“Tell me about your friends.”
He tightened his grip on her hand as they crossed in front of an alley.
“They’re great. Meredith and Isaiah run the place. They’re both full-blooded werewolves. Meredith has two adult sons from a previous mating. She also has a bunch of adopted half-breed werewolves that she took in when they were mostly teens. They’re all grown now and all work there.”
“Isn’t that a bit weird? Didn’t any of them want to leave home and strike out on their own?”
He knew so much about werewolves, he took that knowledge for granted. It was strange to realize most people knew nothing about the species.
“Werewolves are pack animals just like wolves are. They prefer to live together.
Plus, there is safety in numbers. Don’t forget, they have bounty hunters after them too.
“I guess that makes sense.” She kicked an empty plastic bottle out of her path. “I can’t imagine having that much family around at all time.”
He drew her closer to him. “You get used to it.” He wanted her to get used to it. Wanted to share his family with her.
“Are Chrissten and Quinn going to be there with their spouses?” There was worry in her tone, and he knew she was concerned how they would react to her being there. Their first meeting hadn’t gone so well.
“Yeah. Hank works there full time as a bouncer, but everyone helps out when they need it. They weren’t at home, so they’ll be here.” At least he had some extra backup if the Haven pack didn’t take kindly to his new status in life. Or would that be his new status in death?
Were vampires really undead? He felt very much alive and his heart still beat, only much more slowly. Something to think about another time.
The door opened when they reached it and Hank ushered out a group of four guys. They weren’t falling-down drunk, but they’d obviously had a good time. As the humans laughingly stumbled down the sidewalk toward a waiting cab, Craig nodded at his brother-in-law.
“You going to let us in?”
“Do Meredith or Isaiah know you’re coming?”
Craig shook his head. “No, but I wanted to talk to them in person rather than call.”
Hank nodded, his expression grim.
“Everyone is inside. That was the last of the customers and there is no human staff on tonight.”
When Craig raised one eyebrow in silent question, Hank gave a shrug.
“They’re out with the flu. Both Bethany and Chrissten worked the floor tonight.”
Hank opened the door wide. “Come on in.”
Chapter Ten
Evie liked the vibe of the place but didn’t get much of a chance to look around. They were immediately surrounded by people.
“Craig!” A beautiful woman with a lush figure, long black hair and lovely blue eyes came forward with her arms wide open.
“Meredith.” There was a wealth of caring in Craig’s voice and Evie understood that these weren’t just friends of his. He considered them family.
They hugged briefly, but Meredith quickly stepped back. She sniffed the air and glanced behind Craig, her eyes narrowing on Evie.
A giant of a man with shaggy brown hair and rugged features stepped up next to the woman before sliding slightly in front of her. “What the hell is going on?”
His voice was low and demanding.
“Isaiah.” Craig nodded at the big man. Evie knew this man and the woman beside him were full-blooded werewolves. She was still trying to come to grips with the idea that real shapeshifters actually existed.
The rest of the group circled them.
The people she didn’t know were lining up behind Meredith and her man while Craig’s family stood behind them.
Evie’s spine tingled. She hated having them at her back. She wasn’t sure they wouldn’t attack her if given half a chance.
Craig put his arm around her and pulled her into the curve of his shoulder, leaving no doubt that they were together.
Evie stood a little straighter. Not that she could intimidate any of these people.
They were all much taller than her. More muscular too. She wasn’t sure who would be stronger if it came to a test of strength—vampire or werewolf. She hoped for Craig’s sake it didn’t come to that.
“It’s a rather long story.” Craig’s tone was even, but she could hear the hurt in it. “I wanted you to hear it from me.”
Meredith smiled and shifted to stand in front of her husband. “Why don’t we all sit down.” It was more a command than a suggestion and all the others immediately sat. All but the big guy.
“Isaiah.” Evie almost smiled at the slight warning in Meredith’s tone.
He sighed. “All right.” Isaiah stepped back and Craig walked past him. Evie kept one eye on the werewolf.
She wondered what he’d look like when he shifted. One thing for sure, she wouldn’t want to have to face him in a fight. He looked like the type to do whatever it took to win.
Craig held out a chair for her and Evie sat. She tapped her boot on the floor, her nerves frayed almost to the breaking point. It took an enormous amount of effort to control all her senses.
Even the dim light of the club was hard on her eyes. She wished she had a pair of sunglasses.
Craig seemed to be holding up better than her. Either that or he hid it better.
He was calm in a sea of tension and unasked questions.
“What happened?” Meredith asked.
Craig didn’t answer. Instead, he introduced her. “This is Evie. Evie this is Meredith Striker and her husband, Isaiah. They own Haven.”
“Hi.” She didn’t bother with any other pleasantries. The big guy currently had a scowl on his face and had his arms crossed over his chest. Not exactly the friendly sort.
“You’ve already met my family,” Craig continued. “The two men next to Meredith are her sons, Michael and Benjamin. Just behind Isaiah are Kevin, Teague and his wife, Neema.”
Evie nodded.
Suspicion filled Isaiah’s gaze. “Now that we all know one another, who exactly is this woman and why don’t you smell like yourself anymore?”
Craig knew he’d probably smell different to them. They were wolves after all, with keen senses. But he hadn’t expected them to catch on quite so quickly. He owed them all answers.
“I was on my way here the night I disappeared.” He gave Meredith a slight smile. “I heard a sound coming from an alleyway not too far from here.”
Evie tensed next to him and he took her hand, silently reassuring her she wasn’t alone.
“You had to check it out, didn’t you?” Isaiah’s question made Craig smile.
“Yeah, I did.”
“You should have come and gotten one of us to go with you.” Isaiah’s scowl couldn’t get any darker. Craig knew it was because he was protective of those he considered to be in his pack.
“I thought about it, but I figured it was a stray cat or dog.” Evie made a small sound beside him and he smiled.
“Instead, I found Evie.”
Craig felt his brother stirring behind him. The last thing he wanted was a fight among the werewolves so he hurried on with his tale. “Evie had been stalked and attacked by a vampire. He’d changed her but she’d managed to escape from him.”
Isaiah surged to his feet. “Vampire?
You brought an unknown vampire into our home?” Isaiah’s face partially morphed into a wolf and his fingernails lengthened into deadly claws.
Beside him, Evie gasped and he felt the sudden surge of her fear.
Craig slowly rose, trying to control the anger bubbling through his veins.