Yes, they’d enjoy him, I thought, offering a small smile when the male returned his attention to me. And so they should. They should enjoy everything he was before looking for something more trustworthy—something a little more tame.

Forcing my eyes to the deep blue of the decanter, I refilled my glass and dropped my chin to my hand to watch two males flirt with one another at the opposite end of the musty room.

It was everywhere.

The inescapable poison of lust and love. I could indeed run as far as I desired. I could hide in foreign lands amongst beings so much like myself that they might never know who I was. And I could feed myself all the lies in the world.

But just like the creatures surrounding me, I would always run straight back.

The air curled and pressed in warning, chilling my skin a split second before the empty chair at my table protested, yanked forcefully and then taken by a giant. “Drowning your sorrows?”

Him.

His voice was low, as deep as the darkest depths of the sea, and edged with rough precision. Not a voice many would dare ignore.

I tilted my head to study that scar of his. The thick, unmerciful slash. “Quite the war medallion you’ve got there.”

“Not from battle.” Seemingly taken aback by my immediate addressing of his trauma, he’d tensed. “Now answer my question.”

I raised a brow, secretly thrilled by his audacity. Then again, he had no idea who I was. Which thrilled me even more. “I don’t believe I asked you a question.”

Dark brows hovered low, his tongue darting out to quickly wet his lips. Lovely lips. Thick but not so full that they stole from his fearsome persona. A persona that probably earned him whatever he wished, judging by the way he stared at me, as if suddenly unsure how he should proceed.

I ended his torment with a smile, easing back in my chair. “I’m merely enjoying a drink.”

“You reek of misery.”

I paused, the wine halfway to my lips. “A hunter, are we?”

His slow smirk was deadly affirmation. “If that’s what you need.”

It was impossible to stop the jolt of energy that scorched through me, heating things I’d thought might long stay cold.

His nostrils twitched a moment before his lips stretched into a devastating grin. He could scent it. A true predator.

A wolf.

I should’ve been ashamed at how easily I’d reacted—and that I’d reacted at all. But I had a feeling this male could say anything, so long as it was wrapped in the right intention, and most would find surrender the only option.

“What makes you think I need anything?”

He pursed his lips, then gave me a pointed look. No, he need not say it.

I still waited, smiling into my glass.

“You know I can smell you.”