Wolf Shifter Diaries: Loss Hunted (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 3)

by E Hall

  He tucks a loose piece of my hair behind my ear. “So if seeing you gives me the first time jolt, I wonder what doing this will be like—”

  His lips fall on mine.

  Butterflies dance in my belly, and my heart knocks against my ribs. I’m so glad I brushed my teeth. The light scruff along his jaw tickles my cheek. I wrap my fingers around his neck. He presses me against the wall, caging me with his arms.

  “Yup. I’m as hungry as ever,” he says, pinching my chin and drawing my lips back to his.

  Before we connect again, someone clears their throat. “In that case, dinner is waiting in the dining room.”

  We both grumble as Trigg walks away from us and down the hall.

  In the wolf-way, but exclusive to me, his mate, Corbin says, He’s mad at me because his girlfriend is being an idiot.

  And I still have his phone. But I keep that tidbit to myself. Instead, I say, I also may have put dirt in her coffee and mayo in her doughnut.

  Corbin chuckles. Sounds like Inga and Camilla have you in on their pranks.

  I tilt my head from side to side. Are you going to take Avril off probation?

  That depends on whether she behaves herself.

  I don’t tell him my skin was orange only minutes ago. I don’t want to ruin Avril’s life, merely figure out how to even the playing field.

  I peck Corbin on the lips before grabbing his hand and leading him down the hall. I follow my nose to the kitchen and dining room to find an array of grilled meats and vegetables, potatoes, and a buffet of sweets, including iced cookies in the shape of wolves howling, cupcakes with silver and black sprinkles—Pack Hjalmor colors—, and a tower of frosted doughnuts.

  I take a small piece of steak, an asparagus spear so no one yells at me for not eating my vegetables, a scoop of potatoes, and two each of the desserts.

  Corbin laughs then angles his elbow toward me. Arm in arm, we take our plates to the back patio. On our way there, several pack members congratulate us but most keep their distance, knowing that this evening is for us in the starring role and them as support.

  We have one of those cinematic moments like in movies when the new couple debuts in the school cafeteria. Time seems to slow down. All eyes are on us.

  For once I feel confident, proud. Corbin is my mate. This is my pack. Do I truly belong? Time will tell, but for now, it feels like I do.

  We recap the evening from beginning until he found me in the hallway. Corbin asks me about the pranks. I tell him everything, including my recent status as an Oompa Loompa.

  “You got rid of it with magic, not glamour?” He peers at me as if trying to detect orange underneath a magical appearance.

  “To be honest, I hardly knew what I was doing, but I don’t think it was glamour. I’m pretty sure I got rid of it when I turned neon briefly.”

  I take a bite of doughnut and gather my thoughts. Corbin is my mate. I can and should tell him everything.

  I go on, “Shortly before graduation and learning my true identity, I’d been feeling restless. I chalked it up to the end of high school and not knowing what waited on the horizon. Now, I wonder if the vampire, fae, and wolf inside of me maintained some kind of balance—like homeostasis. That was the first time since my vamp was slain that I called upon my fae magic. It felt stronger than ever.”

  Corbin listens intently then shrugs. “Or perhaps because we sealed as fated mates, the fae power increased along with the wolf, which would be concerning.”

  Yeah, especially because I can’t help but feel like the fae song inside of me is getting louder by the day, calling me, luring me, summoning me.

  Chapter 4

  Corbin

  Kenna and I sit diagonal to each other. My left knee presses against her right. At the change in the topic of our conversation, she adjusts in the seat as though uncomfortable. Connected to her as I now am, I sense a rough spot that she’d like to get away from. I want to smooth it over.

  “Anything else on your mind?” I ask. “Tonight was epic.”

  She lets out a breath. It’s as though it drags her closer to me. Yet she picks at her salad.

  “I propose a toast. To us,” I say cheerfully.

  “To this moment, may we remember it forever,” she adds.

  We clink glasses.

  My knee lights up where hers presses against mine again. I wasn’t kidding when I said seeing her, kissing her, and being with her is like the first time on repeat, except at the same time there’s a deep, unwavering current of past, present, and future. I feel almost as connected to her as I do my wolf, and that’s saying something.

