The Awakened

by Amanda Carol

  “She’s a guilty pleasure.” He brings his finger to his lips. “Shh, don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold.” He laughs as I quirk a brow.

  “What? You afraid you’ll lose cool points if people find out?” I jokingly ask.

  “I like her. I think she’s an amazing songwriter,” Declan chimes in.

  I narrow my eyes at him.

  “Of course you like her. You’ve always had a thing for blue-eyed blondes,” I say to my brother, who turns to me and winks.

  “Damn straight. Speaking of blue-eyed blondes, I see my girl over in the cafeteria. Catch ya later.” Declan strides confidently over to Ciera, who is sitting at a table with Abby and Zayne, who seem to be pretty cozy themselves.

  I wonder when that started. I make a mental note to ask Abby about it. I’ve been super busy with training and I haven’t had much time with her, although she has been training me with the air element. The first night we trained together, all we did was goof off and we got nothing done. Luna was not happy and threatened to get me a new trainer, but we swore we would take it seriously.

  I’m doing well with all of my magic training too.

  I may or may not have set Zayne on fire once, but luckily, I’m really good at summoning the water element now and was able to put it out. He had a small burn, which Declan was able to heal, since he’s gotten better at summoning his new power as well.

  We’ve also found out that I can use the telepathic link while the shifters are in human form. I thought it was just when they were in their wolf form, but seeing Hunter and Bennett’s faces when I heard the Alpha in my head was priceless. Since then, Hunter has been teaching me how to block out people who try to use the link to connect with me, which I didn’t realize was a thing.

  Hunter and I have been getting closer as the weeks go by. I’ve been telling him more about my old life and he’s been talking to me about his relationship with his dad. I don’t talk about my parents much, but even opening up like I have is a start.

  The wolves are all pulling overtime trying to locate Ronan and whoever this Isabella vampire is. We assume the she that Sloane was referring to is Isabella. When Hunter works a double shift, he stops by after I train, and hangs out with me while I paint.

  He loves the painting I did of his wolf in the woods, the memory of him from the first night I trained with Grace. It was the memory I painted before the bonfire. Sometimes he brings his guitar over and plays while I paint. We just try to spend as much time together as we can.

  “So, how come you’re not with Hunter helping to track down Ronan and Isabella?” I ask Bennett as we walk outside.

  Ugh. I will never get used to this humidity.

  “He asked me to stay behind. We got word that they were spotted a few miles from the Mississippi border. He wanted me to stay here, keep an eye on his favorite girl,” Bennett answers as we walk down the steps and head for my cabin.

  We’re still using the damn buddy system. Even though I’m a demigod, we still have to follow orders. Hunter and a few others were told to check out the tip we got, and he’s been gone for about a week now.

  Bennett walks me to the steps, then takes off back to his cabin to sleep. He has patrol duty later tonight. Once I get inside to the sweet, sweet air conditioning, I kick off my shoes, flop on the couch, and open the link to Hunter.

  Hey, I think, not sure if he’s busy or not.

  I feel the familiar pull and open my mind.

  Hey, baby. How was training? He sounds tired, but happy to hear from me.

  I love communicating this way. So much better than a cell phone.

  It was good. I still suck at blocking kicks. Although I managed to knock Bennett on his ass today.

  I hear him chuckle as I tell him what happened.

  That’s good, and we can work more on blocking kicks when I get back, he says.

  I frown. I’ve never been one of those needy girls, but I do miss him.

  When are you getting back? I ask, getting up from the couch and heading into the kitchen for a snack.

  We’re heading back in about an hour. We won’t be back until late tonight. Why? You miss me? I can hear the teasing in his voice.

  Yes, I answer truthfully as I finish making a sandwich.

  I miss you too. I’ll be home soon.

  I smile at that.

  Home.

  Declan and I have a home again.

  I have to go now, but I’m coming straight to you when I get back. I need my girl. Hunter sighs in my head.

