by R L Medina
Mateo’s eyebrow arched. “Is that what they teach you at your academy?”
Leo snickered. “No. That’s what the dirty books and movies say.”
My face reddened. How did he know what the books said?
Michael turned to me, his blue eyes piercing. “Were not much different from ordinaires.”
“Says you. We’re stronger, faster, and all around better.” Leo smiled smugly.
The conversation died as Rafael strode toward us. His dark eyes narrowed suspiciously at me. Silence fell in the room and I felt the weight of everyone’s stares.
“Tomorrow night you’re coming with me.”
His command made me bristle. “And where are we going?”
“El Palacio.”
Michael sucked in a breath.
Rafael’s eyes snapped to him. “Problem?”
“Raf, we can’t bring her to the club.”
Club? Why was he taking me to some club?
“I found a witch to meet us there.” His gaze shifted to mine. “She can help you find this wizard.”
Hope flared inside me. Could she really help me?
“Who?” Michael demanded.
Rafael growled at him. “Watch yourself, Michael.”
He snapped his mouth shut and glanced away though his forehead creased in concern.
“When do we go?” I asked, breaking the tension.
“Tomorrow night when the club opens. We’re going to find those witches. And you’re going to help us.”
I stiffened. “What? No. I’m looking for the wizard. I don’t want anything to do with the coven.”
His lips spread into a cruel smile. “Oh, I’ll find your wizard. But I will find those witches too, and they will pay for what they did to my father.”
With that, he sniffed and continued past, disappearing into the crowd of people.
“We’ve been hunting that coven for years, but they always slip away. Now. Now we might have a chance,” Mateo explained.
My body was numb. Was Rafael going to hand me over to the coven? To pay for my mother’s part in his father’s murder?
“The club, huh? I’m in.” Leo grinned. His words broke my thoughts.
His twin scowled at him. “What about… that thing you have to do?”
Leo scratched his stubbled chin. “What thing?”
“The shifter,” Mateo answered through clenched teeth.
My eyes widened. The shifter? I glanced at Michael, but he looked away. Were they going to kill the man? A shudder ran down my spine. Their world was dark and dangerous even without me bringing more trouble. Was this the kind of world Javi and the others were preparing for? I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to push away the doubts creeping in.
The song changed to something faster. People cheered. I watched as the room erupted into a party, wolves dancing, drinking, and laughing. Leo howled, starting a chain reaction. Their cries filled my ears and sent a chill through me. It was another blunt reminder that I was human, and they were not.
But they were happy. They were family. Even if they did horrible things, I couldn’t help but like them. Sorrow gutted me as I thought of my own screwed up family.
You guys sure left me a mess. Thanks.
If my parents were still alive, would things have been different? Would I still have ended up at the academy? Still running from the witches?
Leo grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the throng of people. All dark thoughts vanished as he spun me in the middle of the floor. My cheeks flushed as the others cheered and clapped for us. Though dancing in front of strangers had never been my thing, I couldn’t help but let the music take over, my body instinctively moving to the rhythm.
Michael and Mateo joined in, and soon all the stress and worries of the past events faded to the background. I was alive. I was okay.
Maybe things would work out.
6
The next morning, I woke up, body stiff and throat parched. Sunlight streamed in from the window. I groaned and pushed myself up on the bed. Waking up in a new house was always disorienting. Would I ever wake up and not think I was back home with Papi?
No. Can’t think about that now.
Dismissing the depressing thoughts, I swung my feet off the bed and slid to the floor. Noises drifted outside my door. Were the wolves already up? I walked over to the window and sighed at the gorgeous view. All the time I’d spent in Malibu, and I’d barely seen its famous beaches.
It was so hard to imagine Luna Negra among the inhabitants there. Javi told me their coven was spread all over with new groups popping up every so often. With so many recruits, why did they care so much about me?
I glanced at my sword on the table. Apart for that enchanted weapon, that seemed to have lost its juice, I was powerless. Why couldn’t they go after someone more skilled with magic?
