Kissed by Fire (Book 5 of Wolves of Milano)

25.Drinks with friends

Lyana feels like she’s floating on air. She is happy. Mateo finally trusts her enough to share things. The wolf's secret is a huge one. He is so very different. Not just the size of the wolf and the fangs that can cleave her hand clean off, the blood-red eyes are mildly off putting, but in total it’s him. Any other eye colour would be just strange with the red fur. And the sadness she felt from the wolf was heartbreaking. She can’t leave him. It would destroy the wolf. Mateo might put up a brave face and act all tough, but she knows deep down that he is hurting. The secrets are eating at his soul. Now, he’s on the path to getting better. The first steps have been made.

He slept through one night. If sleeping next to the wolf does the trick, she can do it. The wolf is a better sleeping companion anyway. Mateo tosses and turns around all night and it makes her feel like she’s sleeping on a ship in a storm. The wolf made himself comfortable and never moved. Till early morning when he shifted. She felt the electric current of the shift. A glance his way told her what had happened. He kept on sleeping, so she turned to look at him. She can’t remember when it was the last time she watched him sleep. It’s the other way around. She knows it, even if he won’t admit it.

She’s spending her lunch break with Nina. Sitting on the short wall out front, they have all the space to talk in private. Nina is wrapped up well, but Lyana likes the chill of the December air. She’s eating her sandwich and answering questions. She never did this before. Nina is the first human she can openly talk with about shifter stuff.

“You never get cold?” Nina inquires.

“No. It’s a shifter thing. Wolves and bears don’t like it too hot. In general, we don’t mind the weather at all, but we’re not built for hot weather. You have to ask Davide about cats. If they are anything like the house critters, they will seek out the warmth,” Lyana explains.

“What about food? I see you eat regular food like me, but is there something you have to mind? Am I supposed to feed Lan something special?” She wonders.

“Nah. We eat everything. I personally don’t like green things, but that’s just me. You don’t have to change anything. You’ll probably have to buy more. We tend to eat more often. Our metabolism burns through the calories faster. And we don’t get drunk as easily.” Lyana tells her friend. “You might want to hold back the sweets for a while. A sugar rush can lead to complications.”

“Is chocolate bad for you?” Nina looks at her with wide eyes.

“No. It gives us the kind of rush drugs do for humans. Endorphins overload can make us do weird things. Small doses are fine. A whole chocolate bar will give you one overactive wild kitty destroying all your furniture.” Lyana chuckles. “I learned the hard way after I killed my grandmother’s sofa.”

“Oh. All right. I’ll hide away all the chocolate.” Nina nods. “What else do I have to mind?”

“We hear better, we see better. We are faster and we also heal better.” Lyana counts off on her fingers. “Whatever you discuss with Davide is not private if Lan is at home. He can hear you to the other side of the house.”

“You’re joking? Everything? I can kiss my love life goodbye.” Nina glares at her.

“Maybe not. He’s a teenager, he spends most of his time listening to music. Buy him really good headphones.” Lyana winks.

“Naughty! But I might.” Nina laughs.

Later that day, Lyana does something else for the first time. She goes out with a couple of nurses, Nina included. She feels confident enough to spend some time with them. They don’t talk about private things. They mostly complain about patients or family members. She can relate with all of that and even contributes a few funny stories. The two wolf girls that work at the emergency room with her are by the bar. Do they think they are something better? They isolated themselves from the group. It’s on them.

“What’s with them?” Nina leans closer to her.

“Wolves. And I have no idea why the rest of you are not good enough. I know they don’t like me.” She shrugs.

“Why wouldn’t they like you?” Nina wonders. “Did you mess with their schedules?”

“No. It goes way back.” Lyana shakes her head. She doesn’t care that the girls at the bar can hear her. “I moved here as a child. I was never really accepted. With a few exceptions, those who don’t care what others think.”

“What? Why?” Nina exclaims. “Kids can be such assholes.”

“Not just kids. I’m naturally blond, a foreigner. I barely spoke Italian when I came here. I don’t fit in. They were probably told by their parents to avoid me.” Lyana tells her. “I don’t care about it now, but it hurt as a kid.”

“Ashole moves by the lot of them.” Nina scoffs. “You turned out fine.”

“Yeah. We like you.” Rebeccah leans over. “Don’t mind the snotty ones at the bar. They never come over. It’s their choice.”

“You’re not just saying that because I’m your boss?” Lyana asks.

“Of course not!” Rebeccah exclaims. “You’re a sweet person. You always help us.”

“Well, I’ll do my best.” She smiles at the girl. They are close in age, but she likes Nina more.

‘Don’t tell them that. It’s not advisable. Some truths have to stay hidden.’ Her wolf tells her silently.

‘I wasn’t planning to, but thanks.’ Lyana responds.

‘I like Nina better, too.’ The wolf chuckles.

‘We’ll see about the others. With time…I think.’ She tells her wolf.

‘Are we staying?’ Her wolf asks carefully.

