by Melissa Haag
“You were one red hood away from being cool today,” Fenris said, smirking at me.
I rolled my eyes at him, and Grandma Irene shooed us to the table. Fenris began eating with gusto, stealing whatever food she put on my plate.
“Since the furies are long-lived, is there any written history or knowledge passed down regarding the last time a god was here?” I asked while the others ate.
Irene shook her head and spoke as she started the next batch of eggs.
“As Megan discovered, our record-keeping is spotty at best. However, I’ve made a few friends in my life. Some are older than me and still around. I’ll reach out. Maybe they know something.”
“While Grandma does that, you’re going to tell me everything I’ve missed around here,” Megan said.
“What are Oanen and I going to do?” Fenris asked.
“Probably play video games. He picked up a new console while we were gone.”
Fenris looked at Oanen. “I knew you loved me.”
“I don’t hug just anyone.”
Fenris grinned, and Megan howled with laughter at Oanen’s stoic response.
I spent the morning catching Megan up on all the Uttira drama she missed. She cheered when I told her about mind controlling Adira, laughed when I said I used her as a tool to chase away Aubrey, scowled when I admitted to brainwashing the mermaids and Eras—but only because she was still mad at both groups—and pouted that she’d missed the group sleepover. She filled me in on Zayn’s plans to find Ashlyn. He was acquiring the ingredients he needed to cast the spell and would be ready on Sunday. When I relayed Lauv’s request to Megan, she shook her head.
“The last thing those three need is more power.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
Grandma Irene used the study to make calls, emerging in between to bake cookies and tell us stories about when she’d had the house built. Around lunch, she emerged with a troubled expression and joined us at the table.
“Domitius has a relic that will allow you to see the palaces so you can search them.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” Megan asked.
“What will you do if a god is alive, Megan? We still don’t know what will appease him,” Grandma Irene said.
“Then I’ll be my blunt self and ask.”
“I spoke with Grace, and we both agreed that she should go in your place.”
“You don’t think I can handle myself? I’m the first of our kind to not kill her Great-Grandma.”
“And that’s exactly why we don’t want to risk you. Grace has lived a full life. Neither of us wants to see yours or your mother’s cut short.”
I could sense Megan’s anger and took her hand. She sighed when I stole her negative emotions.
“What they’re saying makes sense, Megan, and you know it,” I said. “Stop being a glory hog.”
She snorted a laugh.
“Fine. When is Grandma Grace leaving?”
“She’s already picking up the relic and will hell gate straight to Mount Olympus afterward. Since the gods and goddesses are rumored to have not shared well, she’ll probably have a lot of ground to cover.”
“Meaning we’ll hear from her when we hear from her. What am I supposed to do until then? I’m not good at sitting still.”
“Neither was I at your age,” Grandma Irene said with a consoling smile. “But I’m sure there’s something else you can do to be useful.”
“Or maybe you let yourself have a day off,” I said, releasing her hand. “You and Oanen are newly mated and haven’t had any time to soak up your domestic bliss.”
“True.” She tapped the table. “And I need to follow up with Mr. Quill about his progress on the issues I brought to his attention. Has Piepen been back to bug you?”
“No, thank the gods.”
“Who is Piepen?”
Grandma Irene had tears streaming down her cheeks by the time we were done relating all the horror Megan had inadvertently unleashed upon my life by sending the brownie to me. We ate lunch at the table as a family before Fenris and I took a walk around Megan’s property so I could feed in private.
Grandma Irene had five cups of cocoa on the table when we got back, and we joined them for more conversation. She was an incredible woman and had so much experience and wisdom. I could have listened to her forever. Unfortunately, Fenris noted the time, which dimmed some of the joy the day had brought.
“I better go,” he said.
I followed him to the door, and he pulled me in for a kiss that curled my toes. Fenris grinned when he released me, but that humor faded as he held my gaze.
