Werewolves of New York (3 page)

W
hen Rose saw
Eli walking toward her, she knew exactly who he was.

She’d had a visceral reaction to him the day they’d met two weeks ago. He’d seemed to feel the same, winking at her while her best friend gave her vows, grinning as the bouquet hit Rose in the head and then flirting with her in front of everyone as soon as the ceremony was over.

His friend Darik shut it down, and the blonde guy–Dontae, was it?–had looked at her with such foreboding it was as though he’d jumped right out of a horror film. At breakfast Eli laughed when Darik took a middle seat at the rectangular table, forcing Rose and Eli apart. He seemed to lose interest in trying to talk to her after that. Rose, no dummy, acted like she didn’t care, using her interest in meeting her best friend’s new man to help her forget him. Not an easy thing to do when Eli’s mere presence in the room was causing her mind to stray and her ears to listen to everything he said. More than once she’d had to ask Michelle, “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

He was extroverted, extremely confident, ridiculously charming and had a smile that made your panties slide off even when you were still wearing your pants. He was obviously trouble and trouble she loved.

But when breakfast was over, he waved goodbye and didn’t ask for her phone number. Disappointed, she’d put him out of her mind completely.

And then…BAM. There he was walking right up to her on the day she’d won a case she’d worked over a year on? She couldn’t help but ask herself,
is he my present
? as she took in his fantastic suit, this time paired with a tie, which just killed her.
Thomas Connors should take lessons from guys like this.

Because of her massive experience with cocky men, she pretended not to remember his name, just to throw him off a bit and take his ego down a notch. It worked. He perked up and paid very close attention to her, so close she felt at one point as though he could see through her clothes. She was sure he was going to ask her out. The way he’d stared at her lips like he wanted to chew them, had goosebumps rushing down her body.

But then he lost interest again and couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Walking home, she searched their conversation for where it went sideways, hoping she didn’t make an ass of herself by looking too interested. Then it dawned on her why he’d run away. And it fit with his friend’s actions as well! “He has a girlfriend!” she muttered, disappointment overcoming her. “I should have known.”

The bubble bath earned back its appeal.

E
li stared
at the apartments resting above Oggi Hair and Nail Salon just off Water Street on Coenties Slip. He looked at the door of the address Dontae had given him that evening, and wondered how to get in. Downtown is fairly quiet on a weeknight compared with the villages, Chelsea, the Meatpacking District and most everywhere above. But despite the quiet of the near midnight hour, Diana and Louis’s apartment was on the third floor. Even with his advanced hearing ability, he couldn’t listen to their actions from here.

Since it was such a small building, hope that someone would walk up and let him in, was small. He certainly couldn’t buzz Diana direct, but he stared at the security box wishing he could. It would make it so much easier to just tell her,
I’ve come to beat the shit out of whoever is beating you. Let me in.

But life isn’t that easy.

He watched the lights go out behind the closed curtain he guessed was their window. They were going to sleep, and tonight there was nothing to be done. Eli exhaled impatience through his nose and decided the only course of action was to return another night, at an earlier time.

It was chilly and Water Street was quiet as he walked home. He enjoyed the crisp air since his veins ran hot, as did the blood of all wolves. With no one around, he was tempted to shift, but bit down the urge and desire. If anyone saw him, it wasn’t just bad for him, but for his brethren, too. That was the one bad thing about living in a city as populated as this, in a modern world where cameras were everywhere. His wolf was rarely allowed to run free.

Maybe that’s why Rose affected me so much. I’m pent up.

As he strolled along the shadow-painted sidewalk, Eli allowed his racing mind to drift back to when he lived deep in the woods by the St. John River just east of Canada’s border. He imagined himself running on all fours, feeling the wind course through his fur as the forest blurred past. The memory of the trees, their familiar and comforting smell, it lifted the weight from his shoulders. He could almost feel the cold of the snow-covered ground he’d last experienced, how the soft flakes felt under his paws as he raced with his packmates, unhindered by fear of being caught.

L
ocking
the front door of the modern two-bedroom flat he shared with Nathaniel and now sometimes Michelle, he set his keys in the wooden bowl, and at first thought he was alone. It was a fair assumption. If they were here there’d be sounds of lovemaking. Sighing relief at the blessed silence, Eli walked in happy he didn’t have to count how many times his best friend’s bride came tonight. It was amusing at first, but after two weeks he was finding the joke old. Especially after the night he’d counted eleven times. That was just annoying.

But then he heard ice cubes hitting the inside of a glass and realized his error as Nathaniel called out, “Oh good. You’re home.” Breathing in, Eli couldn’t smell Michelle’s recent scent drifting in the air. And when he listened, he heard only one heartbeat. “She’s at her place,” Nathaniel called out. “I can hear you sniffing the air. Quit it.”

Eli chuckled and joined his best friend in the living room. The coffee table had a New York Times newspaper spread out under wrappers from a bacon burger and fries. Abandoned lettuce was strewn about. Wolves don’t want salad. Other than that, the room was clean as usual.

