First to Fall Read online

Dominic

  Being around Luz calms my wolf, but at the same time stirs him up in different ways. A complete contradiction, but as euphoric as any drug. The drive is silent at first, then we chat about insignificant stuff while I take us into the mountains.

  After an hour or so, I worm my way to the subject gently—or as much as I can. “We might have made progress today.”

  “Hm?”

  I would give anything to know what she’s thinking about.

  “Lucas.” It’s a near growl, my wolf way too near the surface. I mentally pet him down, calming him, before continuing, “He was watching earlier, seemed concerned about you and Tommy.”

  “Oh...”

  Her tone is distracted, almost disappointed, and definitely not as exhilarated as I expected.

  “What’s wrong? I would have thought you’d be happier.”

  “I am! It’s just... sorry. Lots on my mind.”

  “About Tommy?”

  Luz is quiet, but it’s an unnatural stillness. I pull the car over while she gathers her thoughts, then exit and open her door.

  It feels old-school when I offer my hand to help her out, but she takes it with a secret little smile. She pulls her scarf tighter and we walk along the cliffs, our feet crunching in the snow.

  “I know a nice spot a few miles off, if you feel up for a hike?”

  Luz nods blindly and I take her hand in mine, leading us upwards. Whatever is going on in her head, I have a feeling she needs time to process it and to figure out how— if—she wants to share it.

  I keep quiet while we walk, lending a helping hand when needed but otherwise restricting my touch only to holding her hand. With each passing hour, the wind picks up as the sun drops in the sky, until it’s close to sunset.

  Luz stops mid-step, her eyes darting around. I can read the uneasiness in her expression, and squeeze her hand in reassurance. “We’re two minutes from shelter, and I promise you’re safe with me.”

  Her reaction is, like everything else, a complete contradiction. While her expression softens, her body is still tense with wariness. Hoping to ease it, I point over my shoulder. “There’s a cave off to the side of this path. It’ll give us some shelter from the wind, and it has a pretty awesome view.”

  Curiosity seems to win over her hesitation and Luz nods, then we’re moving again. Just as I said, within minutes we move off the beaten path and to what first appears like a wall of solid rock.

  I drop Luz’s hand and move around it, pushing off the boulder that’s actually masking the entrance to the cave. Luz’s eyes widen at the discovery, and she takes a few steps closer of her own volition.

  “How did you find this spot?”

  I shrug, dusting off the rock in the middle of the entrance. “We go on a lot of hikes, me and the guys.”

  Satisfied the flat top is now clean enough for her, I gesture to it and Luz takes a seat. I shrug out of my jacket and drop it to the ground, flopping onto it with a grunt. Whatever Luz has to tell me, it’ll be hard enough without having me in her personal bubble. This way, I’m close enough to touch but not enough to distract.

  “You’re not cold?” Her breath comes out in white puffs of smoke, but I grin.

  “The hike warmed me up.”

  After lingering on my profile for a bit, Luz finally glances downhill and a sweet little gasp escapes her. My body tightens with images of other ways I could elicit that sound from her lips, but I grit my teeth and shake it off. Now is so not the time.

  My wolf disagrees. Mine.

  While Luz takes in the breathtaking frozen lake below and snowy mountaintops, I spend all my energy trying to wrestle my counterpart into submission. Eventually, he relents and moves to the back of my mind, and I release a frustrated breath.

  With the blood red in the sky, water at our feet, the entire world covered in a blanket of snow...everything stills. Then the peace shatters with Luz’s confession.

  “Tommy assaulted me.”

  Lucrezia

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Dom turn abruptly but refuse to look at him.

  “We’d been dating for a bit. Three months to be exact. He thought he was entitled to something, but I wasn’t ready. One night, he took me for a drive, and tried to rape me in his car. He would have almost succeeded if it hadn’t been for the crowbar I found. I smacked him in self-defense over the head, then ran.”

  Memories of that night tug at me, increasing my heartbeat. I try to focus on my breathing, like when I used to have panic attacks. Without even realizing it, I start picking at the skin around my fingernails—until Dom rests his larger hand over mine.

