LOVING THE MADMAN

Midnight Encounter

We strolled through the town eating ice cream and picking at street food, talking as we went.

Landon made me laugh more than I expected—something I hadn’t even realized I needed. He told me he was a natural-born wolf, the third male of the Cross Pack, one of the larger packs in Colorado.

Later we sat on a park bench with corn dogs, the cool night air keeping us company.

“So, what part of Colorado does your pack stay in?” I asked, chewing another bite.

“Glenwood Springs.”

“Oh, that explains why I’ve never run into you. So, what brings you to Aspen?”

“Work,” Landon said, brushing his hands off after finishing his corn dog. “I came to photograph wolves from other regions for my next collection.”

“Ever tried Lycans?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. But I plan to. Lycans are so unique… in a terrifying way.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “But stronger, all the same.”

“And uglier,” he added with a grin.

I laughed, shaking my head.

Then Landon propped an elbow on the backrest, leaning his cheek into his fist. “Now,” he said quietly, “let’s talk about the root cause of your loneliness.”

I was liking Landon. I never expected to connect with him so well.

As guilty as it felt, he was meant to be nothing more than a tool to make Troy jealous. But, against all odds, I was genuinely starting to like him.

Letting out a long breath, I replied, “My family.”

And I found myself telling him everything. How being the only daughter of the PaleMoon line meant being the most protected. How my father knew I’d reached the age when people would try to claim me, sometimes appropriately, sometimes like Nigel had. How my brothers, especially Slade, were fiercely overprotective.

For the first time in years, I told someone outside my family, except Stacy, the story I’d always kept to myself. How Slade had become closest to me and why his protectiveness bordered on obsession.

I was six then, and Slade was twenty-three. My birth had already been whispered about across the state: a PaleMoon female finally born to the Davis line after four boys.

Even as a child I’d been treated like a prize, offers of betrothal already building up.

We PaleMoons were beautiful. When we shifted, our wolves were pure, unblemished silver, our eye colors the only thing to tell us apart. We were considered the most striking wolves in the region, and many wanted me for themselves.

One afternoon I’d begged Slade to take me out for candy despite Father’s strict orders to keep me inside. I pestered him until he gave in. On our way back, they ambushed us.

I was the target.

Slade fought as best he could, but they kept calling reinforcements. We finally fled into the forest, hiding there for hours as the sun went down. I remember his arms around me, his heart beating so hard while he kept whispering that we’d be okay.

When we finally made it home, Father was furious and worried. So were Mother and the rest of my brothers.

Father's rage fell hardest on Slade, because he was the eldest and expected better from him.

I got a scolding, but he bore the punishment. That night sort of sealed something between us. It was like he had made a vow never to let anything like that happen again.

“I understand him,” Landon said after I finished my story. “But he has to accept that you’re no longer the same defenseless six-year-old. You’re grown now, and you even have your own wolf. Do you mind telling me her name?”

“Ash.”

“Ash,” he repeated softly, his gaze moving across the park.

Ash always came out to play on every full moon. I’d never used her to fight or defend myself before; the opportunity had never come.

She was a princess just like me.

“Do you know that guy?” Landon asked suddenly.

“What guy?”

“Over there. Don’t look too hard,” he whispered. “Black baseball cap. Holding a magazine.”

I stole a subtle glance. Across the street, at a small restaurant with outdoor seating, sat a man in a black cap and jacket, a magazine spread in his hands.

“No. Why?”

“Seems suspicious. He’s been looking over at you,” Landon explained, a slight frown between his brows.

The hairs at the back of my neck rose, a chill creeping into my blood.

Who could he be, and what did he want? Had he followed me here?

Was he one of Nigel’s men? Or a beta sent from an alpha who still hoped to claim me?

They’d all been quiet lately; my brothers were full-grown wolves now, and the PaleMoon family wasn’t to be trifled with, but still, you could never tell.

Even Luna Lyla had been kidnapped once, and she was the wife of the most powerful Lycan in Aspen.

People had guts.

The man seemed to realize we’d noticed him. He stood, set the magazine aside, and walked off into the darkness, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black jacket.

Landon noticed my tension. “Probably one of your online fans or something.”

He nudged me with a playful smile. “Not to worry. I’m with you. I’ll keep you safe.”

I forced a laugh. “Yeah? What are you now, Superman?”

He pushed the brown curls from his eyes.“I guess you could say that.”

Landon checked his watch. “We should start heading back.”

“Yeah. Sure.” I finished off my corn dog, licking a bit of mustard from my thumb.

Landon’s hand found the small of my back as we left the park, but the chill that had crawled under my skin earlier refused to leave.

I couldn’t shake the image of the man in the black cap melting into the darkness.

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“Tell me everything,” Stacy said once we were in the car on our way home.

She made her voice deliberately loud so Troy could hear.

“How was the stroll?” She wiggled her brows.

I shrugged. “It was nice.”

“Nice is boring,” she said flatly. “Details, girl, details. Did you two at least kiss?”

I noticed Troy stiffen in the driver’s seat.

“No, he’s a gentleman,” I emphasized proudly… and loudly. “Not that kissing on the first date is wrong, but he respected me enough not to, at least since we only just met and…”

“Athena,” Stacy cut in. “I get it.”

I nodded.

“But you guys vibed so well. He kept looking at you with these love-sick eyes. And he's a werewolf. That's a plus, right?”

“Yes. He’s really nice. And funny,” I admitted more quietly. “I think I like him. I don’t want to mess this up.”

Her face softened. “You won’t, babe.”

The rest of the ride was filled with laughter, silly videos, and giggles until we finally pulled up at Stacy's father’s villa. I’d already told my family I was staying the night.

Upstairs, after Troy set our bags on the table, he turned in the car key and left for his quarters without even glancing my way.

“Where does he sleep?” I asked.

Stacy smirked.

“What?” I shrugged. “It’s nothing. I'm just curious.”

“Ground floor, first room on the right.”

“I didn’t ask for the exact… never mind.”

Her smirk widened. “Whatever. You’re welcome.” She stifled a yawn. “I’m retiring to bed. Night, Thena.”

“Night”

She left for her room, while I left for mine.

After changing into my nightwear, I slipped into bed but couldn’t sleep.

Knowing exactly where Troy’s room was kept me awake; it tugged at me incessantly, not even the image of the suspicious man tailing me.

I wasn’t supposed to hide information like that. If I told Slade or Father, they’d lock me inside for weeks. And telling Troy was out of the question because he wasn’t even hired to protect me.

My body itched with restless energy.

Finally, unable to stand it any longer, I got out of bed and padded outside to the garden, settling into the old swing in the garden, beneath the moonlight.

The night was quiet and peaceful. My mind, however, was loud.

Landon had been everything I should’ve wanted… easy, charming, compatible. And yet here I was, thinking of the brute, Troy.

“What are you doing, Athena?” I muttered aloud. “What are you doing leading Landon on, just like you had with Hugh?”

Using men to provoke Troy when I knew who I wanted. The thought made me feel sick.

I abandoned the swing, as my skin itched for relief, heading toward the villa’s lake.

The air wasn't chilly; it was warm. And so was the water.

Stripping out of my clothes, I slid in, sighing as the liquid embraced me.

I swam lazy laps for a while until the sound of footsteps made me freeze.

Ducking lower till the water lapped at my chin, I cursed.“s**t”

I was naked. In the water. And someone was coming.

Who the hell was awake at this time, aside from the guards? And the guards never patrolled this area at night for f**k’s sake.

The footsteps stopped at the edge, followed by a short silence.

Then Troy's deep voice cut through the quiet of the night, rough and irritated.

“What are you doing here?”