Chapter One — The Wolf in the Kitchen
Ava Hart had always believed that if life was going to ruin your day, it should at least have the decency to do it before breakfast.
Unfortunately, life had apparently decided to raise the bar.
She stood in the middle of her kitchen at six forty-three on a Monday morning, clutching a wooden spoon in one hand and staring at the enormous black wolf occupying approximately ninety percent of the room.
The wolf stared back.
Ava blinked.
The wolf blinked.
Neither moved.
Behind Ava, her best friend made a tiny, terrified noise.
“Maya?”
“Yes?”
“Please tell me you see that.”
“I see it.”
“Good.”
“I was worried I’d finally lost my mind.”
Ava tightened her grip on the spoon.
“Okay.”
The wolf growled.
Ava lifted the spoon.
“Let’s establish some boundaries.”
Maya whispered, “Ava.”
“What?”
“It’s a wolf.”
“I know.”
“It’s in our kitchen.”
“I am also aware of that.”
“It’s enormous.”
“Thank you, Maya. Your observations have been invaluable.”
The wolf took one slow step forward.
Ava took one step back.
The floorboard creaked.
Maya grabbed Ava’s arm.
“We should run.”
“Where?”
“Outside.”
“It’s between us and the door.”
“Window?”
“We’re on the second floor.”
“Right.”
They stared at the wolf again.
Ava sighed.
“Fine.”
She raised the spoon.
“Come any closer and I swear to God I’ll hit you with this.”
The wolf growled again.
“Don’t growl at me. I’m already having a bad morning.”
The wolf lunged.
Maya screamed.
Ava swung the spoon.
There was a flash of silver light.
And suddenly the wolf was gone.
In its place stood a man.
A very tall, very muscular, very naked man.
Ava froze.
Maya froze.
The man froze.
Ava slowly lowered the spoon.
Her eyes travelled from his face downwards.
Then immediately snapped back up.
“Oh.”
The man crossed his arms over his chest.
“You’re trespassing.”
Ava stared at him.
“I’m sorry?”
“This land belongs to my pack.”
Ava looked around the kitchen.
“Our landlord said nothing about a pack.”
The man’s jaw tightened.
“Your landlord doesn’t own this land.”
“Well, technically he owns the cottage.”
“He doesn’t.”
“Do you own it?”
“Yes.”
Ava looked at Maya.
Maya whispered, “I think we’re going to die.”
Ava nodded.
“Probably.”
She looked back at the man.
“Could we perhaps discuss the property dispute after you put some trousers on?”
His expression darkened.
Ava pointed at him with the spoon.
“I’m just saying, it’s difficult to take a property dispute seriously when one party is completely naked.”
A second man appeared in the doorway.
Unlike the first, he was fully dressed.
He took one look at Ava.
Then the naked man.
Then the spoon.
He grinned.
“Oh, this is fantastic.”
The naked man glared.
“Marcus.”
“Lucian.”
“Clothes.”
Marcus looked at his friend.
“Excellent observation.”
Lucian’s eyes narrowed.
“Now.”
“Right.”
Marcus turned around.
“Come on, Alpha. Let’s get you dressed before you traumatise the neighbours.”
Ava blinked.
“Alpha?”
Marcus glanced over his shoulder.
“Yes.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he’s the boss.”
Ava looked at Lucian.
Lucian stared back.
She sighed.
“Of course he is.”
Marcus smiled.
“And you must be Ava.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“How do you know my name?”
Lucian answered.
“You’ve been living on pack land for three months.”
Ava frowned.
“That sounds like information someone should have given me.”
“It should have.”
“Brilliant.”
She looked at Maya.
“We’ve accidentally moved into a werewolf commune.”
Maya whispered:
“Please don’t call it that.”
Marcus laughed.
Lucian didn’t.
He walked towards the door.
Before leaving, he looked directly at Ava.
“You need to leave.”
Ava folded her arms.
“No.”
Lucian stopped.
“No?”
“No.”
“This is not negotiable.”
“Neither is my tenancy agreement.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Oh, I understand perfectly.”
She smiled sweetly.
“You are a naked werewolf who has just broken into my kitchen and told me to move out.”
Lucian stared at her.
Ava stared back.
Then Marcus burst out laughing.
“She’s going to be a problem.”
Lucian’s gaze remained fixed on Ava.
“Yes.”
And Ava had the distinct feeling that his tone meant something entirely different from what he said.