  I’m still avoiding his gaze, but I turn my palm upwards to grasp his, then draw in a shaky breath. “A nice old man picked me off the side of the road and drove me to the police station. I filed a report, they took pictures of my bruises. Tommy showed up later wanting to press charges against me. He might have gone to trial, but I didn’t want to stick around. I’m a foster kid, I come from nothing, and him... Well, his parents were loaded. I left town to start a new life and ended up here.”

  I’m surprised at how easily it all rolls off, and the relief overcoming me at telling Dom. And for the first time since it happened, I don’t feel ashamed. No more. The mantra I’ve repeated over and over since that day sinks in: it was not my fault.

  Lost in my thoughts, I don’t catch onto Dom’s stillness until he whispers something.

  “I’m going to kill him.”

  When someone says that, it’s easy to believe they’re just words. But as I turn to him, taking in his clenched his fists, his flaring nostrils, and the pure rage in his eyes... There is no doubt in my mind that Dom means what he says.

  I tug on his hand, in an effort to ground him. “Dom, he isn't worth it.”

  “Luz...” At a huge cost to himself, Dom inhales deeply. “You don’t understand. I have to kill him.”

  “That’s crazy talk!”

  He takes another deep breath at my outburst, then his free hand caresses my cheek. Despite the anger still in the rest of his body, he’s so tender it brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. No man has ever touched me with such reverence.

  “It’s stupid,” I whisper as tears drop, one after the other. “I only now realize what a dick he was. I blamed myself for so long, for what happened, thinking I had led him along, because I was a virgin and I hadn’t been with a guy in that way.... As if I would be stupid enough to give it up to the first guy that came!”

  In my rant, I don’t realize Dom’s frozen again. Not until I sniffle, then look up and notice the most peculiar expression on his face.

  “Um... Dom?”

  His hand grasps my chin, searching my eyes.

  “You... are amazing,” he half-whispers, half-growls, then drops his mouth to mine.

  It catches me by surprise, but not for long. His kiss is as tender as his touch is, not once pushing past a barrier he has erected himself. That, more than anything, makes me realize what the kiss really is.

  There’s no seduction in it, though the man is pure sin and his mouth knows what it’s doing. Rather, there’s a sweetness to the way his lips move against mine, giving me all the time in the world to pull back.

  When he stops, I blink and fall into his ocean-dark eyes. This isn’t fake. There is no Lucas around, no need to pretend. But what I feel, the tugging in my heart, in my body, it’s impossible to restrict.

  For months after the incident, I blamed myself. Nights on end, after first moving to Rockland Creek, I had nightmares of Tommy’s hands on me. Now that the truth is out there, that I’ve told another person, I realize it’s time to forgive myself, to break free of the limitations I set upon myself.

  Not giving in to the kiss would have been letting Tommy win, to forever have control over my reaction to a man. So I do the exact opposite, and press my lips to Dom’s again. At first taken aback, he snaps out of it quickly enough and takes over the kiss.

  Rather than pull back, I le
t him. I deserve to have a hot guy kiss me, and to enjoy it without feeling guilty. Vaguely, I hear myself moan before I give in completely, no restraints, and stop thinking altogether. I trust Dom, and I know he’ll respect my boundaries when the time comes.

  Dominic

  I’m only semi-aware of my hands moving to Luz’s hips, gripping her tighter against me. I couldn’t resist her now if I tried, and I would lie down and die at her feet if she asked me.

  She cannot understand what her confession—what Tommy did—does to me. How can I explain to her the million deaths I’ve already envisioned for the bastard? My wolf is ready to pounce—to hunt. To make right what was done wrong.

  Only her plea held me back as strong as Lucas’ order to let Tommy go. I meant the kiss as comfort. Then she surprised me by kissing me back, and now I’m drowning, and the ocean’s name is Luz.

  My light. Calling me out of the darkness.

  I break the kiss, panting, stirred beyond imaginings. She told me too much, but she doesn’t understand that. She’s completely, innocently unaware of how much my wolf wants the innocent that she is, not just to claim but to protect and forever keep safe.

