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conversation, but all I could think about was the wolfman of my dream.

Darren interrupted my thoughts by pushing me into the elevator. I frowned at him, but

ignored his taunting.
Could the man be real?
I shook my head.
Of course not. There aren’t men
who can turn into wolves or vice versa. That’s all just fantasy. Wait… wouldn’t he be a werewolf
then?

Darren cleared his throat making me look up at him. “Are you alright?” he asked.

I nodded my head. “Sorry. I fell asleep in the tub and I’m still trying to wake up.”

Darren rolled his eyes and changed topics. “I was thinking we would go to a steak

house.”

I licked my lips hungrily. “Steak sounds great!”

Darren frowned at me and Bret laughed. “I swear if we took red meat away from you,

you would end up eating one of us just to get your fill.”

I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “I don’t think you would taste too good.”

Darren rubbed his temples. “Let’s not discuss eating each other.” He walked out of the

elevator as soon as it opened and led us through the now crowded hotel. A line of at least thirty people was formed at the steak restaurant, but Darren walked up to the front and the hostess nodded her head as he spoke to her. She walked into the restaurant quickly. Bret and I walked up to Darren who stood, looking smug. The hostess came back and waved us in, smiling happily.

Darren walked in and sat down at the largest booth. Two waiters came up and handed us menus and took our drink orders without even asking for ID.

I turned to Darren. “Why are they treating you like royalty?”

“The owner is a long time friend of mine,” he said. A short very muscular man with a

three inch tall, bright green Mohawk walked over to our table. He had on a nice, very expensive looking suit that fit every curve of his body. Darren smiled wider, but it seemed to almost look like a grimace. “Koda! I didn’t think you would be here! I thought you were still in Germany.”

Koda smiled wide, flashing perfectly white teeth. I stared at his face and guessed him at about twenty-five, but that made no sense to me since Darren was close to forty. “We came back from Germany a few weeks ago. I’m sure you know why.”

Darren frowned. “Yes, yes I do.” Darren’s sudden mood change made me stare at Koda

longer. He was very handsome and looked very strong. Darren shook his head and smiled again.

“Where are my manners? Koda I’d like you to meet my daughter, Artemis and her friend Bret.”

Koda turned his attention to me and stared at me in shock. His bright blue eyes pierced

through me as he stared into my own. He slowly reached his hand out towards me and I took it shaking hands like Darren had taught me. His skin was extremely warm and I felt a small tingle rush up my arm and to my head. Koda smiled and shook my hand back with an equally firm, yet gentle shake. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Artemis. I have heard so much about you.”

I frowned. “Unfortunately, I cannot say the same. But it is nice to finally meet one of

dad’s friends.”

Koda dropped my hand abruptly, making the tingling disappear, and turned to Darren.

“She hasn’t heard about me?”

Darren swallowed hard and started to look nervous. “I have not told her of my past life.”

Koda’s lip twitched in a snarl. “That is very interesting indeed.” Koda turned to me,

smiling again. “If you want some time away from your father and friend please feel free to find me. I am always around this restaurant and, if not, my staff can reach me at any time, day or night.” He took my hand again and kissed the back of it. “And I would be more than happy to show you around.”

Bret stiffened beside me and I smiled nicely at Koda. “Thank you Mister…”

Koda shook his head then winked at me. “Call me Koda.”

I smiled wider. “Thank you, Koda, but we are only here for one night and I’m sure the

boys have a lot planned.”

Bret relaxed back against his seat and Darren let out the breath he had been holding.

Koda shrugged. “As you wish, but the offer is open any day.”

Koda smiled at me then stepped closer to Darren and whispered quickly into his ear.

Darren’s face fell and he nodded once, very short and quick as if he were afraid to make any other movement. Koda walked away without glancing back. The waiters came back and took our orders. Darren smiled quickly and shook his head. “It has been too long since I’ve seen him. So, how does gambling for a few hours, then a trip to the hottest dance club in town sound?”

Bret smiled. “Awesome!”

I groaned. “A dance club? Why don’t you just stab me in the eye with this fork?”