“No matter what happens tomorrow, you’re mine, and I’m yours.”
“I won’t forget.”
“And you won’t run.”
“Not unless I’m wearing the red dress.”
He groaned and pulled me in for another hug.
“That’s my girl,” he whispered into my neck.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him in return before he left.
I both dreaded and anticipated the next day. It wouldn’t be easy or comfortable dealing with all the bigotry that would be thrown my way. But I’d see Fenris. He was everything.
Some of my conflict must have shown on my face because Megan wrapped an arm around me and leaned her head on my shoulder.
“Maybe you need a wing woman tomorrow,” she said.
I shook my head.
“Raiden respects strength. If I show up with muscle, it’ll only make me look weaker.”
Megan grumbled, and Grandma Irene easily distracted her with talk of pizza. I stayed long enough to help them make it but said my goodbyes once it was in the oven.
I woke with a stretch. Dinner with Mom and Dad had been nice, but the cake dreams I’d had once I’d gone to bed had been better. I’d gorged myself, and to show my appreciation, I’d licked every frosting and filling the trees had offered me. The forest had shaken with ferocity in return.
Reaching out, I smoothed my hand over the pillow beside mine, but the material wasn’t warm. I’d guessed it wouldn’t be. Knowing Fenris and his love of playing by his own rules, he’d probably fed me before midnight and hurried home to meet Raiden’s curfew.
Any lingering satisfaction from the dreams faded as I considered what today would mean for Fenris. I hated that Raiden was making him go through this farce of a mate run. I knew how Fenris felt about all those girls chasing after him.
My vision sharpened, and I grabbed my phone off the nightstand. Even though it was barely six, I sent a message.
Me: How exactly does one get ready for a mate run?
Jenna called a few seconds later.
“You can come over to my house,” she said, sounding chipper.
“When?”
“Now, if you can.”
“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
“Pack some extra clothes. The elders are being vague about when the run will start. I think they’re still trying to figure out how it’ll work.”
“What do you mean? This isn’t the first mate run they’ve hosted.”
“No, but it’s the biggest. By a lot.”
“Okay. Extra clothes it is. Anything else?”
“Nothing I can think of.”
“See you in thirty.”
I rushed to pack a few extra things, none of which were the red dress, and jogged down the stairs. Mrs. Quill took in my jeans and the sweater I’d raided from Oanen’s closet.
“Are you nervous?” she asked.
“Not really. I’m more annoyed than anything.”
A warmer jacket materialized on one of the stools. She picked it up and handed it to me with a reassuring smile.
“Raiden will come around.”
“I’m not sure I’ll have the patience to wait for that to happen.”
“Then don’t. Show him who you really are, Eliana.”
I gave her a shocked look, and her smile only widened.
“Stren
gth doesn’t need to mean cruelty. You can be one without being the other.” She kissed my forehead. “Good luck.”
I hugged her hard and whispered, “I love you, too.”
She sniffled and smoothed her hand over my hair before shooing me out the door.
Her words stayed with me as I drove toward pack territory. Strength without cruelty didn’t seem to be a concept that the wolves understood. Except for Fenris. Never once had he been cruel. He pushed boundaries and encouraged with the patience of a saint, but that was it.
My grin at the thought that his patience was probably his only saint-like quality faded as I considered how the werewolves viewed strength. With them, it was about physical domination. I couldn’t physically dominate anyone. Nor would I want to. That dark thing inside of me stirred at my denial, and I shushed it. Accidentally attempting to sexually dominate Fenris didn’t count.
Without physical strength or the desire to fight for a place in their pecking order, how exactly could I prove myself worthy of Fenris in Raiden’s eyes? The answer was simple. I couldn’t. Besides, proving myself to anyone other than Fenris didn’t matter.
My only reason for attending the mate run was to support Fenris. As much as I wished I could somehow step up and put a stop to Raiden’s insanity, I couldn’t. At least, not in a way that would count in his eyes. Today would have to run its course, and when Fenris didn’t fall nose over tail for some random girl like Raiden planned, that would be the end of it. Hopefully.
