Page 69 of Bruised MC Bear

“And you’re still alive. That should tell you something… Take it from me. I’ve been around a while. It’s only an issue if you make it one. I mean, you and Angel are friends, just like Vincent and I are. We’re also here for them.”

“I’ll be honest with you. I’m not sure I can do this weekend anymore. Think about it. A human, a vampire, and two shifters walk into a wedding chapel. That already sounds like the start of a bad joke.”

“I respectfully disagree. Why make it a big deal?”

“Because I. Am. A. Wolf shifter.”

“So what?”

“No one thought to tell werewolf girl I’d meet a mortal enemy?”

“Hang on. You’re a wolf shifter, not a werewolf. There’s a difference.”

I knew that, but I was curious about his knowledge of our species. “Which is?”

He looked out his window, and I was sure he rolled his eyes. I wasn’t sure I could blame him. Having to explain the difference to me, well this didn’t happen every day.

“Werewolves can’t control when they shift. The full moon controls their transformation … and they’re usually completely violent and blood-thirsty during those times. Wolf shifters, well, you have more control. You can turn anytime you want. Sure, the full moon affects you, but not in the same way.” He studied me for a moment. “You were born a wolf shifter, correct?”

“As opposed to what?”

“Being turned.”

“There are turned shifters?” Now, to be honest, this part I didn’t know. I was raised in Red Ridge among generations of born shifters of every type. I didn’t know men could be turned to shifters.

He nodded. “Yes, but it’s another story for another time. They’re rare around here, but travel up to Reno-Sparks sometime. There’s a cluster of them living there and in a few other cities.” He didn’t explain the turned shifter part further. “Let’s get back to you, shall we? As a born wolf shifter, if you turn during a full moon, you’ll remain a wolf until the full moon passes. Am I right?”

“Yes.”

“But even then, you’re not a murderous flesh-eater.”

I snarled, unsure where the urge came from. “No matter what I am, I can’t … be in the same room with you. Not for long, anyway.”

He cleared his throat. “Let’s see if we can do our utmost to grin and bear it for the next two days … for our friends’ sakes.”

“It’s not safe. Two of us in the same space like this? Not safe at all.”

His gray eyes pierced through me. “Perhaps there’s another reason behind your hesitation … attraction, maybe?”

I whipped my neck around, glaring at him. “Of course there isn’t … that’s crazy … ludicrous.”

He smiled smugly. “Prove it.”

“How?”

He must have been feeling lucky, because he tapped an index finger on his lips and replied with, “Kiss the mortal enemy. Right here.”

My eyes narrowed and my eyebrows furrowed. The nerve of this cocky, bloodsucking bastard. My lips tightened. I was raging, and ready to fight. Closing my fists at my side, I looked over at him, welcoming the adrenaline flooding my veins. I couldn’t help it. He was about to get an uncensored piece of my mind.

“What do I look like? An undead slut? Or one of those human female groupies who can’t get enough supernatural man-whores like you? I know your type … and trust me, it’s never gonna happen.”

“Never is a strong word, Sonya.”

“Not strong enough,” I insisted. “And seriously? Prove it? What are we, five now?”

“We aren’t, but I would like to see you resist me after one kiss.” He smirked, smoothed out his suit jacket, and faced forward.

It must have been the jetlag, or being awake for almost twenty-four hours after doing a rush job to pack and be ready for this long-haul flight. Fury burned inside me, so strongly that nearly all of my self-control eroded. Something inside me bubbled to the surface, and a second later I pounced on him.