by S. Young
At least she had two lykans on her side.
Climbing into Jaeden’s Buick, Caia felt like she could breathe again. Her first day of school had gone as expected, except for the overwhelming sense of pack being thrust upon her. Even when one of them hadn’t been in a class with her, she’d felt their energy throughout the school.
She threw a tired smile at Jaeden. “That was interesting.”
“Cy, I’m sorry about Mal.”
“Don’t be. He’s harmless, right?”
“Oh yeah,” she agreed quickly. “But, well, it can’t be easy for you coming back to all this. You don’t need a jerk like Malek sniffing after you. It’ll only cause more grief.”
Caia smiled. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
Caia shrugged, embarrassed. She had never had a friend, so she wasn’t quite sure how you were supposed to talk with one. “I don’t know. For being cool, I guess. You and Sebastian.”
“Cool? About what?”
“I don’t know. You’ve just been really nice to me.”
“Oh.” She smiled, seeming to understand. “You mean because every other bitch at that table thinks you’re a threat? First they want to figure out if you’re competition—are you into boys or girls—and then your threat level will go up or down depending on their own preference and the object of their affection’s preference.”
“Ah, okay.”
“So what is it? Boys or girls?”
She thought of the flush of attraction she’d felt toward a man she’d be an idiot to turn her attention to. “Boys.”
“Cool. I’ll let them know.”
“Does that make me a threat to you?”
“As long as you leave Ryder alone, we’ll be cool, my friend.”
“Ryder?”
Jaeden’s brow rose with a quizzical tilt. “You know, the big guy who was with Lucien last night. He’s Lucien’s best friend, and a Rogue Hunter.”
She honestly hadn’t noticed any big guy next to Lucien last night. She’d been preoccupied with that big guy all by himself. “Nope. Sorry.”
Jaeden chuckled. “You’ll meet him soon enough. But things look good for us if you didn’t even notice him last night. He’s pretty hard to miss.”
Jaeden grumbled about French class and projects and, for what had to be the hundredth time that day, made Caia feel like she had been her friend forever. So lost in Jaeden’s warm chatter, she was surprised to realize the car had stopped, not at the house but in town.
“Why?” she asked, indicating their unfamiliar surroundings with a sweep of her hand. Jaeden nodded to the store they’d pulled in front of. It was called Lunar Furniture. Caia snorted. “That’s subtle.”
Giggling, Jaeden reached into the back seat for Caia’s backpack. “Yup. Lucien’s not exactly a subtle kind of Alpha.”
“This is Lucien’s place?”
“He asked me to drop you off after school.”
“Why?”
“No idea, sorry.”
Caia tried not to anxiously bite her lip. “Thanks for the ride.”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
She reached for the door handle to get out, and then glanced back at Jaeden. “And thanks again for … well … you made today a lot easier for me.”
The young lykan’s smile lit up the whole car. “I’m really glad you’re back, Cy.”
Smiling despite herself, Caia climbed out of the Buick, waved goodbye to Jaeden, and walked into the store. All was quiet with no one manning the front. Taking in a set of doors at the back of the room, Caia guessed Lucien was in there somewhere. It was a large space, the showroom filled with all kinds of furniture. She looked over some of it, awed at how beautifully crafted the pieces were. His work came in all styles and woods. Stunning.
Amazed, she shook her head and then thoughtlessly turned over a tag on one of the rocking chairs. Her eyes widened. That’s how Lucien was able to contribute so thoroughly to the already substantial pack inheritance. Entranced by the rustic whimsy of the chair, Caia didn’t hear Lucien come up behind her.
“How was school?” the dark voice rumbled at her ear.
“Wha—” She jumped, whirling to face him, her hand floating to her heart in reflex. Damn it. She breathed. She didn’t want him to know how much he unnerved her but his gentle, mocking laughter told her that ship had sailed.
“Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Yeah, well, if your intention is not to scare people, don’t sneak up on them.”
