“Sure,” she murmured. “Ready when you are.”
Aaron opened the curtain and waved down another server. This one was a very tall, broad-shouldered young man who couldn’t have been very far into college. Where Genevieve’s clothes had been pink and white, his was a simpler black-on-white pinstripe affair. He greeted them jovially. When Aaron requested the tab, he was prompt in bringing it to their table.
Aaron was just as prompt with payment. But before Rachael could stand he slid out of his booth and strode toward the bar. She scooted out of her seat and stood awkwardly alone, trying not to think too hard about her ridiculous prom dress. Just a few feet away she watched as Aaron had a brief conversation with the bartender. Trevor, guessed Rachael. The two traded knowing smiles before Aaron shook his hand.
Aaron was smooth, but Trevor lacked finesse. When he drew his hand back Rachael caught a glimpse of cash.
Making his way back to her with long strides, Aaron held out his arm. He smiled almost mockingly. “Shall we?”
Rachael hesitantly put her hand on his arm and allowed him to lead her around the spilled drink and out the front. Before the doors closed behind them she took a peek over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of molten auburn eyes.
Chapter Three
The tulle was driving her crazy. Rachael did her best to be subtle when she scratched her leg, but she felt extremely self-conscious with Aaron in the car beside her. He said nothing, his eyes fixed on the road, but she knew better. He had a knack for noticing things that most would assume hidden to the naked eye.
In the restaurant, the dress had been a little irritable around the skirt. Since Genevieve’s snide comment Rachael had a harder time ignoring it. She hated to admit the woman had gotten beneath her skin; at the same time all she wanted was to get home, tear the dress off and throw it in the back of her closet. And immediately after that thought she felt a pounding wash of guilt. Her mother had picked the dress especially for her.
“You are unsettled,” said Aaron suddenly.
Rachael shrugged and glanced at the passing scenery. They had just reached the city limits of Keeton, her hometown. It was like driving into an oasis from the desert. One moment there was a long stretch of lonely highway, the next a burst of lush spring trees and drizzling rain. Douglas Park wasn’t too far from where they were, and her house was another half hour or so from there.
She’d grown up here all her life and loved the area. But lately it felt foreign and empty.
When she glanced back at Aaron he wore a small frown. “Are you still uncomfortable with what happened at the restaurant?” The gentle thwack-thwack of the windshield wipers punctuated his inquiry.
It took her a moment to realize he was talking about what he’d done to the waitress’s dress. Rachael smiled faintly. “No. It wasn’t nice, but it was kind of funny,” she admitted.
“It was well-deserved karma,” said Aaron.
“That too, I suppose.”
Aaron fell silent as they rolled to a stop in front of a red light. Then he looked at her and searched her face. “Genevieve bothered you.”
Exasperated, Rachael rolled her eyes and muttered, “Reading minds is a lot less attractive than you think.”
With a snort, Aaron said, “Believe me; I do not always enjoy it. Only mostly.” In the waning evening light, he looked positively lax. Rachael wondered how much of a lycan’s nocturnal nature carried over when they appeared human.
“Besides,” he continued as the light turned green. The car rolled forward in a smooth motion, like a dolphin in water. “You should not allow her such vile pleasure. Confidence is most becoming on a woman and jealousy the least.”
Rachael ran her hands over the skirt of her dress. For the first time since slipping into it, she took a moment to enjoy the silken sensation.
“My mom wanted to see me go to a dance in this,” she confessed.
The ensuing pause was awkward, at least to her. But then Aaron said mutely, “I am certain she still finds it lovely on you, Ms. Adair.”
She didn’t like that he kept referring to her family name. It seemed he did it most when he wanted to press distance between them. But Rachael allowed it to slide.
And anyway, she thought. It shouldn’t matter.
Well, she argued to herself, if she became a lycan it absolutely would. She had observed the pack long enough to pick up on some aspects of the mentality it took to function in one. Jackson was considered a pup, even with Ana Sofia right behind him, but the two were already deeply enmeshed into the lifestyle. Rachael’s visits to the Moreno household had become more frequent in recent months. Yet somehow she felt the gap between her and Jackson becoming a chasm. She feared in short time it would turn into a black hole.
