The Hunter’s Awakening

by Bryce Evans

  Chapter Eight

  “Nobody has seen her, Laris. She’s run off. Stayed longer than I thought she would,” Blair joked. The breath rushed out of her as he slammed her against the truck. “What the hell?”

  “We have to find her. She knows too much, Blair, or did that part slip your simple mind?” Laris Winter gritted out.

  “You should have gotten rid of her then. I told you she’s a waste of the coven’s time.”

  Laris slammed her backward again. “That’s my daughter you’re talking about.”

  “Yeah, right. That’s why you keep putting a spell on her every day. You don’t think we don’t see it. She reeks of it. Is she really your daughter?”

  “Of course.”

  “She looks nothing like you, and she can’t do a bit of magic. Or is she just a pawn and that’s why you continue to put a spell on her? What spell are you even doing? We have a right to know. We have as much to lose as you.” Blair looked around at the coven members watching the interaction between them. None of them made a move to help her.

  “Don’t you worry about it. If I wanted you to know, I would have told you. Mind your tongue, Blair, or I will take it out.” Laris felt the magic waiting to strike. It sizzled inside, getting stronger. He had to control it, or he would lose one of the most talented mages in his coven.

  Rolling her eyes, Blair moved away. Smart move. He closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders. Where did that little bitch go? If he didn’t find her soon, the spell would wear off and that beast inside her would come out. He needed her. She, like Blair said, was only a pawn. This was his game, and nobody would ever checkmate him.

  “Go back and check with some of these truckers to see if they have seen her. I doubt she has gotten far. She left her luggage and she didn’t have any money.” As soon as he said it, he remembered the stash. Shit…Laris rushed over to his vehicle and checked the glove box. She took money from his pile.

  He checked the hidden compartment, but the money was still there, unless…she only took some of it. He started counting and realized some was missing. Shit…now what? Looking in the backseat, her luggage lay on the seat. Smart, but he would find her, and she would definitely regret leaving. Didn’t matter that he needed her for later. She had stolen from him. Nobody ever took anything from him and now Haven would regret she ever lived.

  The conversation stopped when Scarlett and Haven walked into the house. Everyone sat except Cosmo, who stood beside the window. His body looked ready to strike with those watchful black eyes. She couldn’t make out the expression on his face. Maybe he thought she was a spy for Laris. Maybe all of this was true, and she would have a real family. Maybe.

  “Haven has agreed to let me take the spell off her after we eat. She needs a good meal first. Someone needs to figure out how you are going to corral her bear because she’s going to be pissed off,” Scarlet said, sitting in the recliner and leaning back, closing her eyes, done with the conversation.

  “I can handle that,” Cosmo said, looking away from her. “I’ll get some of the team to help. Maybe at the pond would be a good place.”

  “Are you okay?” Lennox asked, taking her a glass of water, pulling her attention away from Cosmo. “I don’t know what you like to drink but we have sweet tea or soda. You just tell me what you want.”

  “This is fine. Thank you.” Haven took the glass and sat beside Nora and Roy.

  “I think he wants to get to know you, sweetie, find out what you like,” Nora whispered.

  “Oh…” she glanced back at Lennox. “I like water. I don’t drink sodas and I haven’t had much sweet tea. This is great though. I really like water.”

  Lennox nodded and sat across from her at the table. “Can I ask you some questions?”

  Haven shrugged; she had already spilled her guts, but why not share it all. She had nothing else to lose.

  “Where do you live?”

  Haven bit down on her bottom lip. They already knew about the coven, so it didn’t matter if she told them, but if they knew, then why keep asking? “You said you knew about the Winter Coven. Don’t you know what they are doing?”

  “Yes.” Lennox never looked away as he answered.

  “Then why have you allowed them to continue?”

  “Because nobody could prove it. We all have our suspicions, but we need proof. Now we do, but we don’t know it all and you could help us with that, Haven. I promise you will be protected by the Death Hunters.”

