empty, and nighttime roads were freeing at first, but before long, the sense Pearl was the o

she'd had over the past month as she lost herself in her work, P

companion. She tried so hard, so fucking hard, to fight when the need for a werewolf, fa

tely, she a

wn café for coffee, grocery shopping at the farmers' market instead of having her items delivered, bringing her packages to the Post O

fulfilled her need to be around others, and never relieved

ing, she succumbed to the allure and sought out a one-night sta

ut no one ever mentioned touch was just as vital. Each ni

in strong arms, of being nestled against a warm, hard chest, only to open her eyes and find herself horr

uld swear she sensed him on her sheets: a heady com

ness at fault, but unexpectedly, she felt a pulling s

side herself. Blowing out a breath when she found it calm a

she'd ever experienced. It felt..

like..

rposely stop her hand from torquing the throttle. A feeling of closeness, and a puzzling knowing sh

alchemist that could take someone else's power, and now she had the four elements. But did it make her better? Yes and no. She was st

? Someone who could wield four

ought she'd finally managed to accept she was alone. The chance, no matter how

, Pearl resolutely followed

od chance she was being led somewhere with people, she tested the neverending well of power in her ches

ew of the moon and stars above. It was one of the things she loved about living on the outskirt

ew stronger with every mile s

ss still slid through her when she pulled into the crowded parking lot of a nightc

was something about her men and women alike found compelling. In a crowd this large, with inhibitions

nd it was leading her somewhere less populated,

I've come

g bodies on the immense, recessed dance floor-hypnotic strobe

angible, the bass pounding in h

to be just another face in the crowd. Below the colored lights and deafening music, there would be

like a comforting blanket. It wouldn't last, but for just

n that squirming multitude, to touch and be touched,

de her way through the tightly packed throng of people. A tiny delight filled her with every unexpected

starved have I

to make sure nothing was leaking out, just in case the person on the other end of th

t feel the same pull toward her, but better to

rned to her like a flower turning its face to the sun, her expression b

aded woman grimaced, not even endeavoring t

erness on their faces lasted only a second. Even knowing they no longer cared she'd unintentionally cut the lin

ontact made her influence worse, so sh

ng a sharp motion of her hand to signal what she wanted, laying a bill on t

ed the bill back at Pearl wit

she just stuffed the money back