  Yet, there’s the undeniable presence of her fae aspect pulsing through her. It’s enough to curl a wolf’s fur.

  In response to my question about anything being on her mind, she belatedly shakes her head. “I’m fine.”

  “You sure?”

  She shrugs. “Actually, we heard the story about the wolf and boy. How did the flesh

  eating monster part start? Their connection and that first shift was out of love and to save a life, not take it.”

  “No one knows.” That’s my automatic response—everyone’s answer even though it’s rarely asked. But it’s more like I can’t remember. I have a strange sense of déjà vu at the same time as I plumb my thoughts for the answer. I’m sifting through sand, but can’t remember what I was looking for to begin with.

  This time I shift uncomfortably because it reminds me of when Greyson commented on how he couldn’t remember a stretch of his life—Jana, Clove, and the torment he caused countless magicals.

  Kenna reaches for my hand, twining her fingers through mine. My heart skips a beat. I lean over and brush my lips across her temple before we both lean back in our chairs and gaze up at the stars.

  “I trust that the answer will come,” she whispers.

  “I’m just relieved there aren’t any more werewolves,” I say.

  “But there was the death in the forest.”

  Peace and relief vanishes, replaced by worry and vexation.

  Olive and Octavius appear with their plates piled high.

  “We don’t want to bother you.” The elder wolf wears a serene expression.

  “Please join us. Thank you for tonight. It was beautiful.” Kenna slides her gaze to me. As during the ritual, I feel the warmth of her glow.

  I nod in agreement.

  “It’s so good for the pack that you have found each other.” Octavius smiles.

  “I agree, even better if they’re a heartmatch,” Olive says.

  My pulse trips at the comment.

  Kenna exhales sharply as though she can no longer hold something in. “I heard the story of the wolves, but where did the fae come from?”

  The stars sparkle overhead. They twinkle in Kenna, Olive, and Octavius’s eyes like they open portals to forgotten memories and illuminate hidden truths.

  “Because it is the night of your sealing ritual, you each get a favor from the Dog Star in the form of a truth. It must be universal and not specific to you or your future. But please think of it as a wedding gift.”

  “A favor?” Kenna asks.

  Octavius nods. “Illumination to a question you would like to have answered. We will channel it from the celestial bodies.”

  “Is learning more about the fae the one you want?” Olive asks Kenna.

  She nods slowly.

  “The wolves have the stars to tell their tales. The fae have mirrors. Or more accurately, they each have a looking glass,” Olive says.

  I recall the items in the Victorian manor in Cardington, including the broken mirror.

  “Originally, all they had was a pond, but the fae king fell deeply in love with a maiden and had the dwarves craft a mirror for her. It started a tradition. Different mirrors have different purposes.”

  “There are dwarves?” Kenna asks.

  The elder wolves nod and smile.

  “My best friend was a dwarf—Cedric Dunkle. Haven’t seen him in an age,�
� Octavius says.

  “Double that duration,” Olive corrects.

  “Why haven’t you seen him?” Kenna asks.

  Octavius nods sadly. “They exist outside the Accords, refusing to adhere by placing a barrier to keep away the spell. It’s a shame, but I suppose it’s safer this way.”

  “Is it?” Kenna asks. She wiggles her fingers. “I promise, I won’t use my fae magic to torment you. Are dwarves bad?”

  Olive chuckles. “Not unless you take their sweets.”

  “I can understand that.” Kenna’s brow furrows like she wants everything spelled out, explained. “I fall outside the Accords, but I’m not out to destroy magic-kind. It makes little sense.”

  “That’s another good question to ask.” A smile blooms across Octavius’s face, erasing his wrinkles.

  “This is not from the Dog Star, but I know that you, Kenna Greyson, are a descendent of Alden and Isa, and Isa is a descendant of Lila.” Olive’s words sink in.

  “You mean the original fae who was taken by a human?”

  Octavius shrugs. “My memories are fuzzy, but that’s the story told.”

