Monsters Under Mistletoe

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

D id the love of my life just maul me?

I sat in Holly’s office, stunned. After finally telling her how I felt and coming in my pants like a fucking teenager, she bit the shit out of my neck and ran.

My coworkers carried on butchering “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” while I slowly gathered the sweater Holly had made and the wrapping paper it came in. The wound throbbed something fierce as I stumbled to my office, grabbed my coat, and left the party.

I needed to sort out what happened without prying eyes.

Checking my phone, I didn’t find any messages from Holly, but I did have a new email reminder about her taking off until after the New Year.

Damn it.

I went to our most recent texts and hit her contact. Wedging the blood-smeared screen against my face using my shoulder, I got in my car and turned on the heat.

“You’ve reached Holly Wolfe. Please leave your name, number, and a brief message, and I’ll get back to you just as soon as I can. Thanks.”

BEEP

“Hey, Holls. Um—I guess call me back when you get this.” I looked at the blood drying on my fingers. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.” Shaking my head, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I’m fine. I guess. Yeah. Call me back.”

I ended the call and flung my phone at the passenger seat.

What’s going on?

Despite the blood loss, I was feeling all right. The wound seemed to be already scabbing over, making me less nervous to make the ten-minute drive home. As I pulled onto my street, my phone lit up on the floorboard.

“Shit.”

I stopped in front of my small bungalow and frantically reached for it. The light dimmed just as my fingertips touched it. Flopping back in my seat, I huffed and took off my seatbelt. Without it, I was able to bend comfortably and pick my phone up.

“Of course,” I muttered, seeing three missed calls from my sister.

Leaning back, I rested against the headrest and debated whether or not I should call Lala back. I seriously doubted she’d have any insight into the bite-and-run.

The wound pulsed, and I decided the first thing I needed to do was clean up—the dissection of my bizarre love life could wait. Worried I might become lightheaded, I carefully walked up the porch steps. A wintery mix fell around me, but I felt warm, hot even.

Did Holly give me rabies?

I opened the door, and my orange tabby, Mac, took one look at me and scampered away. “Well, hello to you too,” I said as I dropped Holly’s gift on the entryway table. Mac had always been a skittish cat, but that was weird, even for him.

I went to the linen closet and dug around for an old towel. Armed with my novelty dick towel from college, I braved the bathroom mirror.

“Fuuuuck,” I groaned.

No matter how I turned or bent my neck, the reflection didn’t improve. Two jagged rows of punctures caked in blood marred my once pristine skin. I pulled my sweater off and went to work gently cleaning the surrounding area. Taking a deep breath, I made a pass of the wounds with an alcohol-soaked cotton round. It stung, but worse than that, the light pressure hurt as if there was a bone-deep bruise.

“How far did she go?” Curious, I opened my mouth and ran my pointer over the tips of my canine teeth. I don’t get it.

I bandaged my neck, then called it a night.

Blame it on the booze or the trauma, but my dreams that night were surreal. There was Holly in all her naked glory, running in the moonlight through a meadow with a bunch of wolves. Her thick legs pushed her forward, her ass flexing and jiggling with every step. The full moon set her pale skin aglow, creating a vision of softness and power.

She was so damn beautiful. When she turned toward me, her dark hair brushed her shoulders, framing her sweet, full face as she smiled at me. Those chestnut eyes that mesmerized me from the day I met her sparkled with mischief. Dragging a claw-like nail along her breastbone, down her round, soft stomach to the top of her mound, she beckoned me to her.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

When I tried to follow, I felt the most excruciating pain. Holly stopped and watched as I writhed on the ground, my body cracking and breaking.

I woke up drenched in sweat. My hand flew to my neck, and I winced. Mac stood at my feet with a big stretch and meow.

“Morning,” I croaked and slowly got out of bed. Every inch of my body ached, and I was burning up. “Think I caught something,” I said to my furry son. He merely flicked his tail and sauntered out of the room toward the kitchen.

I shuffled to the bathroom, bracing myself against the walls so as not to fall down. Taking a deep breath, I turned on the light and looked in the mirror. My eyes were bloodshot, and I was sporting a sheen of sweat, but oddly, I looked all right.

Gingerly, I peeled away the bandage on my neck and stumbled back. The horrendous wounds from last night were basically healed. All that remained were a few scabs.

I poked and prodded the spot, but nothing seemed amiss.

“What the fuck?”

Had I dreamed the whole thing? Was I drunker than I realized last night?

Totally freaked out, I opened the medicine cabinet and popped open the pain reliever. My neck might have healed, but I felt sick as a dog.

After I fed Mac, I settled onto the couch with a plain bagel and cup of tea, ready to spend my Saturday rewatching all The Lord of the Rings movies and healing, only to have my plans ruined by a knock on the door.

