I’m quaking behind Jaxon. Something in this man’s rough voice ignites a shiver of fear in me.

But Jaxon doesn’t seem scared. “Why do you have to be such a dick all the time?” he snarls at the man. They seem to know each other, although based on this interaction, I’m not sure I would call them friends.

I find my voice. “Maybe this isn’t the right moment. I can go back to the motel.”

Jaxon turns around and raises an eyebrow at me. “Back to the mice?”

I wilt. “Oh. Right. The mice.” I do not want to go back to the mice.

Jaxon gives me a hint of a smile and gestures toward the enormous house in front of us. “There are no mice here.”

The dark-haired man takes a step toward us. “I hope you’re not doing what I think you are.”

Jaxon turns and glares at him. They’re the same height and have a similar build. Jaxon folds his arms, mirroring the other man’s pose. Two alpha-like personalities staring each other down. For a few moments, no one moves, the tension in the air building. If a fight breaks out, there’s no way to tell who would win—both of these men seem evenly matched.

Jaxon is the first one to speak, although it doesn’t cut the tension much. His eyes don’t leave the other man as he says, “This is Layla. Since you were so nicely asking.”

I step out from behind Jaxon’s broad body. “Um,” I say. “Hi?” I don’t mean for it to come out as a question, but I’m feeling a little intimidated by this entire situation.

The man’s eyes move over my face. I can feel him appraising me, but I can’t look away. There’s a glimmer of gold that flashes in his otherwise hazel eyes as I meet his stare. I’m suddenly deeply aware of his height, his strength. Warmth spreads through my body. I gulp and find myself taking a small step backward to return to the safety of Jaxon’s protection.

The man’s eyes narrow and he and Jaxon exchange a glare. “And this asshole’s name is Adrian,” Jaxon says.

But Adrian doesn’t hold his hand out for a handshake. This meeting is nothing like the warm, friendly exchange I had with Jaxon.

“We should have talked about this,” Adrian says, staring Jaxon down.

Jaxon shrugs. “What’s the big deal? There’s an empty room and Layla here needs a place to stay.”

“That room,” Adrian snarls, “is not fit for anyone to stay in.”

“That room has been empty for months. We need to fill it. Layla needs to get away from the mice at her motel.”

At this, Adrian turns his glower to me. “Are you afraid of some mice?”

This is the first time Adrian has addressed me directly, and despite my intimidation, I step forward and shrug defensively. “So what?” I say. “It’s my fear. Aren’t you afraid of anything?”

Adrian takes a step forward, his height towering over me. His voice is low as he replies, “Everyone is afraid of something.”

A shiver runs down my spine, but this time, it’s not one of fear. I stare up at Adrian and he doesn’t look away. His eyes dart down to my lips for a split second, and I feel the same jolt of electricity I felt with Jaxon.

Jesus. Would I be living with two hot guys? Adrian might not be the friendliest man in the world, but maybe this isn’t such a bad setup.

Then again, I don’t know if I want to deal with these two being at each other’s throats all the time.

I’ve been through hell in the past thirty-six hours or so, and I refuse to let this Adrian guy get the better of me. I suddenly remember the fury I felt with David and Misty last night, and I straighten my spine. If I’m walking away, I want it to be my choice.

My eyes stay on Adrian when I speak. “Thanks for the offer, Jaxon.” I finally break our gaze and turn to the blond man beside me. “But if this asshole doesn’t want me moving in, then I don’t need this. I’ve dealt with enough shit in my life.”

I turn and take three steps down the driveway when I hear, “Wait, wait!”

I feel someone gently grab my arm, and I turn to find Jaxon’s pleading eyes looking into my face. Over his shoulder, I catch a glimpse of Adrian angrily storming back into the forest.

“Don’t let Adrian get to you,” Jaxon says. “He’s just an asshole, like you said. But he’s barely around. You won’t have to worry about him.”

I glance up at the Victorian at the end of the driveway. “Are you sure it’s okay if I take a look at the place?”

Jaxon grins and takes my hand.

The inside of the house is massive. Jaxon leads me through each room, up three stories. Ornate wooden banisters line the stairs, and enormous stained-glass windows fill the place with light, giving the rooms a gothic, church-like feeling. The hardwood floors are worn but beautiful.

When we get to the attic floor, Jaxon opens a door and gestures me in. “And this would be your room.”

I step inside. “It’s…huge,” I reply. And it is. You could probably fit my entire apartment in this room. It’s also the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen. Shafts of light fall across the floor from the windows on one wall. A huge four-poster bed holds a central place on one end of the room, and the whole place is filled with rich mahogany furniture.

“What do you think?” Jaxon says.

I take a moment to breathe. “I think I need to know what the rent is.”

“We can work with whatever you can pay.”

I turn to him and frown. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

Jaxon meets my gaze shyly for a moment and then looks at the floor. “I don’t know,” he shrugs. “But when I saw you this morning…” His eyes lift to meet mine. I’m startled again by their blue intensity. “I felt like if I didn’t help you or talk to you, that I’d regret it.”

Jaxon’s eyes are so clear, so honest. Like he can’t hide anything about who he is. They’re so unlike Adrian’s stormy hazel eyes, which seem to keep a hundred secrets locked behind them, and woe be unto whoever tries to get to them. But I want to be sure about Jaxon.

“You’re telling me the truth, aren’t you?” I ask.

Jaxon rubs the back of his neck with one hand. “I don’t like lying to people, and I don’t do it if I can help it. So yes, I’m being honest. I want to help you.”

I make a decision. Sometimes you’ve got to go with your gut, so I name a price for rent. Seven hundred bucks. It’s the best I can do right now.

Jaxon raises his eyebrows. “You can pay lower if you need to.”

I shake my head. “No, I want to pay what this place seems to be worth.”

“Okay. That number works.”

I think about the size of the house below us. “Do you have any other roommates?”

Jaxon smiles. “They’re away at the moment—back tomorrow. But you’ll like them. Do we have a deal?”

I stick my hand out for a handshake. “We have a deal.”

Jaxon’s smile widens. “I’ll help you get your stuff.”

Within hours, my few belongings (from both the motel and my old apartment) have been loaded into Jaxon’s truck and carried up the stairs to my new room. I’m almost nervous about how quickly this is all coming together. Moving into a Victorian mansion with a guy I just met at a gas station? With other roommates I haven’t even met yet? And a man who seems furious at the world?

It’s crazy, but honestly? It’s not the craziest living situation I’ve ever been in.

Jaxon sets the last box on the floor of the bedroom. “Need any help unpacking?” he asks. The intensity of the day washes over me, and suddenly, I’m exhausted. I sit on the bed.

“Actually, is it okay if I just…rest for a minute? All of this has been a lot and I…don’t feel great.”

Jaxon steps toward me with concern. He places a hand gently on my forehead. “You do feel a little warm,” he says, his eyebrows furrowed. He places his hands on my upper arms. “Why don’t you take a nap and I’ll warm up some soup my roommate made?”

I stare at him. Is this man actually perfect? It’s like he stepped right out of my daydreams. I can only nod. Jaxon gives me a tender smile and leaves the room, and as soon as he’s gone, I lie down and let my eyes fall closed.

When I open my eyes again, it’s already night out. Without making a decision about it, I slowly make my way downstairs and out into the darkness. I feel like I’m outside of myself, like something else is controlling my body. I want to stop moving, but I can’t. Is this real? It feels real. My steps take me to the edge of the forest and I’m about to enter the trees when I freeze.

Right in front of me, a few feet away, the brilliant gold eyes of a wolf are staring right at me.