Chapter 1

Dev leant casually on the bar in Sanctuary while the Howler's pumped out their latest tune, he was standing beside Colt, who had grown from a bump in his mother's belly that night all those centuries ago, into a well muscled, ruggedly handsome man. After his mother had died once she gave birth to him because, as they had found out her mate had been killed by a pack of Katagaria, only weeks after they had bonded. He had then been adopted by Mama Peltier, he was the only cub that had officially been adopted by Dev's family, and although he was an Arcadian and although most people didn't know, he was a sentinel as well, Dev and the rest of his family treated him like blood.

Colt and he had been admiring the ass's of a group of woman that had been fluttering around the bar in hopes of catching someone's eye. There was no such thing as a ugly were hunter and the fact that half the people in this bar; including the house band, were mostly animals that could transform in to humans. This usually drew a hefty number of willing women every night. All hoping to bed one of Sanctuary's legendary men.

He and Colt had been betting on which of the girls would be the first would approach Justin who they had been eyeing like hungry tigresses' all night; Dev had his money on the black skirted blond.

"Come on, Red," Colt urged without taking his eyes from the averagely attractive red head in the corner, "just go talk to him, he don't bite."

"Unless you ask him to," purred Margie, as she sashayed past Dev and Colt, Dev gave her a flirtatious grin.

"I'd bite you if your asking, Margie."

"No, thank you, Dev honey," she said, though she did look slightly flushed, "Someone else is nibbling on me."

"I'll tear him apart," Dev gave a mock growl and Margie laughed but had gone slightly red, hell she was like his sister it was his prerogative to tease. Though Margie was human, she had unexpectedly discovered that she was working with and for a group of were hunters, having taken it so well the bear clan had funded her way through college where she studied to be a vet. She now helped Carson out from time to time.

Dev directed his gaze back to the women and gave a whoop of triumph when the blond approached Justin boldly swigging her hips and puffing up her chest. "Told you."

Colt growled as he handed over the money, "kiss ass."

"Hell no, I ain't that hard up for some," Dev chuckled again and swept his gaze over the bar once again, rules of the Sanctuary stated no woman was allowed to be harassed unless she wanted to be, but in the case of his sister, she wasn't allowed to be harassed whether she wanted to or not. His eyes narrowed as they followed Aimee through the bar and then past their mother and father and out to the kitchen, unfortunately she was still pining over that damn wolf to bother with any of the human clientele; he sighed and his eyes went back to his mother and father. They weren't talking or touching but simply staring at each other, one hot look of promise and passion and desire smouldered in their gaze before his mother turned and went out back, his father gazed after her long after she'd gone. Dev sighed again, a little more wistfully this time, he didn't want to admit it and would never admit it out loud not even under torture that he was lonely. He wanted what his mother and father had, he wanted his mate. For centuries he'd hid this vulnerability behind the stream of women he had bedded, never sharing a night alone, he made them beg to come to them again, and he never did. The more promiscuous you were as a were hunter the more likely you were to find your mate. Dev in his effort to hide how much he truly wished for his life mate, had taken this rule of loose sex to a whole other level.

But he didn't want just a mate, he wanted a friend, a lover and a companion, to talk with to the early hour of morning and to curl up with of a night. He physically cringed when these thoughts crept into his head, and thanked the Gods that no one could read his mind, well apart from Acheron and he was private to the point of paranoia.

Dev blinked and gave lecherous smile to a woman on the other side of the bar, he had given up hope of finding his mate and even though he wasn't in the mood to pursue a woman tonight the actual flirting was quite a distraction. Dev's head shot up then he went deadly still, his eyes fixed to the entrance and it felt like suddenly his whole world was centred on the woman walking through the door. The strange tingling up his spine turned into a full on shiver as she sailed nonchalantly through the doorway, past Zar who was working as bouncer tonight.

She was tall about 5'10 was his quick estimation, with a lush full figure that would make a man cry to have pressed against him, emphasised beautifully by her tight black trousers that fitted snugly over her waist and ass. Black boots with long spiked heels that made his mouth water and a fitted black biker jacket. Her hair was cut short in thick black curls that looked sexily messy as she brushed them from her eyes, she cast those clear blue diamond eyes around the room while moving ever closer to the bar. Her lips had a naturally redden look like her flushed cheeks but the rest of her skin from what Dev could see was as smooth and pale as alabaster.

She stopped at the bar a little away from him, oblivious to the ruckus she had caused amongst the men in the bar even those sitting with wives and girlfriends turned to watch her lope easily to the bar where she perched on a stool and leaned with quiet confidence waiting expectantly for Margie to finish with her customer. Dev moved towards her, feeling for the first time in his life the light flutter of nerves that proceeded speaking to a woman; he squashed it quickly.

"What can I get you?" he asked friendly, she turned those eyes on him and he felt his mouth go dry, on closer inspection he noted that her skin, her face, everything was flawless. He caught a strong scent of weariness from her but she gave a small smile, human women never usually effected him like this. No, Dev thought, no woman had ever made him want to lick his lips so much.

"Just a coke, please and the location of a good hotel if you'd be so kind," Dev stared for a moment, taken completely off guard by her soft English accent. Huh, an English rose who would of thought it. What could little rose be doing out here in New Orleans?

Dev served her the drink. "So your new in town?"

She nodded.

"Here for how long?"

"Most likely less then a month. I don't like to stay anywhere to long," She stopped rather abruptly as if she wasn't sure whether she had said too much.

"What part of England you from?" he asked leaning on the bar so he could capture her scent better, the scent was soft a perfect match for her gentle looking face, the almond and milk body wash and woman, no perfumes over powered his senses. It pleased him.

At his question however he saw her eyes darken and she shifted back her stool very subtly, "all over." She said shortly and turned to watch the Howler's.

