Page 41 of My Boyfriend Bites

“I wish to speak to you about something you witnessed.”

The statement widened her eyes. Did the captain know about the body?

Her hand went to the chain and paused. Dante had specifically told her not to open it for anyone but him or Rennie.Not to mention, the person in the hall could claim to be captain, but how did Selene know she spoke the truth?

What if it were a pirate here to rob her?

“Just a second. Let me get some clothes on.” She stalled for time as she mulled over her options.

“Open thedoor.” The last bit came out as a tart growl.

Not likely. Whoever stood on the other side obviously wasn’t who she claimed. Selene glanced around for a weapon. Not much to use other than a lamp. The person in the hall rattled the door lever, then slammed against the panel.

Thump.Thump.

The determination to enter the suite left Selene with two options. Stay and confront them, which would lead to questions later—“How is it the dead body in your cabin looks like it was mauled by an animal?”—or she could relocate to a safer place.

Once more, she exited to the balcony and took a peek over the rail to either side. She could clamber into the neighbor’s terrace easily enough, but chances were the person trying to break in would hit their room next.

She glanced down. Not a pleasant climb or drop, but doable if careful.Please don’t let anyone shine a light upward or they’ll get an eyeful.With a threat literally knocking at her door, she’d have to risk flashing her bits. She swung her leg over the railing and then gripped it before dangling her body. Then the scary part, letting go and hoping?—

Thud. She managed to land on the balcony below. Even better, no one appeared to be outside. However, the sliding door was locked, leading her to then move sideways to the next terrace and the next, until she found an unlocked sliding door, letting her slip inside. Just as she entered the dark space, she heard a screech of rage.

An inhuman cry that raised the hairs on her nape. Her wolf, already partially roused because of her pulsing adrenaline,pushed harder to take over. It knew danger lurked. Selene shoved back. This wasn’t a good place to transform.

Doors, remember?Her wolf didn’t care it had no hands to open them.

Selene crossed the room to the exit, the handles on the inside of the door working fine despite the lack of power. She left, only to find out the hallway wasn’t empty, and she didn’t know who was more startled, her or the couple sitting on the floor—most likely because they couldn’t get in.

They screeched, “What are you doing in our room? Thief! Grab her, Bertrand.”

As the man lunged, too slow to connect, Selene recoiled. And then there was no stopping it.

The jolt of fright brought the change.

Her pretty dress ripped, her bra stretched and snapped, her panties… those remained caught on her hindquarters.

The person in the hall shone their phone in her direction, blinding her for a second as they said, their tone getting louder with each syllable, “Oh. My. God. It’s. A. WOLF!”

Yup. And this wolf needed to get out of there. First though, she craned her head and snared her undies with her teeth, tearing them free. Then she grabbed her clothes in her mouth, lest they be identified later, and ran, following the hallway to the stairs then trotting down them, seen by too many.

Murmurs of shock followed in her wake. “Was that a dog?”

“It’s as big as a wolf.”

“Someone tell Red Riding Hood her boyfriend’s here!” shouted a drunk.

People and their damned phones. A good number had their screens or flashlights shining bright, and they couldn’t help but notice the wolf that sprinted through the gathering of souls.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have many options for flight. Many areas had doors blocking access. Only the truly common areasremained open. She dropped her clothes in a pool as she raced past. The chlorine in the water would destroy any DNA, not that anyone would think to analyze discarded garments, not when they had bodies to deal with. She found the first one when she clambered down some steps meant to get crew and passengers from deck to deck quickly.

A body with no blood.

Had Dante been through here? Why kill a passenger? Wait, was he in cahoots with the pirates? He had, after all, left the moment he heard they’d boarded. Maybe he was their pirate king!

Ridiculous. He’d have known they were boarding and not started something he couldn’t finish.

Selene hit the bottom of the steps, and luckily the door was open, as a couple argued on its threshold. As she brushed past their legs, nudging them apart, it led to squeals. “What is going on? Why is there a wolf on board?”

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