Howl (Monster Boyfriends #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

RAEGAN

I ’m lost in the pages of a brand new romance novel when I hear the faint sound of my name being called. I can’t bring myself to look up until I’ve finished reading one more paragraph. I eagerly flip the page and sigh when I see the two main characters have just accidentally grabbed for the same cup of coffee.

I’m swooning at the coincidence when I hear my name again, slightly louder this time.

“Miss Baker.”

I blink, clearing my dazed vision and find the affronted stare of Bound and Buried Bookshop’s surly manager.

“I’m sorry, Ethan,” I apologize quickly, hastily hiding the book behind my back. “What did you say?”

He clears his throat, not hiding his annoyance. “Your shift, Miss Baker, does not end for another fifteen minutes.”

“Sorry, Ethan.” I apologize again, even though I view reading this book as an important part of my job.

As much as I’ve tried to explain to him that I like to peruse the new additions as they come in, he refuses to see it as anything but loitering. I tried to explain reading new inventory would help with recommendations for customers, which would mean more business, but he didn’t agree. No shock there.

The first month I worked at Bound and Buried, I started making little piles of books to buy. I found so many interesting ones I’d never heard of, and even some old favorites with covers I’d never seen. Then came Ethan, saying I needed to save them for the “real” customers, which apparently I was not. Joke’s on him, since I buy them the second my shift is over, with or without his approval. Luckily for him, I’m not in the mood to debate today, so with my best ass-kissing grin, I place the book back on the shelf where it belongs.

Once his back is turned, I quickly pull up my audiobook app and smirk to myself while I add the title to my wishlist. Unfortunately, my win is short lived as a new phone call interrupts my screen. The name triggers an instant reflex to ignore it, possibly even toss it in the trash. I hit my phone’s screen and send the caller to voicemail with so much force it sends a throb through my finger. Good. Something else to focus on.

I make my way through the crowded wooden bookshelves and push the missed phone call to the back of my mind. It’s the tenth I’ve ignored since my shift started eight hours ago, and I refuse to break. Good thing I’m in one of my favorite places—the cozy stay-a-while vibes of Shadow Hills’ one and only book store can always bring me out of a sour mood.

I spend my last fifteen minutes straightening up behind the checkout counter, tossing any stray receipts and straightening the brown paper shopping bags. Then, when the digital clock on the register reads 4:00 P.M., I grab my things from the back office and head outside to my car.

I wave to Ethan as I leave, a perfect-employee grin plastered on my face. He shoots me back that special scowl I know means “Have a great evening!” A man of few words, my boss.

Once the door shuts behind me, I breath in the fresh fall air and look around. Main Street is lined with the essential businesses of any small town: a pharmacy stocked with limited essentials, a twenty-four hour movie theater that wafts the smell of freshly popped buttery popcorn no matter what time of day and is constantly playing the same film from 1985 on repeat because the owner is in their Brat Pack era, the bookstore uncoincidentally placed next door to my best friend Jamie’s sophisticated coffee shop, and even an ice cream parlor featuring different spooky flavors every week (this week is Bloody Mary, a blood orange sorbet topped with globs of raspberry syrup).

Shadow Hills is the precise vision that comes to mind when picturing a small town. Cobblestone streets wind through aged buildings, and there are year-round pumpkins in all the windows. Though it’s well known for its supernatural tourism draw, for me Shadow Hills is just home. It was built one hundred and nineteen years ago and was meant to seclude, but also provide for, Tennessee’s paranormal residents.

I spot Kendra, a petite and curvy banshee with cropped red hair, walking with her black cat, Scooter, and give her a wave. Trailing behind them is a line of six kittens, born only six weeks ago. The mother, Daisy May, is a tortoise shell, so the mix of warm colors on each kitten is unique. My heart fills with joy at the sight of their tiny tails and precious paws—a little family on their daily stroll—and I have to remind myself that my cat, Cleetus, does not want any brothers or sisters right now. He’s a spoiled white and gray short hair, and I love him like he’s my only child.

She catches my greeting from the corner of her eye and returns the gesture with a bright smile, but with her focus off the sidewalk in front of her, she accidentally runs into Woody Deadmane, an older werewolf with a severe cat allergy. He lets out an obnoxious sneeze the moment he makes contact with Kendra’s sweater, and I can’t help but giggle. But when her gasp of surprise turns into a screech, I have to cover my ears.

Though I’m human, I’ve lived among paranormals my entire life. My family is full of witches, but somehow that gene chose to skip me. I might not have magic, but I’ve never felt envious of my other family members. So far, I’ve preferred walking through life as a human. In this town, we tend to fade into the background, and that’s the precise place I like to be.