‘Yes. I will give Mateo another chance. I can’t get the sad look of his wolf out of my mind. I can’t leave him.’ Lyana says. She made up her mind about it. The wolf needs her, no matter what Mateo says or not, as is the case.

‘Great. I liked the wolf, too.’ Her own animal admits.

“Lyana? Are you coming or staying?” Nina nudges her.

“Huh? What did I miss?” She looks at her friend. The others are all dressed for outside and looking at her like she has to answer a question. What was it?

“We are going over to the biker bar. Rebeccah’s boyfriend called. There is a party going on.” Nina repeats something that is obvious to everyone except her.

“Oh. Sure. I’m sorry. I was thinking about something.” She smiles at the girls. She is not tied to the house and chances are that Mateo might be there. Maybe she should text him?

-There is a party at the biker bar. Oh, Alessio said you should sign me in. Lyana

-I missed that. Can I come? Won’t it be weird? Mateo

-Why? Rebeccah’s boyfriend invited all of us. I have to see who she’s dating. Lyana

-I’ll be there. Mateo

“Girls? I hope you don’t mind? I told Mateo to come.” Lyana asks the others.

“Oh hoo. I hope you don’t mind us drooling? We’ll be discrete.” Tanya winks. “Rebeccah is no fun. She doesn’t let me talk with her guy at all.”

“Really? Why?” Lyana smiles. She likes the teasing game they play.

“We are new. I don’t want her stealing my guy before I get him.” Rebeccah glares at Tanya while she answers.

“Well, there will be plenty of free guys at the bar.” Lyana chuckles.

“Do you think Alessio will be there? He’s a biker.” Tanya bites her lip.

“Don’t hold your breath, sweetie. He’s taken.” Lyana shakes her head. “If he’s there, so is Grazia. He’s dating a biker girl.”

“Bummer. Why are all the good guys always taken?” Tanya whines.

“Don’t worry, your time will come to meet a great guy.” Nina hugs the girl.

“Lyana!” A tall, dark-haired guy shouts over the crowd. He makes his way to their little group on the sidewalk.

“You know Danielle?” Rebeccah glares at her.

“Yeah. We went to school together. He is friends with Mateo and Alessio. He’s a firefighter.” Lyana nods. Is this the guy Rebeccah is dating? This should be fun, she thinks to herself. “Your boyfriend?”

“Yes.” Rebeccah sicks the word.

“Don’t worry. I’m not in your way there.” She leans to the girl. “I’m happy with Mateo.”

“Hey girl! Where’s your bike?” Danielle asks her. And he remembers manners, because he leans over Rebeccah to give her a kiss. “Hello, love. Nice of you to drag my old school friend out of her hole.”

“She came out on her own. To be with us.” Rebeccah smiles up at him. The girl is a full head shorter than him. Lyana can see the love shine in his eyes. He must really like her to show off in public with a human. But, it’s new times. She can see quite a lot of humans here at the party.

“I sold the bike four years ago,” Lyana answers. “We’re gonna go get a drink. It was nice to see you.”

She grabs Nina and Tanya to drag them away. It all looks like she’s not getting much attention from anyone else. People are minding their own business for once. Until she meets Grazia on the stairs.

“Lyana!” Grazia exclaims over the chatter. “Is Mateo here? Alessio has some idea of putting the old gang together for a trip up to Lago di Como on the next nice weekend.”

“But, I don’t have a bike.” Lyana winces. The old gang used to be fun and those trips were on a regular basis.

“I can lend you one for a weekend.” Grazia smiles. “I want to go, but I don’t want to be the only girl.”

“We’ll talk about it.” Lyana nods. She is wondering how a rich girl came out so nice, but she won’t ask. She doesn’t want to ruin this new friendship.

“That was Grazia?” Tanya asks later when they are by the bar getting drinks.

“Yeah. She’s amazing.” Lyana nods.

“Oh, hell. I don’t stand a chance against her.” Tanya scoffs. “I better start looking around. I’m not going home alone.”

“Happy hunting.” Layna chuckles. She knows the girl will get a match for a night. If that gets to be something more? Only time will tell.

“There you are!” Mateo laughs behind her back. He kisses her lightly on the cheek and pushes something into her hand. “Here is your official members' card. It was long overdue. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, my! How did you get it?” She looks at the small plastic card in wonder.

“It’s a new world, love. They will issue a public apology too, if you want it.” He smiles at her. “Vito is gone and everyone is back to normal. The new mantra is: every wolf for itself. Everyone does what he or she wants. Nobody cares where you come from. And they are sorry for the treatment before. It was ordered. I didn’t know that. I’m so angry those assholes never told me.”

“That’s fine. It’s in the past. Don’t dwell on it.” She smiles at him.

“I can’t help it. They make me angry.” He growls.

“Stop it. We are all turning a new leaf.” She smiles at him. “Go find Alessio. He’s talking about bringing the old gang back together.”

“Oh? Where are we going?” His eyes sparkle with interest.

“Lago di Como.” She smiles. “Like we used to.”