

He cleared his throat. "My prince, the management of hotel de Nuit, called.."

"I told you to cancel every reservations that had to do with that wedding," I growled.

"Yes but Anna isn't making it easy. She keeps calling to ensure it is still reserved."

"In whose name was the reservations made?" I barked, my claws slipping out

"She made the reservation using the joint credit card you share," he said in a rush.

I closed my eyes, taking quick calming breaths. I needed a fucking break. "Let her do what she wants," I said finally. "But inform anyone that reaches out that I have nothing to do with her anymore."

"Yes, my prince." With a low bow, he headed out.

"What?" I barked irritatedly when Lucas returned almost immediately.

"So you slept in here."

I glanced up from going through the report on the baron's death.  It wasn't Lucas. My friend filled the doorway in his sleepwear and a bottle of wine in hand.

"Martin." I said in manner of greeting.

"Wheeew," Martin sauntered in and flopped on my work desk. "Someone's in a surly mood." He took a swig straight from the bottle. "You seen the news?"

"Just now."

"I heard the baron just bought the house and was yet to install a proper security system."

"Looks like an inside job," I said.

"Thought as much. Will you take on the case?" He asked.

"I don't know." I raked a finger through my hair. "I've got a lot on my plate."

Martin took another swig. ''Is it a bad time to say I'm leaving?"

"Leaving to..." I trailed off, my eye bulging out. Martin had popped in the night Anna and I had the big fight. He had stayed since and I was already getting used to his presence.

I sighed. Of course, he had to go back to his life. "when?"

His eye softened and I was grateful when he blinked and the softness was gone. I hated pity.

"Early tomorrow," he said.

"Fine." It doesn't seem like the right thing to say. Thank you would do better but it meant talking and I wasn't in the mood to talk.

Maybe it was a good thing that he was leaving. I didn't need a goddamn babysitter.

"Cole called," Martin blurted. "We're going to party before I leave town."

"Good, I guess. Enjoy the human world one more time before returning to the other side."

"That's it, man." Martin clapped my shoulder excitedly. "I knew you'd be in."

A pause.

"What? No," I shook my head. "Can't join you guys. I've got a lot.."

"You always have a lot on your plate," he cut in. "You need a break."

"Martin,  I really am not interested In..."

His face took on the expression I've come to be wary of.  "Cole and I would put you over our shoulders if  that is what it takes." He winked. "You need to get laid, man."

"Wherever did I know you from?" I groaned.

"You love me, admit it."

"Motherfucker."

"You'll be fucking quite alright by evening."

I pushed through the dimly lit bar, making my way pass a row of merged bodies. The club was thick with it's familiar smell of sweat, buzz and alcohol.

Ted was waiting at our usual spot. The same spot I found him two years ago. The lad crossed burly arms behind his back, feet tapping impatiently on the floor betrayed his restlessness.

He was addicted to me. I sighed, I should probably stop feeding off him but he was a good option. He knew I had an untamed nature  but never breathed a word about it. It was the best arrangement for me. I craved the discretion and his blood.

A female lycan that feeds? Yeah. Something was wrong with me. Only the males are known to live off blood, but the moment I go too long without feeding, my suppressed beast would rage with uncontrolled violence, threatening to blow me up like a storm.

I took his arm and his wide doe eyes lit with unconcealed joy when he saw me.

"Angel," he breathed.

I scoffed, if you knew what I was you would take off in the opposite way.

Leading him to a corner shielded from view, I sank my teeth into his.

His blood filled my mouth, nothing special but the prickling in my veins subsided, the pressure in my chest receded.

Ted let out a groan, his hips rocking into mine. Sometimes I help him get off and on rare occasions I let him get me off but not today. I was in a crappy mood so I held him off, taking long pulls.

I stiffened at movement from the corner of my eyes. I played cool till they moved close. Then I turned around, shoving Ted behind me.

Two men, a brown and dark haired, stepped up on both sides, caging me up.

"Blood sucker," one growled.

Ted shuffled out to a corner, fiddling with his fingers.

I arched a brow. "Ted?"

"I'm sorry," he cried. "They followed me, they wanted to know if I was doing drugs."

Undeniable, he acted like a fucking addict.

"What do you want?" I asked the men, wiping off the blood trickling down my lips.

The dark haired grinned, showing off brown teeth. "You vamps have a lot of money. We want out of it."

"What?" Ted screeched. "You said you wanted her to make you feel as good as she made me."

Idiot.

"Shut up." The brown haired yelled, brandishing his handgun in my face. "Fast, we don't have all day."

"Run along," I said quietly. "And I'll excuse this."

"You think we are scared of you?" The brown haired lunged and I didn't budge.

His fist hit me squarely in the midsection. I felt a burst of pain. It felt good.

When he came at me again, i fell on my knees, pretending to be hurt. The moment he touched me, I grabbed his legs, sweeping him off his feet and barreling him into the wall. He collapsed with a thud.

I stood to the feel of the gun pressed into my head.

"Devil from the pit of hell," the man cursed.

I turned to face him, the gun resting right at my temple. "Run off or I swear I will chew your flesh together with every piece of your bone."