  Haven laughed. “Forgive me for laughing, but they are very smart and cunning. Not your average coven. They know how to hide, too, without being seen. The woman, the one with long black hair, she’s one of the hunters?”

  “What woman?” Lennox asked, his face hard, never letting on. But she already knew the truth.

  “Doesn’t matter. The coven knows the Death Hunters watch them. When we left, and we didn’t see her again. . . I didn’t know if they had killed her or not. They knew.” Haven took a deep breath. “The woman was a Death Hunter too. You see, they don’t care about anyone but themselves. It doesn’t matter that you sent her just to watch. They would have killed her just like the others.” Haven knew that better than anyone.

  “Were you present when they killed most of the shifters?” Lennox asked. Her heart skipped through her chest like a pinball machine. She didn’t want to talk about this. She looked away. Please stop asking? Please!

  “Lennox, let the girl be. You’re scaring her. I can hear her heart from here.” She didn’t know the man, but she heard them call him Arden. She had heard about the Dixon pack when her father talked about the packs they would check.

  Jade put her arms around her mate’s neck. Resting her chin atop of his head, she explained. “Haven, he doesn’t mean to ask you all of these hard questions. Well, he does, but it’s his job to find out as much as he can. The food is about done. Let’s save the questions for another time,” Jade said, patting Lennox on the shoulders.

  Leaning over, he put his hand on Haven’s and said, “I don’t mean to upset you but I’m trying to find out as much information as I can about the coven. I know you had no choice, Haven, but I need to know what I’m up against.”

  “Evil, pure evil.” Haven’s voice wasn’t much more than a whisper, but they all heard her.

  Looking away, Jade motioned toward Cosmo. “Can you bring those chairs to the table?”

  She couldn’t take all the staring anymore. Could he see how much he affected her? It felt like her body was on fire. Tingling sensations crept down her spine as if his fingers touched every part of her. But the what ifs plagued her. Narrowing her eyes at him, she gave it back to him. She wanted to stick her tongue out to Cosmo, but everyone in the room watched them and she felt like a child and that would just prove her own point about herself. She wanted to toughen up for once in her life. The thought of licking him popped into her head.

  Clearing her throat, Jade announced, “It’s not much but the spaghetti is on the table. Let’s eat.”

  Haven couldn’t stare at him long. His eyes were black as night and she had never seen anything like them, but the longer he stared, the lighter they become. Like pieces of blue flakes floating in a dark black sea. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to know what he was truly thinking.

  She looked away when Nora scooted closer to her. “You need to eat, sweetie. How’re you doing?”

  “Okay,” Haven cleared her throat trying to banish the thoughts of Cosmo from her mind. “A bit tired. It’s a lot to take in. Do you think I made the right choice?” She wanted Nora to agree with her. She needed somebody on her side that didn’t have a dog in the fight.

  Smiling, Nora patted her on the hand. “Yes, I do.”

  Haven needed to hear that, her stomach rumbled as a big plate of spaghetti and meat sauce landed in front of her. She didn’t want to think about making the right decision. She wanted to be normal if only for a few minutes.

  “So…Cosmo, tell us about the hot houses you are building,” Quinn asked,
thankfully changing the subject.

  She watched as a small smile curved the handsome shifter’s face. “Two have been built already and one more is in the works. I plan to grow my own flowers. The cost even at wholesale is outrageous. This way, I won’t have to wait, and other florists will come to me for their stock. It’s a win/win.”

  “Smart idea. You must really love flowers,” Simone said.

  “Ha, ha, you say that now, but you will be the first one buying my stock to put up in the bakery,” Cosmo said, smiling, pilling more food on his plate.

  “Of course, I will. We all help each other out, plus the customers will love it,” Simone added.

  “Are you going to have exotic flowers, you know, the ones that people in the movies talk about. The expensive kind?” Quinn said.

  “My mate means the real expensive kind.”

  “Like orchids and tulips with all the different colors?” Cosmo asked before taking a bite.

