“I know the perfect place.” It’s late, and I’m not sure what could possibly be open at this time of night. “Are you opposed to riding on the back of my bike?”
“Umm…I’ve never been on a bike before.” Now, I’m nervous.
“Well, it’s easy. Hold onto me, and the tighter you do, the better for both of us.” He winks at me, causing me to roll my eyes. Accepting the helmet he hands me, I anxiously put it on before swinging my leg over and sliding onto the back of the bike.
271
Jackson Hughes
I spent my day following the drug dealers we have on our payroll to see if I can catch a glimpse of the new dealer in town. I know how to stay hidden, and nothing major happened. But we aren’t done. I order the other guys to watch overnight to see if there’s something I missed since we’re going to rotate the duty.
My mind was on Polly most of the day. Even when I saw her terrified expression as she left the apartment, all I could do was watch her go. I’m not sure how to make her understand or accept me being this beast who loves her.
Now that she’s agreed to stay at my apartment to get answers, do I dare hope she’ll accept me?
During one of my many nights of traveling and killing, I found a pizza place that is open twenty-four hours a day, even on holidays. Dinner is a start, I guess. Do I explain to her that I imprinted on her and want her to be my mate? I never thought about turning her into a panther, but if she saw it in a dream, maybe she would be interested.
Polly squeezes my waist tighter every time we go around a corner until we pull up to the pizza joint. Typically, there are a lot of shifters in this place, but I don’t want to scare Polly. I walk in with her, holding her hand to declare she’s spoken for and claws off. I’m pretty much marking my territory without having to pee on her.
We sit at a table in the corner and order a large supreme to share. Polly scanning the room as if searching for something and seems to feel anxious. She’s tearing at her napkin apart as her leg bounces up and down.
“What’s the matter?” I whisper. Polly shakes her head no. “Tell me,” I insist.
“Not right now, maybe later.”
I nod. Does Polly sense other shifters? Other paranormal activity? I have so many questions going through my head, but until I can ask, I pull out my phone.
ME: I’m with Polly and we’re at the pizza place. She’s nervous and looking around. Can a human sense paranormal activity?
TYSON: No, so she must have some sort of mystical magical blood.
ME: She knew in her dreams that I was the panther and that I was going to turn her.
TYSON: What?
TYSON: I’ll get August on it.
ME: Thanks.
Our food arrives, and we dig in.
“Have you always lived here?” Polly inquires.
“Not really. I moved around a lot. My dad was in the military, and when I turned eighteen, I moved to Michigan. I got a full ride to the University of Michigan for football. I was a running back since I had great speed. Once I started to change, I left school. I wandered around a bit and met up with Tyson. He took me in as a prospect, and I worked my way up the ladder. Now, I’m the enforcer. What about you?”
“Lived here all my life until parents kicked me out. I’ve been on the street for a while. Walter took me under his wing, and he protects me from the mean streets of Detroit.” She laughs.
“I like the city. There’s a lot to do.”
“Like killing people?” she smarts off. I exhale in uneasiness. “Sorry. I’ll shut up and eat.”
“It’s fine. I know you have a bad opinion about me, but I hope I can change it someday.”
“I don’t know if you can, but you can try.”
“I need you to have an open mind about everything I’m going to tell you. Can you promise me that you will do that?” I ask.
She swallows hard before she answers, “Yes.”
Once we finish our dinner, we leave. It’s obvious Polly is still feeling uneasy with the way she can’t meet my eyes.
“Okay, you fed me, so now, I want answers.” Polly is standing next to my bike with the helmet in her hands.
“Let’s go.” We get on my bike and head to my place.
After entering my apartment, Polly takes her things to the bedroom she used before while I grab a beer from the fridge and sit on the couch to wait. Polly comes in wearing the clothes I loaned her last night.
“It’s only been twenty-four hours since we were just here, and you saved me from being mauled by a panther, but it turns out you were that panther.”
“I know. I’m not sure what to say to you, so ask what you want.”
“Were you born like this?”
“Yes.”
“Can you turn people like you did in my dreams?”
“Yes.”
“Were you planning on turning me?”
“No.”
“Really?” Polly’s mouth opens wide. I take my finger and lift her jaw to close her mouth.
“No. I never want to hurt you. Believe it or not, I care about you.”
“Why me?”
“Have you ever heard of imprinting?” I question, and she shakes her head. “Let me explain something. Imprinting means that I found the one person in the entire world that I’m bound to. Imprinting happens suddenly and randomly.”
Polly sits back on the couch. “Okay, so did you imprint on me and how?” she inquires when I don’t say anything else.
“I was out in panther form, and you walked by me. I was hidden with the rest of the group when you came into sight. I’ve never felt the way I did that day. It was like angels were singing all around me, my heart fluttered, and you were surrounded by this
