“You lied to me outside.”
“I wasn’t…”
“It doesn’t matter Colette, you lied,” he paused and shook his head. “Pack your under things, we leave at 5 AM.”
Hunter stormed out of the room, the door slamming behind him. I wanted to call out to him to tell him that I wanted more time. I deserved more time. He was supposed to be gone for a week. Time had slipped through my fingers.
I wanted to explain I didn’t go off with Griffin to anger him. I had told him we were just out seeing a movie, but he smelled the lie. I knew by the way his lips turned down and his eyes flickered between the two of us. But I couldn’t tell him the truth. It would only make things worse. I couldn’t imagine his reaction to the fact I was half witch. I closed my eyes and tried to hold back the tears.
No one came to visit me through the night and, honestly, I felt it was for the best. I promised Hunter, after all, that I was willing to try. I knew that I hadn’t been doing anything with Griffin, in fact, I was trying to help Hunter, in a way. I would never want to submit to him as a mate, becoming part of him, only for him to find out I was something he hated.
It wasn’t hard to see he hated witches. His pack was renowned for their hatred for the other paranormal race.
I didn’t sleep well. I repacked all the bags that Hunter had rammed clothes into and packed whatever else I would need. I was terrified of what my future might hold. Before Hunter left, we had been on much better ground. We had an understanding. I realized, though, when he was in my room, forcibly packing my things, that the wolf might have more control than the man. The wolf would not see reason as clearly as the man.
Morning came too quickly. I hadn’t slept. I thought about what Hunter had said to me. I had lied to him, but I would probably always have one secret from him. I was trying to protect him. I couldn’t tell him that though.
I sat on my bed waiting for Hunter to arrive, I thought for sure he would rush in. Instead, someone knocked twice.
“Come in.”
Hunter came in and headed over to my dresser. He grabbed my duffle bag, his shoulders rose with effort, only to slump into a lower, more sullen position.
“I’m sorry for snapping last night.”
His voice was quiet. I bit my lip thinking of something to say. I didn’t think I had to apologize for what happened, but his words echoed in my head. I had told him I wanted to try. I knew wolves were unruly during this stage. Everyone knew. Since we were not officially mated, the time we remained unclaimed it was the most dangerous for us. Until we completed the mating ritual, another wolf could claim me. Which wasn’t common, but this was also the point the wolf would be strongest and the rational human side weakest in both of us.
If my wolf was stronger I would be in the same position as him. But I didn’t know it firsthand. My wolf had always been quiet, and barely there.
“You should go say goodbye to Keith.”
Hunter picked up my duffle bags and headed toward the door, but he stopped. His hand tightened on the doorknob. I waited with bated breath for him to speak again. He shook his head and left.
I looked around my guest room at Isaac’s house. A lot of my personal trinkets were left at home, at Keith’s place. I had known I wouldn’t be able to take some mementos and their associated memories.
I just hoped I hadn’t done anything to jeopardize the conditions I agreed to. Six months seemed like a long time. I had never been away from home for that long since I moved in with the pack. A strange fear overtook me. It was a sort of excitement. I didn’t want to leave my family, I didn’t, but I never thought I would be afforded the chance to live anywhere but here. I never entertained the idea.
I walked down the stairs. Jude and the twins were taking their things outside. I wondered briefly where they were putting everything, because when we had first met they were all on motorcycles.
At the bottom of the stairs, Isaac watched as they took their things outside. He looked like an older version of his son with the same strong jaw and perfectly shaped nose. He looked up at me with a strained smile. I walked over to him and let him encase me in a hug. His scent wrapped its way around me calming me to my very core.
He was Alpha. He was safe.
“You are brave my child. Please call frequently. Keith doesn’t have much left in this world, and he loves you more than you can imagine.”
I nodded against Isaac’s chest.