A knock on my door startled me.
“Rose?” Michael called.
I swung the door open wide. He backed up and greeted me with a hesitant smile. His eyes flicked to the sword and back to me.
“Hungry? Lucian made pancakes.”
My eyebrows rose. “Lucian… made pancakes?”
“Yeah. He’s our best chef.”
“Huh.”
Somehow, I couldn’t picture the big bulky wolf flipping pancakes. That was something I had to see. I motioned for Michael to lead the way and grabbed my sword as we left. Though it remained dull, the firm metal in my grasp gave me comfort.
Michael glanced at it but didn’t say anything. He led me to the kitchen where a group of wolves sat around a table, chomping down breakfast. Everyone looked up at our approach, eyes narrowing on my weapon.
Lucian walked over and dumped a pile of pancakes on a platter in the middle of the table. His stare met mine.
“Breakfast?” His voice was low and gruff.
Michael nudged me toward an empty chair at the end. I felt silly with my giant sword, but I couldn’t leave it in my room. Not in a house full of criminals.
I sank into the chair and set my sword down flat by my feet, careful not to stab anyone. Heat crawled up my neck. The attention turned back to the food. I grabbed two of the fluffy pancakes before they disappeared and smothered them in butter and syrup.
Michael sat further down the table and the wolves near me were lost in their own conversation, so I happily tuned them out and ate my food.
After breakfast, the crowd thinned out, most of the members going to their individual weekend jobs. Leaving me alone with the original five plus a few other stragglers. Thankfully, Nadia didn’t seem to be one of them.
I watched Lucian as he cleaned the dishes, the perfect picture of normality. Whatever effect the mysterious drug had on him seemed to be gone. His eyes snapped to mine. I glanced away, flushing.
Great. Now he probably thinks I’m gawking at him.
Rafael, who’d been sitting silently with arms crossed, arched a brow at me. Though he’d agreed to take me to a witch who could help me, he’d been surly all through breakfast. I wasn’t sure how to read him.
“Rose.” His voice snapped me to attention.
The room fell quiet.
Leo paused, mid-bite, syrup dripping from his fork.
“Yes?” I answered.
“You’re going to tell me everything your mother told you about this wizard.”
“I have. She didn’t give me any more information.”
He frowned. “Why the secrecy?”
“I don’t know.”
“She didn’t say anything… about my father?”
I felt the weight of their stares, the curiosity and suspicion burning in their eyes. My throat turned dry. I didn’t know what to say. To tell them the truth would only make them angry, but what else was there?
“No.”
Rafael stilled, his eyes drilling me with their intensity. I met his gaze, unflinchingly. If I were in his place, I’d feel just the same. But my mom was the villain in his story, and I felt only shame and gui
lt for her part. Why couldn’t you just stick it to the GRIMM without destroying everyone else’s lives in the process? Like mine.
“How did she die? How did she really die?” he continued, studying me with those dark, wild eyes.
“She doesn’t know, Raf,” Michael answered for me.
Rafael snorted. “Didn’t your father tell you? Anything?”
My face burned. No.
He stood abruptly, the movement startling me. “Tonight, we’ll see just how much you’re hiding from us.” With that, he turned on his heel and stormed away.
I shook my head and sighed. “I’m not hiding anything. If I knew more, I wouldn’t even need his help.”
Lucian’s eyes narrowed. “Why can’t you go back to your school? Your mother was one of them. Before she went to the witches. Why can’t they help you?”
The others whipped toward me, expectant looks on their faces.
Sorrow twisted my gut. I actually missed the school and my friends, but I couldn’t go back. Not until I was certain it was safe for me and them and even then, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a GRIMM. If Tio’s words were true, and the GRIMMS couldn’t forgive my mom her crimes, there was a chance I could never go back.
“They don’t know who I am. Who I really am. My mom… was a traitor. They erased everything about her from their files. If they knew I was her daughter…”
Everyone fell quiet.
