Melody juggled the car seat with a screaming infant as she directed the movers on where to put the boxes and furniture. Of course, with a budget friendly, she got what she paid for. They dumped things wherever they could. It was annoying, but at least by the end of the day everything they needed was there and they wouldn’t be paying for anymore storage. She had a plan for this. Tonight they set up the bathroom, beds, crib, and the basics of the kitchen. Ellie was shopping for their food right now. She’d been a life saver ever since Melody moved back to the den. There was no way she’d have been able to do all this by herself, let alone with David. Eight hours of moving and it was finally done. Everything was there, and she’d got the movers to set up the crib and the beds. With the bedding in the crib, she put David down finally in his crib for the first time. Hoping he’d sleep would be too much of a miracle. He’d been fussing the entire time. Melody figured t
Malcolm strolled the St. Lawrence Market. The place was worse than the floors of the stock exchange used to be. The noise was no better, either. Foxes were supposed to like quiet out of the way places. This was anything but that. People hawked their wares from tiny booths as shoppers squeezed past each other. The aisles were wide, but the sheer number of shoppers was mind-boggling. To think this was one of the first markets in the city. It’s been there before cars were invented and the sidewalks were wooden boardwalks over muddy dirt roads. Now it was surrounded by steel, glass, and concrete. Finally, he stood a distance from the booth he looked for. Even with the myriad of scents, Malcolm’s nose zeroed in on the one scent that told him he was in the correct place. Lavender and vanilla. They must sell it here. Perhaps they had samples? It would explain the strength of it. There she was. With his height, he could see over many of the human shoppers. Surprisingly, t
Melody stood in the door of her apartment, stunned. David cradled in her arms, while she stared at the man she thought was only stalking her in her imagination. “Malcolm, why are you here?” She couldn’t think of anything else to say. “May I come in? I don’t think this is a conversation in the corridor, do you?” He tried to soften his words with a sheepish smile. Melody struggled for a moment, deciding on if she would let him in. She didn’t have a clue about what he would think of her new way of life. Gods, this was worse than any nightmares she had about this possible encounter. “I’m not alone.” “I know you have a couple of roommates. This being one of them.” “We just moved in and aren’t ready for guests.” “That’s fine. I can understand that.” “The place is a mess. I’m working.” “That is acceptable and understandable with this one around. You need money. May I come in and we can talk all about this as you work?” Melody sig
Malcolm wouldn’t take the hint that she’d pushed him out of her life because she wasn’t delusional. Reality and practicality were hallmarks of her life. They always had been. “I hoped he’d be a fox like me and we could just go on in quiet unanimity, but he’s a pup, not a kit. The Den Elders, of course, only cared that he wasn’t a kit, and they banished us. Nothing Ellie and I didn’t plan for. As for telling you of your hybrid pup? Really Malcolm. Why would I do that? So you can try to take him from me so that my existence doesn’t harm his chances for a future in your pack or some other pack? Or we become some dirty secret that you send a cheque to each month to stay away from your carefully cultivated family? How do you think your legitimate pups will treat David the half-breed? Tell me that.” Melody pushed the soap forms toward the back of the counter by the stove and cleaned up. It was all she could do not to cry. These weren’t imaginings, but life experie
Melody was stunned he walked in here and laid down demands. Then he dictated how things would happen, not terms she could negotiate. Just this is what’s happening. At least he gave reasons. Gods, ever since she opened the door, she’d felt her body heating and melting. She needed to feel him touch her. She’d wanted it so much for so long, Melody thought she’d orgasm if he just touched her. Shoot off like pretty fireworks. “What else were you thinking these changes would hold? What do you expect in return?” Ellie looked surprised at Melody’s questions. Then she looked at Malcolm, who’s sexy smile slowly spread over his face and he stepped in close to Melody and whispered. “I told you we weren’t finished, and I meant it. You’re just going to go with the flow and see what I have in store for you.” His hand moved to push her hair back from her face to caress behind her ear. He didn’t kiss her. But his tone implied if they’d been alone, he would have. “There’s also seve
Ellie looked at her phone’s contact list and the new name, Jordan Blacksmith, right there on the glowing screen. A feeling of panic laced through her at the thought of speaking with the handsome blonde wolf with the sultry eyes and smile. She’d never spoken to him, but she was sure his voice would make any velvet feel rough. Why was she so scared of a wolf? But she could see the wolf in Malcolm right now, and it scared her. He was all but hunting Melody, and Jordan was also a wolf. An unknown wolf. She didn’t know him beyond a glimpse of a blonde Adonis in a suit worth more than her entire wardrobe. She’d heard him speak once, but not to her. It meant she would get away from the wolf who tormented her at the post office and the convenience store. How would she tell Melody about that mess was the reason she wanted to leave their new home? Oh, and that their bathroom tub leaked as well after they only just got the kitchen sink repaired. They’d be safe, right? So w
Melody was buckling David’s car seat into the back of a limo. Something she never expected to do. But here she was doing this while the others assisted the driver to pack their things into the trunk. Lucky once David was asleep, nothing short of world war three would wake him. So, he slept through all her efforts. She cursed herself and Malcolm for this. She’d left herself open for this. But why Malcolm thought it was smart to blackmail her with taking their son from her, she didn’t understand. Was he trying to keep her close for some kind of sick revenge? He kept saying they weren’t finished. Didn’t he have a track record for one-night stands and very short relationships? Melody didn’t get it. Why did he insist on Ellie going with them? Nothing was adding up. It turned everything she knew and believed on its head. Ellie entered the limo from the other door. “Need any help?” “No, this is done.” “Good. They are still packing the trunk. I don’t know what’s go
Look back at Ellie helplessly. She’d have to call Melody when she was alone again. Talk to her somehow, but Ellie wasn’t sure when she’d be alone again. Not with the way Jordan was watching her. Watching wasn’t the best of words to call the assessing stare he was giving her. Whatever he saw, he clearly liked what it was. Even out of his work clothes, his wardrobe was impeccable. From the tailored dress pants to the t-shirt he wore. She bet that t-shirt cost a good amount. There wasn’t a t-shirt in any bargain shop that fit like that. She bet it came from some men’s only boutique. She bet he wore it out with a sweater tied about his shoulders, too. Even his belt matched his shoes. Every lock of blonde hair was in place and even now he didn’t sport a five o’clock shadow like any mortal man. Malcolm was just like him. But with his hair being dark and he still wore a suit. These two men had a style that many men would be jealous, and women would want to, well, f