The Chase: Book 2 in The Hunt Series

by Alainna MacPherson

  He pulled away just as suddenly as he’d moved in. “You’re brilliant.” With that, he hoped off the bed, grabbed my hand and nearly dragged me up to pull me along behind him.

  In the hall, he grasped my shoulders and leaned in, like he was going to whisper. “Do your thing with the queen and I’ll take care of the other.” He pecked me on the forehead and turned towards the stairs, leaving me to walk solo back to the office.

  When I came back in, again, the queen looked like she was readying to leave, as I nearly bowled her over when I squeezed between the door jamb and Dom.

  Her surprised smile was hard to resist. The thrumming that coursed through the cells in my body was a response to being in her presence. I recognized that now. Just as Alistahr had pointed out. Did all faerie feel this way? What about the wolves and druids? I made a mental note to ask Gearden later.

  “Maeleigh. I wasn’t sure I’d get to say goodbye before we took our leave.” Her hair had to have flowed in some sort of magical breeze, because there wasn’t a single damn window open up here. It moved and swirled lightly against her shoulder.

  Ripping my eyes away from it, I pinned her with their defiance. I didn’t have to be happy about this for her to feel like she’d earned some semblance of trust. “I’ll train with you. But we do it here.”

  That didn’t sit well with her. The telltale way the crinkle near her eyes disappeared told me so. Her smile was no longer genuine. “Fine. If that will make you more comfortable.”

  “It does.” I snapped. “I also want you to train Caleb.”

  One silver eyebrow went up. “And is Caleb a druid?”

  “He is.”

  She considered it silently for a brief moment. “Very well, then. I agree to your terms.”

  I nodded and started to step away, then stepped back into place. “One last thing, make it go away.”

  She didn’t need me to tell her what it was I spoke of, she knew. The tilt of her head with what I think was a pitiful look, told me as much. “My dear, you can do that all on your own.”

  I frowned at her, confused at first, but then, remembering what Dad had said about imagining the peace within myself, and closed my eyes. I pictured my skin, free of the silver markings, free of the vines and roses. It wasn’t long before I heard the queen make a satisfied sound of approval. When I opened my eyes again, I didn’t need a mirror to know I’d succeeded.

  “I have a term of my own,” the queen proclaimed, and I waited. “You’ll have to do everything I ask of you. No questions ask.”

  Carefully, I replied, “Fine. I’ll do everything you asked.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Gearden

  Through the small crowd of people still milling about in the backyard, I made my way to Ro. He’d stayed behind, per Dad’s orders, when I left to go with Maeleigh to speak with the queen. Though he was my brother in every way that mattered, he had spent the first ten years of his life living a rogue’s life. His dad was a drunk and his mom had left to save herself. He took young Ro with him, only to help him with his scams. Ro would stake out the next targets for robberies and thievery. As small as he was then, it was easy for him to hide, and when he wasn’t hiding, he was easily overlooked as a threat. When he and his father stole Dad’s town car, Danny had tracked him down, finding a starving Ro when he did. Danny called my dad then, probably after giving the man a good beating, and he made a deal with him. He’d paid him to leave our territory and leave the kid, he just had to name his price. And he did.

  Ro kept those skills sharp with hunts we’d have. In the past, Dad used him to gather information when newcomers came into town. If Maeleigh needed a spy, Ro was our guy.

  Approaching the small group, including Bri, Collin and Freya, I leaned in, saying to him quietly, “I have a job for you.”

  Unfazed, he calmly looked at me, lifting a brow as he waited for more information.

  “Not here,” I told him.

  Jerking my head towards the garage, he and Bri followed me there. I pushed open the back door there and entered into the darkened space. The smell of gasoline and oil surrounded us when I shut it behind Bri.

  “What happened in there?” She asked.

  I glanced at her. “Later.” None too happy about being shut up, she huffed and crossed her arms across her chest. I ignored her temper tantrum and looked to Ro. “Maeleigh needs you to do something.”