“You ate alone? Where’s your wife?” He jogged his chin to the solo glass Nathaniel was filling. “Give me one of those.”

He felt Nathaniel’s pause and knew he was being inspected. “You look like shit, Eli.”

Eli slumped on the couch and leaned forward, elbows on his knees as he rubbed his head and stared at nothing. “Been a rough afternoon.” He took meditative breaths as his friend poured a second drink, then looked up and took the offered glass when it came. “You’re dressed in sweats.” His eyebrows rose in curiosity.

Nathaniel sat in the leather chair opposite and leaned back in his wrinkly white t-shirt, spreading his legs wide, one bare foot thrown on the coffee table. His thick dark hair was a mess and his green eyes were filled with interest for what was going on with his friend. “She’s meeting with a potential new client in the morning and said I’d keep her up all night.”

Eli nodded with his forehead all bunched up. “I promise you, she’s right. Don’t look so glum.”

Nathaniel stared at him, momentarily startled. “Has it been that bad?”

Eli’s smile flashed. “Eleven times. Eleven???”

Nathaniel frowned. “Eleven times what?” His eyes widened. “You’ve been counting?”

“Dude,” Eli chuckled as he raised the glass to his lips. “Like I can help it. You know these ears. And my wolf can’t exactly ignore a woman’s moans now can he?” Rage flew into Nathaniel’s eyes at a speed so shocking that Eli stood up. “Hey, hey. Put your leash on.”

“Don’t you fucking talk about…” Nathaniel rose slowly like one who stalks its prey, his green eyes becoming lighter as the glow began, his wolf itching for a bite of Eli.

“Nate.” Eli never called him that. Darik did. But he hoped using the nickname might reawaken Nathaniel. He was talking to the beast now and not the man. Nathaniel’s first weak spot he’d ever encountered was this woman Michelle. Where she was concerned, this wolf couldn’t get a reign on his possessive or protective instincts. “Nate, it’s me.” The green glowed hotter, locked and furious. “I do not want your wife. I repeat. This is Eli. Your best friend. And don’t you dare fucking shift right now because I will fight you. I’m in that kind of mood.” Eli knew his own eyes had turned luminescent amber and he could feel his teeth clamoring to sharpen, his bones desperate to reform. A fight might be what he needed, might abate the discomfort he’d felt after running into Rose. “Do you hear me? I’ve had a bad night and I need you to be my buddy. Or this ain’t gonna be pretty.”

Nathaniel cracked his neck and growled, “Say it again.”

Both wolves glared, with a low rumbling growl vibrating their chests. “I. Do. Not. Want. Her.” Eli had to do something or they might never come back from this. He had more control. He could see it, sense it, feel it in his veins. Nathaniel’s fangs were visible as he panted. In another minute, it would be too late. And no matter how much Eli wanted to go full testosterone, this was his friend, not some asshole who’d been beating a woman and deserved to get his bones shattered.

He cracked his jaw and closed his eyes, snarling a question he’d never planned on asking. “What if I move into her place?” Glowing green eyes blinked at him, taken aback. He lowered his chin, his glare menacing even as he offered, “You guys can live here. It’s time.” Nathaniel blinked again and his frown changed. Eli continued, “You need your own place. Just you and Michelle. This, right now? It’s bad. Don’t go any farther. Come back to me. That’s it…come back.” He watched his friend’s eyes darken to emerald green again, the fangs flattening out, the panting subsiding bit by bit.

They were like brothers and while Darik and Dontae weren’t as close and had chosen to live on their own, he and Nathaniel had wanted to be roommates and had lived together ever since moving to Manhattan. Packs travel together, the community their greatest strength and power. And this apartment? It was where the four of them convened every weekend before dawn to shoot the shit and keep their bond intact.

Nathaniel sat back down as though he’d been hit, himself again. “Where’d that come from? You really mean that or were you just helping me get past it?”

Eli crumbled to the couch, stretching his shoulders and taking a big swig from his glass. He was covered in a light sweat, and his heart was still accelerated. “I don’t know. I guess it just came to me because it makes sense. Back home we all lived together but this is different and Michelle’s not a wolf. She probably wants a place of her own with you, and just hasn’t said it yet. I’m beating her to the punch.”

“You know her place isn’t like this, and after all the work we did here? Hers is a modern structure, too, but it’s one of those cheapies they throw together to make a dime. It’s got no style like this place has.”

“I’ll make do. We did this…” he motioned around him, “…and I can do it again, this time without needing your approval. It’ll be heaven.” Eli tried to keep it light, but this wasn’t an easy decision and his smile was false.

Nathaniel shook his head. “I’m telling you. She thinks it’s quaint because it’s got hardwood floors, but they’re not real wood. I haven’t had the heart to tell her.”

They stared at each other and burst out laughing. “That’s fucking hilarious.”

Nathaniel shrugged, “I love her.”

