...They materialize from the darkness, hunters intent on their prey. Me.

My breath hitches, the animal inside rippling beneath my skin. I’m nervous, but I refuse to let them see. This bitch rolls belly-up for no one. I stride onto my front porch, prepared to defend my territory. Dressed in loungewear, I am hardly the picture of a strong alpha female, but you go with what you got. I look them both dead on.

I fold my arms over my breasts. “What do you want?” I growl, my voice a low rumble.

“We’ve come for you, little one.” With a voice like muffled thunder, the taller of the two moves forward onto my lawn. Twisted steel with sex appeal about sums him up. His dark hair is pulled back in a tail, tee-shirt molded to his cut frame.

My nostrils flare, catching his scent, fresh like a mountain spring at first thaw; my female parts quiver in anticipation. I want to coil myself around him like a python on a Kapok tree, hugging every hard inch of flesh. Ruthlessly, I shove down the urge. It’s dangerous. Ulterior motives are written all over the two of them, and I just know one of those motives is to dominate me.

“It took us a long time to find you, Maxie.”

The whisky baritone draws my attention, and I watch the other one emerge, lean and graceful, his muscles liquid precision. Definite hotness is woven into the male half of the werewolf genetic code. His scent is warm and dark, like night in a jungle. My nipples bead with excitement as he lopes toward me, brushing past the larger wolf. He stops at the base of my stairs, conqueror etched in every line of his body. This is definitely the alpha of the pair.

“Didn’t know I was lost.” I widen my stance, ready to spring. If he’s looking for a challenge, he’s got one.

He smiles, teeth bared, the faint light from the scimitar moon exposing the predatory glint in his eyes.

I can feel the hunger resonating through them, matching my own deep desire.

“We can smell your craving, little one,” the taller one rumbles as he joins his partner.

I hate arrogant assholes. “Is this the part where I’m supposed lie back, spread my legs and say, ‘Do me like Red Riding Hood, you Big Bad Wolf’?”

They chuckle in that knowing, masculine way, the sound like tropical waves lapping along my insides, teasing and inviting.

“She’s more than we imagined, my friend.” The dominant wolf smiles over his shoulder at the other one as he starts up the first step.

“Hold it right there, Romeo,” I snap.

He stops, huffs out a breath and moves back to his original position. “The name is Damien Black. And this is Noah Rayburn.” He jerks a thumb toward the larger guy who inclines his head with a gleaming look in his eyes.

They stand there, watching me, probably wondering when I’m going to quit being so difficult and invite them inside to fuck. Maybe I will and maybe I won’t. All depends on their explanations.

“Two things. First, how did you find me? And second, what were you doing over by that house? It’s a crime scene.”

“You really want to discuss all this out in the open?” The alpha, Damien, grips the newel post, giving me a you-can’t-be-serious look.

He is right, damn it. I have to let them in unless I want to risk someone listening in on the conversation. I don’t need my neighbors turning into a mob of angry, torch-bearing villagers ready to blame the monster for the fair maiden’s death.

Before I can open my mouth, Damien and Noah step forward.

“I didn’t give you permission to come in, yet.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Damien snaps.

“Nothing, just making sure you understand the rules.”

They stare at me in disbelief, then hold their hands out in surrender.

Score one for the chick. “All right. Let’s get something clear here. Right now, this is just talk. I don’t care how much sexual tension is perfuming the air.”

“So that human pup was enough to satisfy you?”

Damien’s taunt hits a nerve and my arms drop to my sides, claws forming and teeth lengthening before I can stop myself. “Mind your manners, wolf,” I snarl.