But each time Tom changed into the lupine state he wondered if this would be the time he would lose control and give in to the intoxicating power and strength of being ’wolf …

The dark landscape was suddenly neon bright under the orange-pink glare of streetlights. The truck swerved hard and took an exit on to the Henry Hudson Parkway.

‘So, this is Manhattan,’ Kate observed. Her habitual deadpan voice made it hard to know if she was impressed or just plain bored.

‘Sure is,’ enthused their driver. ‘She’s a sight, ain’t she? Day or night.’

Tom had to agree. On one side was the wide dark stretch of the Hudson River, and on the other, buildings so high the moon barely peeked over them. As they continued their journey and turned off the Parkway into a crisscross of streets and avenues, Tom felt a sense of genuine awe. It was like he was travelling through a canyon of metal and glass, dwarfed by the gargantuan size of the skyscrapers all around him.

Their driver turned a corner and gave a huge pantomime yawn. ‘Say, it’s almost two already. Need a place to stay tonight?’

‘No thanks.’

‘Hey, c’mon. I got a real comfortable place, sweetheart. I even got room for your special friend there, too.’

Kate’s voice hardened. ‘I said, no thanks.’

‘Hey, how about a little gratitude, huh?’ The trucker’s voice got throatier. ‘I’ve brought you all this way. Reckon you owe me something in return.’

Tom clenched his fists. He’d been tense before, but now he could feel his heart beat harder with anger. He was about to speak out when he caught sight of Kate in the rearview, subtly shaking her head at him. ‘Not here,’ she mouthed.

‘Would you let us out, now, please?’ she asked the driver.

‘Now, why would you want to break up the party?’ The big guy pressed a fleshy hand down on Kate’s thigh.

‘Let go of her,’ Tom snarled, grabbing hold of the man’s thick arm.

‘Yeah?’ The trucker took a right turn and broke Tom’s grip easily as he did so. ‘What you gonna do about it, squirt?’

‘He’ll turn you into dogmeat,’ Kate snapped, ‘unless you stop this truck and let us out right now.’

‘Him?’ The big man tossed an amused glance back at Tom. ‘You’re breaking my balls, sweetie. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a real man.’

‘I might have a surprise for you,’ Tom leaned forward and hissed at the driver. ‘And you don’t want to know how real I am.’

Kate was winding down the window. ‘And unless you want me to scream down all Manhattan, you’ll pull over right now.’

The driver swore under his breath and slowed right down, swinging his rig to the side of the road. ‘Who needs this? Go on, get out of here, you teasing little bitch.’