“So, Rose. You surf?” Leo’s question snapped me to attention.
“Surf?”
“Yeah, you know. Board, water, surfing?” His eyebrows wriggled.
“Do I look like someone who’s ever been surfing?”
He smirked. “Do you want to learn how?”
The others gaped at him.
Michael scowled. “You are not taking her surfing.”
Leo sighed emphatically. “Just trying to lighten the mood, Ángel. Like you don’t want to ride the waves.”
I bit back a laugh. Werewolves surfing? Now that was something I’d never read in any book. Though I shouldn’t have been surprised. Surfing was probably the most cliché thing one could do in Malibu.
“What about the vampires?” Mateo’s words caught my ear.
Lucian’s eyes narrowed on him. “You scared of a bloodsucker?”
Mateo shook his head. “Of course not, but are we sure we want to risk exposure after the recent attack? Shouldn’t we play it low until we have… a course of action?”
Leo snorted. “Chill out. You need a good wave, bro or a good—”
Michael shot him a glare. “Leo.”
The wolf fell silent, but his smirk was anything but contrite.
Lucian was the first to stand. “No surfing for her. She stays here. The rest of you are free to go.”
I bristled under his order. What, was I his prisoner now?
Leo sucked back the rest of his juice and shrugged. “Whatever you say, Lucian.”
The big man grunted, threw me a steely look, and shuffled away.
I turned to the others and frowned. “I don’t think he likes me very much.”
Leo grinned. “He doesn’t like anyone. Don’t take it so hard, doll.” He winked.
Heat rushed across my skin. “It’s Rose.”
His eyes lit up, smile widening. “What? You don’t like me calling you doll? What would you rather me call you? Girly? Sweetie?”
“Enough, Leo. Leave her alone,” Michael snapped.
Though I appreciated his concern for me, I didn’t need his help. Leo was mouthy, but harmless. Rafael on the other hand… if Michael was the angel, was he the devil? A shudder ran through me as I pictured the shifter locked below. There was no doubt in my mind, that he wasn’t the first interrogation victim for their alpha.
“I’m going surfing. You coming, Mat?” Leo pushed back his chair, the scraping sound grating.
His twin stood and gathered their dishes. “I’m in.”
They glanced at Michael. His gaze slid to me.
“If you want to go, go. I’ll be fine here with… Lucian and Rafael.”
“Actually, I have another errand I’m supposed to run. Surfing will have to wait.” Michael sighed. “Are you sure you’ll be okay here?”
He stood and grabbed my plate for me. I rose to my feet and bent to retrieve my sword. My stomach knotted at the thought of being trapped in the house with Lucian and Rafael. An idea came to me. What if this was my chance to talk to the shifter? I’d been too chicken before, but without the wolves breathing down my neck, maybe I could do it. Ask him about Manny, about my dad, and about the witches. Shouldn’t I try to get answers? Especially if… they were going to kill him.
“Rose?”
I turned to find Michael watching me with a furrowed brow.
“I’ll be fine.”
The man worried too much. For someone so soft why did he stick with the pack? Did he have nowhere else to go?
Like me.
He walked to the sink, leaving me standing by the table. I bit my lip, my mind coming up with a list of questions to ask the shifter. Would he answer me?
Not waiting for Michael, I headed back to my room to brush my teeth with the spare toothbrush someone lent me. My heart sped up at the thought of facing the shifter once more. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t shake Manny’s monstrous face from my mind. A hollowness filled me. Would the GRIMMs ever catch him? What would I do if they did? It wasn’t like I would be welcomed back any time soon.
Pushing away the dark thoughts, I stood by the window to look out at the beach below. Two muscular men appeared in wetsuits, carrying surfboards. Leo and Mateo. I sighed. Learning to surf with the two wolves sounded a whole lot more appealing than interrogating the shifter.