While my thoughts fast-forwarded to cuddling with Fenris tonight, I took the last turn on auto-pilot.
“Crap on a cracker!” I slammed on the brakes to avoid rear-ending a car parked in the middle of the road. Fast reflexes and amazing tires were the only things that saved me from crashing into it.
Heart pounding, I looked beyond the car in front of me and saw the vehicles blocking the road. The number far surpassed what had been there for the last run. Not looking forward to the long walk, I backed up to the previous road and parked on the shoulder to avoid being hit.
The jacket from Mrs. Quill kept me warm as I weaved my way through the cars. Each exhale created a white cloud that quickly faded, but the fingers of my hand gripping my bag didn’t get cold. I smiled slightly at the small sign of progress, thanks to Fenris’s rule-breaking.
An occasional, distant howl broke the silence, leaving me to my thoughts until a wolf darted out in front of me. The sudden appearance, there and gone again, brought me to a stop. It was a good thing, too, because not a moment later, several more wolves did the same.
While the rest continued, one paused and began to shimmer. A young woman close to my age crossed her arms and glared at me.
“You’re on pack territory.”
“By invitation.”
Her form shimmered again. Once more in her fur, she bared her teeth at me and ran off in the direction the others had gone. I stared after her for a moment, knowing she wouldn’t be the only one to show me I wasn’t welcome here. Hopefully, all future displays would be as harmless as hers.
By the time I reached the parking lot, I’d been stopped three more times. However, only one of those females had bared her teeth at me. The other two hadn’t done more than shimmer and run away once I told them I was there by invitation. But, Jenna made up for the unfriendly encounters by excitedly waving at me from where she leaned against a tree.
“It’s nice to see a fully clothed person,” I said with a slight smile.
“I bet. Word’s already spreading there’s a succubus on pack territory. It won’t take long for Fenris to hear.”
“Where is he?”
She shrugged. “You know how he is. He’ll stay as hidden as possible until it’s time for the run to start. Ready to get out of the cold?”
“Very.”
With Jenna at my side, no one else stopped me. However, based on the stares, more than a few were still silently questioning my presence. I wondered how many would go running to Raiden.
“Mom’s making double chocolate cookies,” Jenna said. “Sweets aren’t her specialty, but I told her they’re your go-to food when you’re hungry.”
“That’s very nice of her. She didn’t need to do that, though.”
Jenna’s grin reminded me so much of Fenris’s mischievous one.
“Of course she did. She’s worried you’re going to get hungry and feed off of me. The cookies are preventative in her way of thinking, and having you over is the only way I’m going to get to eat them. If you look extra hungry when we go in, she might make a cake, too.”
Just like Fenris, I thought with a smile.
The plate of cookies Jenna’s mom handed me wasn’t necessary, though. The minute we walked into Jenna’s room, I sensed Fenris’s lust. I waited in the middle of the room, holding my cookies, while Jenna closed the door.
“Where’s he hiding?” I asked.
Jenna stole a cookie off the plate.
“Fenris? Who knows? There probably isn’t an inch of woods that isn’t crawling with mate-run-crazed females right now.”
“Which is probably why he’s here,” I said, handing her the plate and dropping my bag.
Her eyes rounded, and she looked over her sparsely furnished room.
“Here?” She inhaled deeply and shook her head. “I don’t think so. I would smell him.”
Someone knocked on her door, and she hurried to answer it.
“Raiden assigned you to the first group, Jenna.” Her mom glanced at me. “He’d like both of you at the communal fire by nine.”
“Wow. That’s really late.”
“This morning, Jenna. Not tonight.”
Jenna frowned even as she nodded and shut the door.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“We never start that early.”
“Just like the mate runs never go all night, right?” I asked.