  My heart aches. This is taking a toll on him. He’s not complaining, but he’s getting worn out. They all are. But since Hunter is the Beta, his dad is making him work the hardest.

  Okay. Be safe and come home in one piece, I respond.

  He chuckles. Always am.

  And with that, the conversation is over. I finish my sandwich and shower. I don’t have magic training tonight. Since Declan and I have gotten better at using our powers, we’ve cut back on the training. We’ve started training together to use multiple elements at once, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. I seem to favor the fire element.

  Freshly showered, I decide to clean the cabin. Popping in my new earbuds, I switch to shuffle mode. I slide across the floors, in my socks, singing at the top of my lungs as I dust. Then I start in on my room, grabbing a hair brush and performing for my invisible audience. Only when I turn around, the audience isn’t invisible.

  Declan is standing in my doorway.

  The show must go on, so I point at him, singing “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor to him. He shakes his head, laughing, and leaves me alone to continue on with my performance cleaning. When I’m finished, I set my phone on my nightstand and go to my studio room to paint. When I get in the doorway, I stop dead in my tracks. Declan’s in the room, staring intently at the canvas, painting something. I lean against the doorframe.

  “What are you doing?” I ask.

  He never comes in here, and he never used to go into the art room I had back home.

  “I’ve been dreaming about this girl for weeks now.” He bites his bottom lip in concentration.

  I quirk a brow. “Um, does Ciera know about this?”

  He shoots me a dirty look over the easel. “No. It’s not like that. This girl…I get bad vibes from her. I’m just trying to get this image out of my head. Not that I think painting it will help.”

  He shrugs and dips the brush in brown paint before placing it back on the canvas. Curious, I walk over to stand next to him.

  “Is this supposed to be a girl or a bear with a human face?” I chuckle.

  He huffs. “Aria, I’m serious.”

  He turns to me, and all humor leaves my body.

  “Okay. Why didn’t you just come to me? I can help you,” I offer. Not waiting for him to answer, I take the canvas off the easel, pick up a fresh one, and hold my hand out to him. “Give me the brush. Describe her to me.”

  He stares at me for a long moment before handing me the brush and sitting down on the stool. As he gives me the details, I paint them. After about an hour, I finish and turn the canvas to him.

  “Yeah, that’s her.” His face pales as he stares at the painting. “I don’t know who she is, but I don’t like her. Whoever she is, she’s bad news.” Our eyes meet before he takes the painting from me and places it on the table. “Thanks for helping me with this, little sister.” He grabs me and pulls me into a bear hug.

  “Anytime.” I wrap my arms around him. “All you have to do is ask.”

  He kisses the top of my head. “I know. I’m going to shower, then head over to see my lady.”

  He releases me and walks out of the room before I can respond. He’s been spending a lot of time with Ciera lately. I’m glad he’s not a man-whore anymore. I pick up a brand new canvas and begin to paint again.

  It’s almost ten when I hear a soft knock on the front door.

  Declan came home about two hours ago and brought Ciera with him. She’s been spending
the night over here a lot too. So I know it’s not either of them.

  I set my paintbrush down and head downstairs to get the door. I open it to see Hunter standing on the other side. He smiles, but it doesn’t reveal his dimples. There are dark circles under his eyes, but they flash a bright blue when they lock with mine.

  “Hey.” My voice comes out breathy as I stand on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around him.

  “Hey, baby,” he whispers into my neck as he wraps his strong arms around my waist and pulls me tightly against him.

  I pull away slightly and kiss him. He growls and dips down to grab my thighs, picking me up. I wrap my legs around him as I swipe my tongue across his bottom lip, deepening our kiss. He kicks the door shut and walks us up to my room.

  He kicks my bedroom door shut and walks us over to my bed. He breaks the kiss to lay me down gently, then climbs on the bed, slowly creeping up the length of my body. Desire for him flicks to life. His hand grips my hip as I hike my leg around him. He trails kisses along my collarbone, and I moan softly as his tongue licks the sensitive spot on my neck.