Aaron didn’t appear to enjoy her silence. “What is it?”
After a deep inhale Rachael said, “I still wanted to talk about—about me not being human. If that would be preferable. So I can help.”
When she dared to steal a look, Aaron’s expression was cool. “Technically, yes, you would be more useful as a lycan.”
“So—”
“The answer is no.”
She’d partially expected it, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. “Why not? You were going to change me just two years ago.”
His face and tone remained cool. “Two years ago was different.”
“By how much? Mama’s gone. So’s Vera. Daddy barely speaks to me anymore; he prefers TV and drinks. Once you go, so does Jackie, and I may never see him again. And Holden—” Her voice caught. The name of her former love tangled in a ball and forced itself down her throat. Slight tremors began to wrack her body.
Aaron’s jaw set. “Jackson is barely stable. Ana Sofia is a handful and will likely require several years to undo the harm Nathan has caused,” he said brusquely. “I do understand your desire, but it is not feasible for the pack.”
His words were like a blow to her chest. Rachael hadn’t expected him to turn her down over those reasons. They hadn’t even occurred to her.
To her horror, tears began to well in her eyes. She quickly turned her head.
Aaron either didn’t notice or pretended not to. “And even if those were not issues, Holden’s threat is. If he is intent upon killing you in the event you are infected, then it brings more danger upon yourself—and the pack—to do so.” He took a left turn and Rachael’s neighborhood came into view.
Feeling desperate, Rachael said, “But Jackie—”
“You will see him again,” said Aaron firmly. He refused to look her way. “But it may be several years.”
“Aaron—”
“The answer is no.”
In short order they pulled into the driveway. Rachael couldn’t unbuckle her seat fast enough; she wanted out of that car and away from him.
But before she shut the door, Rachael stuck her head in and spoke to his profile. “For someone who’s so sorry this is all his fault, you’re completely unhelpful. Thanks for ruining my life.”
Then, without regard for his Maserati, she slammed the door and stormed off to her house. Heat lit her face along with a rush of terrible giddiness from saying such a brusque thing. It was very unlike her.
Rachael didn’t look back until she had reached the porch, and when she did Aaron was pulling out of the driveway. He sped off without as much as a glance her way.
In the past he’d ensured she made it into the foyer first. Frustrated, Rachael let herself in and bolted past her father. He also didn’t say a word, merely grunted to acknowledge her existence.
She wanted to cry. All Rachael could do was lock herself in her room and scramble out of her silly dress. The cheerful periwinkle color only served to make her angry. It took all she had not to throw her mother’s gift to the floor and instead hang it with great care.
Once she was in her pajamas she finally gave in to her urges. Rachael sat on her bed, grabbed her pillow, brought it to her face, and then screamed into it. The bedding and the blaring television
downstairs muffled her shriek.
When had she lost it all? It was hard to pinpoint. Certainly losing her mother had been devastating. But then Jackson had to leave, and upon his return Holden betrayed her. Vera died. She’d lost four people who loved her and was left with an uncaring blob of bodies who were so preoccupied with their troubles that she’d fallen completely by the wayside.
A part of her realized how unfair her thoughts were. Aaron hadn’t given any unreasonable responses. And if Jackson was growing distant, it was nothing they could help. Lycans and humans were just two different creatures.
But it hurt so incredibly badly to realize she had been stripped of her loved ones and was about to lose what little she had left.
Her plan had been to become a lycan. That was not going to happen now. Jackson was so loyal to the alpha who had saved his life that he wouldn’t go against him. She had heard his vow to infect her if Aaron refused, but Rachael held doubts to his conviction. At the end of the day he could still lose her.
And, yes, she knew she was being selfish to even ask. Aaron could not compromise his pack.
But once they disappeared again, what would she have left?