She nodded. “Raiden’s changing the rules to try to manipulate the outcome.”
Jenna’s phone buzzed, and she read the message with a groan.
“Aubrey heard you’re here and is handing out her usual threats. I really hope I find my mate tonight.”
Half-listening, I turned a slow circle in her room. Fenris was here. I was sure of it. His lust resonated from every corner of the room. How could Jenna not smell it? I breathed it in, letting the subtle flavors of it tease my tongue. Vanilla. That was new. Fenris was anything but vanilla.
What did the new flavor mean? Probably that he was up to no good.
Two could play at that game.
“Mates are tricky business,” I said. “They can be wonderful one moment but stingy with their love and affection the next. It’s enough to make a girl want to cry.”
The lust changed, introducing subtle notes of Boston cream pie. Fenris was definitely here and listening. I stopped turning and went to sit on Jenna’s bed.
“Fenris is stingy with his affection?” she asked. “He’s always hugging or kissing you.”
“The nose licks are fine. But real kisses are better. I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve kissed tongue to tongue.” I sighed. “Fenris tastes amazing.”
Jenna’s desk rattled as if something had bumped it. Pretending I hadn’t noticed, even though Jenna was frowning at it, I looked at my hands and focused on my feelings for Fenris. Affection. Need. Longing. Desire.
“I’d give anything for some of those kisses and some reassurance right now.”
Again, I used that trick where I pushed everything I felt toward him to feed what he was feeling for me. The desk moved a good foot, and Jenna’s hairbrush fell to the floor.
“What the hell?” Jenna jumped to her feet.
I didn’t move. Instead, I kept pushing my feelings toward the spot across the room.
With a hungry look in his dilated eyes, Fenris suddenly appeared beside the desk.
Standing, I opened my arms and wiggled my fingers, unable to keep the smile off my face. His eyes narrowed on me fractionally before h
e leapt. The momentum of our collision swept me off my feet and backward. A laugh ripped from my lips a moment before I hit Jenna’s mattress.
“I’m going to go get some more cookies,” Jenna said. “It might take me a while.”
As soon as the door closed behind her, Fenris buried his face in the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply.
“Do I even want to know why you’re hiding in another girl’s bedroom?” I asked.
“I was waiting for you to show up.” He gave my collarbone a nip. “Not enough real kisses, huh?”
I grinned and threaded my fingers through his hair.
“I could always use a few more.”
He groaned and arched his hips into mine, pulling a gasp from me and feeding my hunger. I opened my mouth and fed. A tremor rocked the bed, and he gave up his nibbling to look down at me.
“Beautiful,” he breathed. “Now, do that thing you do while I kiss you.”
His mouth met mine, demanding and rough in a way I’d never before experienced but craved to my core. Tongues battling for dominance, I sent what I felt for him outward. He groaned, and his hips jerked against mine as his hand slid up my side. I fed him more, and the lust in the air grew so thick I couldn’t breathe without pulling it in.
While his fingers teased their way under my shirt to caress my skin, mine gripped his hair, holding him in place until we broke apart, panting for air. He gulped in two quick breaths and made to duck down and claim my lips again. I knew what would happen if he did and kept a firm grip on his hair.
“I think one kiss is enough for now, don’t you?”
“Never,” he growled, losing a few hairs as he jerked forward and claimed my lips with another savage kiss.
I melted into him, giving him more of what I knew he desired by wrapping my legs around his waist and arching up to meet him. He moaned into my mouth, and I basked in that honest response before breaking away again.
“We need to stop, Fenris. We’re in Jenna’s bedroom. And her nose is going to know exactly what we were doing on her bed.”
He set his forehead against mine, and the delicious friction of his body rubbing against mine as it shook with his need teased my hunger.
“Her bed isn’t the only thing drenched in your scent. I’ll need to change if I don’t want to provoke Dad by showing up to the mate run smelling like you,” Fenris said.