Unfortunately, the one person I can’t seem to hide from is Mavis Bleaker. I eye her headed my way as I near my car, trying to move as quickly as possible without drawing her attention. She’s wearing a layered purple dress made from what looks like gauze material, no doubt one of Genevra’s dresses, or as Mavis refers to her: Great-Gama Ginny. Cue an eye roll. Genevra is the current head of the Shadow Hills coven, but has been on her death bed for the past several months. It’s been hard on the witches, watching their elder pass so slowly, but when the time does come, my grandmother, Moira, will take her place as leader, as she is the second eldest in the coven.

Though the circumstances are bleak, they haven't stopped Mavis from raiding Genevra’s closet. Like me, her family’s magic did not choose her, but Mavis will do anything she can to stand out. She insists that one day her time will come. In fact, she already claims to have the ability of sight, though the majority of her information comes from town gossip.

I wait by my car, one hand on the door handle, so close to my escape, as she waves me down, her bell sleeves blowing in the October breeze.

“I had a feeling you’d be here!” Mavis cheers, her full grin on display.

I roll my eyes and mutter, “Because I work here.” Though I’m sure she ‘saw’ me coming.

“Oh dear, whatever’s the matter?” she asks as she approaches, her smile falling.

“Nothing,” I say, eyebrows scrunching, a bit confused. “Why?”

“Well, you look a bit ragged,” she says earnestly.

This is the second time today I’ve had to swallow a salty retort, but I can’t hide the purse of my lips. “Just me with no makeup, Mavis.”

I open the car door and drop my bag inside, but she places a bony hand on the frame. “Is there something you need?” I ask, looking down at her perfectly manicured and sparkly red nails before meeting her gaze, trying to mask my irked tone.

“Well, yes,” she admits. “I’m checking in to see if you’ll be renewing your lease again at the end of the month. I have a few applicants on my waitlist, and I’d like to give them a definite answer soon.”

Of course. Mavis owns the apartment building where I’m currently renting a single bedroom unit. If this town weren’t so small, I could have found a better option by now, maybe further from town and more suited to my price range. The apartment complex is only a block over from the fire station, and its proximity to Main Street gives Mavis the ability to jack up the price for room and board.

“Can I get back to you on that?” I slip inside the car and sit in the driver’s seat. I hate being rude, but this woman is crowding the hell out of my personal bubble.

“I’ve tried reaching you, dear, but you’re always working.” Yeah, so I can afford your rent.

“I’ll give you an answer by the end of the month,” I promise, then I buckle my seatbelt and give her a little wave.

With a tilt of her head and a gentle sigh, she releases my door and steps back onto the sidewalk. I reach out and shut the door before she can change her mind. And then, just like clockwork, I hear the muffled buzzing of my phone coming from inside my purse.

I groan and pull my sweaty hair from my neck to twist it into a bun. I’ve officially reached my breaking point, but as much as I want to turn off my phone all together, my anxiety reminds me there could be an emergency.

So instead, I take a deep breath and answer it. “Hey babe.”

“Where the fuck have you been?” Patrick demands.

“I’ve been at work. I told you I had to open the store this morning.” I keep my voice light and innocent. “Ethan had another dentist appointment,” I say with a chuckle. “He may be a tightass, but he’s got perfect teeth.”

Patrick ignores my attempt at humor and holds tight to his anger, despite me never knowing what I’ve done wrong. “You didn’t answer last night either.”

“Sorry. I went to sleep early.” I can’t help the agitation that sneaks into my voice. I’m so sick of apologizing to someone I’ve known for three and a half weeks. After dodging incessant calls for days, I decide I have officially had enough. What I’ve been putting off for a week needs to happen tonight. “I was hoping we could get dinner tonight,” I suggest, casually. “Let’s go to Bones.”

“I don’t want to go out. Come to my place,” he commands.

I hesitate, knowing that’s probably not the safest idea, but relent anyway.

“Okay, sure.”

I would rather break up with him in a public place, given I don’t know how he’s going to react, but maybe I can just hover by the door and rip off the bandaid.

Jamie will not be happy about this.

“I need to run a few errands, but I’ll be there around six.”

He starts to ask what my errands are, but I fein an interruption and cut the call short. “Sorry, someone needs help crossing the road. See you tonight.”

I hang up the phone before Patrick can add an offensive retort. How did I end up with such a keeper? My dating life has never been the best, but if this is the type of man I’m working with, I’ve officially hit the bottom of the dating pool.

After my encounter with Mavis, and now the phone call with Patrick, there’s no way I’m going home, so instead I head for the next best thing.