  That got his attention. Of course, the protector did more than just protect his alpha’s mate. He also was at her service, as well. A calling that went deep and would war with whatever feelings he might have for his own future mate.

  “What is it?”

  “She wants you to spy on the queen.”

  “What?” Bri nearly shouted.

  “Shhh!” I glared at her and she actually looked contrite.

  Glancing around as if to make sure we are still alone, she spoke quieter. “Sorry. But you can’t be serious. That woman is made of magic. She’d smell him a mile away.”

  “I’ll do it.” Ro ignores the aghast look she shot him.

  “Keep your distance. But follow her when she leaves her home and keep tabs of who comes to visit her.” Knowing him, he’d risk more. “I mean it, Ro. We don’t need to know how often she pees at night. We just want to know who she sees, where she goes.”

  He didn’t say anything but at least he nodded. He’d better not get caught or else I’d have to tell Dad about everything and then we’d both be in trouble.

  “This is a bad idea, Gear,” Bri warned and I couldn’t argue. It was a bad idea, but we didn’t have a choice. Maeleigh didn’t trust the queen which meant I didn’t trust her either. We needed more information. If Maeleigh was going to be working with her until this whole prophecy thing came to an end, then we needed more information. At the moment we didn’t know her from Adam, and it wasn’t just Maeleigh’s safety I worried about, it was everyone’s; Lycan and druid alike.

  I gave her a look that told her there wasn’t any room for argument. Not now, not on this one. Ro had accepted the task and I expected he’d handle it alright. I just hoped he didn’t go rogue on me and get too close and be discovered. The last thing any of us needed was to offend the Unseelie queen.

  Bri clamped her mouth shut and gave me a nod, message received. “I’m going to head back to Maeleigh. Ro, you might want to get ready, the queen’s leaving soon. Maeleigh is talking to her right now. You might have time to snag a clean set of clothes and your toothbrush.

  “I’ve got gum,” was all he said as he walked through the garage to the old sedan parked at the end. It was a backup vehicle in case any of our cars were in the shop, no one ever really drove it. The inconspicuous tan color would make it perfect for him to stay under the radar.

  I glanced at Bri. “Come on.” We left the garage and went back out to the party that was starting to break up. It had been two hours since food started cooking and families visited with one another. The kids still played but I could see they were getting slower, their energy waning.

  Without glancing at Bri, I told her, “I’m going to find Maeleigh. Probably head to bed. I’m sure she’s tired.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Maeleigh

  Watching the expensive silver town car drive down the driveway, I stood as poised as I could until it was out of sight. The moment it was out of view I slumped against the doorjamb, exhaustion finally rearing its head. I’d been tamping it down since we got back. The chase had worn me out. That, and using my gifts. The energy the queen seemed to pulse into my body while she was here, seemed to leak out the moment she began to leave the house. I’d just made a deal with a very dangerous person, apparently. I just hoped that danger was for my enemies as well as hers. I had no idea what the hell I was doing with all this and, to add insult to injury, so far, no one else knew either. Any help they offered was that of guesses, ancient words passed down as fairytales with lost translations and various interpretations. I would have to take counsel where I
could from here on out. Danu was the only one I trusted. And even that didn’t make sense. I just knew I felt safe whenever I was in her presence. Like I was with Gearden, but even more. The peace my soul felt the last time I was in her favorite spot near the creek, was indescribable.

  Pushing away from the door, I turned to head inside and find my bed. It didn’t surprise me to see Gearden walking from the kitchen just then, his gaze meeting mine from the other end of the hall. Without words, we simultaneously walked to the stairs. His long strides quickly ate up the distance between us and I felt him hook his fingers into my back pocket as I trudged up the steps. Once in my room, he shut the door before turning me slowly around to face him, except the pace had changed. Something was off. Though his hands remained careful, they were rough as he gathered my shirt in his fists and started to drag it up and then over my head before my mind could spit out a clear thought to process what was happening. Before it could though, Luna took over. She recognized her mate…and so did I. When my hair fell away from my eyes, I saw his eyes had turned to a liquid silver. His wolf had taken over. I didn’t even need to contemplate the pros and cons of what we were starting, I knew it was bound to happen sooner, in fact I expected it a lot sooner. I’d already made up my mind if it ever came up again, and now it had.

