Free Lover's Instinct: A Moon Shifter Novella by Katie Reus Page A

Before she’d realized Nikan was coming with her she’d memorized the layout of the city because she always liked to be prepared.
    “It’s true,” Thabit said, his deep voice echoing around the enclosed space. “I hate driving in this city.”
    Nikan briefly glanced at the other male then looked back at her and nodded politely, as if he was unsure why she was telling him. “Okay.”
    “I want to drive,” she said as the elevator dinged and the doors whooshed open.
    Now his eyebrows shot up. “What?”
    “It’ll be easier if I drive. When we’re following Antoine there will be periods of time when we won’t see the vehicle and since we won’t know where they’re taking him we can’t use the navigator. This way I won’t have to shout out instructions if we get turned around. It will make things smoother.”
    Thabit palmed a set of keys. “I’ll let you two figure this out and meet you at the entrance. I’m driving a black four-door sedan. Low key, shouldn’t draw attention.”
    Nikan didn’t even glance at Thabit as he left, but kept his focus entirely on her. He gave her this look like he was trying to figure something out. Then he tossed her his keys. “If there’s any damage, you’re paying me back for the deposit.” The slight note of humor and his quick acquiescence took her off guard.
    It also pleased her since she’d expected resistance. As an alpha warrior, he’d just let her know how much he valued her without saying a word. By letting her be in control of this situation, he’d made it clear that her beta status didn’t matter in his eyes. They were equals. Something warm blossomed in her chest, spreading throughout her entire body. Nikan was different from any alpha she’d ever known. Different from any man she’d ever known. She planned to tell him just that very soon.
    As they headed for the rental, her boots clicked against the pavement. Turning, she started to respond when he gave her a look so hungry and lustful it took her off guard.
    “Don’t think I’ve forgotten our conversation. No matter what happens with Antoine today, we
will
finish it.” His dark eyes flashed a shade darker and she knew it wasn’t a trick of the light.
    Unable to find her voice, she nodded. She had no doubt they’d finish the conversation. Given what she had to say, things between them would change forever.

Chapter 7
    Nikan crouched low, peering down from the roof of the run-down two-story building he and Esperanze were on. Neglected duplexes and empty warehouses dotted the industrial area where crime had left its mark. The farther into this northeast neighborhood they’d driven, the more working girls and drug deals they’d seen—in broad daylight.
    The abandoned building with boarded up windows and graffiti tags they were using as their lookout was thankfully uninhabited. He and Esperanze had decided to park beside it once they realized they were close to Antoine’s meeting place.
    Thabit had chosen the building next to theirs so they weren’t all clustered together. Nikan had his hands-free earpiece in so they were able to easily communicate. He might not have liked the way the guy eyed Esperanze, but Connor had sent him. After they saved Antoine’s woman, he didn’t plan to stick around and grab a beer with the guy. He intended to get Esperanze alone as soon as possible so they could figure out what was going on between the two of them.
    Across the street behind a dilapidated chain link fence with huge chunks cut out of it, a flashy black Mercedes had been idling for the past ten minutes in front of a ramshackle warehouse. Though they couldn’t see past the tinted windows, Nikan was sure the Moretti brothers were inside since it was the scheduled meet place. And they’d been early.
    “I see him,” Esperanze whispered next to Nikan. Crouching down in the same position as him, her leg was lined up against his as she peered over the building. She passed him the binoculars Thabit had let