SEVENTEEN
The death threats continued to roll in like clockwork, at least one a day, sometimes as many as four at a time. Jo hadn’t realized just how many people didn’t want a wolf team to win or for her company to succeed until their names had been announced and enemies began coming out of the woodwork.
“What’s that one say?” Nic asked, as if it were normal to read them on a Sunday. At this point, it was.
“No wolf will ever belong beside the elite. Death is a better option,” Jo read from the paper that had been shoved into an envelope. It smelled like a necromancer, which was funny because not all necromancers had money and power. Only a few did, so it narrowed it down far more. Of course, the necromancer councilman had conveniently disappeared, but he hadn’t been replaced yet. Jo wasn’t even sure if he’d died.
“Oh, that one is ominous,” Nic laughed. “Think they’d be a good writer for a mystery flick? I have one I’ve been thinking about for a while.”
Jo snorted and crumbled up the paper before tossing it in the trash. “You? Directing a movie? Yeah, right.”
“Hey!” Nic turned from where he was adjusting the position of a dart gun on the quarter panel. “I’ll have you know I’d be a fantastic director of movies.”
Jo just shook her head, knowing it was pointless to argue. What did she really know about Nicolas Olcan? Besides knowing he was the soon to be beta and that he used to be a party animal, she hadn’t bothered to look any further into his history. For all she knew, he was heavy into film making.
Glancing at him from the corner of her eyes, she cleared her throat. “Is that something you’re interested in?”
Nic raised his brow. “What?”
“Film directing. Is it something you’ve dabbled in?”
He seemed taken aback by her question before he shook his head as if to clear it. “Once, I thought about doing just that. I like movies.” He shrugged. “My mom, she was an actress before. Successful, too. When I saw one of her old black and white movies, it kind of stuck.”
Jo frowned. She hadn’t known his mom was an actress. “Your mom didn’t push you to pursue it?”
“She died when I was a pup. By the time I saw her film, I was a teenager.”
Guilt bit at Jo. She hadn’t known. “I’m sorry. . .”
“Don’t be.” Nic shrugged and turned away. “I never pursued it because my fate was already decided. I’ll be the beta of the Harrow Falls Pack.”
“Wait,” Jo said, taking a step forward. “That’s not how packs work. If you decided you didn’t want to be beta, they would have happily found a replacement. Why don’t you just tell them you want to pursue film?”
“And let my dad down?” Nic shook his head. “Nah, I couldn’t bear that disappointment in his eyes. He’s so excited that I’m taking over his position, that I want to. I can’t do that to him.”
Deciding it was best to change the subject and realizing just how little she knew about the person who fate decided was her mate, Jo made a decision. “Hey, it’s about lunchtime. I’m starving. You down for some food?”
Nic set down his wrench. “What did you have in mind?”
“There’s this place in town, a little French bistro, that apparently has the best crepes.”
“Crepes,” Nic repeated. “Hell, I’m in. I’ll drive.”
That was how they found themselves in Nic’s truck, driving into town yet again. The small French bistro was just as Jo had described. It wasn’t large by any means, made up of barely four tables inside and a cluster of tables outside. The truck had to be parked a few blocks over because of the busy street, but all in all, the small brisk walk had been nice, and the berry lemon crepes Jo ordered made things even better.
She took a bite of the food on her plate and hummed in pleasure. “This is better than I imagined.”
Nic stared at her for a moment as she enjoyed her crepe before looking down at his savory option. He’d gotten something with meat. When he took a bite, his eyes widened. “Wow, these are great.”
Jo pointed her fork at him. “New things are always a good idea.”
Grinning, Nic took another bite. “I can’t argue there.”
They enjoyed their lunch in companionable silence, the crepes hitting a spot Jo hadn’t even known she needed. When she was finished, she leaned back and stared at the wolf across from her.
“If you were to direct a film, what genre would you pick as your first one?” Jo asked, curious. She expected something with action. Men always liked action.
Nic settled back in his seat, and, without hesitation, he said, “Noir Mystery.”
Jo’s brows shot up. “That’s very specific.”
He shrugged. “I like the atmosphere of noir and mystery comes with the territory. I think people would like it. Maybe a noir mystery spin on the comic book genre could be cool.”
“I think,” Jo said, handing her plate to the waiter that came out to check on them. “That you should pursue the film industry even if you accept the beta job. Why can’t it be your hobby?”
“Being beta takes up a lot of your time,” he answered. “This is the most time off I’ve gotten in years and I’m only getting it because I’m entering the Race Games. The position keeps me busy.”
“But what about your dreams?”
Nic shrugged again. “What about them?”
