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And unsatisfied.
Another shiver ran down my spine as I imagined how it would feel to have Oren’s fur-covered body over my naked one, his tongue collecting the wetness between my thighs, his fangs scraping over my sensitive skin.
There’s only one way to find out.
“My, what big teeth you have,” I whispered, my gaze snapping to his yellow eyes, noticing how they shone like gold in the low light. “Let’s eat.”
Chapter 4
Oren
It was all I could do to keep my paws to myself. Billie’s voluptuous curves were calling to me like a half-remembered song. Like a mating call.
Could she be… my mate?
Despite resembling a common werewolf, as a legendary cryptid, I was the only one of my kind. The idea of finding a life-mate was about as ridiculous as this attraction I had to a human.
But she’s not just any human.
No, my little flower was special. Even before our midnight game of chase that summer, I’d observed how she conducted herself while out in nature. The rest of her family mindlessly trampled over moss and poked sticks into animal dens, but Billie had treated the forest with the respect it deserved.
I’d even once observed her creating a miniature bridge to help an army of ants cross a small stream—her desire for them to reach the other side was as adorable as it was admirable. She also didn’t warily cling to her sisters’ sides, perfectly content to pursue her own interests.
A lone wolf.
While my sustenance came from devouring small game, I knew my human would require something more civilized. Luckily, the pantry was stocked with a few basics, thanks to my Fae friends who enjoyed tricking wayward hikers into entrapment.
It’s their own fault for not being better educated in the old ways.
“Why are you not more afraid of me?” I asked, genuinely curious. “Most humans would be terrified if they were to come face-to-face with something like me.”
Billie blinked at me from where she was opening cans of vegetables on the kitchen island. “I’m not exactly sure. All I know is you don’t make me feel unsafe.”
Nodding, I turned back to my task of building a fire in the wood stove to boil water, but inside I was preening. The truth was, I didn’t want Billy to be truly afraid of me, but I also wanted her to be aware of the reality of her surroundings.
Even if it means breaking all the rules by telling her the truth.
I cleared my throat. “I am not the only creature who inhabits the Maine woods… or even the towns and cities in this state.”
As expected, she froze and looked at me imploringly. “What do you mean? There are others like you?”
I laughed. “No, no, no, there aren’t any exactly like me. However, there are other cryptids—creatures born from legends—as well as supernatural beings you may be more familiar with from your books and movies.”
To my surprise, Billie blushed. “Well, the books I read are on the spicy side, although they do often include supernatural creatures and monsters… with fancy equipment.”
It was her turn to clear her throat as I simply gaped at her. “That’s kind of sad though…” she changed the subject, glancing up at me with genuine compassion shining in her eyes. “That you’re the only one.”
All I could do was shrug as I closed the wood stove door and placed the pot of water on top. There was no changing the reality of my situation, and mostly, I wanted for nothing.
Except perhaps… companionship.
Billie refocused on preparing the meal, and the silence that fell over us was comfortable. I dutifully concentrated on cooking the box of pasta I’d been handed, although I wasn’t entirely sure how to test its readiness.
What does “al dente” mean, anyway?
When I approached Billie with a spoonful of cooling pasta for her to check, she surprised me yet again. “I’m the only one like me, too.”
She chewed on the pasta I’d given her, collecting her thoughts before elaborating. “I’ve never felt like I fit in—not with my family, or my friends and coworkers, and definitely not at my job. There were so many expectations I could never just be me… I was never allowed to just explore my dreams. I suppose that sounds silly—”