Bret and Darren talked excitedly about the night to come, but I couldn’t listen to them. I stared in the direction Koda had disappeared and wished I could find a way to speak to him further. I remembered the strange tingling and wondered what had caused it. My ruminations ended as our food came and I ate my medium rare steak quickly. I ate the fries and salad as fast as my steak then downed my beer. I looked at Darren and Bret. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.” I started to get up then realized I had no clue where the bathroom was.

Darren noticed my problem. “Straight back and to the left.”

I walked in the direction he had told me and felt butterflies as I realized it was the same way Koda had gone. I turned right down a dark hallway and ran into the back of Koda. I hadn’t seen him in the darkness. He spun around and his shock turned into a warm smile. “Hello,

Artemis. Get tired of your friend so soon?”

I laughed. “Hi, Koda. Sorry, I was just going to the bathroom and wasn’t paying

attention.”

Koda shrugged. “No harm done.”

He stepped to the side to allow me to pass him, but I stayed still. “Koda, what did my dad mean about not telling me about his past?”

Koda’s eyes squinted in anger. “I’m sorry Artemis, but it’s not my place to discuss your

father’s past with you. Your father will have to tell you.”

I sighed. “Alright.” I continued past Koda and into the bathroom. I hurriedly went pee

then washed my hands and walked out of the bathroom. Koda stood in the same spot as before, talking quietly on his cell phone. I hurried to the table where Darren and Bret had already finished their food. “Time to gamble?” I asked.

Bret nodded his head. “Let’s go!”

Darren rolled his eyes. “So eager to waste my money?”

“It was your idea.” I pointed out.

Darren laughed. “True, very true.”

We started to walk out of the restaurant when I felt someone’s hand on me. A quick rush

of heat raced up my arm, making me gasp. I spun around and stared in shock at Koda. He

dropped my arm and the heat stopped. “My apologies, Artemis, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

I smiled. “It’s alright. No harm done.”

His smile widened at my reminder of his comment. He held out a small piece of white

paper. “Take this. If you ever need anything feel free to call me.”

I slowly took the paper and nodded my head. “Th…Thanks.”

He winked at me. “No problem.” I couldn’t help but stare at his backside as he walked

away. Darren cleared his throat and I hid the piece of paper in my hand and turned to him.

Darren asked, “What was that about?”

I shrugged. “He was just saying bye.”

Darren stared at me for a second then shrugged. “He’s a nice guy.” We started walking

out of the restaurant again and I put the piece of paper in my pants’ pocket. There were so many questions about Darren that I wanted answers to. Maybe I would call Koda and see if he could answer them. Darren stopped in the middle of the gambling area and turned to us. He pulled out his wallet and made three piles of bills. He handed one pile to me and one pile to Bret before pocketing the third pile for himself. “Now make this last at least two hours.”

“I’m sure I can do that, but Bret will probably spend it in ten minutes,” I said

sarcastically.

Bret rolled his eyes. “You only spend it slowly because you play slots.”

I shrugged. “I think slots are fun.”

Darren laughed. “Play nice kids. I’ll meet you back here in two hours.” He walked away

quickly towards the blackjack tables.

I turned to Bret and smiled. “See you in two hours.”

He rolled his eyes again. “Have fun with the slots.”

“I will,” I said. I walked slowly towards the slot machines when I got the feeling that

someone was staring at me. I looked around, but couldn’t see anyone. I shrugged it off and walked faster towards the five cent slot machines. I felt a warm tingling sensation spread over me and turned to my right.

Koda stood a few feet away from me talking to someone whose back was towards me.

Koda’s eyes widened when he saw me and he whispered something to the man he was with. I

smiled at Koda and waved, starting to walk away when the man turned around. I gasped and

stopped moving. The man with Koda smiled politely at me, but I stood dumbfounded. He was

the man from my dreams, the werewolf man.

Koda walked quickly to my side and whispered, “Breathe!”

