28. Chapter Twenty-Eight

The ceramic bat would be the death of him. He'd typically choose the same wolf figurine she did to paint as one pack member or another. Occasionally, he took one of the small pots. Today, he'd tried his hand of the closest thing to Cortana he could get. Unfortunately, the potter didn't have a miniature ceramic coffin on the shelf. Strange.

Cortana had blushed after he'd cleaned her cheek of the glaze, and it'd nearly been his undoing. Laughing, he'd taken the opportunity to cinch his arm around her waist, enjoying the simple pleasure of her company.

Instead of brushing him off or ignoring his gesture, she inched closer, her fingertips spreading atop his thigh in what had been her first public move of outward possession.

The wolf within wagged his tail so hard Riaz could feel it drumming against his psyche. Inhaling, he scented the sweet and tart raspberry aroma that clung to her skin, so feminine and fresh it made him sigh in content.

Riaz said nothing, but the bond that remained unfinalized between them struck a happy chord, resounding in the crevices of his mind.

Happily curled together on their chairs, they completed their ceramics with a few final touches only a few minutes before the shop closed. Cortana, fully invested in her craft, didn't notice the last-minute details he'd added to finish off the look. He was convinced it was his best work yet.

Riaz paid the shopkeeper and said he'd be back tomorrow to pick them up. The pair strode into the night, relishing the mountain chill.

With his arm around her shoulders and hers clasped at his waist, it was the closest they'd ever been to harmony. Jolly laughter sprung from their lips; the mood between them lighter somehow.

When the bike appeared in the distance, a sudden sense of loss began to ache in his gut. He'd cherished this time with her, loved the feeling of her public acceptance of him. Slowing their pace wasn't enough to avoid the end of their time together. Neither made a move to get on the bike when they reached it.

Sucking in a breath, he released her, his arm slipping from around her lithe shoulders to grab the helmet on his handlebars.

He never made it.

Her hands grabbed him from behind, pushing him toward the alley on their left. Surprised at the sudden change of direction, he went along with it, wondering if she'd heard danger approaching or saw one of the Citizens guards.

"What—"

His question was silenced when her lips crashed into his. Urgency flooded through him as he immediately returned her passion. They fought for purchase against the other, each asserting their dominance through the tangled union of their mouths.

His back hit the brick, his head colliding with the wall as their lust drove them higher and higher. Nipping at her lips, Riaz dropped his head to skim his teeth over the slender column of her neck. Her fingers trailed on his abs, finding a sensitive spot that made him erupt in goosebumps.

Pulling her waist into him, Riaz reclaimed her lips, kissing her like he'd die if he didn't have her. Thrusting a hand into her hair, he—

Everything suddenly changed.

Riaz opened his eyes to find her sprawled against the opposite wall across the alleyway, shadows haunting her gaze and fear stabbing through the mating bond between them. He took a hesitant step toward her, stopping immediately when she flinched.

"Cortana?"

"I—I," she stuttered, eyes wide, before fear morphed to anger. "Please—please don't ever touch my hair!"

Inhaling deeply to cleanse himself of his waning desire and blooming confusion, he balked as his senses sharpened. The scent of the plant's nightwatchmen was faint, but trackable.

Cortana noticed the change in his attention. "What is it?"

The frost has returned to her voice, her walls realigning once more between them. The return of her tough veneer and strictly professional persona crushed him like nothing else.

"The guard. I've got his scent."

Cortana was faster than him.

Scenting the air as he ran, he tracked the nominal remnants of the human's trail. While his nose was exceptionally keen in his two-legged form—far more sensitive than those of the mortal race—his wolf senses were without equal.

They'd ended the trail in a reasonably populated area. He slowed his pace, the scent becoming more potent around a tiny house just off the street, the white paneled siding in need of upkeep but the lawn well maintained.

Cortana melted into the shadows with him. "He lives here?"

"Yep," Riaz whispered. "Doesn't look like he's very high up on the food chain; probably just hired help at this point."

"Agreed. Do you scent any other parties that might be of use to us?"