  “But is it the truth?” Kenna whispers. “Aren’t all fae related in a way?”

  “Some more than others. Some have a wild streak.” Olive smirks like she appreciates this fact.

  That exchange seems to spark something in Octavius’s eyes. He closes them as though looking into the past. “Some used to say that Lila fell in love. When you close your eyes, do you hear the truth inside as close to you as your breath?”

  “I hear something,” Kenna says.

  “The truth? Fae born outside the king’s control know the truth,” Olive says.

  “And that is?” Kenna asks.

  Olive presses her lips together in a conciliatory way. “You are the one to ask these questions and find the answers.”

  “In the recesses of my memories, outside physical form, deep down in my wolf nature, I know there’s something else. A missing scene.” Octavius looks sad, helpless for a moment. “I want to believe that we’re not monsters. That Lila made a sacrifice for love. She gave up her life as fae for love.” He leans close.

  My eyes widen along with Kenna’s.

  “So the other story? The one about her being stolen, taken against her will by some lousy hunter was a lie?” Kenna asks, affronted.

  “There might be an honest detail or two, but only you can glean the truth. As for me, I don’t think a human man would stand a chance at taking a fae against her will.” Olive’s grin is dangerous. “I’m sure they’ve tried, been made fools of, or ended up dead.”

  “What about Isa and Alden?”

  Olive’s expression softens. “Your great-grandparents are vague in my mind, but I’m old enough to recall them. Their love was true, pure. They were part of each other.”

  “They had a son, and that was wrong? Against the law? Who’s law? Why?” Kenna’s eyebrows bunch together.

  “So many questions,” Octavius says, gazing at the stars. “I wish you could receive a second favor, but it’s not to be.”

  I glance at my beloved. “We can find the answers,” I assure her.

  Olive and Octavius gaze into the distance as though seeking lost memories.

  Kenna’s mouth drops open. “They broke the king’s law,” she says, piecing something together that’s just outside the grasp of my mind. “And we’ve all been paying for it. But that doesn’t explain why I’m Magical’s Most Wanted when I’m not a danger.”

  “That might be where you’re wrong if you were to embrace the fullness of your power.”

  “The vamp in me is gone. I’m a dual-magical now.”

  “But still powerful.” Octavius holds her gaze.

  I raise an eyebrow because I feel hints of that power in the magnetism between Kenna and myself—I have since we first met, but it’s stronger now.

  “Do the fae have an origin story like wolf shifters? What can you tell me about their mirrors?” Kenna asks, getting back to her original question.

  “There is a veil between worlds,” Olive says, gazing toward the moon. “Between what is seen and unseen. The fae used to occupy that space—light and shadow. As for the mirror, all I know is that they can reflect the past, present, and future.”

  I recall what Greyson said about the veil after Kenna found him.

  “But if you look into the mirror of the fae seeking answers, it cannot tell you, only guide you. Your choices have to be your own.” Olive speaks slowly like she’s unspooling knowledge from a long time ago.

  Octavius goes on, “Generations ago, fae were benevolent. They protected hunters, guiding them through the forests and glens. Laws bound them to keep themselves secret, but if they encountered a person in the woods, they could offer them a boon, if asked, in exchange for the hunter’s silence. Much like the Dog Star offers a favor to newly sealed wolves. They could refuse the huntsmen if the request was unreasonable, but usually, they wished for safety while in the woods and abundant quarry when hunting.”

  “Practical wishes,” I interject to help move her along to the point.

  “Lila and her huntsmen bonded, connected, sealed their love, altering both worlds—human and magical. She said yes to a life with him, forgoing her fae existence.”

  “She couldn’t have it both ways?”

  Olive shakes her head. “No, because loving another meant her loyalty no longer lied with the fae king.”

  “And this made him jealous.” At once, I understand Melchior’s motivation. “What can we do to stop him?” I ask.

  “Is this the favor of truth you ask from the Dog Star, Corbin?” Octavius asks.

  I nod then there’s a long pause from the elder wolves.

  Finally, Octavius says, “You must be courageous. Both of you.”