I pulled away and wiped away the trails of my tears. Isaac lifted his chin slightly and I bowed my neck. It was a sign of respect on both our ends. He smiled at me. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
I smelled Keith before I saw him. I turned. He stood in the doorway. I walked over to him, to the large man who had ever been my gentle caretaker during these years of my life.
“Never thought I would see the day.”
His eyes filled with moisture.
He could see I felt like he did. That goodbye between us was the hardest. I think I filled the hole in his heart his mate had left behind. I knew he filled the hole my father had left in mine.
“It’s not goodbye. You made me a promise that you were never going to let me go.”
Keith’s eyes lit up.
“You remember that? From all those years ago, you remember?”
I nodded with a smile. When Keith had scooped me up when we left the warehouse Griffin and I were held captive, he had whispered to me that he would never let me go.
I was going to hold him to that promise.
“I love you baby girl. Call me as often as you can. You let me know if you need me, alright?”
Keith pulled me close. I felt even more engulfed by his body than Isaac’s. I knew physically Isaac was bigger, but Keith had been my shelter for so long.
“Of course I will. I love you, Dad.”
I didn’t look at him because I couldn’t. I hugged him a little tighter. It wasn’t the first time I had called Keith my father, but the occasions were rare. Keith claimed when I called him that he felt like an imposter. And to be honest, for some strange reason, I felt as if I was betraying a phantom from my past I never knew.
“Colette, we are leaving,” Jude’s voice rang out in the small entranceway.
I pulled away from Keith and he kissed me on the forehead. I could see the longing in his eyes to just scoop me up like a child again and take me far away. That was no longer a possibility. I headed outside. I knew I wouldn’t see Griffin when I left this morning.
And truthfully I didn’t want to see him. Saying goodbye to him would be like saying goodbye to a piece of my very being. I knew that Hunter would never quite understand the connection we had, nor would he easily accept it, but it was there. It was real for both of us.
Outside there was a large Ford truck. I wasn’t a car person. I never claimed to be. Cars to me were classified as truck, van, or car. Sometimes I could point out specific brands, but only when they were obvious.
The truck had a trailer hitched on to the back. It was an equipment trailer, all black on the outside and shiny steel on the inside. Billy was pushing one of their bikes into the back and I looked around. Jameson, the larger of the twins, was sealing the back of the truck. Jude stood at my elbow as if ready to grab me as if I was ready to run off.
I didn’t trust Jude farther than I could throw him. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to give this a shot. But he was making me feel smothered. I shifted. He moved with me. I was sure they could all smell the fear wafting off me.
Hunter came out from the equipment trailer and looked in our direction. I was tempted to follow his line of sight, but I already knew who he was looking at. I knew what he was probably thinking too. I could see the need to fight in Hunter’s eyes. I could see the need. His wolf had to claim what was rightfully his.
Me. I was his, not Griffin’s.
Hunter came over and grabbed my hand, dragging me towards the car. There were still two bikes out of the trailer, and I observed him cautiously
. The only time I had been on a bike was I had been unconscious. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust the man, but we were headed across a couple states just to get near his pack-land. I didn’t even know where they were centrally located, either.
“Would you rather ride on the bike or in the truck?” Hunter asked.
“I’ve never ridden a motorcycle. I mean, I’ve ridden dirt bikes, but I’m sure they’re different. I think I’d feel more comfortable in the truck for now.”
Hunter’s jaw tightened. I wasn’t sure what I had said that bothered him, but if it did, I wasn’t happy about it. Compelled by this feeling, but I moved my hand to smooth the lines that creased his eyes. He looked shocked as my fingertips smoothed the skin there. I swallowed hard and started to pull my hand away.
Why did I do that?
Before my hand got too far away, he caught me gently, at the narrow part of the wrist. He leaned into my touch. Opened his eyes to me. At that point, I realized I wasn’t looking at the man, but the wolf. I could feel it straight down my spine. I was being watched by a predator. His wolf calling to my own. She moved forward slightly, a weak ghost of a wolf in my mind. But she flourished in his presence. My body warmed and my breathing deepened. I had never felt anything like this before. I felt nearly complete.