“Don’t you want to go after them?” Jo studied him closer.
“Life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to,” Nic replied. Despite his words, he didn’t seem bitter about that. He only seemed fine to let that dream grow dusty and forgotten. Jo couldn’t have done that with her dreams. They were all-encompassing, demanding, and her ambition drew her from her mind and forced themselves to be created.
Jo hummed in response and let it go, not because she thought Nic foolish, but because she was thoroughly curious about his reasoning. She understood wanting to make someone proud. Her own parents were proud as can be of her. But to give up everything you are to make someone proud? Jo was willing to bet Nic’s dad would be proud of him no matter what he chose, but it wasn’t her business to say that.
“You ready to head back?” Nic asked, stretching his arms over his head. The action revealed a sliver of skin above his jeans and her eyes hungrily dropped to it despite her attempts at avoiding ogling the man. Before he could notice, she jerked her gaze back to the street.
“Yeah,” she said, sticking a ten-dollar bill under her glass for the tip. Nic had insisted on paying for the meal and he drove. The least she could do was leaving the tip.
With the truck parked a few blocks away, it gave them time to leisurely stroll along the road, walking off the meal they’d just had. It was nice to walk beside Nic and just breathe in the air. So many scents hit Jo at the same time that it took her longer to realize there was another supe so close.
That was until the elf came out of nowhere before them.
With pale hair hanging around her in glorious display and her ears out for anyone to see, the elf was a walking beacon. Being so out with her appearance was against the rules, especially when she was clearly dressed in elven fashions. Most humans would just dismiss her as a cosplayer or some such thing. Maybe an influencer. But Jo knew the rules it was breaking and that the elves were usually strict with their rules.
Jo was so focused on the elf having her ears on display as she strolled forward as if she was going to go right past them, she didn’t see the knife until it was swiping out at her. Jo jerked back, slamming into Nic, just barely getting grazed by the blade across her stomach.
But that’s all the elves needed.
Pain blossomed from the slight nick, spreading outward, the magic that covered her skin making things painful. She wouldn’t die, but it was going to hurt like a bitch.
Jo dropped to a knee and kneeled on the concrete, trying to get her breathing under control so she could continue to the truck, but Nic, seeing her go down, thought she was immediately in danger. Hell, they technically were because the elf hadn’t left. Instead, when Jo glanced up, the elf was facing off against Nic.
And Nic was wolfing out.
“Nic, don’t,” Jo tried to rasp but the magic was stealing her lungs, making it hard to breathe. She reached for him, but he was too far away, so all she could do was watch as his fingers tipped with claws and fur sprouted along his body.
The elf panicked, realizing that she wouldn’t be able to take on one wolf, let alone two. That was the mistake of the other species. They may have the money and the power, but against a feral wolf? They never stood a chance.
Still, she didn’t give up. The elf swiped at Nic, but he was too fast. The next moment, he brought his claws down across her face with a savage snarl and the elf stumbled back, the gashes in her face bleeding pearlescent.
The camera phones came out.
Nic turned, realizing how much shit they were in, and immediately pushed his wolf back until he was normal again. Reaching down, he lifted Jo up, forcing her to her legs despite the pain. She did her best, holding onto him too tightly as he rushed them to the truck.
By the time they made it back to the garage, the magic was wearing off, but the phone started ringing.
“It’s Cricket,” Jo murmured, forcing herself to hit the green button and lift the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Are you two okay?” she asked immediately. “I just saw on the news—”
“The news?” Jo asked, frowning. “It’s on the news?”
“The supe news. That’s all they’re talking about. Apparently, an elf attacked you two in broad daylight, Nic wolfed out, and a handful of humans witnessed everything. Danica said the vamps are on the scene wiping memories as we speak.”
“We’re okay,” Jo reassured her. “The death threats are starting to get out of hand.”
“And they’re only going to get worse,” Cricket reminded her. “Make sure you’re adding security to your car. Bombs are commonplace. Muni had to pull one from her car before the race.”
“Great,” Jo grumbled. “We’ll be careful. Thanks for letting us know.”
Jo hung up the phone and leaned her head back.
“You okay?” Nic asked, worry in his gaze.
Jo nodded. “I’ll be fine. Just have to wait for the magic to wear off is all.” She turned toward Nic. “Thanks for protecting me.”
“Of course,” Nic said. He looked like he wanted to say more, wanted to offer more, but he kept his lips shut. Jo hadn’t been accepting of most of the things Nic had offered, and the hesitation on his face made Jo sad. They could have been great so long ago. They could have been amazing.
Now, they were just two wolves dancing around their pain.