“She has no idea what you can do, what you know, does she? About all of this?” Eli waved his arm around their home.

“She’s learning. We’re still getting to know each other. Remember we gave her the tour, but she’s never been to my office and seen the plans, the projects we’ve got in production now. She will soon. A little at a time.”

They’d redesigned the whole place themselves. An added balcony with the wall opened up to give it a wide glass door. Recessed lighting. All new appliances complete with a kitchen island that had a stove set in it. Just a few of the many improvements they’d had implemented. The only thing they didn’t have was a fireplace, the one thing Eli wanted and always griped about not having.

Eli brought the glass to his lips to suck out the last drops. “Does she have a fireplace?”

Nathaniel grinned. “She does.”

“No shit?” Eli hit the coffee table with a loud bang.

“It’s a big one. And her shower is pretty great, I have to admit.”

“Oh man! Alright, it’s done then.” He held his glass across the cluttered coffee table for a toast.

Nathaniel gave him a look that asked,
are you sure
? At Eli’s nod, he tapped their glasses together. “You’re going to regret this decision. But I’m going to take you up on it so I can fuck my wife without worrying about you keeping score.”

“And what a score it is, ye bastard.” Eli rolled his eyes and downed his Scotch.

Thanks to the comedic tone directly served him, Nathaniel’s wolf stayed where he was, watching from recesses of his friend’s mind. Eli had no problem with that. As long as it was still alive. The last thing he wanted was for some human female to kill the beast inside him. They were as tamed as they ever wanted to be.

Rising, Nathaniel held out his hand for the glass. Eli accepted the silent offer of a refill and watched as his best friend since eighteen walked to the bar they bought together. It was the first thing they’d gotten after the renovation was complete. They didn’t have it built in because they’d agreed there was always a chance they’d move the room around when inspiration hit. He and his three packmates were constantly reading books about other architects, standing respectfully on the shoulders of those who’d come before them by learning everything they could from their legacies. They borrowed ideas and made them their own as all artists did in the exploration of their own voice. So knowing they might reconfigure the furniture, they’d embedded into the bottom of the bar wheels you couldn’t see without crawling on the ground to look. You’d never guess it wasn’t permanent.

Nothing ever is, is it?
Eli wondered.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

He glanced up. “Oh yeah? What?”

“You’re thinking of when we bought this.” Nathaniel tapped the countertop and smiled a nostalgic smile as he poured Macallan 25 into their glasses.

Eli’s dimple appeared. “I’ll buy another one for the new place. And I’ll put it…” he held out his arms like he could picture it. “…right in front of the FIREPLACE.”

They broke into laughter at the same time, their shoulders shaking. It was a running joke about that damn missing fireplace.

Nathaniel walked over with the full glasses. “Thank God I don’t have to hear about THAT anymore.”

Eli took the drink, but couldn’t stop laughing. “Fireplace!!! I get a FIREPLACE!!!”

Nathaniel dropped to the leather chair and shouted, “SHUT UP!”

A sobriety overcame them that had nothing to do with alcohol, and Eli felt a pull inside his chest. “It’s been good having you as a roommate.”

Nathaniel nodded. “You too. You sure you want to do this?”

Eli’s eyes dropped to his glass, another thing they’d gotten together. “I’m happy for you. But it’s kinda fucked up that things have to change that I never thought would.” He glanced up with the raw face men make when they’re uncomfortable with a tender subject. “You know?”

Nathaniel’s voice lowered and he looked out toward the skyline, their balcony view. “Yeah. Life surprised us both this time, didn’t it?” Clearing his throat, he blinked and asked, “When do you want to do it?”

“Since we’re turning into girls, as soon as possible so I don’t have to see that mopey face anymore.” Nathaniel chuckled. “Tomorrow night. I’ll stay there tomorrow. I don’t like how close we came tonight.”

Nathaniel’s expression darkened. “Me neither. So, tomorrow then.”

They both stared off into their new futures, seeing very different things.

Nathaniel coughed and glanced over. “You want to call up Dontae and Darik?”

Eli’s eyebrows shot up with his spine. “A last hoorah? Hell yeah!” Pulling out his phone he sent the two texts without telling the wolves why they were being summoned. Within no time, replies came back saying they were on their way. “Oh shit!” he shouted, dropping the glass onto the coffee table with a bang.

“What?” Nathaniel leaned forward.

Eli rubbed his head with both hands and looked out from between his arms. “You realize this is going to be more fuel for Dontae.”

“Fuck.”

Eli dropped his hands and hung his head. “I am so sick of hearing his bitterness every time something concerning a female comes around. You know what I bet?”

“What?”

“Yeah, the more I think on it, the more sure I am. Some woman is going to turn him upside down. The strongest fall the hardest.”

“You think so, huh.” Nathaniel chuckled, not a believer.

“Yep.” Eli brought his glass to his lips and murmured against it, “And if I’m right? I’m gonna rub his face in it until he dies.”