  He presses his hard length against me as his hand leaves my hip and travels up along my stomach, and his thumb barely brushes my breast.

  I arch my back, wanting him to touch more of my body. I need him as much as he seems to need me. I want these stupid clothes to disappear.

  He grinds into me as his lips crash onto mine. I trail my hands down his stomach, curling my fingers around the hem of his shirt to tug it off. He breaks the kiss long enough for the shirt to go over his head, then he brings his lips back to mine and I toss the shirt somewhere in the room. He reaches for the hem of my shirt and tugs it off. His eyes flash as he takes notice that I am not wearing a bra.

  “Fuck. You’re so beautiful,” he whispers before leaning back down to kiss me.

  I bite his bottom lip, then swipe my tongue across it. I run my hands up his arms and shoulders, then down his chest, across his abs, and my fingers find the button on his jeans. He growls, grabbing my hands and pinning them above my head, then bringing one hand down to cup my breast. When he tugs on the peak, I moan and arch into his hand as his mouth comes down and nips at my other nipple, then sucks on it to ease the sting.

  “Hunter,” I cry out softly, arching into him more.

  Then he switches it up before trailing kisses down my stomach. His hands find the seam of my sleep shorts and he glances up at me, as if giving me a chance to stop him. I don’t want him to stop. I wiggle my hips as he tugs my shorts and panties off. He sits up on his knees above me, his eyes are glowing as they drink in the sight of me naked laying under him.

  “So beautiful,” he groans.

  I sit up, reaching for the button on his pants again, but he grabs my hands and pins them above my head as he crashes his lips back onto mine. He releases me and I run my fingers through his hair as his hand travels down the length of my body. He slips a finger inside me and I moan into his mouth. He starts to slowly pull his finger in and out of me while I grind my hips in tandem. Then he slips a second finger in and I toss my head back. He takes full advantage and lightly bites my shoulder. I’m so close…

  “Come for me, baby,” he growls, then his thumb circles the bundle of nerves and my body bursts into flames.

  He crashes his lips onto mine to catch my release. Our kisses slow as I try to catch my breath, coming down from the first orgasm I’ve had in over three years. He removes his hand and puts his fingers in his mouth, tasting me. God, that’s hot.

  “So sweet.” He smirks, dimples on full display.

  He kisses my nose before getting up to get my clothes. I lay there, feeling like Jell-O. Has it really been that long? Yes, it has.

  He helps me get dressed because my limbs still feel heavy. Then he pulls me to his chest, covering us up. I can see him straining in his jeans, so I reach down to try and free him, but he stops me. Again.

  “Babe, if I let you touch me, I won’t be able to keep from burying myself deep inside you,” he whispers as he places my hands on his chest. He intertwines our fingers as his other hand strokes my hair. “I just needed this tonight.”

  “What happened out there?” I mumble into his chest, accepting that nothing more will happen tonight.

  The look on his face from when I opened the door earlier tells me something’s wrong. When he doesn’t answer, I raise my head and look at him. His lips form a thin line and a muscle ticks in his jaw as he stares at the ceiling.

  “Hunter, look at me,” I whisper softly.

  When he doesn’t, I gently remove my hand from his and touch his cheek, turning his face to me. His gaze locks with mine, but he doesn’t say anything.

  “I won’t make you tell me, but I am here for you.” I lean forward and kiss him, then rest my head back on his chest.

  I’d be a shit person if I forced him to talk about something he doesn’t want to, especially when he doesn’t make me talk about my past. Minutes go by and I’m convinced he’s not going to say anything.

  “We were too late,” he whispers; his arm tenses around me.

  I don’t say anything. I just wait for him to continue.

  “They hit a small town right outside border. It was a bloody massacre. Women, children, everyone.”

  I suck in a startled breath and scoot closer to him. “Why? Why would they do that?”

  “They’re vampires, Aria. Do they really need a reason?” he snaps.

  I flinch.

  “I’m sorry,” he sighs. “It’s just been a long week. And I’m just glad to be back. Let’s get some sleep.”

