Free Moonlight and Diamonds & The Vampire's Fall by Michele Hauf Page A

instinct. She was a hard one to figure. She was hot and wild in bed, but out of it she was like porcelain. Smooth and cool to the touch. And not at all wolflike.
    He glanced about the bedroom, seeking something, anything, that would clue him to her breed. Not sure what he was looking for exactly. Wasn’t as if wolves kept totems around signifying their packs, or—
    He wondered what the name of her pack was. Obviously, she didn’t live within the pack, as most tended to gather in large compounds. Of course, many had a central gathering place while the members had their own homes and lived away from the pack.
    That was how he planned to form his pack. A central compound for gatherings while the individual families lived in their own homes. It was a good way to build a strong yet diverse community.
    Tilting his glance upward, he squinted at the bright sunlight beaming through the overhead windows. He hadn’t taken the time to look up last night to sight in the moon. He bet lying here beneath the full moon was awesome.
    That was, if the full moon didn’t tug at his need to shift to werewolf. The last thing he’d do in this city was shift and risk being seen in werewolf shape. He wondered where Blyss went to shift.
    So many things he wanted to ask her, and yet there was no way to bring up questions without causing her affront. He was damn sure she’d slap him or storm out again should he even whisper the word
werewolf
.
    His shoes were out in the living room somewhere. Stryke wandered down the hallway. He was afraid to touch anything for fear of leaving a stain. Near the couch he shoved his feet into the Doc Martens, and as he was walking down the hall to the front door, his phone rang.
    He closed the front door behind him and answered.
    â€œStryke, where are you? I thought you were going to help with errands today?”
    His mother, Rissa. Indeed, he had offered to ferry her about Paris as they collected whatever was needed for tonight’s ceremony. His mother was at the Santiago mansion today. They lived in the 7th, which if he knew the city—and he did not—might be across the river from where he currently was. It was near the Eiffel Tower; he did know that much.
    â€œI think it’ll take half an hour to find the place,” he said to his mother. “Then you’ve got me for most of the day.”
    â€œMost?”
    â€œAre you going to release me from servitude to get ready for the wedding?”
    His mother laughed. “Of course. Could you pick up some
pains au chocolat
on your way here?”
    â€œI have no idea what that is, but I’ll try my best to sniff some out.”
    â€œChocolate pastries, son. Point your nose toward chocolate. You know how much I love my sweets.”
    â€œWill do. See you in a bit, Mom.”
    The phone rang again before he even stuffed it back in a pocket. This time it was a brother asking for directions home from someplace beyond the ring road that circled the city proper.
    â€œDon’t you have GPS, Trouble?”
    â€œI did, until I lost my phone. Dude, it’s like country out here. But the countrywomen sure are fun. Kelyn and I met a bunch of faeries last night. They are hot. Where are you, anyway?”
    â€œI’m finding much better luck in the city,” Stryke offered as he exited the courtyard and strode over the cobblestones. “Listen, I have no idea where you are. I’m headed to the Santiagos’ right now to drive a carload of wedding-crazed women all over.”
    â€œAh hell, sounds like you got the shit job today.”
    â€œIt’ll make looking forward to this evening and my date with Blyss all the sweeter.”
    â€œShe’s the wolf who’s weird about it, right?”
    â€œRight. I think I see a place selling those chocolate things Mom wanted. I gotta go. Why don’t you have Kelyn fly up above the trees and locate your position?”
    â€œGood call. See you later,