  She is the purest snow, meant for me alone. But Lucas...

  I shut out the thought. Lucas won't go near Luz unless he proves he is worthy. I won't let anyone near her... myself included.

  “Dom?” Those emerald eyes stare at me in wonder and confusion for stopping the kiss.

  I run my thumb on her bottom lip, then whisper, “You were nowhere at fault with Tommy. A man has a choice to control himself. To treat a woman like a lady. He chose not to. And I swear to you, Luz, he will pay.”

  With a huge effort, I put some distance between us, reining in my desire to kiss her again. I want to do right by her, and my wolf is much too present in my subconscious mind to trust that he won’t try to take over. So I do the reasonable thing and grasp her hand in mine. “Let’s enjoy what’s left of the sunset.”

  As she drops onto the jacket, leaning against me, I make a single promise with the blood-red sunrise as my witness. Pack justice will prevail, and Tommy will pay. Whether or not Lucas agrees.

  ∞ ♦ ∞

  Later that evening, I drive Luz back home, holding her hand the entire way. It feels soft, precious in my larger one, and infinitely more fragile.

  When the car comes to a full stop, I turn in my seat to face her. She seems reluctant to leave right away, and I’m not sure I’m ready for her to either. “What you told me today, you have to believe me when I tell you how precious your trust is.”

  I caress her cheek, and she nuzzles into my palm. “I know.”

  “And I will never betray that, Luz, believe me. But I need to tell Lucas.” Panic flares in her eyes, and I scoot closer. “I will not tell them what happened, not unless you agree. But I have to at least let them know Tommy tried to hurt you and that he’s dangerous. We will protect you, you have my word.”

  And I will seek justice for this. That part, I keep to myself. No sense scaring her with statements she cannot understand.

  Luz bites on her lip, looking so damn vulnerable it’s all I can do not to rush her out of here onto some deserted island, to make sure she’s never harmed again. Still, my brave girl ends up nodding. “Okay. You can tell them Tommy is a slime ball... But please don’t reveal everything he did unless it’s necessary.”

  Her trust in me warms my heart, but words fail me. So I express it the only way I can. My hand moves to her neck, pulling her mouth to mine. I intended the kiss to be soft, but Luz leans further into me, demanding more until the seat belt digs into her chest.

  She pulls away with a gasp, her eyes glazed and lips red from my ministrations. I smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You should get going, you need rest.”

  Instead of moving, she stares at me, her brow furrowed in concentration. “Why do your kisses feel so right?”

  Because I’m right for you, not Lucas.

  I swallow past the words stuck in my throat and instead grin. “Because I’m a great kisser?”

  Her features ease into a smile. “You had best stop kissing me when we don’t have an audience, then. A girl might fall for your acting skills.”

  Before I can retort, she unbuckles her seatbelt and shoots out of the car. At the door, she turns around one last time and blows me a kiss. I wait until she’s gone upstairs and am about to start the engine when I notice a dog crossing the street.

  No... Not a dog. It’s larger, and the back is hunched like it’s disfigured. In the darkness of the street, the creature turns and I see yellow gleaming orbs, and a foaming mouth.

  My first thought is something like, What the fuck? The second, quickly following, is that this must be the creature behind the killings. But it’s the third one that has me rooted to my spot, heart pounding.

  What is it doing near Luz’s place?

  The creature finishes crossing, then disappears into the crack between houses. I throw off my clothes, glancing around to make sure there’s no human. When I’m satisfied I’m alone, I step out of my truck—naked—and lock the doors. Then I tuck the key behind my tire and morph into a wolf.

  The scent hits me, causing me to retch. It’s pungent and heavy, enough so to bring tears to my eyes like onions would if I was human. I shake my head, inhaling deeply to neutralize its effects on me, and follow in its stead.

  I spend a full hour doing the tour, checking every nook and cranny, without finding the blasted creature. Dejected, I refuse to leave Luz alone for the night, so I do the next best thing. Still in my wolf form, I climb on the fire escape and squint through her bedroom window.

  Mate, you free to go find Tiny?

