Wolf Kissed

2

What used to look like a burn was now more like a birthmark just a few shades darker than my regular creamy skin color. The mark was a crescent shape with smooth lines, something a bite or sting wouldn’t have been capable of, no matter the sea creature.

I took a picture of it and messaged it to my best friend Embry. She’d be sleeping on her side of the world in Texas, but after the day I’d had, I had a feeling that I would still be up by the time morning rolled around for her.

She’d been offline for a few hours, but as soon as my message went through, a green dot appeared next to her picture.

Me: It’s after midnight and you have to work tomorrow. What are you doing awake? Embry: What is that on your wrist?

Me: Dude, go to sleep. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.

I’d never met Embry in person, but she was my best friend. She’d joined a book group by accident, and I’d laughed at the comment when she admitted to not knowing why she was there, replying with a silly GIF. She immediately messaged me, and we’d been friends ever since. That was four years ago, right before my mom died of a heart attack at the young age of forty-six, and I graduated high school.

I didn’t read as often as I used to. After losing my mom—my only parent—things changed in big ways for me, but I did my best to finish at least one book a month given it was something she loved so much. We used to enjoy reading at the same time and sharing opinions—mostly on the brutal cliffhangers we secretly loved but complained about.

Now, I didn’t have that.

Without my mom, nothing was the same. She was my only family. The only person I’d counted on and my closest confidant. Until she wasn’t. We’d lived a simple life, but it had been safe and secure. When she was taken from me so suddenly, I lost control of too much. I’d been fighting to get it back ever since.

After traveling for nearly three years, I still wasn’t ready to go back to Oregon, but I’d also wanted a bit of permanency, too. When I took the job in Australia, I’d signed on for six months, but I wouldn’t be renewing the contract even if they offered. I was ready to finish my travel list.

Six bus stops later, I exited onto the sidewalk and began walking to the house where I worked and lived. I only made it half a block before my phone started ringing.

“Embry? I told you we could chat tomorrow.” I sighed, adjusting my bag as I held the phone to my

ear.

“Oh, Cait. Shut your mouth and tell me what happened?” she demanded. I laughed. “How am I supposed to tell you if I shut my mouth?”

She growled. “You know what I mean. Spill it.”

“I don’t honestly know. I was hanging out at the beach like I usually do on my day off. The water was warm, the air crisp. You know, just your usual perfect Australian day.”

She sighed. “Yeah, I know. Australia is fabulous. You never want to leave. Blah, blah, blah. Get on with the good stuff.”

I grinned. Messing with her was so fun. “Well, when I was getting out of the water, I felt like something had stung my hand. Given I’m in the land of deadly creatures, I kind of freaked out and rushed to get out of the water. Except when I looked at where it hurt, nothing was swollen or bleeding. Before I could think much more on it, this guy showed up. All muscled and wet.”

“Muscled and wet? This doesn’t sound like a problem, Cait. Did you lick him?” she asked, and I could hear the grin on her face.

“No, he was a jerk, and we never even touched.” I didn’t count his one-second wrist grab. “He got me all wet—”

She gasped. “He got you wet without touching you? That’s talent. Can I meet him?”

“Damn it, Embry,” I said, trying to sound serious, but ended up laughing instead. Now that I had her on the phone, the situation didn’t seem as ominous. Well, except the mark on my wrist that was darker than it had been when I last checked on the bus.

I went on to tell her about the rest of the odd interaction. The more I told her, the quieter she got, which didn’t bother me, considering it was the middle of the night for her.

“The picture didn’t come in very clear, but you said it was like a quarter-circle?” she asked.

Looking at it again, I replied, “Yep, and darker now than before, but it doesn’t hurt anymore. I’ll get it checked out tomorrow. The family I work for has a pediatrician that comes to the house for the demon spawns, so maybe they can help.”

“Umm, I’m going to ask you something that sounds really crazy, but I need you to know you can trust me. Okay?” She sounded nervous, and Embry was never anything but confident.

“Of course, I trust you, Em,” I replied, pausing at the steps of the house. “Do you know what an alpha is?” she asked.

“Like an alpha man? Sure, but I don’t think that’s what he was talking about.” She sighed. “No, Cait. Like alphas and betas and… packs.”

“Packs? Like wolf packs? I don’t think Australia has wolves around here. What would that have to do with the stranger?” She’d been right. She was sounding crazy.

“You really don’t know?” she pressed. “Know what?” I was starting to get frustrated.

Instead of answering, she requested a video call. I clicked accept and had my brow raised as her rose-gold hair, fair skin, and light blue eyes came into view. Her long strands fell in waves around her oval face, and her full lips were pinched.

“Show me the mark,” she insisted.

I turned the camera from forward facing to outward, so I could see her reaction when she saw the burn.

Embry’s eyes widened. “Shit.”

I flipped the camera back to me. “You’re starting to freak me out. What’s going on?”

“Cait, I need you to trust me. You need to come back to the states. I can meet you in L.A. or you can fly into Dallas. Whichever will get you here sooner, but I need to see you.”

“I can’t just leave. I have a contract. I’ll have to give them a full month’s pay if I leave before the six months. I trust you, but it’s not that easy,” I said. I had cash saved from the odd jobs I’d taken

during my travels, but it wasn’t much, and I had to be careful how I spent it.

“Yes, it is.” Her screen paused as she backed out of the video chat. I could hear her nails clicking on the screen before she popped back into view. “I just put the money in your account. I’m going to book you a flight and text you the details. Pay them, and get your ass to the airport. I mean it, Cait.”

I was officially scared shitless. A text came through, confirming a new deposit had been made to my checking, and Embry was already off screen again, likely looking at flights.

“Am I in trouble, Em?” I asked.

She came back into view, her face softened. “I don’t know. Just get here and I can explain better.”

Embry was my best friend. It didn’t matter that we hadn’t met in person. She was scared, too, and as much as I should have asked a million questions before rushing back to the states, I did exactly as she asked.

I trusted her.