1 Chapter 1: Shattered

Enora had just finished her eye makeup, about to move on to her hair, when the phone rang. The familiar tune of her best friend’s favorite song filled the room as she hurried to pick up.

“Hey girlie!” Nadine’s cheerful voice chirped, followed by her smiling face on the screen.

“Nades, hi. What’s up?”

“Oh nothing, just got home from work, but I needed to check in on you so I could approve your outfit for tonight! So, let’s see it!” Enora laughed as she returned to the bathroom and placed the phone on the sink. After taking a step back, she gave a slow twirl to show off the outfit.

“Ok, so what’s the verdict, your honor?”

“Hmm. The verdict is... guilty of looking amazing! As well as being too much for a certain boyfriend to handle. I know exactly where this is going to lead tonight.”

Enora’s ears prickled and began to pink. She picked up the curling iron she had plugged in a few minutes ago, and grabbed a section of her hair.

“You always have to make it pervy, don’t you?”

“I’m just stating truth. Don’t deny it,” Nadine replied with a sly smile and wiggled eyebrows.

“Because you guys have been together now, what? Five months?” she continued.

“Six, actually.”

“Exactly. And the fact that you two spend so much date nights in, says it all.” she concluded, grin spread wide when Enora didn’t immediately answer.

“Stop smiling like that!” Enora demanded.

“Can’t help it, it just feels good to be right.” she boasted.

“Whatever, moving on! I think you should go make dinner now. Talk to you later!”

Her friend pursed her lips with narrowed eyes, “I know what you’re doing, but I’ll let it slide this time. And I’m totally borrowing that dress by the way. Bye!”

Enora shook her head with a chuckle, typical Nadine.

Not even five minutes later, the doorbell rang, which made her jump in surprise. Her eyes looked to the clock; Victor was early.

“Hold on a minute!” she called out, scrambling to finish the last section of her hair, and rushed to the door. After making sure it was him, she swung it open with a smile and a deep breath. He could knock a pause in her every time.

His wavy hair was pushed back today in a side part, displaying his warm, light brown eyes behind gold rimmed glasses that were usually half hidden. The navy sweater vest layered atop a gray button up, clung to his thick physique in all the right places, while tight black jeans with matching jacket, showed off hearty legs and arms. A sudden heat fell over her body, followed by a shiver when she reached his face again. He gave her a slow smile, lip ring glistening under the hall light.

“You gonna let me in darling, or gawk at me all night out here?” he chided jokingly, snapping her back to attention.

“Sorry. I forgot what I was going to say,” she answered sheepishly. He chuckled while brushing past her, the spiced and smoky smell of his cologne made her sigh in content.

“I just have to put on my lipstick and we can go,” she replied, leaving to grab it and distract herself from how he made her shiver.

The room was different when she returned however, his gaze on her felt heavy, in the way that got her blood racing. And his eyes were a golden honey color that she would see from time to time, there for one instance but gone in the next.

“What is it?” she asked with a nervous chuckle.

“Don’t put on your lipstick. I didn’t get my welcome kiss.”

She let out a quick breath and smiled, “Aw, I’m sorry. You distracted me.”

“You distracted me, too.” he replied as she stepped forward to give him a peck. His hand held onto her wrist, keeping her in place when she went to step away, and he brought his face to her neck to inhale,

“This dress is dangerous,” he whispered, before claiming her lips.

The kiss was intense and languid; he pulled her into him by the waist, and the heat from before traveled through her veins. Her hands naturally slid over his shoulders and into his hair so she could tug on it the way that he liked. The action incited more of a response than she expected–they broke apart for a moment so he could walk her backwards to the wall.

The moment it made contact, his mouth was over hers again and his hands were roaming, making their leisurely descent to the bottom of her dress. Every touch emitted electricity from his fingertips, as the dress inching up her thighs fogged up her mind. When they separated again–Victor moving on to give the part of her chest that was exposed attention–Enora went to speak,

“Vic, we should stop.”

“Stop what?”

“We have plans, remember?”

“Hmm. You sure about that? This isn’t entertaining enough?” he asked, looking at her as one of his fingers skimmed over the sensitive core between her legs. Her hips jerked forward on their own and she took a shuddered breath.

“You’re not playing fair,” she accused, attempting to sound stern but it came out breathy and in a whisper.

His low, dark chuckle pierced her again. The grip on her hip tightened and he leaned in to her ear, “Bad guys don’t play fair.”

In an instant, her feet were off the ground, legs locking around him to hold on, and another stroke elicited a moan. His grin was pure evil when he went to use his thumb this time and bite her neck. Enora bit her lip, shimmying around to guide her hand towards his member, happy to find it was standing to attention. He jerked at the touch, releasing a guttural, and almost animalistic sound that brought their mouths together again with hips grinding.

She couldn’t help but laugh lightly, loving when Victor got like this–excited, but in a wild way. Not that their sexy time wasn’t always great–it certainly was–but there were times where he would go above and beyond. As if he were under some kind of spell that put her under as well. And because of this, she knew halting their current activity was the responsible decision to make; much to her dismay. However, this was not something she wanted to be rushed.

She managed to push him away, placing her hands on his chest so she could put up some resistance, “Come on, we really have to stop now.”

He pouted like a child that had been scolded, sigh long and dramatic as he pressed their foreheads together, “Fine.”

She grinned, “We’ll continue this later.”

“Ok, but you better be this wet for me later too.”

She stiffened, face red again as he let her slide back to the floor. Though she was used to this by now, it never failed to make her blush.

“Shut up. Let’s go.” He laughed as she stomped out ahead of him, glancing around the apartment before following.

***

Enora was glad they had chosen a restaurant nearby, so they wouldn’t be late even with the lengthy detour they had taken. She was about to ask Victor a question when she felt the vibe shift. He was no longer in the good mood from a minute ago; his shoulders were straight and stiff and eyes searched for someone or something. When his grip on her hand tightened, she began to look around in alarm as well.

“Hey, is something wrong?” she asked quietly. Their steps faltered at the entrance of the park. The expression on his face was one she’d never seen on him before. Was it pain? Sorrow?

“Victor, come on. You’re scaring me.”

A thunderous crash interrupted them then, making her jump and scream in surprise. She latched onto Victor’s arm and looked about for the source of the noise. People were screaming, streaming out of the park in panic as they pushed past and yelled for others to run. Her eyes honed in on an odd and large shape that was behind the crowd. It wasn’t until its face appeared under a light, that she saw eerie red eyes and sharp, glistening teeth, and realized what was happening.

Her body immediately froze and time slowed down. A child’s scream echoed through her head, yelling out her name in anguish. Movements and flashes engulfed her vision and her heart jumped to her throat; she couldn’t breathe.

All of a sudden, she was shoved aside, looking at Victor, she saw him mouth ‘I’m sorry’. In the next moment, he tossed his glasses and jacket aside, took off into the park at top speed, and hit the ground on all fours just before shifting. It felt like a dream. Everything was blurred around her; noises were low and muffled like the volume had been turned down on a movie. Her focus went to a massive, black wolf with wavy fur and a patch of white behind the left ear, standing some feet ahead of her. No, no, no. This couldn’t be. How could it?

After a moment, the wolf turned its head towards her and she could instantly tell. Victor.