  Finn’s question takes me by surprise. He must be in wolf mode already, and I feel slightly guilty turning him down. But there’s no way I’m leaving Luz alone.

  Not tonight. Tomorrow.

  She’s sleeping by now, a blanket thrown over her body. I will let nothing happen to her. In wolf form, I fall asleep in a corner. If anyone plans to come by, I will have their hide.

  ∞ 6 – Confruntare ∞

  “If you avoid conflict to keep the peace

  you start a war inside yourself.”

  -Buddha-

  DOMINIC

  I’m pacing back and forth in the bit of forest, unable to sit still.

  What’s gotten up your ass? Tristan’s rumble is easy enough to recognize, even before he shows up. He’s followed by Finn, whose eyes are fixed on me.

  Nothing.

  Yeah, right. My Irish buddy throws his thoughts on the matter, making a show of getting closer and sniffing me. You stink of anger—and Luz. What the hell happened?

  I said nothing! My wolf growls, even as I step backwards. I don't want to hurt my pack, but this is beyond their comprehension. Tristan’s wary eyes follow my every moment, probably out of fear I’ll turn like the vrykolakas.

  But it’s not thirst for blood that has me close to manic. It’s the need for revenge. The more I try to rein my nature in, the more I want to let loose—and find Tommy.

  Who’s Tommy?

  Lucas pushes in, his massive wolf body corded, tense. He tilts his head to the side, showing me his teeth in a low snarl. I asked you a question.

  Finn nudges me from the side, and his unspoken plea is clear as day. Don’t start something. Answer the leader. Yet I have an issue listening to him. Instead, I push forward and get as close to Lucas as I dare.

  He’s Luz’s ex. Did you know about him? About what he did?

  The snarl builds up, but Lucas doesn’t make a move. That is more sign of the truth than anything else, and I reel back in shock. You knew!

  Certo che sì! I smelled the fear on her the first day you brought her in our midst. I don’t know the specifics, but I know he hurt her. That’s why I agreed for her to stay... He shakes his head, then closes his jaw. She’s safe with us, Dom. Why are you intent to ruin it?

  Would either of you care to share? Finn’s
irritated voice crosses all our minds.

  I stare at Lucas, and he glares at me. We stay like that for long moments, and I know he’s waiting for me to back down. And normally, I would... On any other day, I would break eye contact and step away, pushed by his alpha attitude and the rules of our pack.

  Today, I cross every line and step closer, ignoring Finn’s whine. He hurt her and was never caught. He would have continued hurting her... That’s why she ran away. Only my promise to Luz, my loyalty to her, has me holding back on the full truth.

  Through the connection linking us all, I sense my pack’s shock, then quick burst of anger—none of us can stand for a woman being hurt.

  But Lucas being Lucas, he tampers his emotions down quickly. We cannot exact vengeance for something that happened before Lucrezia was with us.

  My wolf demands it.

  Lucas stares me down, and I know he catches my meaning. You’re not mated, so that request is useless. Stand down, Dom. I order you—as your alpha. Do not touch the human.

  Then he turns away, dismissing the whole thing. We have bigger problems. I ran across another dead animal on my way here. After what I saw... I really don’t believe it’s a human doing the work.

  This peaks Tristan's interest. Then what?

  Un demone.

  I don’t miss Lucas’ side-glance to me when he says demon, and bare my teeth in response. He ignores the disrespectful gesture, instead saying, Finn, have you and Dom found Tiny yet?

  No, I’ve been...distracted. Sorry, boss. I’m surprised he’s taking the fall for this, and grateful considering how pissed off Lucas is with me already.

  Go now, then. We need answers.

  Finn nods, then walks over to me, prodding me with his muzzle to move back. Let’s go before you dig yourself into a deeper hole.

  ∞ ♦ ∞

  We’re on the outskirts of town, having picked up Tiny’s scent near a motel. Finn sticks to the shadows like last time, but luckily there’s no full moon tonight. After another mile of tracking, the scent stops.

  What the hell?

  Finn steps out of the darkness, turning in a circle. Where did he go?