I inhaled a big breath and then stopped breathing again as the man walked towards me. I

started to ask his name when Darren grabbed my arm and yanked me behind him. The man

growled softly at Darren and I gasped at his wolf-like growl. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts.
I’m just projecting my thoughts into what I want to hear.

The man seemed angry and stood in a loose stance usually taken when preparing for an

attack. “What are you doing Darren?” His voice was tinted with anger as he glared at Darren.

“Leave my daughter alone,” Darren said with menace in his voice as he pushed me father

behind him and away from the man.

The man smiled. “I haven’t done anything and you know I would never hurt our kind,

especially not one as beautiful as her.” My cheeks instantly flushed.

Darren’s lips twitched up in a snarl. “Are you here for what I think you are here for?”

The man frowned. “Darius sent us here to continue our mission, yes.”

Darren sighed then walked backwards and grabbed my arm. “Come on, Artemis. We’re

leaving.”

I shook my head and stared at the gorgeous man in front of us. “I don’t want to leave.” I could feel the man’s dangerous potential and yet I could tell he was good. How did I know this? I have no idea.

Darren looked from me to the man and then back again. He shook his head and dragged

me away by the arm. “We are leaving.”

I grabbed at my stomach so that I wouldn’t reach out towards the man from my dreams

like I wanted to. The man blew a kiss at me and I felt my blush intensify. I forced myself to turn away from him and followed Darren. Darren grabbed Bret and we hurried to our rooms. We

traveled in silence until we reached our rooms, and then Darren turned to us suddenly. “I can’t explain this, Artemis, but you two need to trust me. We have to leave, now.”

I nodded my head and hurried into the hotel room to pack my bag. Bret grumbled about

being on a streak as he packed his bag too. I turned to walk out of the room and stopped dead.

Koda stood at the end of the hallway by the elevators staring at me. I dropped my bag and hurried to him. He frowned. “I wanted to make sure that you did as your father says and leave.

Do not come back.”

“Who was that man? I…I’ve had dreams about him,” I said nervously.

Koda’s face dropped in shock and he shook his head. “Just leave. If you want to call me

later you can, but do not try to call me for at least two days.”

I started to ask him why when the elevator opened and Koda hurried inside staring at the

back of the elevator. The elevator doors closed a few moments before Darren spoke from his room. “Where’s your bag?”

I turned around and smiled. “Sorry, I was trying to catch the elevator and dropped it by

the door.” I rushed back down the hallway and grabbed my bag as Bret followed me out, shutting the door and handing Darren the keycard. Darren watched me curiously, but didn’t say anything.

We took the elevator down and Darren paid the front desk clerk. I walked quickly towards the doors which led to the valet area, but I felt someone looking at me again and turned around, raising my eyes to the second story of the lobby. The man from my dreams stood on the upper level staring at me. He started to move towards the escalators and Koda and another man

grabbed him and held him back. I hurried out the door and inhaled the cool refreshing night air.

Darren walked out just as the valet brought the truck up.

I threw my bag to Bret and climbed into the truck, quickly shutting my door and putting

on my seatbelt. Darren climbed into the truck and started it, sighing as the motor started up. I looked back in the hotel and saw the man and Koda inside the lobby. Koda was holding onto the man’s arm and talking sternly to him. The man was yelling at Koda, but he stopped in mid-rant and turned to look at me. I stared into his beautiful blue eyes and wanted nothing more than to have him hold me.

Darren yelled, “Artemis!” I stopped moving and realized that I had unbuckled my

seatbelt and was opening my door. I slammed the door closed and put my belt back on facing forward. Darren put the truck in gear and raced away from the hotel leaving Koda and the

mystery man behind. We drove in silence for an hour, and then Darren pulled into a small diner.

We got out and I numbly followed them into the diner. Darren ordered a burger for me and

shoved a soda under my chin.

I drank absentmindedly as I thought about the mystery man. Who was he? Why did I feel

so strange when I was near him? The news chiming on the television brought my attention back.

I stared at the news reporter as his sad face told me that it wasn’t going to be a happy report. “We know you all have heard of the devastation that is sweeping the Orient. It started in Japan and spread through China at an alarming rate…”