by Kenya Wright
“I felt that the whole time. There was this creepy village.”
Shocked, he raised his eyebrows. “Really? A village?”
“Yes.” I held my hands to the side. “There were clocks and dolls and all types of stuff hanging from the trees. And everything was abandoned and spooky. Then we drove through a tree. You didn’t see that part?”
“I didn’t.”
“So, you missed the tunnel made of branches?”
He laughed.
“Really? I’m the crazy one?”
“Sherwin has a huge imagination. I told him to give some illusion to make fatals turn around, not have them enter a horror movie full of magic.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t see any of it.”
“Sherwin is that good. The goal is to make sure the pack gets to the cabins while everyone else turns away.”
“So. . .did you buy these cabins?”
“We’re renting.” He glanced back at them. “But I’m thinking about buying them.”
“What happens when the landlord comes by to check his property out?”
“He won’t. Sherwin gave him some tea.”
“Which means?”
“The landlord expects the money to hit his bank every month on time, but if he thinks about checking on the cabins, another idea comes up.”
“Wow.” I wasn’t sure what to think of that. I just knew for a fact that I wouldn’t be trying any of Sherwin’s tea. “So. . .if Sherwin can make an illusion like that and create a tea potion, then is he a witch?”
“No. He’s a werewolf. He was supposed to be a witch. His mother was. She cheated on his father with a werewolf. When she became pregnant, she figured he would be a witch. Instead, he came out as a werewolf. Her husband forgave her for the adultery. Apparently, his father was no angel, either. They raised him to be a witch and hid his werewolf identity from the rest of the tribe as much as they could. Eventually, they couldn’t hide it anymore.”
“Why not?”
He gave me a weak smile. “When we enter puberty, we take on a special smell. Plus, the whole change into a wolf part.”
“Oh.” This was a lot to figure out. The more questions he answered, the more questions came to mind. “Okay. So then. . .werewolves and witches can have kids together?”
“There’s only been around twenty cases in history. Sherwin is one of them. Usually, witches and shapeshifters try to kill each other. When pregnancy comes from mixed breeding, no one knows what the baby will become.”
“Witch or werewolf.”
“Exactly.”
The redhead rode up on his motorcycle and parked.
I turned back to Aiden. “Then, how are vampires made?”
He shook his head. “Let’s get you into my cabin and comfortable. There will be time to talk about all of this later.”
“Your cabin?”
“Yes.” His eyes glowed to golden. “I wouldn’t be comfortable with you staying in anyone else’s cabin.”
His nose didn’t wiggle, but there was a deeper meaning behind each word.
“You believe me because you’re mine.”
Chapter 11
Imani
The redhead climbed off his motorcycle and walked over to the front of the first cabin. Aiden went over to him, grabbed my bag from his bike, and returned to me.
Three guys appeared near the front of the cabins. I recognized them from the diner. One of them was Blaze. I still didn’t know the other’s names. One had long black hair falling past his shoulders. The other wore glasses. His brown hair was in a neat haircut.
All three bulky men stared at me, raising their heads to the air and sniffing.
Can they smell me?
My heart boomed.
Obviously, hearing the organ, Aiden leaned my way. “Don’t worry. You’re safe here.”
The three men remained smelling the air. No words left their lips. For the first time this evening, I realized that I might have made a huge mistake.
Carrying my bag, Aiden captured my hand and led me forward.
I held onto him. He was my anchor—my guide in this unknown world.
Thankfully, Aiden walked us past them. After several feet, I glanced over my shoulder. The men had remained farther up by the entrance. They had turned and continued to watch me.
“They’re not used to me bringing a woman here,” Aiden said. “Give them a minute to act normal.”
“How many times have you brought a woman around them at all?”
Leading us forward, he seared me with his gaze. “Never.”
“What? None?”
“You’re the only woman that I’ve felt this way for. Before that, it was short tumbles in the hay, nothing more. Not the shock. Not the dreams. Not the addiction in touching.”
“Addiction?”
“When I woke up this morning, I just wanted to spend the day figuring out ways to touch you. I don’t think it will ever go away.”
I admitted, “I’ve been thinking of you too. I. . .even had a dream about you.”
Aiden snapped his head my way. “A dream. What was it about?”
“Umm. . .”
His voice went soft. “Tell me.”
“We were on a crystal staircase, and you had on a tuxedo—”
“What?” He stopped us and turned my way. “We were on a staircase?”
“Yes. You told me how much you wanted to—”
“Taste you.” He licked his lips. “And then I did.”
Stunned, I parted my lips.
He ran his fingers through his hair. “You had the same dream.”
“Wait. You dreamed the same thing?”
“You wore a red gown. It was beautiful, but. . .” He smirked. “I ripped that pretty gown off you. I needed to see more.”
My breathing increased to soft pants. “You did more than that.”
His eyes turned golden. “I did.”