  “I love tulips. Especially the hot pink ones. Hard to find them too,” Jade added.

  “Well, ladies, I will have them all, even the hot pink ones.” Cosmo smirked as he stared at Lennox.

  “Flowers die eventually,” Lennox muttered.

  Haven whispered, “Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.” Everyone stopped eating, watching her.

  “I guess they do,” Lennox said, smiling at her.

  Haven listened to the conversations going on around the table. It felt normal, something she hadn’t ever had and so desperately wanted. She loved all the teasing and how each of them shared their lives and what went on with the packs.

  Even Nora and Roy joined in on the conversation, but she had nothing to add. Her family, all killers, and now she didn’t even know if her father was actually her father. Everything she had believed was most likely a lie and soon she would know the truth and that scared her.

  “Haven.” She glanced up. Everyone watched her. “Haven, do you want more. We have plenty.”

  “Oh, no, ma’am. It was delicious, but I couldn’t eat another bite. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. What is it you like to do? I love making jewelry and purses,” Jade added.

  Haven didn’t like all the attention everyone gave her. So, what did she do, she shrugged, shutting down.

  Roy cleared his throat and smiled at her. “She loves clothes. She wants to make them. She designs them. Is that what you call it, Haven?”

  “I just like to draw. I’ve never made anything worth talking about,” Haven said, picking up her glass and taking a small drink.

  “Then you’re in good company. I would love to see them. Your designs,” Quinn said, getting up from the table with her plate. She walked to the sink and rinsed it off then put it in the dishwasher.

  “Oh, it’s nothing like what you are used to. I just doddle, nothing impressive.”

  “If you’re done, let me show you some of mine. I doodle too.” Quinn sat on the couch pulling out her phone.

  Haven took her plate and followed what Quinn did, rinsing off her dish, then putting it in the dishwasher. She noticed several dirty dishes and started rinsing them all and putting them in the dishwasher. She started to get nervous. They would want to start soon with removing the spell. What if it hurt?

  Cosmo stood beside her as she looked up. They stood staring at each other for a few seconds before he said, “Go relax with the girls. I’ll take care of this.”

  Looking away, Haven glanced down at the dishes and whispered, “I can help. I hate to eat and not help out.” Just being around this man made her toes curl and her insides go haywire. His hair curled around his ears and she had to rub her hand down the side of her pants, so she wouldn’t reach up and follow the route of the curl.

  His eyes and hair were stunning. Black as night. When she was alone, she would sketch his beautiful face. The gray shirt he wore fit him like a second skin. She could see all the indentions of each of his muscles in his back as he leaned over and put a plate in the dishwasher. She leaned forward and inhaled. She didn’t know why she did it, but he smelled divine, like fresh flowers. Catching herself from doing something stupid, she backed up.

  “Go on now. Go sit with the girls. You will have fun. It’s my turn anyway.” Even his rugged voice turned her on. Nobody had ever been this nice to her. Taking over while she enjoyed herself for a bit. Not even her father had been this way toward her. Ever.

  She glanced at all the girls including Nora sitting in the living room, talking. Haven had never had friends. Not one, but she wanted the women to like her. “Thanks.” She nodded and walked over to the couch and sat beside Quinn.

  “Here, these are my first designs. They weren’t that great, but I got better and took those and added to it. Just swipe and the new ones will come up.”

  “These are beautiful, Quinn. I love these,” Haven said, staring at the phone.

  “Do you have yours with you. I won’t judge you, I promise. I just love to see new work.”

  “I brought your things in,” Roy said with a wink, sitting her bag beside her. “I thought you may need it.”

  Her hearted started pounding. She had never shown anyone her sketches. What if she didn’t like them?

  Flipping open her sketchbook, Haven hesitantly handed it to Quinn.

  Quinn never said anything. She studied each page like she waited for something to pop up from the paper. She was about to ask her what she thought when Quinn’s eyes looked up at her. “And you’ve never had any lessons on design?”