"Not in this form. My wolf could." Grimacing, Riaz flexed his shoulders, the wolf jumping to the forefront.

"So, bring out Fluffy and let's get a move on." Curt, her tone allowed for no discussion, and the alpha in him snarled internally at the order.

"After this, you and I are going to have a serious chat about your clear disregard for pack hierarchy."

Shaking his head, he let the shift overtake him, landing on all fours only seconds later. Eager, the wolf shook his coat to settle it, then pressed against the vampire beside him in a clear showing of affection. The brilliant grin that stretched Cortana's mouth made him wish his human side would get a clue. He was holding them back, but such was the complicated way of people. He'd take his licks where he could get them.

Bounding out of the brush where they'd taken shelter, Riaz put his nose to the ground. A myriad of scents assaulted him, but it was clear from the start the guard had few human visitors and no immortal ones. Other than biking to work and taking out the trash, he was an absolute hermit.

After he'd done his sniffing around, Riaz was trotting back to Cortana's location—empty-pawed—when she rose to greet him. Unfortunately, it was also the moment the neighbors had picked to pull into their driveway.

Cortana was illuminated by the beams, a deer in literal headlights. Eyes wide, she glanced at Riaz, who'd stalled mid-step.

One look at Cortana's disheveled outfit and surprised expression and the neighbor shrieked, "We're calling the cops!"

His mind went into overdrive, his protective instincts surging. Riaz let out a woofy bark, and Cortana, sensing the game, grinned broadly.

"There you are!"

Like a good dog, Riaz came bounding over with the giddiness of a found puppy, licking her face with all the enthusiasm of his wolf. The vampire's fingers sank deep into his coat, pulling on his scruff and hassling him like he was a bad dog.

"Oh, you were looking for your dog?" A sheepish question from the neighbors, who'd strode over once the ‘dog' had given Cortana an excuse.

"Well, he's kind of a big doofus." A hard pat on the top of his head which he weathered like a pro. "Doesn't know to obey me, runs off like a cat in heat, and barks at all the mailmen like they're about to murder me."

The neighbors, an elderly couple with white hair that gleamed in the moonlight, smiled lovingly before they bent down to stroke hands through his fur.

"Aw, he's just a playful pup," came the cooing words.

On cue, Riaz launched a lick attack at their faces, playing the part of ‘doofus' with a big, wolfy grin. Two sets of hands stroked his ears, his back, his muzzle, and if he had to admit it, he actually quite enjoyed the attention.

Werewolves enjoyed all facets of physical affection. And Cortana's effect on him had meant he craved her touch above all else. She'd kept him parched, doling out only small rations, and he was like a dying man in the desert, thirsting for cactus water in one-hundred-and-twenty-degree weather.

Kisses peppered his softly furred head, the couple happily exchanging ‘Good Boys' for licks. When he turned back to Cortana, her sullen expression would've had him rolling if the elderly couple still weren't still there.

"Come on, Fido, let's go home."

Her attempt at a placating tone made him laugh inwardly. Effectively shooing off the pair of eager humans, he and his vampire made their way down the street. He trotted happily by her side, his paws prancing over the sidewalk.

"Okay, Paw Patrol," she said. "I'm pretty sure we're far enough away for you to quit your puppy powers."

Committed to the role, Riaz sat on his haunches, tilting his head. He offered a soft woof in reply, raising a paw as if she'd asked him to shake.

Leaning closer, Cortana smirked conspiratorially. "Keep up the act, and I'll have you neutered and in a cone of shame at the emergency vet inside the hour."

Whining, Riaz seamlessly stood on two legs seconds later, but gave her a grin. "What? The Ice Princess gets jealous when her dog gets more attention than she does?"

"Please." She waved a dismissive hand. "I'd met my quota of sappy dog kisses for the day after one lick. Besides, you were soaking it all up like a sponge, and I was worried you'd split at the seams."

Riaz gave her a casual shrug but a genuine smile. "Well, if my mate doesn't pet me, gotta get my kicks from somewhere."