  And with that, the conversation is over.

  It’s hot, too hot. My back is flush to Hunter’s front and I can feel his breath against my neck. He’s still sound asleep, so I try to free myself from his grasp, but his arms pull me back against him.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” His voice is gruff with sleep as he trails kisses down my neck and onto my shoulder.

  I close my eyes, my lips parting on an inhale. I can never get enough of his kisses. As much as I want to stay here in his arms, I really want to practice with the bow today. Hunter and Bennett have set up moving targets for me.

  I wriggle free and get up out of bed. “I’m getting up for practice. I want to train with the bow.”

  I rummage through my drawers and pull out workout clothes before turning back to my bed. Dark circles surround his blue eyes and my heart sinks.

  “You know, I could always come with you guys. I am really good at tracking vampires. I can help,” I say.

  “No,” Hunter replies sternly. “We’ve talked about this. Ronan is after you and your brother. I’ll be damned if I let you leave the safety of the Compound. You saw what he did to Sloane. I won’t let that happen to you.”

  I roll my eyes and turn away from him. We’ve always disagreed on this. I know I can help. If it weren’t for Declan telling me the same thing, I’d have already gone to the Alpha and demanded I go with them.

  His hands land on my shoulders before he turns me to face him. “I know you can track them. You are the demigoddess of the hunt. But I can’t do my job effectively and worry about your safety at the same time.” He cups my cheeks, then kisses me.

  I give in.

  Again.

  For now.

  “Get dressed. I'm going to go make some coffee.” He kisses my nose and grabs his shirt—which I wish he would just leave off—and tosses it over his head.

  I get ready and head downstairs, where a cup of coffee is sitting on the counter waiting for me. Hunter used the link a couple of minutes ago to tell me he was going to run back to his cabin to change and he would be back soon. Declan enters the kitchen, mumbles a hello, grabs a cup of coffee and a bottle of water, and goes back up to his room, leaving me alone again. After about fifteen minutes, Hunter comes back and we make our way down to our training spot.

  Aria and I warm up together, and I'm slower than normal. I’m fucking exhausted, but I got the be
st night’s sleep I’ve had in a while last night. Having Aria in my arms, close to me, was the perfect remedy for what had happened.

  I’m pissed that we haven’t caught that son of bitch yet. Not only has he threatened my girl, but now he’s massacred an entire town.

  I was so pissed off last night that I almost didn’t go over to see her as soon as I got home. But I’m glad I did. I saw her face, and I lost control. I needed her. It took everything in me not to take it further, but, damn it, I fucking wanted to. But, like our first kiss, I want to wait. I didn’t want to have sex with her for the first time with her brother right down the hall, and I definitely didn’t want our first time to be while I was that upset.

  We finish warming up and move on to kicks. After a few failed attempts, she finally gets it. Getting a taste of her last night and training with her today means I’m fighting hard-ons all day. She’s so sexy when she fights. I’m surprised we even get any practice in because I’m always trying to kiss her.

  Then we move on to the bow and she can’t contain her excitement.

  “Finally!” she shouts, jogging over and picking up the bow and tossing the case of arrows on her back.

  She’s taken her tank top off and is only in her sports bra. Which is another reason I’ve been telling my dick to calm the fuck down. The hem of her bra rides up and the tattoo on her ribs appears.

  I walk down and hit the button on the shitty rig that Bennett and I set up for her. She hits each bullseye with deadly accuracy. She’s good, but she needs more of a challenge. So, I text Abby to come down here and use the air element to move the targets. They’ll move much faster that way.

  “Okay, the party’s here!” Abby shouts, making her grand entrance.

  Aria squeals and runs to her best friend, throwing her arms around her. “What are you doing here? We aren’t practicing with everyone else until later.”

  “Hunter asked me to come help today. Yours truly will be tossing the targets at you much faster than that rig. You ready?” Abby smirks and quirks a brow.

  “Hell yeah,” Aria says, taking a few steps back as Abby walks toward the targets.