I blinked and when I looked back at Hunter I could see he had come to himself again. For a split second stayed exactly as we were. I wet my bottom lip unconsciously. Nothing besides him existed.
Crash.
I jumped at the sound and looked around, wondering where it had come from. I looked up to where Hunter’s eyes were now focused. Griffin’s room. I felt sick. I honestly never wanted to flaunt this in front of Griffin. I never wanted to hurt him. He already pissed from when I explained what I had promised Hunter. I took a step back from him. He noted the distance with a nod.
I could see disapproval crinkle his forehead, but it still hurt me to think I had done this to the both of them. I had hurt Griffin when I never meant to, and I hurt Hunter when I had no idea that I could.
I swallowed hard.
Maybe leaving would be the best for all of us. Hunter and I deserved a chance at happiness together. I would never be able to give him that chance if I was here with Griffin. I followed Hunter around the side of the truck and climbed in.
We were going, going, gone.
Chapter 12 — This is Home
Travelling with werewolves was not fun. I had been on smaller road trips with Keith and Griffin before. Hell, even Liam and Nick joined us a couple times. We would go up north to the Dunes or even to Mackinac, a small island in northern Michigan. A lot of times we went camping. Nothing compared to this though. Jude and Hunter stayed in the truck with me most of the time. The brothers rode bikes. One of them always in front, the other in back. While on their motorcycles, I could barely tell them apart. Even their bikes were identical.
I remained silent in the back. Silent. We had stopped only to get gas and for bathroom breaks. I watched as states slipped past. Jude and Hunter talked to each other too quietly for me to hear. I guessed about their mission. I didn’t want to know. An enforcer’s job was never pretty.
Seven hours into the trip and three gas and bathroom stops later, I was done with the silence. According to the boys we had almost another seven hours to go. The Lowe pack ranged in the southern states from Alabama to Arkansas. Anything in between belonged to the Lowe pack.
Hunter informed me in one word when I asked where we were going. “Arkansas.” At that, I was on my phone, checking how long it would take to get to Arkansas from home, in general, and it said about thirteen to fourteen hours. So we would be in the car for another seven hours at least.
I scooted to the middle seat.
“So…” I started not really sure where to go with this.
“We’re gonna be stopping soon. The twins are going to be resting in the truck. Would you like to ride with me?”
He gave nothing away. I scrunched my nose at his request.
“So you’re irritated with me?” he inquired. “If you weren’t, you’d say yes.”
I narrowed my eyes, saying nothing.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
The smallest, smuggest smile I’ve ever seen spread across his face.
I wanted to smack it right off. I moved farther back into my seat. At the next exit, we stopped and refueled. Hunter looked back at me one more time, as if offering. I kept my head forward. I didn’t acknowledge him.
Billy climbed in the passenger side while Jameson got in the driver’s side. They had refueled and grabbed snacks. I didn’t blame them. They had been on the bikes for seven hours. They dug right into the food. For the first half an hour, the only sound was them rustling through their bags, and crunching.
“So boys, tell me a little about yourselves.”
I moved on the edge of my seat again and squeezed between them. Billy gave Jameson a sideways look, which he replied silently with the shrug of his shoulders.
It turned out that Jameson was quite the quick wit. He was quiet, but funny, and he let his brother make a fool of himself by adding his two cents at just the right moment. Billy, on the other hand, was sweet and kind. He told me that when they were younger they were almost identical and they tried to pull fast ones – the oldest twin trick in the book. I laughed when he told me that. It didn’t work with werewolf teachers. They smelled the subtle differences in their scents.
“Our birthday was two years ago. This idiot scared our mother half to death,” Jameson said and nodded his head to Billy. “He acted like he smelled his mate. And for all of two seconds our mother was the happiest she could be. She thought he was going to get mated and start having grandpups.”