Whatever he saw in my eyes made him shudder. Gun still pointed at me, he scurried backwards till he disappeared out of sight.

My hunger was satiated but I somehow headed out of the club feeling way worse than when I came in.

I needed an urgent solution to my edginess apart from killing, feeding and letting out my blood.

"Hey," Ted ran after me. He didn't know my name.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean.."

I shot him a cold glance and he trailed off.

"I may call you," I said, walking away.

I rounded a few blocks to my apartment and stopped short. "Crap," I took a shuddering breath. "Not today."

I winced as I stepped in. Music blared from the sound system. Every corner of my living room had a girl backed into the corner by some guy, swaying madly to the music, rocking and fondling each other.

The empty bottles and filled ashtrays scattered around showed that they'd been at it for long.

Iris met me at the doorway. "Xanda," my roommate screamed over the loud music. "We having a party." She looked so beautiful and happy in a shorts and halter top. "They are...colleagues from work," she slurred and rounded wide innocent eyes to me "You don't mind right?"

Like I could hurt her feelings when she looked at me that way. I shrugged. "What's the occasion?"

"Who needs a reason to party on a Friday. Join us?"

"No, thanks. I have someplace to be," I lied, moving pass the chaos into the quiet of my room.

Quickly I shred off my clothes and got into the tub. The loud music drove me insane. What would a night with someone that could match my energy look like?

Suddenly I knew where I wanted to be.

I opened my closet which was filled with dark and neutral colors and dressed quickly.

****************

"Seen nothing you like?" I asked Martin who watched the stage with a slight disinterest.

He downed a glass of tequila. "The humans do not get it to rise," he said, cupping his crotch.

I threw back my head and laughed. "I refuse to believe that." Although I knew it was true. I've never seen my friend with a human female. Since we arrived the club his eye had taken a piercing look and I knew what he was searching for.

"The humans have a wild streak too, you know," I told him.

He raised a brow. "How would you know that?"

I tipped my chin at Cole. He had ventured off to the opposite table immediately we arrived. The two girls sitting with him were now laughing and putting their hands over him provocatively.

"Nah," Martin shook his head. "Cole's the playboy. How would I explain it when I'm nutting and my claws spring out? Or my face morphs?"

I shrugged. "Any human with the guts to walk into the onyx nightclub would know what they are getting into." I nodded my head when he filled my glass. "Our existence isn't much a secret to the human race as it once was."

I tipped the glass to my mouth, and the liquid burned my throat.

"Well, today's about you. Go get laid," Martin shot at me.

"Seen nothing I like too," I confessed.

I tipped my hand to the barman for another bottle and froze, my muscles locking in place.

Martin was saying something but I couldn't make it out.

There at the bar was the most stunning beauty I had ever set my eyes on.

With a structured leather pants that showcased a great pair of legs, fitted black long sleeved top that housed perky boobs and a fuck me riding boots, she stood like she had no care in the world.

Gods, she looked like sex.

"Zephryy?" My friend called my attention. "Is something wrong?"

I glanced at him. "I think I just found something I really like," my voice turned low. "Just by the bar, dressed in black."

His eye widened and he turned slowly.

"Wheeew," Martin whistled. "She's hot but looks like trouble. Heck, she looks like run-as-far-as-you-can-away-from-me."

When I turned back to look at her, a pair of blue eyes stared straight at me. My dick twitched in my pants.

I raised my glass at her and stood.

"Excuse me," I told Martin, leaving our table.

Whatever Martin said, I didn't catch. I was too focused on the stunner before me.

I approached her and she didn't tear her gaze. Gods, if she knew what that action was doing to me.

"Beautiful," I purred. "I am Zephryy," I offered my hand because she didn't look like the kind of female whose hand you just take and kiss.

She took it, clasping soft palms in mine in a surprising firm grip. "Call me Lily."

Fuck, her voice was like velvet silk. It slid over me, caressing my skin. I was so hard I could drive a nail.

Lily. It didn't fit her. I just knew it wasn't her name.

"What are you drinking?" I signaled at her glass, buying time to soothe my raging hormones.

"Dark rum."

"Ahh, a woman after my heart."

"Do you want to fuck me?"

I coughed, caught unaware by the question. "Come again?"

"You heard me."

Every drop of blood in my body headed south.

Hell yeah, the night just took a good turn.

There was a stark difference between the Onyx nightclub and the club where I met with Ted.

From the polished leather seats, the mixed scent of expensive tobacco and high end perfume to the heavy drapery covering the stage where strippers whined and shook their assets.

I sat close to the bar, watching the bartender mix and serve drinks. I felt eyes boring into me and I glanced up.

A gorgeous man sitting at the far corner tipped his glass at me.

I reared back, surprised at the ferocity with which he watched me.

Fucking hell, maybe he was what my stone cold body needed for the night.

When he stood, a gasp escaped my lips. He was taller than I expected. Casually dressed in jeans and a plain t-shirt, he carried himself with a confidence that was far from simple.

I saw how the human girls pined and flaunted for his attention as he approached. But he never tore his gaze off me.

Good. I like. Extra points for him.