“I thought you would have at least smelled me. I picked up your scent. That’s how I knew you were here.”
She shook her head, gaze returning to the rocking chair. She didn’t want to analyze the rush of hot shivers that ran down her spine when he mentioned he’d followed her scent. She was acting like an moron where he was concerned.
“I was too busy looking at this chair. It’s really beautiful.”
“Thank you,” he acknowledged and took a step back from her. Her body appreciated it and began to function normally again. “How was school?” he repeated.
“Fine. I met Dana and Daniel, Sebastian, Alexa, Finlay, and their brother, Malek.”
“How was that?” His tone suggested he knew how uncomfortable it must have been for her.
“Again, fine.” No way was she going to let him think this was hard for her. From what she knew of Pack Leaders, he’d treat her like a baby otherwise.
“Just fine?”
“They’re nice.”
Lucien laughed outright. “Nice? No. Uh, I’ve met Dana, Alexa, and Malek, and they’re not nice.”
“Well … the others were nice.”
“And …?”
“And nothing.”
He quirked an eyebrow in a disarming way.
Caia answered his unspoken question. “I’m trying to get along with everyone here. If I have the Pack Leader running to them every time I’ve got a problem, they’re going to hate me.”
“So there is a problem?”
Caia felt a growl purring at the back of her throat. She never growled. “No,” she said between clenched teeth.
He seemed to take the hint. Kind of. “Your classes okay?”
“Yes. Thank you. They’re fine.”
A moment of silence descended upon them. She squirmed beneath the study of his silver eyes. She hated that he affected her so much. When she couldn’t take it any longer, she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. “Why did you have Jaeden drop me off here?”
She thought he wasn’t going to answer. He stood staring at her for what seemed like hours and then suddenly straightened from the desk he’d been leaning on. “I wanted to hear how your first day went.”
“Couldn’t you have asked me when you got home?” Her tone a little mulish.
His eyebrows rose in amusement. “You’re not used to people and the whole art of conversation thing yet, huh?”
“You talk about me like I’ve been locked in a dungeon for the last eleven years.” Caia sighed. “I have spoken to people, you know. I’ve been known to converse with teachers, deliverymen, the mail guy … all manner of folks.”
He chuckled. “Were you rude to those people too?”
“I didn’t mean to be rude. I was just surprised at being dropped off here, that’s all.”
His continued attention was unnerving. Caia blushed. Goddess, was the guy trying to make her appear like a bumbling backwoods outsider?
“I’m finished for the day. I’ll drive you home.”
Confused, Caia watched him saunter across the store and disappear into the back room. “Couldn’t Jaeden have …” Her voice trailed off as she glanced around, perplexed. “Never mind.”
5
Watering Hole
That night Caia experienced her first family dinner in Lucien’s home.
The drive to his house was interesting to say the least. Like her, he didn’t seem to be much of a talker, but it was obvious he was trying to make an effor
t. He’d started by asking her about her old school, what her teachers were like, what subjects she enjoyed …
After a lull, he cleared his throat as if trying to come up with something else to say. Finally, a noise of what she assumed was satisfaction rumbled from under his breath. “You like music?”
Caia nodded, trying not to smile in amusement. The guy was pretty adorable, she decided, when he was attempting to be normal.
He glanced at her, frowning, unamused by her less than helpful response. “I’m trying here.”
“I know.” She nodded with laughter in her voice. “You don’t have to.”
The look he gave her was almost admonishing, and she blanched under its complexity. He was so serious, so intense. “Yes, I do.”
She was caught in his gaze. “The road,” she reminded him, although her voice was a less controlled, huskier version of itself.
Lucien flashed her a wicked smile. Caia didn’t know if he was mocking her for distrusting his driving or for her girlish response to him. Males, Caia though. How did she cope with them after a decade without them?
The Alpha chuckled at the sound of her groan. “You okay?”
“Fine.”
“Fine,” she heard him mutter. “Always fine.”
