Chapter 2 – *Shifter Romance*

“What was that text about last night?” Misha asked as she made herself up using Kaitlin’s pricier make-up.

She plucked at the frayed hem of her dressing gown as memories she’d been trying to forget all morning came back to her. Mainly of the amber eyed wolf who’d let her go without calling for backup. Kaitlin had no idea why he’d done that and it still niggled. “I nearly got myself into trouble last night, that was all.”

“That was all?” Her friend asked doubtfully. “Kaitlin, I don’t know any other females who get into as much shit as you. You attract trouble like a magnet.”

Kaitlin snorted, “Not true!”

“It so is! Now come here so I can do your make-up.”

Obediently, she sat in the chair in front of her dressing table and allowed her friend to do her make-up. Ten minutes later, Misha said, “Open.” She did and glanced in the mirror at herself.

“Wow.”

“I know, don’t you look amazing?” Misha gushed, proud of her work. “So to compliment the face I say you should wear the violet top and black mini. Oh, and those sexy, black platform shoes I’ve never seen you wear since you bought them.” Her friend gave her a pointed look.

Kaitlin nearly groaned but stopped herself in time. It wasn’t very often she let herself relax and when she did she tended to let Misha, her best-friend, plan it all. She didn’t even know where they were going tonight.

“Where are we going?”

“Out.”

She rolled her eyes at her friend’s response. Misha probably knew she’d refuse to go if she knew where they were going tonight. “Fine.”

Misha grinned and shoved the clothes at her. “Put these on while I hunt out those cool shoes of yours.”

“Misha,” she complained, “are you trying to cripple me?”

“Women have to suffer for their vanity.”

This time she did groan.

Twenty minutes later they were dressed and Misha was driving them out of the cat clan compound and into the city. Her friend flicked through the radio stations until she found something she liked and turned the volume up to full and sung her head off. Kaitlin grinned and before long, she was joining in.

They were giggling like schoolgirls when they finally pulled up outside the club they were going to.

Devine.

It was a well-known bar in the shifter community run by a member of the council’s son and many shifters came here to relax, though it was also frequented by humans too.

Misha flung an arm through Kaitlin’s and they only had to smile at the bouncer and they were let in—all shifters were given VIP treatment. The waiting line of humans protested and the bouncer shouted something that shut them up.

The music was pounding inside and she glanced around. Misha’s elbow connected with her side, “Sexy guys at the bar.”

They’d only just arrived and Misha was looking for guy’s to spend the rest of the evening with. She rolled her eyes but turned her head and searched them out. It wasn’t hard, they were shifters of some kind; five altogether, built well and very attractive. They were surrounded by girls trying to catch their eye with the little clothing they had on and the sexy dance moves they were busting.

“Do you reckon they’re looking for some shifter girls?” Misha asked with a grin. Kaitlin shifted, feeling uncomfortable suddenly. “Well?” She demanded.

“I don’t know.”

Fingers wrapped around her own, “Only one way to find out.”

In minutes they stood at the bar ordering drinks. “Well hello, ladies,” a man drawled. They turned to find one of the shifters gazing at them appreciatively. He was attractive with green eyes and black hair.

Misha gave him her full attention. “Hey,” she purred. “I’m Misha and this is my best friend, Kaitlin.”

He grinned, his nostrils flaring slightly. “I’m Brent.” He turned from them to get his friends attention, “Hey, guys. Some lovely girls here you should meet.”

All eyes turned to them and one pair of golden amber eyes caught Kaitlin’s attention more than the rest. They’d haunted her thoughts for the past twenty-four hours. She took in the rest of him and her mouth parted. He’d been gorgeous by moonlight but in club-light, he was sexy as hell. The dark blue jeans hugged to his muscular thighs and the t-shirt clung in all the right places.

She received another elbow in the ribs and she realised everyone had introduced themselves but her and golden eyes. “Sorry, I’m Kaitlin.”

“Rhys.”

Rhys. She ran the name over and over in her head, searching for some recollection for the name but found none.

“It’s lovely to meet you guys,” Misha purred as she linked her arm with Kaitlins again and then dug her nails into her arm painfully. She knew it was some sort of warning and forced her gaze away from Rhys’ and picked up her drink with her free hand.

“Likewise,” one of them said with a grin.

“We’re just going to the ladies room, we’ll be right back.”

Kaitlin was dragged through the partiers and into the bathroom. “They’re wolves!” Misha hissed as she leant against the door. “We have to get out of here.”

Kaitlin—strangely— didn’t agree with her. The wolves could have turned volatile and attacked—wolves didn’t seem bothered by public displays—but they hadn’t; they’d welcomed them and bought their drinks.

Moving over to the line of mirrors she checked her hair and make-up.

“Kaitlin! We have to go!”

“Why, Misha?”

Her friend met her gaze in the mirror with one of disbelief. “Why?!” She screeched. “In case you’ve forgotten, they’re our enemies, Kaitlin!”

She turned to face her, “I don’t think they are.”

Misha’s mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”

“If they wanted to hurt us, they would have regardless of where we were.”

Her friend’s eyes narrowed, “It’s him, isn’t it?”

“Who?”

“The one you got into trouble with last night; he’s out there, the one with the gold eyes.” A muscle started to tic in her cheek, instantly giving her away. “Where the hell were you last night to meet a wolf?”

She’d passed the message on to her parents first thing this morning after waking and her father had asked her not to mention it to anyone while he investigated the matter further to see if there was a logical explanation.

“Misha, I can’t say. It’s council business.” She heard a low growl and cocked a brow at her friend in disbelief. Misha rarely allowed herself to show any part of her shifter unless she was seriously pissed or it was a full moon when the pack would run as a whole.

“Fine, you stay if you want but I’m out of here.”

Kaitlin opened her mouth to protest but stopped the words before they came. Maybe it was better if she was alone when she questioned Rhys. Misha wasn’t a trained fighter like herself and she couldn’t protect them both from a pack of wolves.

She watched her friend disappear into the crowd from the doorway of the ladies restroom.

“Cat?” It was softly spoken but she heard it clearly over the music. Her head turned to see Rhys leaning against the wall waiting for her.

“Dog?”

He grinned at her, “Touché.”

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

Rhys shrugged. “Would you believe me if I said drowning my sorrows after a girl jumped off a roof to get away from me?”

Kaitlin snorted and checked the crowd. Her gaze was caught and held by the group of shifters who were staring at her and Rhys, even though they were stood in one of the clubs darkest corners. It was freaky how good wolves’ night-vision was.

“I’ll take that as a no then.”

Turning to face him again, her face was awash with confusion, “What do you want with me?”

His gaze moved over her head to his friends at the bar and then back to her and held out a hand, palm up, “Dance with me?”

Curiosity at what he had to say got the better of her and she placed her hand in his. He gave her a slight smile and curved his fingers around her palm as he walked them onto the already crowded dance floor.

Rhys stopped somewhere in the middle and pulled her into his arms. The music was something with a fast beat but he held her close to him and slow danced with her.

To say she was surprised would be an understatement but she held her tongue and moved with him to some silent melody.

“You want to know what I want with you?” He murmured into the wispy hairs at her temple. She stopped breathing as she waited for him to continue. “You’ve heard about shifters mates; about how there is one person who is specifically made for them?”

“That’s an old tale,” she murmured into his chest. “There’s no proof to it.”

One of his fingers ran down her naked back, finding every notch of her spine, before resting in the small of her back, thankfully on top of her top.

“What if I said I believed it?”

Kaitlin tried to pull away but the hand on her back stopped her. “I’d say you were crazy.”

He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “What if I then said; I believe my mate is you?”