I sucked in a harsh breath when he reached me.

The man was gorgeous. There was no other word for it.

Muscular arms, chiseled jaw and gray orb eyes that gave way to what he was. A lycan.

I had an unspoken rule to never have anything to do with our kind. The last time i bedded a lycan, he looked at me like I had a contagious illness when he learned I was a rogue. So I stayed away as much as possible.

But I could twist my rules for today.

Just for tonight.

Beautiful," his deep rumbly voice washed over me. "I am Zephryy."

The name suited him.

He extended his hands and I took it. A tingle of electricity went through me. Surprised, I started to jerk back my hand but he held me firmly. "Call me Lily," I told him.

A single arch of his eyebrow indicated that he didn't believe that was my name. But he did not press.

Good, the guy had brains to go with the fine face. He would be a good lay.

I tapped my feet impatiently when he started to make small talk. "Do you want to fuck me?" I blurted.

His eye heated and he turned around, my hand still firmly clasped in his, he lead us to a private area blocked off by heavy blindings.

Then he turned down the hallway and used a key card that introduced us to a secluded room. Only then did he let me go.

Holding my gaze, he started to strip. His jeans came off first, then the shirt. He inched back and kicked off his shoes.

I held my breathe when his hand went into the waistband of his boxer briefs.

He dragged it down, exposing his cock.

I wasn't disappointed.

Huge and rightly curved, he was a beautiful male.

I didn't pay attention to the entertainment industry but I knew it would be filled with men like him. Damnit, he could be an artiste for all I knew.

I bit my lips and he groaned. Moisture beading around the head of his cock.

"Little bird you're killing me here," he groaned. "Let me see you."

I fiddled with my shorts, having cold feet all of a sudden.

"Little bird?"

I swallowed hard. "Let's switch off the light."

There was nothing in his gaze. Damnit, I hated that I couldn't read him.

"You do realize my eyesight works perfect in the dark, little wolf?"

I nodded. I wasn't self conscious neither was I one to be shy around a male, but I had scars that would scare him off. I wanted this.

His naked ass flexed as he prowled to the other side of the room. Then the room was plunged into total darkness.

I let out a sigh of relief and made off with my clothes. I was left in just my panties when he returned.

"Do you want me to help with that?" His voice was hoarse.

I nodded.

He came around me. His fingers brushed my back and slowly inched to my waist.

My breaths came in pants when he slid his hand around my waist and closed over the point where warmth pooled. He shifted my panties and ran a lazy finger through my sex.

A whimper escaped my lips. "Faster."

His eye glazed over. "I say how," he growled.

A trickle of arousal slid out of me. Even my wild side settled at the command in his voice.

What was wrong with me? I loved to be in charge. Again, I toyed with the idea of stopping it then.

Warm mouth closed over my nipple. I cried out, every thoughts of fleeing running out of my head.

He gently eased off my panties and leaned back. "I want to taste you."

He walked me backwards, lowering me to the edge of the bed. "Legs spread wide."

My bottom lip caught between my teeth. He was rattling me up real bad. I was used to control.

Just a night right?

I let my thighs fall apart.

"Fuck," he cussed. "Wet and ready aren't you?"

His fingers played with my wetness, spreading it over my lips.

I surprised myself by moaning aloud. I wasn't a talker in bed.

The moments his tongue closed over my mound. I cried aloud, my back bowing off the bed. It was nothing like I was used to. Even the one time I let Ted go down on me. It didn't feel as good.

Zephyryy's tongue dipped into me and he started eating at me with renewed gusto. Every thoughts of Ted flew out of my head.

My back bowed, my thighs trembling as the familiar pressure began to build.

"Damn. You're sweet," he mumbled. "And snug. Fuck, I can imagine how tight you'd be around my cock."

The pressure built faster, my heart raced with effort to hold it down. Hell, what would happen if the wildness under my veins got out?

"Let go, baby." Zephryy purred. "Don't fight it."

"No. Too much," I gasped. "You..you don't un-understand."

"Shh. Let go."

My body obeyed. The pressure unfurled from my belly spreading to every joint in my body.

I screamed, body quivering till it ebbed.

Zephryy didn't stop. He licked and sucked and slurped till I was falling over the cliff again.

When I came to, he was over me. His length inching slowly into me.

We both let out a groan when he filled me completely.

"Fuck, it must have been a while for you. Shit, you're tight," he said, setting a rhythm.

He changed his angle, bumping my clit and hitting a particular spot that made my eye roll to the back of my head. "Zephryy, Zeph. Ahh," I gasped. "I'm coming."

"Gods, you're beautiful," Zephryy purred. He drew out of me completely and went all the way in a single plunge.

When his head dipped to suck my nipples, I lost it.

"Fuck," I yelled, my toes curling. "Zephryy!. Fuck."

"Little bird, yeah!" I barely heard the sound of his own groan as he followed me over the edge.

His hands were firmly around me when all sense of reasoning returned. My heart pounded fast. I had to go, I needed to leave, but my muscles weren't responding.

Like he knew what was going on in my mind, his hand tightened around me. "Sleep, little bird," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my cheek.