  “That’s it?” I slouch into the chair.

  Octavius and Olive both nod. That’s the message we received from the Dog Star.

  That was not the reply I expected. I was thinking I’d learn how to defeat a fae king with iron or salt—a specific strategy to end his reign.

  “Listen, Corbin, just listen,” Octavius says, closing his eyes.

  I close my lids. My body is heavy instead of buoyant like it was after the sealing ceremony and the run. I sigh. Inside, I hear a cacophony of questions. My Alpha prefers black and white, certainty as opposed to shades of gray.

  Except for Kenna’s eyes. I love those. When I think of them, my internal monologue softens. Slivers of my distractions disappear. My mind quiets and my body settles, just as it does when I shift.

  “That’s better,” Octavius says. “Now, do you hear it?”

  I’m not sure what I hear other than a haunting song that lifts the hair on my arms. It reminds me of Jana in the forest, luring me with her call. Then bitter laughter replaces the song.

  My eyes fly open. Melchior’s revenge against hunters is merely a plot to control them. I may not know the exact answer of how to stop Melchior, only that it needs to be done. Yes, I’ll be the brave one to do it.

  My pulse thickens and my hands form fists.

  The others’ eyes remain lidded as though they’re still seeing or listening. All I know is that as soon as the sky pales, I’m going hunting for a fae king.

  Chapter 5

  Kenna

  The night spent sealing my fated mate bond with Corbin and then talking with Olive and Octavius is as amazing as it is weird. But what’s perfect is that right now I snuggle up with Corbin on the oversized cushy chair in his cottage. It’s positioned so we can see the night sky.

  His arm wraps around me, and I curl close. As we nestle in, a little sigh escapes. His wolf makes a sound of agreement from deep in his chest.

  The truths the elder wolves shared with us are on the tip of my tongue, ready for discussion, but my eyes flutter closed.

  Corbin’s shoulders relax. “I love you,” he whispers.

  “I’ll always be yours,” I reply. “Tonight was perfect,” I add
and sink into sleep.

  My dream of my wolf in the meadow fills my mind. The wildflowers bloom boldly, the sky is bright blue, and the wolf with copper eyes nuzzles me. It tickles, and I roll on the ground, also in wolf form. We play and wrestle, frolicking on the soft grass. Our wolfy smiles match as the dream continues, only stopping when we go to sleep in the meadow under the dropping stars.

  I rub sleep from my eyes when a loud bird calls outside. It’s well past dawn. Corbin’s cottage and the night before comes into focus. The faint scent of blueberry muffins warms the air. Embers burn in the woodstove. There’s nothing out of the ordinary except that Corbin isn’t here.

  It was our first night together as sealed wolves, and I wanted it to be our first morning together too. Maybe he went on a run or had to tend to a pack issue.

  Getting to my feet, I wander through the cottage, looking at things differently than I did before. Corbin was an individual, separate from me. Now, we’re bonded in a way that makes us one. It’s different than human relationships and not at all co-dependent—my mother has had a lot to say about how unhealthy that is. Rather, it’s like we’re an extension of each other.

  But where is he? I feel out the internal compass that guides me to him. It spins and spins, not landing anywhere in particular.

  The drapes in his room hang wide, the is bed made, and the items on the bureau are likely in the exact place he left them. A photo of a burly man and a little boy against a backdrop of craggy hills sits on the nightstand. A family photo perhaps?

  I slide open a drawer. It’s silly, but I want to smell his T-shirts. I feel like a snoop, but our bond is so strong, I honestly wouldn’t care if he went through my drawers. The top contains socks. The next one holds shorts, and in the third, I hit the jackpot. It contains a collection of T-shirts from plain cotton tops worn to soft perfection and others printed with sports teams and events. I pull one out and give it a good sniff then trade my shirt for it.

  I hug my arms around my chest. Yet, the longer I remain here, the lonelier I feel. All I want is a family. The pack could be that. Corbin could be home. I thought I had both, but sometimes I feel so alone I’m not so sure. The near-constant song in my mind is a lament, casting sadness, doubt.