The slam of a door sounded outside my room. The front door? Grabbing my sword, I peeked out and scanned the empty hall. I sucked in a breath and wandered out, listening for any sound of activity. Had everyone left but Lucian? What was he doing?
“Rose.” Rafael’s deep voice made me jump.
I turned to find him eyeing me warily. My cheeks flamed as I tried to look casual.
“What’s up?” I blurted.
His eyebrow arched. “I’m going out to make some arrangements before tonight. You will stay here with Lucian and the others.”
“The others went surfing.”
He frowned.
“Lucian told them they could. Well, Michael went out to run an errand but the—”
“Never mind then. Stay here with Lucian. Just remember, he’s still not quite himself so I’d be careful if I were you.” He smiled. “Don’t want to unleash the wolf.”
My eyes bulged. “What? Are you sure you should leave me here with him? What if he attacks me?”
Rafael scoffed. “You’ll be fine.” His eyes slid to the sword. “You have your little blade.”
I glared at him. “If he goes crazy, I’ll stab him. Is that what you want?”
His mouth quirked into a smug smile. “You’ll be fine, Rose. Trust me, you’re safer alone with him than with me.”
He said it so matter-of-factly. Like a freaking serial killer.
A shudder ran through me. I took a step back, making him grin. My face heated. Psycho asshat.
Smoothing out his dark wash suit, he sniffed and walked past me with all the swagger of a king. I snorted. Los Reyes. More like Los Douches.
Without a glance back, he disappeared down the hall. I waited for the sound of the front door closing. Glancing around for Lucian, I squared my shoulders and rested a hand on my sword.
I walked past the sitting area and kitchen, careful not to make too much noise. If werewolves were anything like vampires, they had superhuman hearing. Hand on sword, I made my way toward the closed door that would lead to the shifter. I pressed my ear against it, but there was no sound.
Heart pounding, I turned the knob and glanced around once more before slipping inside. The hanging light showered the room in a soft warm glow, adding to the creepiness. My throat turned dry
as I walked the steps.
The shifter lay unmoving on the table, the sight made my stomach churn. I paused. Steeling myself once more, I walked the rest of the way and stopped beside him.
A chill crawled over me. Was he… alive?
7
His arms and legs were strapped down, his shirt sliced open. I glanced away, not wanting to see the gruesome cuts and bruising. I didn’t know if it was the same shifter that attacked me outside the academy, but guilt filled me all the same. If the witches weren’t involved, the man would never have come after me.
I scoffed at myself. Why did I feel guilty? If Grayson hadn’t stopped him, he would have gladly handed me over to the coven. A cold realization struck me. Is that what Manny was sent for? Did he kill my dad just to get to me?
A numbness spread over me. Was this all my fault?
The shifter turned toward me, his eyes fluttering open. “Water,” he croaked.
My heart leapt into my throat. I stepped back as his yellow cat-like eyes stared at me.
“Water.” His voice was strained.
I squeezed my sword tighter. “I don’t have any. But I’ll get you some. I promise. If you answer my questions.”
His eyes shut again, pain flashing across his face. Did the wolves drug him? Is that what kept him so docile? I’d seen the shifters in the prison withstand bullets and a whole group of guards. This one seemed much weaker.
“Were you at the academy? Did you… were you the one who attacked me?”
A groan came from him.
I watched and waited.
“Are they going to kill me?”
His question hit me like a brick. I couldn’t look him in the eye. Were they? I didn’t know for sure, but it seemed likely. Though he was the enemy, pity filled me at the terror in his voice.
He didn’t want to die. Did anyone? Papi’s coffin flashed in my mind, sorrow and anger returning full force.
“Did you attack me?”
A shattered breath escaped him. “I don’t know. I can’t remember. The blood takes over and I black out. Can’t remember.” He swallowed.
Fear rang through me. “What blood?”
He didn’t answer.
I stepped closer. “Do you know a guy named Manny? He’s a jaguar shifter from Sonoma. Have you met him?”