Hmm, interesting, Dev thought, what could little English rose be running from? A response like that cut a conversation short straight away, what didn't she want people to know. The bear in him didn't detect any malice or deceit in her only an extreme cautiousness in her that came from trust being abused one to many times. For some reason Dev's heart gave a little twinge for her, he wanted to help her.

He began to serve more customers while keeping his eyes fixed on the woman at the bar, he watched her decline the advances of at least five men, her saw her smile and shake her head and when they persisted the frown creased her forehead and she rapt out something sharp and short before turning her back. When one idiot gripped her elbow, Dev was already striding to her rescue when he saw twist her arm gracefully and catch hold of the mans wrist then giving it a vicious wrench that sent him scurrying back to his table and his pissed off girlfriend. Dev raised an appreciative eyebrow, little rose could take care of herself.

Nicolette came up behind her son and looked to the object that was holding him so fascinated that he had been cleaning the same glass for the last minute or so.

"She is beautiful, Cher," she murmured low in French so only he could hear, "I cannot fault your taste."

"Hmm," was all Dev dared say, his mother's voice was too knowing, then he put the glass down and said as unaffectedly as possible. "She's human, English, travelling. Alone. Looking for a place to stay. She's too cautious and wary to be here on just a vacation."

"Runaway?"

"Perhaps. She seems able to take care of herself, I saw her nearly break some jerk's wrist."

"But?"

"I think we should offer her a room. Here," Dev braced himself for his mother's reprimand, but when it never came he turned his head to look at her face; she looked thoughtful.

"It could be dangerous, Cher. This is a place where were hunters are able to stay without fear of persecution or discovery, having a uninitiated human in here could be a potential treat."

"She's only here for a few weeks, less then a month she mentioned," Dev shrugged and turned back to clearing glasses though his mother had irritated him by pointing out the obvious hiccups in his plan to ask her to stay at sanctuary. Nicolette sensed his frustration and smiled and patted his cheek, it never made her mad when he saw Devereux angry it usually made her smile because he so seldom showed that side of himself. She often wondered what woman would deserve such a man/bear as he. She had a feeling about this young girl and her feelings were usually something she trusted.

"Go and offer her a room here." And with that she walked off but not before Dev was able to briefly grasp her hand affectionately.

Sera tried to appear calm and content to listen to the music while in a bar surrounded by Katagaria but it was hard, she knew the bear at the bar had sensed her fear and it was then she feared she had been caught but he had ceased his questions and moved on. Sera let out a sigh of relief under her breath, it had been a long time since she had had to hide her scent but she could still pull it off. Once she had rid herself of all her family's Arcadian scent she could disguise her own more effectively then any other were hunter Sera had ever heard of, she could pretend to be Arcadian, Katagaria or human. Sera had opted for human, less questions asked the better, the were hunters were too arrogant to look as a human as anymore then a plaything. And right now she wanted to remain anonymous, no name and no family, she wanted no one to find her Arcadian or Katagaria alike.

Sera tensed when she sensed someone approaching her back, she spun round to face the bear from the bar, as committed as she was to leaving behind no attachments anywhere she went Sera could not help noticing how undeniably masculine he was. His defined muscles rippled as he walked under his tight black T-shirt, firm thighs were encased in soft faded jeans and under those were scuffed biker boots. His long curly blond hair was left open to fall to the middle of his back, Sera clenched her hands, the urge to run her fingers through it was so strong she almost took a step forward. His scent so spicy and masculine was overwhelming she couldn't stop a faint blush covering her cheeks and was frustrated at herself for letting the bear affect her so. Sera was however more angry at him.

"Listen, you still looking for a room?" he asked his accent a peculiar mix of French and native New Orleans, it was sexy and deep, commanding her attention.

"Yeah," she replied her face impassive.

"Your in luck," Dev gave her a winning smile, "We have a spare room here. One of our lodgers has recently left. Its there if you want it."

Sera blew out a breath her mind reeling, she could really use a room, she had the money to pay for it but she was behind enemy lines, she could be exposed at anytime with were hunters coming and going in here everyday, some of the were hunters here were cruel killers. Though she reminded herself none could be worse then her own family. Not that she doubted she couldn't hold her own against any of the hunters here but the thought of bringing unwanted scrutiny to her was not appealing, but then again … she had gotten away with it so far.

A genuine smile broke over face, the first real one in days and she nodded to the blond bear.

"I want it. Thank you."

Dev felt he had been robbed of air as her smile shone at him like the sun, temporarily putting his mind out of action, unable to focus on anything other then her smile.

"You'll be expected to work for your keep, though, a few evenings or days behind the bar, if you think you can handle it, if not the kitchen may have some spaces."

Sera nodded seriously. "I'll work the bar, if that's alright?"

Dev looked sceptical as he ran his gaze over her again, staring at her so intently that she began to feel anxious, wanting desperately to check a mirror, but on the surface she looked unperturbed.

"What?" She demanded, Dev shrugged.

"Nothing. You just don't look like you've ever been on the working side of a bar before, is all."

Sera gave a unladylike snort that made Dev grin.

"You need to get out more then," she teased, Dev chuckled and jerked his head towards the back of the bar, he turned; she followed.

"I would if all bartenders looked like you," he teased back, she walked along beside him giving him a chance to study her profile, she had to trot to keep up with his long pace so he slowed for her.

"Ah, we're a rare breed, you'd have to search hard to find us," Sera said with a smug smile, she was enjoying this verbal sparing with him, it made her feel more normal then she had in longer then she cared to remember. Dev held the door leading into the house behind the bar open for her.

"Not so very hard," he said softly with a charming smile, he held his hand out for hers and she instinctively trusting him, placed her hand in his warm callused one.