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T he minute I started following the directions the robotic GPS voice spouted out over the speakers, Demon started snarling inside my mind’s eye.

Fucking Wolf was going to be the death of me. Probably literally.

It was bad enough that the rain had gotten heavier, but with all the thunder and lightning I could scarcely see three feet ahead of the truck.

Lucky for me, I had Shifter reflexes, and I was a solid driver and I’d done this job before for other ranches where I’d worked.

The goats kept on bleating and Jed kept right on singing, and I wondered where the old man was going to stay the night. Not that I was too worried. He’d probably just shift and keep watch in his fur.

Still, I was thinking I’d probably just detach the trailer and leave it in the enclosure, just so the goats and Jed would have some sort of shelter for the next couple of nights while me and the boys worked.

While I was mulling all that over, I frowned as I took a left. This seemed oddly familiar to me.

I rounded a bend and stopped short of the tall, chain link fence, the sight of the huge “CLOSED” sign hanging on the gate jogged my memory.

The letters, stark and white against red painted wood, felt like a finality that echoed in the silence of the empty lot beyond.

It was a familiar scene, yet it sent a wave of disappointment crashing over me. What the hell was wrong with me?

Demon snarled. His hackles were raised and for the life of me, I could not figure out why.

Wait, I know this place. It’s the drive-in .

Weeks ago, me and the boys had followed Max to this drive-in theater where he took Pen out on their first date.

Lightning flashed, and I saw something. A hooded figure, and it was on the other side of the gate.

Not knowing why, I jumped out of the cab, pulling my hood up as I ran to where the figure was trying to move the enormous, heavy chain off the fence.

“What are you doing?” I shouted, angry for no reason at all.

“Oh! You scared me!” A feminine voice responded, and suddenly, Demon stopped snarling.

I froze, stopping in front of the woman. She was strange and yet familiar, wearing a dark green raincoat that was at least two sizes too big. It hung past her knees on her much shorter frame, and suddenly I was incensed, wondering whose coat that was.

Take it. Give her ours.

The fuck? I paused, shocked at the very clear command in Demon’s voice.

Typically, it was all snarls and growling, rage and anger. But this was not that. These were words. Human words. And I had no idea what that meant.

“Can you help me get this off?” she yelled above the clamoring storm.

“Back up,” I replied, a snarl in my voice.

I pretended to use the key she gave me, but it was too slick. Wincing like I was trying to see better, I managed to use brute strength to break the lock and stuck it in my pocket before she could see it.

Of course, I would have to rig something before I left, so she’d be safe. Couldn’t leave her unguarded.

“Go on, get inside the truck. I’ll open the gate,” I called over the noise, nodding at the passenger side door.

Bright blue eyes met mine beneath her dark hood, and holy fuck, all the air seemed to leave my lungs.

Beautiful.

Demon never said anything like that before. But it was definitely his voice murmuring softly inside my head.

This woman was dangerous. She had my Wolf’s attention, and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

I watched her jog away, hugging the raincoat closer as she went, making her curvy little backside even more pronounced.

All the oxygenated blood in my body must have gone right below my buckle because she had to honk the horn to get me moving again.

“Shit,” I grumbled, pushing the rolling gate with more force than necessary.

Damn thing zipped straight across despite the rust that had formed on the wheels. I grimaced, hoping she didn’t notice.

My heart was pounding as I returned to the driver’s side door. The second I opened it, bam, I was slapped right in the face with the best damn scent I’d ever encountered.

It was warm and familiar, but completely alien at the same time. Like hot cocoa laced with rum and toasted marshmallows.

A little something sweet, and a little something sinful.

Dear God, I wanted to lean in close and smell this woman all over. I wanted to lick her skin and see if I could taste that damn tantalizing smell on her skin.

Emotion threatened to choke me in the confined space of the truck’s cab. I closed my eyes to catch my breath, but when I opened them again, everything seemed so much more intense.

She was looking at me, those bright blue eyes just as stunning as before. Only now I could see her face, and holy fuck, it was perfect.

She had soft cheeks and plump lips, and a straight nose with a smattering of freckles across her smooth, creamy skin. She looked like heaven to me.

I knew I should say something to break the awkward silence, but my tongue was tied.

What did you say to an angel?

More importantly, what could I possibly say to one?

My chest rumbled, echoing in the small space, causing her eyebrows to rise.

Words escaped me. I knew immediately what Demon wanted. My monster Wolf was intrigued, and that was not a good thing.

“Um, the paddock is through that gate and to the left. Just follow the road behind my place, and there’ll be another g-gate. I can open that one,” she whispered nervously.

“No,” I growled the word and bit my lip, trying to rein in Demon. “I meant to say, I’ll get it. You stay in here where it’s dry,” I murmured.

Something was different about this woman. She was unique.

Special.

Mine.

No!

I battled the Wolf for dominance, inhaling sharply at the pain that sliced inside me at his insistence this female was ours.

But no. She couldn’t be.

I was not built for soft things, and by God, she was that and more.

Whoever this beautiful creature was, she was better off without me, without Demon, tainting her life.

Broken Wolves don’t have mates , I told my inner beast.

The pain of his rage was greater than the storm outside, but I kept that hidden as I followed her directions. I said nothing as I got out and opened the second gate, driving to the center of the enclosed field.

“Stay in the truck while I unhook the trailer,” I growled.

“O-okay,” she agreed, and something in me softened at that.

Her ready submission satisfied my animal. Oh, I knew I was right the first time. This woman was dangerous.

Smelling of sin and looking like a saint, she was everything I ever dreamed of having, and nothing I should ever dare claim.

Goddamn, I was fucked.

My cock was thumping behind my zipper, and my Wolf was snarling nonstop. The air surrounding me was heavy. Too heavy. And I knew I would have to change before I went back.

Maybe after I dropped her off, I could park somewhere nearby and go for a run in the storm. Demon would like that. He was a wild thing, just as untamed as the weather.

Yeah, we’d go for a run and forget all about the curvy little human in our front seat. I nodded to myself, coming to an agreement. But I should have known my asshole Wolf had other plans.

I climbed back in the truck after making sure Jed and the herd were alright, and the first thing I noticed was the scent of the woman’s curiosity.

“I’m sorry, I, uh, forgot to introduce myself. I’m Jezebel, Jezebel Braydon,” she whispered, offering me her small hand.

Fuck.

I couldn’t not take it. That would be rude. But I knew touching her was going to be a mistake. A grievous error that could decimate the steel walls I’d built around myself.

Still, before I could talk myself out of it, I reached for her.

My hand was callused, the skin roughened by years of hard work, fighting, and living on the edge of civilization.

It felt twice the size of hers.

The rain had soaked through my shirt, and my fingers were damp as I moved closer, my heart racing.

As our hands met, I felt the warmth of her soft skin against mine, a stark contrast to the chill that clung to the air around us.

The second I closed my fingers around her soft warm ones I felt a shock that went straight to the soul of me. That jolt of electricity surged through me, like a living thing it coursed through my veins and jump started that long-dead organ inside my chest.

Mine, Demon snarled.