Unholy Grace

Dusk overtook the daylight with predatory grace, a smooth, hushed transition from brilliant rainbow color into soothing darkness. 1

Night appeared, flaunting her starry jewels and silver eye, and strutted across the heavens like she owned the place. 2

It was a gorgeous night, alive with sounds and smells. It was fantastic, and I happily threw back my head to worship her with a lolling howl, knowing that the humans who heard me would assume someone’s stupid dog was running wild.3

Colors were incredible in this form, with shades that my human eyes couldn’t decipher. I could even see the ghostly shape of body heat if I concentrated, making my impressive hunting skills even more incredible. But it wasn’t meat that I was starved for on this night. I was definitely hunting something to satisfy a different kind of hunger.4

I floated through the city like the child of darkness that I was, silent despite my massive size, and faster than anyone could dream. I flitted from rooftop to rooftop until I reached the place I sought. 5

There it was: The Rage, a nightclub that catered exclusively to the Others in the city. No chance of accidentally killing a human when partying with supernaturals who were just as preternaturally graceful and strong as you.6

I debated for a moment, listening to the hum of music that I could feel vibrate in my bone marrow. I could go inside in my current form and not even raise eyebrows. Other shifters of all kinds frequented the club. But my prey might be intimidated by my eight foot, cinnamon-furred frame and the gleaming incisors. 7

Besides, it was hard to chat up a pretty girl since I couldn’t speak so well in this form. Most of my words came out as rough grunts or throaty growls and that’s just not really sexy. 8

I sighed, regretting the change even before I made it. I felt so powerful, so incredible in my hunting form. And in my full animal form, on four legs and as natural-looking as a real wolf, I felt untamed and free. It was only in my human form that I was a bumbling idiot.9

With a growl, I used my talons to slash the plastic bag I had thoughtfully attached to my bicep before I shifted. Then I dropped to my knees and palms and focused. Five minutes later, I lay shivering and naked on the rooftop.10

I got dressed into my change of clothes and raked at my hair as it fell in hopeless, tangled curls. Without the animal confidence of my other form, I was nervous and unsure of my earlier intentions.11

Finally, I clambered down the fire escape and skittered across the street. I paid the cover charge and let the lion-shifter bouncer get a good look at the glowing amethyst color behind my human-brown eyes that marked me as a shifter. 12

“You behave in there, pup,” he growled, eyeing me with bestial, amber eyes.13

“Fuck you, cat,” I said good-naturedly. 14

We grinned toothy smiles at each other and he let me pass with a nod. I could get my ass kicked for being too polite to a cat shifter, after all.15

I walked down the stairs and slid inside. The club was hopping tonight, the music pounding so hard that my teeth hurt. The overwhelming scent of Other assaulted my nose immediately, leaving me reeling while my brain tried to categorize all the different smells: shifters of all flavors, including the familiar homey smells of some of my own pack members, the dry, earthy smell of the dragons, the sweet musk of the vampires. 16

Ahh, home.17

I avoided the corner of the bar where I could smell my fellow pack mates. They’d want to talk to me and I was on a mission. If I let myself get distracted, I’d never do what I came here to do.18

I found a relatively quiet spot in the corner of the room and practiced looking cool as I leaned against the wall. I would be relaxed and suave and enigmatic. She wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about me.19

“Wassup, punk?”20

My shoulders slumped and I immediately settled my glare on the floor. “Can you leave me alone, please?”21

They laughed and crowded me. Alex slung a heavy arm over my shoulders and breathed cheap liquor into my face. His eyes were bright with mischief.22

“Now why would we wanna do that, puppy? Were you avoiding us?”23

“Of course not,” I growled, trying unsuccessfully to knock his arm off me while Rana, his mate, pressed into my opposite side. All shifters are touchy-feely, it’s part of being in a pack, but they were just doing it now to annoy me.24

“You here searching for some company, sweets?” Rana asked in a low, husky murmur. “I saw a few little pretty pups looking for a hot, young stud like you to play with."25

I shrugged a shoulder and kept my eyes away from hers. I couldn’t lie to a superior pack mate and since Alex was Beta wolf for our pack, Rana shared his status. So my silence was just going to have to do.26

"Don't tease the pup, Rana!" Alex laughed and shook me. “Loosen up, Kale! Here, I’ll buy you a drink.”27

I started to decline; shifters drink something called Pulse, which has the toxicity level of acid and tastes like motor oil. I was supposed to be a smooth-talker tonight, not drunk off my ass from one sip of that shit.28

I tried to grab Alex’s arm and tell him no thanks, but then SHE walked in and I could do nothing but stare. I could feel my jaw drop as my eyes followed her through the throng of people, glued to her visage. My God, I was truly lost.29

She was beautiful, but that was the understatement of the century. She was glorious and incredible and breathtaking … and so beyond my league. 30

Her hair was so rich and dark that calling it black just didn’t cover it. It fell in soft waves to her shoulders, framing a face that angel’s must’ve wept over. Her skin was liked burnished copper and those huge eyes, like liquid darkness … it almost hurt to look at her. 31

She drifted behind several others of her clan, somehow innocent despite what she was, and though people stared at her companions, I couldn’t stop gazing longingly at her. I knew that she wasn’t considered a beauty among her kind. They tended to be paler and taller and curvier, whereas she was a short and slender like a stick. But to me- she was perfection.32

Rana stiffened beside me and I knew that’s she’d sensed the attention I was paying to my love across the room. She suddenly grabbed my chin with bruising force, forcing my gaze to her. I snarled, baring my teeth in warning, but doing nothing else. 33

Rana, like a lot of the older pack members, could kick my ass without breaking a sweat. 34

Her feral gold eyes searched mine, hot with tight anger. “Tell me, Kale. You wouldn’t be eyeing that little vamp over there, would you?”35

I said nothing, but I’m sure my eyes spoke volumes. I was annoyed that she was in my face and I couldn’t see my love.36

Rana eased even closer to me. She was as tall as I was, so it should’ve been an intimate gesture. It wasn’t. 37

She was warning me, intimidating me with her body, and I knew it. I yanked my chin out of her grasp. I turned my face to the side, stretching my bare neck to her in proper submission. But the truth is, I could see right over her shoulder, where my dark angel stood across the room. 38

I wasn’t being submissive; I was being sneaky. It filled me with a dark, delicious delight.39

“I know you’re young and feeling frisky and all drunk on the night, Kale. I know what that’s like. But you better go find yourself a cute little wolf to play with if you’re feeling romantic, you hear me?”40

“Hey,” Alex’s voice broke through our private little meeting. I could hear his confusion in his voice. He would never mistake me and Rana’s closeness for anything improper- she was his mate after all, and he would trust her beyond anything on Earth- but he could read the tension in her shoulders easily enough.41

I glared at his Nikes, unrepentant and silent as Rana took the drink meant for me out of his hand. “Nothing, sweetheart,” she murmured, cozying to his side.42

“Kale? What the hell is up with you?” he asked, rubbing his chin in his mate’s head. 43

My eyes flashed up, found the sight of my dark angel across the room. I started to say something, but Rana interrupted.44

“Kale’s decided he wasn’t in the party mood tonight,” she said. “He’s going to head out, maybe go to the den and see if any pretty girls want some company tonight.”45

“Oh,” Alex replied. He shrugged, then slugged me in the shoulder good-naturedly. “Okay then. Have fun, pup!” 46

I wanted to fight Rana. There was no way I was leaving this club without talking to her tonight. I couldn’t get her face out of my head and I hadn’t even talked to her yet. 47