Chapter Two Vincent

My head was still spinning as I was carried off the beach. I wasn't sure if it was from being hit by a surfboard or this stranger's intoxicating scent, but it made it hard to concentrate on anything. It wasn't until I was laid on a soft surface that I realized he'd taken me back to his van in the parking lot.

"I'll be right back," he said, patting me on the shoulder. "Just rest. I need to grab my board. Take all the time you need."

I nodded and leaned back on, my arm thrown over my eyes to block out the light. I coughed a few times, but it was mostly from irritation now. Even though I couldn't see it, I could feel my werewolf healing kicking it, repairing the damaged lining of my lungs from inhaling so much water. At least that was a perk. Had I been human, I'd need to be taken to the emergency room immediately to make sure I wasn't going to die later from second drowning.

Still, I was surprised to have been literally run over by a wolf I'd never met before. Shifter Grove wasn't a very big place and I knew most of the wolves there through Sam. However, I didn't remember hearing about any of them surfing. Plus, if my brain wasn't playing tricks on me, I thought I smelled the telltale scent of Alpha on him. There weren't many wolves in town with that kind of heritage. Those that did have it, usually ended up at Sam's hotel. But this guy seemed a bit too put together to be a new rogue in town that had just lost everything. Newbies had a tendency to look and feel more like a dark storm cloud than a happy-go-lucky surfer.

Not only that… but I was pretty sure he was hot. Like really hot. And there was something about his musky earthy scent that made me dizzy. It could've been the head injury, but I liked to think it was just because he smelled amazing. Considering the way my dick chubbed up just thinking about it, I figured I wasn't making it up. I was fairly certain getting hit by a surfboard didn't make you hard.

I pushed myself to a sitting position and pulled my shorts back into place so my problem wasn't showing. Hopefully that went away before he got back. Of course, no sooner had that thought crossed my mind before he suddenly appeared at the back of the van, giving me a start.

"Sorry," he laughed, leaning his board against the van. "Didn't mean to scare you." He gave me a good once over. "You're sitting up. That seems like a good sign."

I nodded. "Still a bit dizzy, but it's going away."

"Good to hear."

For the first time I got a look at my surroundings. I knew I was in the back of his van but I didn't realize until that moment that I was not only sitting on a bed, but getting wet sand all over it.

"Oh my god…" I started to get up. "Your bed is soaked now! I'm so sorry!"

"Don't worry about it," he laughed, pushing me back down. "It can be washed. I'm going to the hotel after this anyway."

"The hotel?" Maybe he was a rogue after all.

"Yeah. I sorta planned to surf all afternoon, but hitting you kinda put a damper on that."

"Sorry…" I shook my head. "I didn't see you coming."

"I didn't see you either, so no fault to either of us." He waved it off like it was nothing. "I'm just glad I hit a wolf instead of a human. You'll heal and they… well, they're a little fragile. Anyway, I'm glad I was able to grab you and bring you into shore before you inhaled too much of the lake. You were out cold in the water."

"I almost drowned?!"

"I mean… a little bit." He lifted an eyebrow. "Do you not remember?"

"I remember seeing you and then… being on shore." I tried to force myself to remember anything else, but there was nothing. "I guess I didn't really put that together until just now. I thought you hit me and I just inhaled a little water by accident. Everything is still so fuzzy…"

"It's all good." The stranger climbed up in the van and took a seat opposite me on a small bench. "Do you want a drink or a snack or something? Maybe it'll help ground you back in your senses a bit."

I nodded. "Sure. Whatever is fine with me."

"Here," he replied, pulling a bottle out of a small cooler. "Have some juice."

"Thanks."

I cracked the top and took a drink. Mango. Nice.

"So, what brings you to Shifter Grove?" I asked, trying to fill the silence between us. "I don't think I've ever seen you around here."

"You a local?"

"Yeah." He paused and I took the chance to interject. "But if you're being here is personal or traumatic, you don't have to tell me. I get it. Nobody ends up in this town because they want to be here."

He nodded. "I came here because I wanted to be here."

My jaw fell open.

"For a month," he added with a smile. "I heard the surfing is pretty good here. I'm staying in town for a while before I head home."

"Oh. That's uh… not the story I usually hear."

"I'm not a rogue, if that's what you're worried about. Not that there's anything wrong with rogues, that's just not my case."

"Gotcha." I sat there nodding slowly and staring at him for a moment. I was so fucking bad at small talk. "So you're… staying in the hotel."

"I heard it's a werewolf hotel, so why not stay where I'm welcome, right?"

"And it's the only hotel in town."

"That was a factor, believe it or not."

I furrowed my brows, cracking a smile. "You're funny."