We stared at each other in silence. A breeze blew by, picking up my hair a little and then laying the strands back on my shoulder.
Aiden rubbed the palm of my hand with his thumb. “When I tasted you. . .when I licked between your thighs. . .”
My skin went flush with heat.
“You felt so real and tasted perfect. Like your body was made for me. Everything I ever dreamed about.”
“It. . .was real?”
He caressed my palm again. “It was.”
I looked away.
With his other hand, he captured my chin and brought my view back to him. “Did you like my tongue?”
I blushed.
A wicked smile spread across his face.
Footsteps sounded near us.
Aiden frowned and turned in that direction. “What?”
Blaze walked over to us. “Where is she going to sleep?”
Aiden let go of my hand and stepped in the space between Blaze and me, blocking my view. “She’ll be sleeping in my cabin.”
I stepped to the side to see what was going on.
“Are you sure about that?” Blaze asked.
Aiden’s sweet voice from earlier changed to a threatening tone. “I’m positive.”
Blaze’s fangs peeked out from his top lip.
Freaked out, I stepped back.
“Shouldn’t we discuss this first?” Blaze asked.
“I don’t remember saying that our pack was a democracy.” Aiden moved again, putting me right behind him. His tone remained deadly. “In fact, I’ve always prided myself on being a dictator.”
Blaze growled. “She’s fatal.”
“I’m glad you’ve been paying attention.”
“You said no breeding or mating with fatals. That was your law,” Blaze said. “Are you changing that now?”
Ummm. Breeding? Hold up. What are we talking about?
“Let’s figure out what’s going on with the witches.” Without waiting for Blaze’s response, Aiden turned around, gently grabbed my hand, and guided us away.
“Sorry about t
hat,” Aiden said. “Apparently, you have an effect on my Beta.”
“Your Beta?”
Aiden took us toward the end of the path. “We have a whole hierarchy. Blaze is my second-in-command.”
“Okay. What about the redheaded one?”
“That’s Damian. He’s my Delta.”
“Third-in-command?”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
“But you’re the. . .”
“Alpha.”
“Okay. The head person?”
He smirked. “Exactly.”
“And Sherwin—the one that grew up with witches—what is he?”
“Pack Shaman. He creates illusions, protects us from things that we can’t, and serves as a doctor.”
“Okay.” I made note of this. “Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Shaman. What about. . .the guy that is wearing the glasses in front of the cabin? Is he the. . .accountant?”
Aiden laughed. “That’s Oliver. He’s the Omega. He does all the shit jobs.”
I thought about the guy watching over my sister. “And Zerab?”
“Pack Enforcer.”
“Hmmm. Then it’s good that he’s with her.”
“Very much.” Aiden walked us over to the last cabin and pulled out a key.
I glanced behind me.
Blaze still stood in the center of the path, far behind. He watched us with silver glowing eyes. I snapped my attention back to Aiden and lowered my voice. “Your Beta looks like he’s mad.”
“Because he is.”
I whispered, “But—”
“He can hear you. There’s no reason to lower your voice.”
I turned back to Blaze.
He winked at me.
O-kay.
Aiden opened the door. “Welcome to my home. I apologize for the mess. If I knew you would be here this evening, believe me, I would have done some major cleaning.”
I didn’t walk inside. Instead, I glanced at Blaze. He watched us with no indication that he would be leaving the path anytime soon.
Aiden looked at me. “What’s wrong?”
“You said I was having an effect on your Beta?”
“It’s something about your scent that has him and I going crazy.” Aiden gestured for me to come inside.
I entered the cabin. “My scent?”
“In human terms Blaze thinks he has a crush on you, but he doesn’t know for sure.”
“A crush?”
“I’ll explain more about my pack later.” Aiden switched on the light.
I quirked my brows and walked into the cabin.
On the outside, the place suggested a small rustic interior. That was a huge lie. The massive space was full of luxury and high-end furnishings. There was a modern design to the décor. I bet many had used it as a glamorous getaway cabin.
It had soaring vaulted ceilings and an open floor concept. No wall divided the large living room and fully equipped kitchen. And there was even space for a long dining table. I counted eight chairs. Plush leather furniture decorated the living room. There was a large bookshelf next to a big fireplace. I walked over to the shelf, stacked with books and several board games that I remembered from my childhood.
The whole time I caught Aiden watching me as he continued to hold my bag. Curiosity filled his gaze. “Are you hungry? I can have Oliver make you some steaks.”
“No. I’m fine.”
“You haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“My appetite left after I got caught up in that witch smoke.” I picked up one board game. “Do you play these?”
“I don’t know how to. Those are fatal games.”
I put it down and looked at him. “Do werewolves have games?”
“Not only werewolves, but all shapeshifters share a few of them. They’re outdoor games—ones that require a lot of chasing and running.”
“In. . .animal form?”
“Yes.”
I cleared my throat. “You said all shapeshifters.”
“Werewolves and weretigers. There are no more werebears.”