Aaron was absolutely furious.
Not at Rachael, necessarily. He completely understood where she was coming from. And he realized she was overemotional and in despair, so he didn’t even hold her rough handling of his car against her.
But there was no way he could honor her request. Nothing he’d said had been a lie. The situation since he’d first decided she was a perfect candidate for the infection had drastically changed. Jackson still needed training; Aaron was short one spy. Ana Sofia was an absolute wreck, though one wouldn’t know it just by looking at her sweet little face. Not to mention he was still enraged at Nathan for infecting the poor girl.
The worst of it all was that he wanted to infect Rachael. From the beginning Aaron had thought her lycan material. The passage of time had only confirmed his initial assessment. The more she lost the lonelier she became. And the lonelier she became the more determined she grew. It had been quite a few years since Aaron had seen such will to continue on.
But it didn’t change a thing. There would be no infecting Rachael, especially not if Holden was truly determined to punish her for the decision. Aaron had to deal with that issue first. It wasn’t going to be pretty and it would very likely make Rachael regret her choice.
The moon was naked and heavy in the sky when he parked outside the Moreno house. Aaron allowed the car to idle before he turned it off. Then he just sat there staring up at the heavens.
What turmoil the past few months had wrought. He’d faced a lot in his life: the death of his first and most loving alpha, Sanjana; murdering his own pack member to save Rachael; the betrayal of his only blood. Plus, the fracture and splitting of his first pack, numerous failed infection attempts, and being hunted in wolf form just about everywhere in the world.
Put simply, he was exhausted. Back when he’d been a lowly pup, the role of an alpha had been glamorous and desirable.
Now that Aaron understood the full extent of his duties he almost wished he could trade it in.
Even if he could, there was nobody he trusted to lead his pack. As far as he was concerned, Holden had gone completely mad. Jackson was still a pup, Nathan was too impulsive and irresponsible, and Ana Sofia was, well, a five-year-old child. Inviting another lycan in would likely result in his death. As tired as he was, Aaron was nowhere near ready to embrace the longest sleep.
He did, however, need a good night’s rest. Grudgingly, Aaron got out of the car and strode for his darkened home.
Inside perfect silence greeted him. He found Nathan and Ana Sofia asleep in his brother’s room. Down the hall Jackson was awake, but utterly absorbed into a video game. Aaron didn’t bother him. He headed straight for his room and got ready for bed.
But even as he lay down guilt shook him. Spiteful and petty though they were, Rachael’s words bothered him.
Objectively, this was his fault. Roxi had literally scared Rachael’s mother to death and infected Jackson due to his negligence. Not having time to entertain his brother had resulted in Nathan sneaking around in his blind spot to turn one of his schoolmates, which of course also ended in the worst way for Rachael.
It hurt to tell her no. Aaron wanted nothing more than to follow through on his original plan, especially if it would make up for everything. Or even just some of it.
But he couldn’t. As the alpha he had to focus his attention elsewhere. Again.
There was nothing he could do for her.
Aaron spent a good hour brooding and coming up with no answers. The longer he lay, more agitated he became. He needed to do something to get his mind off the dimming ray of sunshine for a few hours. Something to help him feel alive again.
Abruptly he sat up and headed back to Jackson’s room. The teen must have noticed him in his periphery because he immediately turned to face him.
“Keep an eye on Ana Sofia,” said Aaron.
Jackson nodded and removed his headphones.
Satisfied, Aaron made way to Nathan’s room. Ana Sofia practically hugged the wall as she slumbered, and Nathan had sprawled himself toward the foot of the bed. Aaron shook him awake.
Nathan blinked up at him blearily. “Huh... what? What’s happening?”
“Get up,” said Aaron. He flashed his brother a sharp-toothed smile. Within seconds Nathan was on his feet, following his brother down the stairs and toward the back sliding glass door.
“What’re we doin’?” asked Nathan.