Disconcerted by the tension between them, Caia was relieved when they reached the Líder’s home. She wasn’t so relieved when she spotted two other vehicles in Lucien’s driveway. Her gaze was questioning as they got out of his car.
“It’s just Magnus and Ryder,” Lucien said.
“They’re here for dinner?” Or are they checking up on me?
She bit her lip as they walked toward the house. Ryder, Jaeden had explained, was the pack’s own true-blue hero. He was a Rogue Hunter, which meant he dealt out justice to any lykan who broke the law—any who killed humans for pleasure. Was the hunter inspecting her?
Her thoughts must have betrayed her because Lucien explained, “You’ll be seeing a lot of Ryder. He’s a bachelor and can’t cook, so he either comes here for dinner or goes to the diner owned by his mother, Yvana.”
Oh. She let go of the breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. Her nerves really couldn’t have taken the Spanish Inquisition tonight.
As soon as Caia stepped through the front door, Irini bounded at her, excitement sparkling in her eyes. “How was school? Was everything okay? Were the others nice to you?”
Caia smiled. It was nice that Irini was still interested in her. She’d half expected with Irini’s newfound freedom, she’d want to forget the person responsible for her “imprisonment.”
“Everything was fine. Really. I’m okay.”
“You let me know if anyone bothers you.”
Caia chuckled, remembering her giving a similar demand when she’d begun the ninth grade. “I will.”
“Guess what?” Irini whispered.
Caia’s bag was heavy and her stomach rumbled, but she smiled as she asked the expected question. Irini didn’t answer at first, just smirked mischievously at Lucien as he walked around them and into the kitchen. Caia could hear more than one male greet him, as well as the soft cadence of Ella’s voice.
“We have guests.”
Caia glanced meaningfully behind her at the driveway. “I gathered that.”
“Aidan’s here.” Irini hungrily ran her tongue across the bottom of her top row of teeth.
“Aidan?”
“Ssshh.” Her eyes darted back to the kitchen. “Ryder’s brother,” Irini whispered, “the one who got away.”
Her eyes were round, sad, but hopeful. Caia peered beyond her to the kitchen door. It had never occurred to her that when Irini had run into hiding with her, she’d left more than her family behind.
“Irini, I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Wha—”
“Caia,” Ella interrupted, appearing in the hallway. “How was your first day at school?”
How many times was she going to have to lie today? “It was fine.”
“Good. Come on in, honey. Dinner’s ready.”
The sight that greeted her in the kitchen was more intimidating than having met all the pack at the same time. The intimate setting, a table set for seven, four of which were for large lykan males, made Caia’s smile of hello tremulous.
Magnus strode over to her, drawing her to his side. He gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze. “You okay?”
She nodded, craning her neck to look up at him. He was genuinely happy to see her.
“Cy, this is Ryder.” He nodded to the lykan standing next to Lucien. He was about an inch smaller than the Alpha but shared a similar build. His features weren’t as rugged as Lucien’s; he had constant humor in his eyes and a warm quirk to his top lip. The shaggy, brown mess of his hair only added to his approachable appeal.
“And this is Aidan.”
Aidan, an almost mirror image of his brother, except for the straight blond of his hair, stood directly across from Ryder.
“Hi.” They waved in sync.
She knew she’d most likely met them last night but was grateful Magnus thought to reintroduce them.
Ella had laid out a beautiful dinner—filet of beef and all the trimmings. Caia smiled secretly, thinking Irini hadn’t inherited her mother’s culinary abilities. For the longest time, the two of them had enjoyed many a microwavable meal until Caia was old enough to start experimenting with cooking. From then on, she had prepared all their meals.
She tried to offer Ella help but was shooed into a seat between Magnus and Irini, and proceeded to watch the males pile incredible amounts of food onto their plates. She hadn’t touched her own plate yet, her eyes jumping from Lucien to Ryder to Aidan to Magnus as they wolfed their dinner down. Irini chuckled and then elbowed her. Stop staring and eat, her expression said.
