Page 1 of Soren

Prologue

Gabe

There were a lot of things Gabe found awkward—witnessing other people’s PDA, being forced to mediate the family drama of his patients, spotting for strangers at the gym—but morning-afters had to be some of his least favorites.

“So”—Jessie leaned against her car door, seemingly in no rush to actually use it, her green eyes sparkling with mischief—“we gonna do this again sometime?”

“Um…” Gabe ran a hand through his dark-brown curls. Fuck. He hated this part. He hadn’t wanted to do breakfast at all, but she’d been there, at his apartment, and he’d felt like an asshole just kicking her out, so he’d suggested grabbing something to eat. He’d asked to take separate cars, claiming he had something to do afterward. He supposed he could make that a true statement by stopping by Danny’s on the way back home.

His little brother had been acting strangely lately. And that guy Romanhe’d been hanging around with… Gabe didn’t like it. Didn’t likehim.

Jessie smirked at his hesitation. “Uh-oh. Don’t tell me. One-time thing?”

Gabe bit his lip, giving her a sheepish smile. “It’s not you, it’s me?”

He shouldn’t have slept with her. She was nice enough, sure. They’d had classes together in high school, and he’d always thought she was cool—funny, smart, totally hot. But really he’d just been looking for some stress relief, and she’d been in the right place at the right time to provide it.

Jessie laughed at him, her good humor proving she was too good for him in the first place. “No worries, King. I know your reputation.”

“Uh. Reputation?”

But Gabe didn’t get a chance to find out what his reputation might be because the next thing he knew, he was facedown on the pavement, Jessie was screaming, and his arm was being held behind his back at a painful angle.

“Hello, Gabriel.” Gabe didn’t recognize the voice—deep and raspy, with a hint of an accent.

He tried to struggle out of the man’s hold, but his grip was like iron. Gabe didn’t manage even an inch of leeway.

“Do I know you?” Gabe finally grunted, giving up his efforts.

The man holding him down chuckled. It wasn’t a nice sound. “I wanted to send my regards to Roman and his little human toy. Be a good big brother and pass along the message, won’t you?”

That was…what? Gabe had questions, so many questions, but before he could voice them, he heard a crack and then…

Pain. Searing pain.

Gabe screamed. His arm. The man hadbroken his fucking arm.

He was flipped onto his back before he could even attempt to catch his breath. He stared up at—at what?

The stranger looked like a man, more or less—one with a handsome face, his dark hair grayed slightly at the temples. But his eyes were terrifying—fully black, not even a hint of white around the edges.

A monster’s eyes.

He smiled down at Gabe, and a pair of honest-to-God fangs glistened in the morning light.

Gabe whimpered. He hadn’t even known hecouldwhimper. “What—what the fuck?”

In answer, the man bent his head down, and the pain in Gabe’s arm was forgotten in favor of the sharp, unbearable burning at his neck. The man wasbitinghim. And it fuckinghurt.

Gabe didn’t have a chance to scream again. As soon as it had started, it was over. He heard a growl, snarling sounds, and then the monster was gone, Gabe’s injured body dropped unceremoniously on the pavement.

He blinked up at the cloudless sky.

What the fuck had just happened?

He flinched as a shadow loomed over him. But it wasn’t the terrifying man from a moment ago. Gabe knew this man. Blond hair, pale-blue eyes. A face so beautiful it almost hurt to look at.

Roman’s little friend.Soren.

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