Page 40 of Wolves Always Bite

“Youcan ask me any question you like, human.Myname isWeston.”

“Thankyou!That’dbe amazing,”Isaid, before he changed his mind.Hehad no idea what he’d just done. “I’llkeep that in mind whenIknow whatIwant to ask.”

Adrianhadn’t quit growling.

Themerman—Weston—stepped on shore.Withlegs.Hisfishy bits were gone.Consideringthe guy had just emerged from the water, he was surprisingly dry and well put together.Evenhis sun-bleached hair seemed to be perfectly in place.Magicwas rather phenomenal.Andthe guy was also fully clothed, damn it all anyway.NotthatIwas interested in this guy, butItotally would have peeked if it’d been an option.Imean no one could match my werewolf in terms of gorgeousness, but what if merman dick was different from werewolf dick?Inquiringminds wanted to know.Well, my inquiring mind did anyway, because myVikingwerewolf could fall for a merman who lived in the fjord and there would definitely be dicks described in my novel.I’dhate to get the details wrong.

Themerman winked at me again as he walked past us toward the inn.Iturned toward the water and the trees, trying again to pick out the audience he’d mentioned.

“Weshould go too,”Adriansaid, drawing my attention back to him.

Idropped a quick kiss on his frown. “Yes.Becausethe sooner we’re done here, the sooner we can get back to our room.”

Adrianyanked me forward for another hot, hard kiss.Asabruptly as the kiss started, it stopped.Adrianstood and pulled me to my feet.

“Let’sgo.”

Wefollowed the same routeWestonhad taken.Withina few steps, a building came into view, and we paused to study it.

TheWillowLakeInnwas a three-story red brick monstrosity.Ipeered up at the narrow windows on the top floor.Ifwe stood here long enough,Ibet we’d see a pale ghostly face staring at us from behind the gauzy curtains.Didthey market themselves as a haunted venue?Becausethey totally should.Ithad that vibe.Ghosthunter types would fill the place every weekend.Thenagain, the local supes might not like having too many curious humans around the place.Whoknew what interesting sounds and images they might pick up on their ghost hunting equipment?

Speakingof ghosts…Whatif my nakedVikingwerewolf fell for a ghost?Nexttime we came back here—because with only two places in town to eat,Iwas sure there’d be a next time, even ifIdidn’t trust the owner—I’dtake some inspirational pictures.Iwas too hungry to linger outside right now.Iadjusted the strap on my backpack, before slipping my hand intoAdrian’sand tugging him forward.

“Ithink we need to bringTeagueorDavinahere,”Isaid.

“Why?”

“Thereis no way that place isn’t haunted.”

“Doyou not want to go in?”

“Ohno,Iwouldn’t miss this for the world.Doyou think they have secret passages too?Iwonder whyAshnever brought me here whenIvisited him.”

Aswe approached,Adriansteered me toward the wooden doors to the right.Thesign on the other set of doors said they led to the inn itself.Whenwe reached the door,Adrianstepped in front of me so he could enter first.Hisface didn’t go full wolf, but the signs of his beast rising to the surface were there.Howcool was it thatIrecognized that now?Butwhy had he gone into wolf mode?WasBabettehere?Orthose wolves from the woods?Wealready knew there was at least one merman.

Gasstation sandwiches were sounding pretty good about now.

“IthinkIknow why your friend didn’t bring you here…”Adrianmurmured.

ThenIheard a familiar laugh.

Ashwas here.

IpushedAdrianinto the pub.Mygaze darted from table to table untilIsaw the back of his head.Hewas wearing one of his pink fuzzy sweaters.Mychest lightened at the mere sight of him.Hewas so achingly familiar on a day that had been anything but.Allthoughts of waiting to talk to him untilIknew what to say fled asIrushed forward.

“Ash!”

Themassive dude sitting at the table with him jumped up, putting himself between me and myBFF.Ifrowned at the guy, shocked to see flames dancing in his eyes.Wow.Thatwas… just like that police officer.Whatwas in the water here that turned everyone’s eyes to flames?Alow growl rumbled through the guy’s gigantic body.Itwas probably meant to be threatening.

Whatever, dude.I’veseen my boss change into a green monkey today andI’vetaken on a harpy, so you aren’t going to scare me.

Theglaring guy towered over me… all domineering, like he expected me to do whatever he wanted.Mademe wonder if myBFFhad a daddy kink.NotthatIwas interested.Ihad a sexy werewolf.

“Dude,”Isaid asIstopped in front of the muscled giant and pointed at his face. “Youshould go to a doctor and get your eyes looked at, because that is not normal.Andyou’re wasting your growls.Iknow you…You’reDillon.Wemet whenAshwas in the hospital.”

Ashhad popped out of his chair and spun around to see us when he heard my voice. “Jeremy?”

Adrianpushed me behind him, facing off against the fiery-eyed guy.God, now he was growling too.