Page 24 of Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights
We were alone. I meandered over and pulled out my own cigarette.
“Got a light?” I asked, voice neutral.
He eyed me suspiciously, taking in my appearance with a slow, assessing gaze. After a moment, he produced a silver lighter and flicked it open.
I leaned in, letting the fire catch. “Thanks,” I said, taking a deep drag.
“Don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.”
“That’s because I’m not, usually,” I replied on an exhalation of smoke. “I’m a police detective looking into a missing persons case. Journalist named Devraj Bassi. He’s a shifter. Ring any bells?”
His expression didn’t change, but I caught the slightest hesitation before he took another drag. “Can’t say it does.”
I pulled out my phone, scrolling to find the photo of Dev with the pair of them.
“Ring any bellsnow?”
He flinched, his eyes widening before he dropped his cigarette and moved toward the door with purposeful strides.
With a regretful toss of my own cigarette, I stepped into his path. “Look, Brody—” He balked at the use of his name. “I’m trying to bereasonable here. But if you don’t help me, I’ll have to tell Black you were uncooperative.”
The shifter laughed, a harsh bark. “Black? You think that’s supposed to scare me?”
…shit shit shit…Black?…
Sebastián’s reputation did indeed precede him.
“I don’t have any information for you, mate,” Brody insisted, shouldering past me.
But as he moved, something flashed in his mind—an image so vivid it practically projected itself into my consciousness: Dev Bassi in a dimly lit room, his expression grim, jaw clenched tight. The image was sharp, recent, real.
“Liar,” I snapped, the word torn from me before I could stop it.
The wolf’s head whipped around, shock written on his face. Then he bolted.
I cursed and gave chase, my shoes slipping on the polished floor. He was fast, but the narrow hallway limited his movement. I lunged forward, catching the back of his shirt.
Brody spun, snarling, eyes flashing amber. His fist connected with my jaw, sending pain exploding across my face. I staggered but didn’t let go, using his momentum to shove him sideways.
We crashed into the nearest listening booth, tumbling through it onto the floor, the door slamming shut behind us. The small space amplified our struggle, limbs knocking against walls. He was stronger—shifter strength giving him an edge—but I was determined, fuelled by the knowledge that he’d seen Dev.
Brody’s elbow caught my ribs, forcing the air from my lungs. I countered by driving my knee up, creating enough space to flip our positions. We rolled, knocking over a small table. I slammed him against the wall, forearm pressed against his throat.
The wolf’s muscles tensed beneath my grip, his skin growing hot. His eyes flickered between human brown and animal amber, pupilselongating unnaturally. A low growl rumbled through his chest, vibrating against my forearm.
…kill him…rip him apart…tear his throat out…
Brody’s thoughts crashed into my mind with savage intensity, making me wince. The transformation was beginning—skin rippling, muscles straining as bones prepared to crack and reform. Adrenaline spiked through me. I’d never seen a wolf shift before, and as fascinated as I was by it, pinning a transforming shifter to a wall seemed like a spectacularly poor life choice.
“I wouldn’t shift if I were you,” I said, voice deadly calm despite my racing heart. “Dominic knows I’m here looking for you.” A complete lie, but I delivered it with unwavering confidence.
The mention of Dominic’s name cut through Brody’s rage. His eyes widened, the amber glow receding slightly.
“That’s right.” I pressed my advantage. “Dominic doesn’t take kindly to wolves shifting in his establishment. Lifetime ban, I believe? And I’ve heard he has… creative ways of enforcing his rules.”
His breathing slowed, the immediate threat of transformation subsiding. I could still feel the wolf just beneath his skin, but he was fighting it back now.
I maintained my grip, ignoring the throbbing pain in my jaw. Blood from my split lip trickled down my chin, dripping onto his expensive shirt.
