CHAPTER 2 Meeting

Ava POV

I woke up to find myself lying on the sidewalk at the entrance of the hotel, discarded like a vagrant and chilled to the bone with a throbbing headache. I was almost completely numb, but I somehow could still feel pieces of the broken bond with Ethan inside me, slicing at my heart and stomach like shards of glass.

A few people passing by gave me odd looks, the way Humans do. That’s right. I was in the Human World.

I couldn’t even go home at this moment. There was a sea strait in between the Human World and Werewolf Territory. Ethan said he had to spend his new year's eve here because of some business with humans. So I was here for Ethan tonight on a ferry. Now I needed to wait for the first ferry tomorrow to go back to my home.

I managed to sit up, and then, very slowly, I stood. I put my right hand against the metal frame of the hotel’s front door and let my head fall forward. The pressure behind my eyes beat in time with my heart, and I felt vaguely betrayed that it was still working, still pumping blood to a body that felt damaged beyond repair.

I looked around. The street was a skyscape of colored lights. Christmas and New Year’s decorations merrily colored the thin layer of white snow on the sidewalk and streets. I scowled at it all for being so damn cheerful and looked down for my bag.

There. As I unsteadily reached for my bag, I saw that my wedding ring was missing from my finger. Olivia must have taken it from my unconscious body like a grave robber, and the image that thought brought to mind almost made me vomit.

After putting the strap of my bag over my shoulder, I leaned back against the entrance and let my head rest against the freezing gold-colored plate. It eased my headache slightly.

Better yet, right across the street squatted a bar: all cozy wood, leaded glass, and neon signs promising IPAs and Bacardi.

I knew I should probably find myself a hotel room first. However, betrayed by my husband and best friend on a cold New Year’s Eve, I couldn’t resist a drink from a warm bar like this.

I made it to the doorway, and a tall young man brushed past me. He smelled like expensive cologne, and something oddly familiar struck me about his stance and smooth blond hair. I looked up, but he was a stranger.

His green eyes softly met my gaze, taking in my tear-streaked face. Snorting at his pity, I turned away and strode up to the uncrowded bar.

The bartender, a well-groomed young man with colorful tattoos up and down his toned arms, nodded at me and put down a coaster as I took my place on a barstool.

“Blue Sapphire on the rocks with lime,” I ordered, noticing the place was quiet for New Year’s Eve. There were only two other patrons at the bar, all nursing their drinks, and a few couples at the scattered tables.

By the time the bartender returned with my drink, I was staring at my naked finger and trying to figure out my new life. What was my future without Ethan in it? Without Olivia?

The thought of losing them hurt equally, as did my rage at their betrayal. I was blaming him, but had I ever loved Ethan, really, if I could feel that way? I certainly thought I had.

I sipped my drink, which went so warmly down my throat.

“Blue Sapphire on the rocks with lime,” said a man’s deep voice as the young man from the doorway took a seat to my right.

Huh. I thought he’d been on his way out.

Again, I looked up to meet his green eyes and was struck by how familiar he seemed.

“Hope you don’t mind,” he said with a calm smile. “It sounded so good when you ordered it. I thought I’d have the same.”

The sense of familiarity intensified. “Have we met before?”

His smile broadened, and I realized it had sounded like a come-on.

“Are you a Human who lives around?” Embarrassed, I asked quickly to change the topic.

“I’m a Werewolf.”

“Oh.” I was surprised. It was rare to see another Werewolf wandering alone in the human world on New Year’s Eve. "Are you going home to visit family for the holidays?”

“I haven’t been home for a long time. I prefer living here by myself in the human world,” he said, smiling as the bartender gave him his drink. He looked at it for a moment, took a sip, nodded, and set it back on the bar. “But I will go home tomorrow.”

I guess he was one of those young Werewolves who decided to stay in the Human World, like Chris.

“I have some family business to attend to,” he said next. He looked over at me, and the lights hanging over the bar cut into his high cheekbones and across his straight nose. He had pale, soft-looking skin, and I wondered what he’d look like in his fur.

“It isn’t something I’m looking forward to,” he admitted. “But if you don’t mind my saying, I’m guessing it’s not as bad as what you’ve been through today.”

I was oddly charmed at his directness after the day’s lies and betrayals.

“Betrayal?” he asked. His eyes were curious and kind even as I realized I’d voiced the thought aloud.

I shrugged, realizing the pain was already a little less, though because of the alcohol or the company, I wasn’t sure. “I’ve been mated for years to a man I have to accept never really cared about me.” I held up my bare finger and showed off its little tan line from the ring. “Seems he prefers my best friend. Ex-best friend.”

“Sounds like he had lousy taste,” the man said quietly, and though it was obviously a quip of off-hand charm, I felt my eyes pickle.

I shook my head. “She’s beautiful and young. His preferring her to me actually makes sense. I just never thought he could discard our mate bond so easily.”

I rubbed my forehead, which still ached, and smiled over at the man wearily. Without really thinking about it, I found I was filling in a few of the details including the bottle of champagne for two and Olivia’s comment about taking her life. To my surprise, he started looking angry.

“Are you saying your husband broke your bond? Just like that?”

I nodded, a little worried about his vehemence.

But his eyes turned soft again, this time with wonder. “And here you are, still standing. You must really be strong, enduring something like that and not having to spend the next week in bed.”

I shrugged. “I fainted. Woke up outside the hotel. Dumped like a bag of potatoes.” I downed the rest of my drink and signaled the bartender for another.

“Incredible,” he said, shaking his head. “Your exes are both idiots.”

My mouth opened to thank him and tasted salt as a tear rolled over my top lip onto my tongue. His eyes followed its trail, and his gentle fingers brushed the wetness away.

I closed my eyes, but the tears didn’t stop. Despite the fact I was talking to the most attractive man I’d ever met, I felt wretched and haggard, empty and brittle.

An odd warmth came to my cheeks, and I opened damp eyes to see the man’s face was only an inch away from my own. He paused, then closed his lips to mine with a gentleness that made me gasp. Unlike Ethan’s commanding and aggressive kisses, this kiss offered deep comfort and such plain, honest-seeming desire I almost couldn’t think. I felt the day blur in my mind, and I welcomed it.

But a still-active part of my brain noticed something else in the kiss. For all their sweetness, his lips were just a little uncertain, and I pulled back.

“How old are you?” I asked.

He pulled back as well, looking down at his drink. “Twenty-five,” he said almost defensively.

“Oh, my Goddess,” I groaned. First I got my bond broken, and now I was kissing a child? Could the day get any more mortifying?

I looked at him and just said, “This isn’t going to work out.” I reach for my bag hanging from the back of my barstool.

If the young man had grabbed me, I would have jerked away, but the hand that touched my wrist was so soft, even tentative.

“I’d like to make you forget about your lousy day,” he said with a little smile on his full, pink lips that did something to my stomach.

“I should go home.” Then I remembered I didn’t have one anymore. Would I get to keep the house while Ethan moved into the Alpha’s manor with Olivia?

I looked up into those green eyes and shrugged. “I have nowhere to go.”

“That’s not true,” he said meaningfully.

“You’re not making this easy,” I complained.

“Good.” He looked down at my ring-less hand. “You accepted their betrayal. Why reject comfort if I can offer it?”

Too young for me or not, the man had a point.

This time, I kissed him.