“Why not?”
“The Wars ended them.”
“Wars between shapeshifters?”
“No.” He shook his head. “The wars between shapeshifters and witches. The werebears sided with the witches.”
“Why?”
“They were dying fast and tired of the Wars. They wanted it to end.”
“Why didn’t vampires fight in this?”
“Because if there is one thing witches and shapeshifters agree on, it is that vampires should not exist. The vampires would rather we kill each other off anyway.”
I stood there in stunned silence.
“Your heart is pumping faster, Imani. Can I get you some water?”
I let out a long breath. “No. I’m just going to be like that until I get used to this new reality.”
“Should I not answer your questions?”
“I don’t know.” I turned away from him. “The more you answer, the more questions I have.”
“Then I won’t answer any.”
“No. Knowledge can ease my anxiety.” I walked to the flat tv across from the fireplace. “Sometimes it’s the not knowing that terrifies me the most. It’s like walking into a dark room and being scared because you don’t know what is hiding inside of it.”
“When you turn on the light, you’re less scared?”
I gave him a weak smile. “Unless a monster is actually inside.”
“In this case, a monster is inside.”
I glanced over my shoulder at him. “I wouldn’t say you were a monster.”
“But I am.” He winked at me. “Get used to it.”
“Would I need to?”
Avoiding my question, he gestured to the minibar near the tv. “Would you like a strong drink?”
I walked over to it. There, the bar stood with seating for three.
With everything going on. . .I should stay sober.
“No.” I left the bar. “I’m fine.”
He pointed to the hallway. “The bedrooms are in the back. Let me show you where you will be sleeping. Each cabin has at least two bedrooms, but mine has three.”
He strolled by me.
I followed him down the long hallway.
We passed two closed doors.
He stopped at the room at the end of the hallway on the left, opened the door, and gestured for me to step inside. I obliged. Once again, I was blown away. This had to be the master bedroom. There was also a walk-in closet. A king bed lay in the center. The gray and black comforter rested neatly, but I could tell someone had slept in the bed. There were double glass doors that lead to a private deck. I walked further to the attached private bathroom that had a stone tile shower, soaking tub, and double vanities. Black towels hung on the rack.
But the most interesting part of the whole room was a small table in the corner by the largest window. The curtains were open. Moonlight bathed the small table. A statue sat on top of the table. It was a robed woman around two feet tall and made of porcelain. Crystals served as her eyes. She held her hands up in the air.
Aiden gestured to her. “That’s the Moon Goddess.”
“I’ve never seen a statue like that before.”
“We hide them from fatals.”
“Then, why are you showing me?”
“You’ve already seen too much. There’s no need to hide anything now.”
I looked back at him. “Where do you sleep?”
“Usually, I sleep here, but you should—”
“No.” I held up my hand. “I’m not taking your bed away.”
“You will.”
“Aiden, you already saved my life. I can’t.” I left the room and went into the hallway. “If you don’t mind, I can take another bedroom?”
“There are two guest rooms, but I want you in the master.”
“No. I prefer to be in the guestroom. I would feel like I’m putting you out.”
He frowned. “This is new.”
“What?”
“Someone not doing exactly as I say.” He formed his lips into a smile. “That’s fine. I can get used to it.”
I blinked.
He turned to the right. “This is the guest room I was going to sleep in. It’s right across from the master. I want to be close enough to you just in case there is danger.”
“And. . .you think danger could come to your cabins, even with the illusions?”
“If the witch is powerful enough, she can push through it. And the witches I battled today were strong.”
Breathe in. 1-2-3. Breathe out. 1-2-3.
I walked over to the other bedroom, opened the door, and entered. The second bedroom had a full bed with a smaller flat screen tv on the wall.
“This bedroom has shared access to the bathroom over here.” He pointed to the door near the closet.
I went over and checked it out.
The bathroom was neat and small. There was a tub, sink, and toilet. Another door stood across from it, which probably gave the other guest bedroom access.
Aiden came into the room, taking up most of the space. He set my bag on the bed. “Do you like it?”
“Yes. This is perfect for me.”
“I’ll have my door open just in case someone bothers you. But don’t worry. You’ll be fine.” He leaned against the wall and crossed his muscular arms over his chest. “Do you have any other questions?”
“How long will Zerab watch over my sister?”
“He’ll be there until the threat is gone. I told him to hide and remain in the woods on guard. Zerab will smell the witches approach well before they arrive. Out of all of us, he has the best nose for them.”
“Thank you again.”
“Your family is my family.” He uncrossed his arms and walked over to me, closing the distance between us. “Besides, I may have brought these witches to you. Because of that, I’m going to make sure that they’ll never be a threat.”
My mind said I should back away, but my heart relished in his closeness.
“And then after all of this–” His voice went low “—we have a lot to talk about.”
“Like what?”
“That dream was more than a dream.”
I swallowed. “I forgot about that.”
“I didn’t.”
