Title: Almost Human
Author: Jo M. Aring
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 06/24/2025
Heat Level: 1 – No Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 71400
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, paranormal, urban fantasy, gay, lesbian, werewolf, vampire, magic user
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Description
Miles and Sammie haven’t seen each other since high school, and while they’re able to reconnect and pick up right where they left off, their happy reunion is short-lived when Miles is bitten and turned by a werewolf. They find themselves working through budding feelings as the supernatural world sinks its claws further into their fragile lives.
With the help of an Alpha who takes Miles in to help him learn his new powers, they uncover a winding plot to start a war between their two worlds. They find a few friends and even more enemies along the way as they go from one near death experience to the next. They just hope they can survive long enough to figure out their fragile newfound love.
Almost Human
Jo M. Aring © 2025
All Rights Reserved
“Miles?”
He blinked awake, coming to slowly, but much faster than before. He felt…better. Amazing, actually. He hadn’t felt this good in years. He sat up and glanced around to find Sammie seated beside the bed, just like before. “Did you sleep at all?” Miles questioned, leveling him with a suspicious look.
Sammie replied halfheartedly. “Kinda. I tried.” He grimaced. “A little hard to sleep when every time I close my eyes I go back to that alley.”
Yeah, that’s fair. Miles was at least out for most of it; Sammie had to be awake to see everything, all while worrying that Miles wasn’t going to make it out. He frowned, sitting up then. “Hey, how about we get something to eat? I don’t have coffee here, but we should have some stuff left I can make.”
Sammie made a choked-off noise as Miles started standing up, pressing him back down. “You’re supposed to be resting!”
Miles waved him off. “I feel fine, I think a few minutes out of bed isn’t going to hurt.” He tried again, and Sammie paused, a small gasp falling from his mouth before he backed out of the way. He was staring at Miles’s stomach. Oh.
Miles looked down, expecting the worst, only to find the lightest bit of a scar where the first werewolf bit into him. He could see why Sammie was so afraid of Miles dying there now, but it looked to be years old now, not two days. Actually, thinking back… Miles examined his left hand, finding no sign of the break he knew he had two days prior. “Whoa.” He wiggled his fingers, without a hint of pain. “I can heal. Cool.”
“You’re not freaking out about this?” Sammie squeaked.
“Why?” Miles ran his hand over the scar. “I’m alive, and I technically have superpowers now.”
Sammie’s face went red before he shoved Miles, a small glint of happiness on his face for the first time since that morning. “Shut up, you’re so annoying.”
“Seriously, I’m fine. No freak out or anything. Now come on, lemme make something.” He pulled himself up again. “I feel like I could eat a horse.”
“I mean—” Sammie followed Miles as he padded out toward the kitchen. “I hope you’re joking. You know, all things considered.”
He rolled his eyes, pulling over a stool with his foot and tugging Sammie down onto it. “Sit. Talk to me, but not about, you know, that stuff.” He glanced up. “Like, where’s Pete at?”
“He was gone when we first got back, came back for a little bit after you went back to sleep but he’s mostly been out. I think he said he was working two doubles in a row.”
That sounded about right. Pete usually tried to spend every waking hour working so he could save up to get out on his own. He was a decent enough roommate, but Miles got it, living with other people sucked. He checked the fridge, looking over everything before he pulled out some leftover rice, eggs, peppers, scallions, and soy sauce to make something quick. “So, he probably doesn’t know anything. Good. Probably a good idea to keep it that way.”
“Mmm, probably.” Sammie drummed his fingers on the countertop. “Naomi’s still been out, too. No idea what’s going on there, I can only assume it’s important supernatural world stuff.” He shifted in place then. “I know you said not to talk about the stuff but…is anything different?”
“Oh, now you’re curious? First my superpowers are annoying, now you want to know more.” He dropped the peppers and scallions in the eggs and carefully folded over the edges of the omelet. “Hmm, I’m not sure if I should say. I think my feelings are hurt.”
Sammie scoffed. “Come on, dude, I was kidding. Well, mostly.” He rocked the stool back and forth with a smug smirk on his face. “You are annoying. Just your ‘superpowers’ are cool.”
“I can tell you just did the finger quotes thing.” Miles finished assembling everything before he joined Sammie at the counter, standing up to start shoveling bites into his mouth. He felt like he hadn’t eaten in months.
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Jo M Aring is based in Kansas City, working in mental health by day, plunking away on her many works-in-progress by night. She is a moderately loud but supremely proud lesbian, who dabbles in D&D, video games, and whatever sparks her serotonin.
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