  “No…never been to school. An older lady in the coven, Trudy, gave me my lessons, but never anything on art or design. Is something wrong with them? I told you they weren’t that great. Just something to do.”

  “Haven, I’ve never seen anything this good except from professionals. Your technique is great. Very fresh. Have you ever taken a design and made it?”

  “No, never had money. I’ve sewed some shirts back together, but nothing from my designs.”

  “Do you think you could if you had the material and a sewing machine?”

  “I’ve never used a sewing machine.”

  Patting her on the hand, Nora smiled. “Well, sweetie, I can help you with that. I have two and don’t need but one. I can show you how to use it and then you can have it.”

  “Oh, Nora, I can’t take something like that. I know how much they cost,” Haven said.

  “Nonsense, I can and I will give it to you. It’s a gift, young lady. I may even help you make some of your clothes. You design them, and I will get started making them. It would be fun.”

  “Are you serious?” Haven asked, staring at Quinn and Nora.

  “Of course,” Quinn and Nora both said at the same time.

  “But you don’t even know me. What if I’m not…his sister? My father is Laris Winter and you still want to help me?”

  “Haven, we all know that you’re Lennox’s sister. You look just alike. As soon as the spell is removed, you will know it too, and your life will be so much better. You just need to believe that it will all be okay,” Quinn said. “But if it makes you feel any better, we will like you anyway if we’re wrong.”

  Haven snorted. “Sounds good to me.”

  “Good. You ready?” Scarlett said, coming from the kitchen. “I think it would be better if we did this outside. Your bear will be hard to contain, and I don’t think Jade wants her beautiful new home wrecked.”

  Haven blew out a deep breath. She glanced at the girls who all smiled. Quinn reached out and put her hand on hers. “We will be with you all the way.” Jade put hers on top and then the other girls followed suit.

  She glanced up and found the smoldering black eyes of Cosmo watching the interaction. She had to look away before she ran for the door. He unnerved her. She wanted to believe he was feeling the same way. She heard her heart pounding in her chest. The sly look on his face told her he could hear it too. Her hands started to sweat. Calm down, Haven. Just get him out of your mind.

  “Let’s
go outside,” Lennox said and held his hand out to her.

  She hesitated, but she needed to know the truth. Taking his hand, Haven let him guide her out the door. She walked by Cosmo staring straight down at her feet. She needed to breath without his scent playing tricks with her body.

  Inhaling a deep breath, she found comfort as the cool wind hit her heated face. She prayed Lennox was right. This could be her chance at a real family. If he told the truth, then it meant the man she had known as her father had been lying to her. But the question she would need to know would be why?

  “Ready?” Scarlett asked, jerking her back from her thoughts. She held her hand out, leading her down the steps into the grass.

  “I…” Haven couldn’t finish. Her body started to shake. She put her arms around herself and nodded at Scarlett.

  Lennox and Cosmo stood beside her. “Don’t worry, little sis, everything is going to be okay. I’m right here with you.”

  Little sis. Nobody had ever used such endearment toward her. His kindness made her smile.

  “Calm yourself and let the spell begin.” Scarlett began chanting. A language she had never heard. Her body almost appeared to levitate as her words became harsher. At first, she didn’t feel anything, then the tingling started in her fingers and toes. She focused on her hands as the tingling began to hurt up her arms and then down her back. A cold sweat broke out across her body.

  “Haven?” Lennox whispered.

  “I’m okay,” Haven said in a shaky voice. But it hurt. She struggled to stand. Her stomach rolled as she leaned forward falling to the ground. It felt like claws scraping against her stomach and chest.

  “Let her out, Haven,” Cosmo said, pushing her hair away from her eyes. He was in front of her.

  “What?” Little black dots danced across her eyes. She squeezed them tightly as the next wave of unspeakable pain roared out of her. She didn’t even recognize her scream.

  “Let go.” She heard Cosmo but couldn’t see him anymore. Then it became too much.