“Coming,” I groaned, forcing my sore body up. “This better be important.”

I opened the door and my sister rushed in. “It’s so freaking cold out there,” she said, hugging her torso.

“Winter,” I mumbled, shutting the door and dragging my sad ass back over to the couch. “Why are you here?”

She frowned, taking a tentative step my way. “You didn’t call me back.”

I checked my phone, and sure enough, there were five more missed calls from Lala. Unfortunately, Holly had not reached out.

“It’s ten a.m.”

Shaking her head slowly, she studied my face. “Are you sick? Did you have to miss the party?”

“Yes and no.”

“So what did she say? Did you do the whole mistletoe bit?”

I groaned, rolling onto my back. “She loves me.”

“Yay!” Lala shrieked, bouncing toward me.

“Stop right there. I feel like death.”

She inched back, her hand already reaching for her coat. “Must be that bug that’s going around.” I kept my eyes on the ceiling and listened as she rocked on her heels. “Did Mac get your neck?”

I instinctively reached up and covered the scabs. “No. Something weird happened.”

She was already at the door. “Want to talk about it?”

“Not particularly.” I flopped my head to the side. “Why don’t I call you later?”

Relieved, she nodded. “Sounds great. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do.”

And just as fast as she’d arrived, she was gone.

By the next morning, I felt better but had still not heard from Holly.

As I sorted my clothes for the laundry, Holly’s panties fell from the pocket of my blood-speckled pants and floated to the floor like a gift from the heavens. I carefully picked them up, a shiver passing through me when my fingertips touched the soft, red lace.

Without a thought, I brought them to my nose. The primal need to inhale Holly’s alluring scent drove me to behave in a way I didn’t recognize. Despite being kind of weirded out by the instinct, I breathed in her scent, my dick hardening as the lace brushed my lips. My eyes fell shut, and I could see Holly sitting on her desk, her legs wide and welcoming.

I took one more deep breath, then wrapped her panties around my hand. Remembering the way Holly tasted on my tongue, I shoved down my sweats and boxer briefs. I could practically hear her sweet moans as I stroked myself with the lace. This time, instead of her ripping my neck apart, she pushed down my pants, freeing my cock. I squeezed as I imagined her sliding down, welcoming me into her tight, hot cunt. Her small, perky tits were just out of reach as she used those thick thighs to bounce up and down. The fat ass that had me gone from the first day I met her, filled my hands as I helped her ride my dick.

I stroked myself harder, faster, pre-cum dampening Holly’s panties as I pictured a more perfect first time. With the smell of Holly’s pussy deep in my nose, and the image of her soft body fucking me until she was a quivering mess, I came into her red lacy panties.

Panting, I stumbled into the wall. “Holy shit.”

It had been more than three weeks since the holiday party, and there had still been no word from Holly.

I was getting worried, but not just for her.

No, I’d been going through some . . . changes.

One bank-breaking change was the sheer amount of food I was eating. No sooner had I finished a meal than I was already craving more. I’d gone from an eighty percent plant-based diet to tearing into red meat like my life depended on it. Lenny in accounting brought in deer jerky to share, and I’m ashamed to say, I took it all when no one was looking. It was a bit too processed, but the gamey flavor really hit the spot.

Then there were all the headaches. I couldn’t make it through a day at the office without the smell of all the perfumes, colognes, lunches, and cleaning products making me physically ill. Christmas Day at my sister’s was a disaster. She had a different candle burning in the bathroom, living room, and the makeshift bar in the basement. I lasted one hour before I left, her husband giving me the side eye.

The frustration I felt toward Holly’s disappearance did have one positive—I was lifting more than ever. My body had become leaner, more defined, but heavier.

The day before Holly was due back from her vacation, my brother-in-law showed up at my house unannounced.

“Hey, Trev. What are you doing here?” I looked behind him for my sister, but she wasn’t there.

“Can I come in?” He was pushing in before I could answer.

“Uh, yeah. Sure.”

Trevor dropped a huge duffle bag on my coffee table, scaring Mac from his spot on the couch. When he turned, he fixed me with a stern look. “Holly’s a were.”

“I’m sorry, Holly’s where?” I shut the door behind me and leaned against it for support.

He narrowed his eyes and put his hands on his hips. “Very funny. She bit you.”

I fought the urge to touch the pink scars on my neck. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My tone was unsure. Something deep inside knew Trevor was a threat.

Shaking his head, he turned back to his black bag. “You’re already going through the change. After Christmas, I pieced it together. I’m going to help you, but we have to act now. Tonight’s a full moon.”

I pushed off the door and stalked toward him. “I don’t need help.” Trevor was at least three inches taller than my six-two, and easily fifty pounds heavier, but I knew he was no match for me—now.

Why am I sizing him up?

Trevor took a chain from the bag, and I instinctively stepped back. His face broke into a grim smile. “Silver. Your body already knows this is no good.”

