Saved at Sunrise

them, he would be brought in as
     an “extra.” Basically someone they sent out to do their dirty work. Which was part
     of the reason it pissed her off that Burnett insisted he come. Extras were considered
     expendable.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” she said.
    “That just warms my heart.” He put a hand over his wide chest. “Come on, go with me
     to grab a burger.”
    He made it sound like a date or something. Frowning, she was about to call him on
     it when she remembered seeing a Walmart not far from there and close to some fast-food
     joints. She could pick up a set of sheets, a blanket, and some extra-strength Lysol
     spray and maybe be able to sleep on the bed. That meant she could skip out on the
     foot-loving, Southern-speaking Steve. She wouldn’t be gone long. She only needed a
     peek. A peek at the life she’d been cheated out of.
    “Fine.” She lit out of the room.
    He lit out with her, and within seconds had transformed into a hauling-ass Peregrine
     falcon. She wasn’t certain, but she thought she’d heard this was one of the fastest
     birds that existed. It wasn’t a half-bad-looking animal, either. Its feathers were
     a blend of browns, tans, and black. Its eyes were striking, round, with large black
     pupils that seemed to take everything in. And when it stretched out its wings, it
     almost looked like it had leopard spots.
    Della didn’t know a whole lot about shape-shifters, but she’d heard once that one
     sign of their power was they could shift quickly. He’d shifted into a bird pretty
     damn quickly. Not that she was impressed or anything.
    Sort of like flirting, Della Tsang didn’t get impressed. Not about guys.
    Not anymore.
    Not since she’d turned vampire, turned cold, and had her heart shattered into tiny
     little bitty pieces by the guy who was supposed to love her forever.
    *   *   *
    Della landed with a thud on the pavement in the back of Walmart. Steve, still a bird,
     landed elegantly beside her. His wings stretched out wide.
    Immediately, he started turning back into human form, and as always when a shifter
     turned, sparkly bubbles began floating around. One of his transformation bubbles lingering
     in the evening air popped on her arm and sent a tiny electric current up her elbow,
     zinging like she’d walked on carpet and then touched something metal.
    “What are we doing here?” Steve asked, looking confused.
    “Bedding and disinfectant.” She brushed off her elbow then looked up. The sky was
     darkening, and the stars hadn’t yet come out to play. Lifting her nose in the air,
     her vampire sense of smell caught the hint of werewolf under the strong scent of motor
     oil.
    “Something wrong?” Steve asked.
    “A few werewolves, but not too close.”
    He frowned. “Damn, let’s grab what you need, snag me a burger, and get the hell back.”
    She smirked. “You scared of a couple of werewolves?”
    “Scared, no. But we don’t need any trouble right now.” He started walking.
    She moved with him. “Sometimes trouble is fun.”
    “Yeah, but let’s save our energy for any trouble that finds us tomorrow.”
    “Anyone ever accuse you of being boring?” she snipped.
    “No, but I’ll admit, I’m more of a lover than a fighter.”
    She kept an eye on the dark shadows, making sure something didn’t lurk there. “Please,
     that’s so lame.”
    “Lame, but true.” Humor sounded in his voice.
    “I’ll stick with lame,” she muttered.
    She imagined him smiling again, but afraid she’d be pulled into his smile, she didn’t
     chance looking at him. Hearing the laughter in his voice gave her stomach flutters.
     Or was she just hungry and needing some blood?
    Entering the store, they made fast work of buying two flat sheets, a couple of pillowcases,
     two blankets, and some disinfectant. And Steve tossed in a bag of chips. At the fast-food
     place next door he got his burger to go, but he wolfed it down as they left the joint
     to find a desolate spot for him to transform so they could head back.
    He’d finished the burger when they started down a dark alley behind the strip center.
     She noticed he stuffed the sandwich wrapper in his pocket. The guy didn’t even litter,
     never mind the alley was covered in trash. They only got about ten feet down when
     they heard a scream.
    A life-or-death-sounding scream.
     
    Chapter Two
    Della stopped, her gaze zipping around to locate the screamer. Steve jerked her into
     the dark shadows.