Aaron pulled the door open and a cool gust of sweet spring nighttime graced their skin. “It has been a while,” said Aaron as he stepped onto the porch. “But the night is so freeing, is it not? We have neglected to enjoy our natures, and we cannot afford to do so.”
Nathan tilted his head to look up at him. A hint of cunning touched his childish grin.
Aaron gazed at the brilliant white moon. “We must keep in touch with our lycan nature. Simply hunting for food is not why we are what we are.” He closed his eyes and felt the shift in his bones as he began to change. “And so,” he whispered. “Tonight we run.”
Chapter Four
Life without Rachael was exceedingly more difficult than Holden would have expected. There was nothing that could be done about it, of course. He’d made his choice the moment he’d decided to break Vera’s neck.
It wasn’t as though Holden had enjoyed it. Killing a sweet young woman still left him with a bitter taste in his mouth. But that was a big part of the problem: Vera wouldn’t have stayed a sweet young woman. If she’d even survived the excruciating pain of the lycan infection, she would have eventually turned into a monster.
After all, Holden had.
It was an inevitable truth of becoming a lycan. In Holden’s extensive time on this earth he had yet to meet an exception. Nathan was a prime example of the monstrosity. By Aaron’s account, he’d found the boy as an adorable—if traumatized—toddler after lycans had eviscerated his parents on the dusty roads of Old America.
Few were born into the lycan life. Most of the surviving had been turned either by consent or against their will. Aaron used the deceit of giving a victim a choice, but who would actually choose if they understood the full extent of becoming a vicious carnivore?
Of course, the answer was no. Aaron Moreno preyed on weakness and fear. He had manipulated a toddler. And it wasn’t just Nathan. Holden himself was the same, having been approached when he was curled up in the closet his mother had shoved him into. Roxi had been nearly dead when she accepted. Ana Sofia had been turned against her will, the poor girl. And he seriously doubted Vera would have survived, just like many others Aaron had infected.
So Holden had given her the mercy of a quick death. She hadn’t suffered.
He couldn’t bring himself to do the same to Ana Sofia. Not at that time. Though he knew what she would one day become, she was still mentally a scared kid. I
f Vera’s death left him feeling ill some nights, then Ana Sofia’s certainly would have driven him to insanity.
It would be different in ten years, he reminded himself. Ten years was plenty of time for her to become a merciless nightmare. He held no doubts that Aaron and Nathan already had the girl on that path. Besides, knowing Aaron’s cruelty, it was entirely possible Ana Sofia wouldn’t live long enough to worry about Holden’s wrath.
Holden had to stop packing. Anger at the injustice Ana Sofia faced overtook him. His hands shook; his face turned red.
It wasn’t fair to her, but it would be even less fair to make her grow up on her destined path. He couldn’t allow it. Only a fool would wage war against all lycans. Aaron’s pack was small. That was a fight he could win.
Though, he’d have to be exceedingly careful.
Holden sighed and folded a cardboard box shut, sealing away what few valuables he still treasured. Wherever he went he could always buy new things. All Holden intended to take with him were some clothes and a few cooking supplies.
He couldn’t stay. Honestly, he was surprised the police hadn’t come knocking on his door. Coleen was still alive, amazingly enough. Holden would have thought her the first to barge in screaming and wielding a gun. But for whatever reason she never came after him. Lycans didn’t have mind-wiping abilities (unfortunately), so there was no doubt she still knew of them. And shock rarely wiped the memories of an otherwise healthy human being. So why hadn’t she tried?
Holden knew the answer before he even asked it: Rachael Adair.
Damn it.
He shoved the box away in frustration. How he tried so hard not to think of her, and yet every other train of thought led right back to her. What he pictured used to be her smooth blonde hair and thoughtful grey eyes. Now it was her stricken devastation at Vera’s death and the fear and disgust she’d worn when he’d last seen her.
Had it only been a week ago? Holden dug his hands into his hair, blowing out a heavy sigh. Time flew these days, even while he sunk deep into misery.
Call of the Lycan (Secrets of the Sequoia Book 3) Page 2