Closing my eyes, I took a calming breath. Only the peace never came. “Let’s say you’re right. How can you help?”

“I’m a fourth-generation hunter. I was raised to protect humans from paranormal trash.”

My head began to spin. “You’re serious?”

He nodded, crossing his arms across his chest. “We need to kill Holly.”

I lunged without thinking, bashing the side of his head. Pressure started building from inside as if I were about to explode out of my skin.

No one will touch what’s mine.

I landed a few solid hits before he was able to wrap my arm in his thick silver chain. From there, he circled my torso, immobilizing me.

“That fucking burns!” I yelled, jerking against his hold. The places where the chain touched bare skin were already irritated and pink. “Let me go.”

“No.”

Then everything went black.

I woke up in a basement, lying on a lumpy bed, one hand chained to the wall. “What the fuck?” I slurred, blinking slowly. In the corner was my sister’s tiki bar decked out in tinsel and lights. “Why am I here?” I yanked my arm, but the chain didn’t budge. “Lala!” I screamed.

Trevor shook his head, a grim look on his face. “Lala and the kids are at your mom’s house. We’ve got the place to ourselves.”

I rubbed my forehead with my free hand. “Why are you doing this?”

“You’re going to turn into a monster in—” he looked at his watch. “About ten hours if we don’t act fast.”

His words cleared some of the brain fog. “A monster?” Holly chomping down on my neck like it was a perfectly cooked pork steak came to mind.

Trevor lifted his chin toward me, his eyes falling to my neck as if he saw the memory playing out in real-time. “You were bit. Based on the marks, a werewolf.” I scoffed, but he continued. “Bad news, bro, it’s a full moon, and based on your symptoms and behavior, I’m guessing tonight you’ll be changing.”

He’s lost his damn mind.

He huffed out a laugh and tossed my grandmother’s necklace, the one I had planned to give to Holly, at me. The moment it landed on my exposed skin, the stinging started. I jerked my arm and it dropped to the floor.

“Silver,” he said with a grim smile.

Shaking off the pain, I asked, “So what can we do? How do I unwerewolf?” Never mind, how did I make my peace with Holly being one? Everyone knew paranormals existed, but hell if I’d ever met any. They tended to keep to themselves.

Probably to keep from mauling us regular folk.

“We kill your sire.” When I didn’t respond, he sighed, “The were that bit you.”

That dark, ugly, possessive feeling from earlier returned, and I lurched toward him but was yanked back by the thick chain. “You’re not fucking touching her.”

“When we met her last year at your birthday party, I knew there was something off about her.” He held a hand over his stomach. “I have a sixth sense about these things. I told your sister we should’ve told you Holly was a paranormal, but she didn’t want me to dig and invade anyone’s privacy. Now look at you.”

“Does Lala know what you’re doing?” I gritted out, a fresh sheen of sweat covering my body.

He shook his head as he fiddled with my cell phone. “No. Your sister has a more liberal mindset when it comes to these monsters. She has no idea what I am.”

“I swear if you don’t—”

“Shut the fuck up, Declan. Do you have any idea what’s going to happen to you if we don’t stop the change?”

I sagged into the bed, fear replacing the rage that was just coursing through my system.

“When the sun sets, your bones will start to snap and shift into your new form. You’ll have no control over it. What’s worse is you’ll have no control over your wolf.” Trevor looked down and sneered at my lock screen. Turning it toward me, he spit out, “And this bitch is the one that knowingly put you in danger. Fuck, I wouldn’t be surprised if she did it on purpose to turn you into her little puppy.”

My chest vibrated in a new and terrifying way as I battled internally against Trevor’s words. It didn’t make sense that the woman I’d fallen in love with over the past three years would suddenly do something so drastic.

But then, why didn’t she tell me she was a werewolf?

Shaking my head, I said, “No. I can’t believe it.”

“Has she answered a single one of your calls since she bit you?”

“N-no.”

“So she knowingly infected you, then left you to make the change alone?” He paused, allowing his words to sink in. When I didn’t answer, his stance softened, and he asked, “Do you know how dangerous the first shift is?”

I shook my head, tears welling in my eyes.

She loves me. She loves me. She loves me.

Trevor shook his head and cautiously approached the bed. “Without the proper preparation, you could die. The fact that she bit you then ran—” He sucked his teeth. “Well, it doesn’t seem like she was too worried about you.”

“You’re lying,” I whispered.

He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at me with pity. “Even if it was an accidental bite, where is she now when you need her?”

I blinked rapidly, my heart desperately trying to hold on to Holly’s words of love while my head was poking holes through it.

If she loved me, wouldn’t she want to help me? Why hadn’t she called me back?

“Am I going to die?”

“Not if you do exactly as I say,” he said, handing me my phone.