“I will never invoke her anger like that again. Not only did she look like she was going to murder me, Jay had to make sure she didn’t come after me. I never ran so fast in my life. I heard it was hell of a party after I left, though.”
Jameson shook his head at this brother.
“Well there was that one time we told Mom what we planned to do,” Jameson said.
“Ahh, yes. Not even Jen – our sister, could save us from our mother’s disappointed glare when we told her that we were going to become Enforcers. Our pranks and antics were getting out of hand. We needed an outlet. It’s why we decided to train to become Enforcers.”
“What did your father think?” I asked. I looked between the brothers waiting to see who was going to speak next.
“Dad –” Jameson started.
“… is a kind soul. Our mother is the one is to fear. He respected our decision,” Billy finished.
“We moved out though. It was the best for our family. The house was getting a little crowded with Billy’s fat head.”
I snorted out a laugh. Billy looked like he had sucked a lemon while Jameson gave his brother what I could only assume was a familiar look. The brothers seemed perfectly in sync with each other, yet separate. I didn’t have siblings, so I didn’t understand if this was normal behavior for twins or not. But they seemed very close to one another.
“So tell me about the Lowe Pack.”
“We live in a small community, a lot like yours. Though we are even more secluded. Damien, our Alpha, is big on embracing our wolves. A lot of times pack members will wander in their wolf form. We don’t even start at human school until we are in high school. Other pack members’ homeschool the younger ones. It was easier to learn at home because of frequent shifts,” Billy said. I knew that during wolves’ younger years, until they hit puberty, their shifting was frequent and unexpected.
“What about Hunter, did he go to high school with humans?” I asked.
I was curious to know more about Hunter. Just because I was unsure of our future relationship didn’t mean I didn’t feel something for him. He was my mate after all. I wanted to know him. I wanted to know about his role before he was an enforcer. And I was damned curious about his yellow eyes.
The brothers clammed u
p after I asked about his schooling. They became restless in their seats. Billy kept shifting his weight. Jameson the usually quieter one in nearly every aspect started to tap his fingers on the steering wheel. It was weird. Soon, their nervous energy was started to get to me. I shifted in my own seat. I finally gathered the courage to move back to the edge of the bench and poked my head between them.
“What’s up guys?”
“We’re almost home,” Jameson said.
He looked over at me the shining eyes of his wolf close to the surface. I looked forward, expecting I guess, maybe, to see a gate opening to their home. It was silly, I knew they meant we were getting closer, not that we were literally there. But their body language got me thinking. How long had it been since they had been home? As far as I knew, they had just started tracking that warlock. I was about to ask when Billy’s phone started to ring.
“Hey,” he smiled as he answered. “Yeah we’re about twenty miles away. Jay and I are in the car. Jude and Hunter are on the bikes.”
A voice filled the other line, and Billy paused. Whoever they were, they were loud talkers. But it was all jumbled when it finally reached my ears. Billy laughed for a moment, then his face went a little somber.
“Hunter has a surprise.”
With that, Billy ended the phone call and turned to me and winked. I felt dread pool into my stomach. Right. I had forgotten the little fact that I still had to face Hunter’s entire pack. Well maybe not the entire pack, but at least the members that lived in a village ‘much like my own,’ whatever that meant. My home hadn’t exactly been a subdivision, but our houses were close together and the pack owned/inherited land that we built on when needed. I wondered if they lived the same way. I couldn’t imagine it being much different, but I hadn’t visited any other packs. Packs were family. They were above all else. The most important.
For the next twenty miles, I sat back and started to nibble on my nails. I watched the scenery for some time. It felt different. I found myself memorizing the surrounding area. We were still on the interstate when we pulled off of an exit with no signs for food, gas, or any lodging. I felt a buzzing in my soul – an awareness of others. Whether I was blood related to a pack or not, I could sense the others.
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