  Crowding me, he pressed his hard chest to mine, my breasts, covered in my simple, white cotton bra, felt the heat from his skin and it warmed me. He backed me up until my legs bumped the bed. I didn’t let him push me down though. Luna wanted to give as much as she got. Pushing up on my toes, I pressed my lips to his in a burning kiss, begging for entrance, which he didn’t hesitate to answer, meeting mine with his own, a duel so familiar yet inconsumable. She’d been waiting for this moment just as much as I had. Slipping my hands under his shirt, brushing his waistband when I did, my fingers climbed their way up to his warm pectorals, and my thumbs ran over his flat nipples. He didn’t let me explore for long though. Leaning back, he reached behind him and yanked his shirt over his head. The sight of his bare chest had Luna growling and I found myself climbing up his body, my arms wrapping around his neck and shoulders as my legs anchored at his hips, locking behind his back. He supported me with a hand under my bottom and ravaged my back with his other, like he couldn’t get enough of me. I knew just the feeling for I felt the same in that moment. Tearing away from my mouth, he trailed hot licks and kisses along my cheek, under my jaw, and down my neck to rest on his marks at the juncture there. My nails dug into his skin as he clamped his teeth at the imprints. He didn’t puncture the skin, but a renewed feeling as if he’d just made them sent a shudder wracking through my whole body, making my body weak. I must have gone limp on him suddenly, it was kind of a blur, but I found myself being gently laid out on the bed, his body never parting from mine.

  He ran a hand down the length of my side, gripping the back of my thigh, giving it an appreciative squeeze before releasing it and moving to the button of my jeans. I didn’t even think to stall him. I knew what I wanted. He was mine just as much as I was his. My mate.

  He deftly undid my jeans and started to peel it over my hips. Breaking away, he pushed up to pulled them the rest of the way down and off my legs, taking my underwear with them. The sudden cool air had my skin breaking out in goosebumps as he did the same with his own pants. He quickly remedied the chill when he returned to lay his body flush to mine.

  I reached up to comb my hand into his hair, gripping it at his neck to bring his mouth back down to me. Like a snake, though, his hand clamped around my wrist to hold me still. A flash of irritation came over Luna and had me hissing at him. Did wolves hiss?

  Drugged-like, my eyes focused on his and saw the flash there, from green to gray and back again. Gearden was trying to regain control over his wolf, but it was a struggle. I realized then that he may not want this, at least not as much as I did. Was he just a slave to his wolf right now?

  “Are you sure?” The strain in his words were apparent. I smiled at the care he had to battle with his wolf in order to make sure I was safe. What would he do if I told him no, I wondered? But I didn’t, I wouldn’t. I wanted this. I so wanted this.

  With my free hand, I touched my own mark that I’d left on his flesh. Tracing it, I smiled at him. “I’m sure.”

  With that his eyes turned a milky green, as if both his wolf and human persona were in agreement. At least temporarily.

  He released my hand and dove in for a mad kiss, nipping my bottom lip and tangling his tongue with mine.

  I’d never felt anything like it. The pleasure was something I’m sure no books could ever fully describe. He took care but he wasn’t gentle either. I don’t think Luna would have been satisfied with just gentle. Our wolves were perfect for each other, it seemed. But then, I wasn’t sure what I expected in that aspect. He was an alpha, would more than likely lead the pack when his dad stepped down, he needed a wolf with just as strong a nature as his. And even though the human side of me was still out of sorts and lost at time with this whole shifting and magic thing, my wolf was happy to lead and show me the way.