Ella laughed. “Don’t mind them, honey. They’re just animals. You’ll get used to them.”
Ryder choked in amusement as he took a swig of water, and Aidan and Magnus grinned.
Lucien was oblivious. “What?”
This set them off again.
“We’ve frightened Caia with our nonexistent manners,” Aidan explained, smiling at her.
“No, no—” she tried to protest.
Lucien frowned. “We’re just eating.”
“Caia’s not used to eating at the watering hole.” Irini smiled flirtatiously at Aidan, who winked in response.
“You will get used to us, Cy,” Ryder assured her. “Eventually.”
She blushed, afraid she’d made them uncomfortable. But as their amusement lingered, she realized it would take a lot more than that to offend them. Finally, she turned to her own plate.
“This is delicious, Ella, thank you,” she praised between bites.
“Why, thanks, honey.” Ella preened, and then flicked her fork at the others. “This lot never say thanks.”
A rumble of muted thank-yous swam toward her as the men spoke with meat in their mouths.
“Ugh, guys,” Irini complained, “save the thanks and just chew.”
“I don’t remember you being so cheeky.” Aidan smiled appreciatively at her.
“I grew up.”
“I noticed.”
Magnus cleared his throat, his eyes darting to Lucien. The Alpha had stopped eating, his narrowed gaze fixed on his sister and Aidan.
“Sooo,” Ryder drawled, breaking Lucien’s scrutiny and saving his brother, “Caia, you like movies?”
Everyone but Caia and Irini grumbled at the subject choice.
“What?” Ryder huffed.
“When Ryder isn’t mutilating rogues with his bare hands, he’s strapped to an armchair in front of his Blu-ray player,” Lucien explained to Caia with exaggerated weariness.
Ryder shrugged. “I love movies.”
Caia decided she liked this amiable lykan. “I love movies, too,” she offered, grasping any opportunity to bond with another member of the pack, particularly one who was so highly regarded.
Ryder’s
eyes lit up. “Yeah?”
She nodded, stupidly pleased with the warmth in his expression.
“Who’s your favorite director?”
She mused for a bit as she chewed on a piece of exquisite beef. “Truth?”
“Shoot me with it.”
“I can’t quite make my mind up between Tarantino and Tony Scott.”
The lykan let out a delighted laugh and clutched his chest dramatically. “Well, I think I might be in love.”
Caia’s cheeks grew hot. She’d never been a blusher before returning to the pack.
Now she bit the inside of her cheek, willing the redness to go away.
Her eyes caught Lucien’s and he scowled, turning toward Ryder. Something rattled in his chest, something an awful lot like a growl. What the hell?
Everyone, including Ryder, ignored him. “Have you seen Underworld?”
Shaking off Lucien’s weirdness, Caia chuckled. “Yes, I have. I swear it was written by one of us.”
“I think we could take those CGI lykans.”
She laughed again, and he leaned conspiratorially across the table toward her. “Who do you think would win in a fight? Lucien”—he indicated their Pack Leader with a tilt of his head—“or Lucian?” He referred to the “lycan” leader of the film franchise.
“What?” Lucien asked. She suspected he didn’t like being out of the loop on anything.
“Hmm.” Caia pretended to think. “Lucian is pretty tough … he can squeeze bullets out of his head. I don’t think even Lucien can do that.”
“Yeah, but silver hurts Lucian. Lucien would just laugh at a silver bullet.”
“That’s true.”
“What the hell are they talking about?” Lucien grumbled to the rest of the table.
Magnus smiled. “I don’t know, but it looks like Ry has found a fellow movie buff.”
“Ry and Cy.” Irini snorted like a teenager.
Aidan laughed with her and then quieted down at the dirty look Lucien threw them.
Ryder smiled at Caia and returned to his food. She, however, was confused. She’d been trying to bond with a member of the pack—wasn’t that what Lucien wanted?
Weird, moody, beast of a lykan.