"And you're pretty cute," he replied without missing a beat. "I guess we both have our perks."

He might not have missed a beat, but my heart did. Fuck he was smooth. What the hell was all that about? Damn. I went from being dizzy to flustered in about two seconds.

"You hit me with your board and now you're calling me cute? Is this how you flirt?"

"The first hit is free," he said. "After that I start charging."

"Ah. You're doing the drug dealer method. Nice."

"It's always worked before."

I could feel the heat flushing in my cheeks as I bit my lower lip. That chub in my pants was quickly becoming a full hard on and my swimtrunks didn't hide much. I crossed my legs, trying not to make it obvious. Which, of course, only made him glance downward. That smirk on his face told me everything I needed to know. The dude knew exactly what he was doing.

"So what's your name?" I asked, trying to change the subject. "Just in case I want to press charges later."

"River," he smiled, holding out his hand.

"River?" I furrowed my brows. "That's the best fake name you could come up with?"

"It's my real name, thank you. My mother was very into hippie culture and saving the rainforest."

"Well, my name's Vincent," I said, taking his hand at last.

There was a sort of shock as our skin connected, the both of us gripping harder involuntarily. We just stared at one another for a moment, our scents suddenly intensifying until we both pulled away. I felt my heart speed up and I swore I saw a little speck of gold appear in River's otherwise deep blue eyes.

"You must be Italian," he said. "I figured from your complexion you had to be mediterranean of some sort, but the name proves it."

"Vincent Marino," I nodded. "Very Italian."

"No wonder you live here," he smiled. "It makes sense with your name."

"It does?"

"Marino means of the sea. And here you are, on a beach of what is practically an inland sea."

"Uh… I never knew that. I don't speak a lick of Italian, so all of that is a mystery to me."

"You're family didn't speak any?"

I looked up at him, my expression darkening. "Didn't stick around very long to find out," I replied. "But I'll save that sob story for another day."

"Sorry to bring it up," River replied with an apologetic nod. "But if you ever want to talk about it… that's one of the reasons I'm here."

"You came to Shifter Grove to surf and to listen to my personal trauma?"

"Yes to the first and yes-ish to the second. The other reason I stopped here was to listen to other wolf's experiences. I'm going home to become the Alpha of my pack at the end of the month and I want to make sure I'm a good leader. I figured hearing stories from those that left their packs would help me avoid repeating some of the same mistakes."

"Wow… an Alpha that cares. That's a new one to me."

"Ouch."

"Sorry," I sighed. "Old wounds."

"I get it."

Another silence stretched between us. Our flirtations were dead thanks to the sudden change in topic and my pathetically sad response. Way to go me. I always knew how to ruin a good thing.

"So… do you want a ride anywhere?" River asked. "I'm heading into town and I can give you a lift."

"I've got a car," I replied.

"But are you feeling alright to drive?"

"Yeah," I lied as I attempted to look more well than I felt. "I've only got a short drive anyway."

"Only if you're sure."

"I'll be okay." Attempting to prove my point, I clambered down out of the van. "You got me out of the water and saved me from drowning, so I feel like I've inconvenienced you enough today."

"It was no inconvenience at all," he replied, flashing me that bright smile again. "The pleasure was all mine." He climbed down after me, pushed his surfboard into the back of the van, and shut the doors. "In fact, if you'd like me to save you again sometime, let me know."

That mischievous glint in his eye told me everything I needed to know. He meant business. Sexy business. And considering this handsome stranger wasn't going to be around that long, it seemed a shame to let a perfectly good opportunity pass me by. After all, it wasn't every day that new guys like him showed up in town. Now if I could only work up the bravery to actually follow through with such a thing.

"I might take you up on that."

"Do you want my number, Carino?"

A shiver went up my spine. "I don't know what that means..." He started for the door but I stopped him, my burst of confidence surprising even me. "Actually, why don't you just go out for pizza when you want to see me again? You can just ask for me when you come in."

"Oh? You work at the pizzeria or something?"

"Or something."

"Well, I guess I'll probably be hungry soon."

"I look forward to it."

River slipped a hand around my waist, his fingers digging into my skin as he pulled me close. My heart rate went through the roof.

"It was a pleasure saving you today, Carino."

The way he rolled that R nearly made me melt.

"Likewise," I replied, my voice shaking.

He flashed me that bright smile, winked, and climbed into the van. The engine turned over and he waved a hand out the window as he drove away. I raised my hand to return the gesture and just stood there, my body absolutely tingling where he'd touched me. Every inch of my skin was covered in goosebumps and I could still smell his pheromones all around me.

Fuck… what had I gotten myself into?