  ***

  Life went back to normal the next week. We all went back to school, listened to the same old lectures and ate the same boring lunches. Brianna, Gearden and I turned in our project— thank Goddess that was over— And Gearden finally asked me to the homecoming dance. After school on Friday, I asked Gearden to drive me to mom’s work at the newspaper. Dad had said she was taking more jobs and even doing some freelance work for a sister magazine, probably to keep from becoming idle enough to think about all that was happening at home. Well, if she were staying at home, that is. She’d been staying at a hotel since she found out about Dad’s lies. I didn’t blame her one bit, seeing as how I hadn’t been back home either. I didn’t think I’d ever return now. It wasn’t my home anymore, Gearden was.

  “Do you want me to go in with you?” I could feel Gearden watching me as I stared at the brick business building from inside the car.

  Turning, I just shook my head. He shut off the engine and turned up the music, the rattle under my feet telling me it was something hard. Leaning across the console, I gave him a quick kiss, unbuckled and pushed open my door.

  Before Mom and Dad had taken me out of public school when I was younger, I’d been sent to the principal’s office. A boy sitting next to me made a rude face at me when I signed to my interpreter. He’d been doing it since the school year started. When another boy sitting across from me joined in, I’d lost it and screamed at them to stop. The teacher, of course, didn’t see their end of the altercation so it was just me that took that daunting walk to the office, my interpreter trailing behind me. She’d tried to defend me, but the teacher stood her ground that I was the one who had disrupted the class. I still remember how my heart felt like it was going to leap up my throat and choke me and how sweaty my palms got. The tears stung my eyes but the fear kept them from falling.

  That’s how I felt as I walked up the path to the news building. Except this time the feelings inside were even more conflicted. That day in the past, I knew my parents would still love me even if I was in trouble, today was different.

  My muscles felt weak as I pulled open the glass door and stepped into a busy room full of cubicles and people walking about in clipped strides. On nearly every wall there was at least three flatscreen televisions showing a different news channel.

  When someone at a desk nearest to the door spotted me, she asked me something, which I completely missed. Smiling at her, I just said, “Rebecca Thompson?”

  Smiling she turned and hollered, probably calling for mom, over the bustle. Looking in the direction she called out, I saw mom’s head pop up like a gopher over a cubicle wall towards the center. She spotted me right away. This was it. I waited in a small panic, wondering if she’d even talk to me. She could easily use the excuse of a busy day and duck out. Would she even come over?

  Before the next dreadful thought took over, she smiled, making my heart s
tudder and lungs rattle out a shaky breath I’d been holding. She made quick work through the maze of fake walls and finally came through to meet me. I guess I expected an awkward talk of hurt feelings and the apology that was on the tip of my tongue to burst forth, but she had other ideas. Without hesitation, she wrapped me up in a hug that only a parent could give their child, holding me tightly to her and clasping my head to her shoulder, forcing my cheek to press against hers. I let go of it all right then. Every nerve-wracking emotion came to the surface, wrenching sobs from my throat. I couldn’t control them and frankly, I didn’t care to. My mom was holding me, and my world was finally starting to make sense again.

  We arrived back at the house a few hours later. Mom had clocked out early from work to take me out for an early dinner, Gearden, too. He tried to graciously duck out, giving us time to be alone, but mom would have none of that. We talked about school, where she was staying now, the new assignment she had currently at work. She didn’t once ask me about what it was like to be a druid and I was grateful for it. I didn’t want us to only have the bad between us, I wanted it to be like it was before my world was turned upside down. Before Dad’s secrets came to the front. I’d tell her eventually, but for now, it was perfect. I entered the mudroom ahead of him, flicking on the light. Toeing off my shoes, I slid them into the corner beside the washer and walked into the kitchen. Jolleen and Liam were there, sitting quietly as they shared a glass of wine together at the table. A smile tugged at my lips at the romantic picture they made. Jolleen signed “HELLO” in my direction and I waved back. “GOOD DAY?” She asked.

  I smiled again; this one felt a little silly, but I didn’t care. “I talked to my mom.”

  Jolleen abandoned her mate and drink and walked over to give me a squeeze. As she pulled away, Gearden joined us, receiving a hug of his own from her.