by Bethany Shaw
“Harder,” Enid rasped against his mouth.
Alex grunted as he pushed into her harder, faster. Enid clung to him as she nipped at his lower lip, catching it between her teeth and sucking it into her mouth. She released his lip and peppered him with open-mouthed kisses along his jaw, down his neck, and then to his ears.
He’d forgotten how much of a biter she was. God, do I love it. Her teeth grazed over his lobe and he grunted, tilting his head to give her better access.
He shuddered as her warm breath ghosted over his ear. She gripped him tighter, pulling him closer as her body trembled.
“Alex,” she mumbled over and over again as her orgasm flooded over his cock.
Alex lifted her hips higher, finding a new angle. He thrust a few more times before he followed her over the edge.
Enid tipped her head back, resting it against the rock wall as she panted. Alex kissed her shoulders as he set her back on her feet.
He could spend every day of the rest of his life in these caves if Enid were here. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to stay, can I?” he questioned.
Enid pulled away and slid her pants back on along with her hoodie. She fluffed her hair, dragging her fingers through the locks as she attempted to comb it. “No.”
“You’re being reckless,” he cautioned.
She shook her head. “They’re coming back for something. I want to know what it is,” she countered.
“How do you find something when you don’t even know what you’re looking for?” he questioned as he yanked his jeans up and buttoned them.
Enid huffed as she twirled her hair up on the top of her head. She pulled an elastic band off her wrist and tied it at the nape of her neck, allowing wisps to fall out around her face. “I don’t know, but we have to try.” She looked away and then back to him. “That’s the last place Nik was before he disappeared,” she lowered her voice to a whisper. “I might find answers about what happened to him there.”
“You haven’t been there since he disappeared,” he guessed.
She shook her head.
“It’s been eight years, Enid. The chances of finding something useful are highly unlikely,” he pointed out as he rested his hands on her shoulders. “Once the illness became widespread, people panicked. Stores were looted and thrashed.”
“He’s the only family I have left...I don’t know what happened to him. What if he’s still out there somewhere? This could be my only chance to get a lead. After everything went down, the witches were all over the store. We never got to investigate it and then the Flu got worse and...” she trailed off as her eyes darted back to the floor. “I just want some answers and if I can get something to help us against the witches in the process then that’s just icing on the cake.”
“If it was just me I’d go with you in a heartbeat,” he told her.
“I’m not asking you to leave Cori,” she assured. “Stay with her. Cherish your little girl. But I’m going and you’re not going to talk me out of it. Speaking of, there are a few things I should do before tonight. If I don’t see you again before I leave, good bye.”
She reached up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss to his lips before brushing past him.
Alex closed his eyes and let out a breath. What if this goodbye is her final goodbye? Now what am I going to do?
Chapter Five
Enid stuffed a few bran muffins onto her plate, shoving her deer jerky to the side to make room for them.
“Hey, Enid, have you seen my dad this morning?” Cori asked as she joined her at the buffet.
“We had an early morning meeting with Darren. I haven’t seen him since,” she admitted as she looked up and scanned the room. Even though she’d bathed, Alex’s scent lingered all over her from their personal “morning meeting.” It wouldn’t be hard for anyone to guess what her and the other alpha had been up to. I don’t know how much Cori knows about wolves and mating, but I sure don’t want to be the one to tell her. Where is Alex?
Alex wasn’t here.
“Oh. Was it about the trip into town?” Cori whispered.
Enid frowned and turned to the girl.
Cori smiled with a shrug. “Parker told his girls he was leaving. They told me.”
Enid nodded. Kids will be kids.
“Is my dad going?” Cori questioned.
“I don’t think so,” Enid told her honestly. It would be nice to have Alex watching her back, but she understood his need to stay with Cori. If her boys were here she’d have second thoughts, too.
“Are you going?” Cori wondered as she grabbed a handful of jerky and dropped it onto her plate.
Enid stared at the girl for a minute before grabbing another piece of jerky. “Yeah, I am.”
“Oh.” Her lips turned down into a pout.
“It will be fine,” Enid assured. “I grew up here. I know the ins and outs of this land like the back of my hand.”
“You’ll be careful out there, right?” Cori worried as she squeezed a pair of tongs repeatedly in her hand before finally grasping a muffin with them. “Our journey to Mount Rainier was dangerous. There are humans everywhere, setting things up so they can move more people back into the abandoned cities.”
“We’ll stay off the roads. It will be perfectly safe and I’ll be back before you know it,” she chuckled. It had been a long time since someone had worried about her wellbeing. “Sit with me?” she offered, inclining her head to an open table.
Cori bobbed her head up and down as she plucked a few more items from the buffet and set them on her plate. The girl followed Enid to the table and they both took a seat.
“So, are there any other kids in your pack?” Enid wondered as she took a bite of her muffin.
“Yeah. Eric and Dale. They’re three years older than me. I’m glad there are some girls my age here,” Cori confided.
“It’s always nice to have other girls to talk to. Especially ones that are your own age,” Enid agreed. Like you’re one to talk. When is the last time you spoke to anyone for any length of time?
Enid pursed her lips, realizing she’d invited Cori to have breakfast with her. It was easy to push Alex away—sort of, but Cori was the same age Chase would have been this year—twelve. Her heart skipped a beat at the reminder and she forced the food in her mouth down her throat and guzzled down her water.
“Katie even has some makeup,” Cori went on as she beamed. “I can’t wait to try it out. I hope my dad doesn’t freak out over it though.”
Enid crinkled her nose. Whatever makeup the girl had must be really old. She’d never been big on it when she’d had access to it. Give her lip balm over lipstick any day.
“I’m sure he won’t mind,” she replied.
“You know my dad well?” Cori asked tipping her head to the side.
Enid nodded. It had been years since their romance, but if the past few days were any indicator, he hadn’t changed much. “We were good friends during my brief stay in Tacoma.”
“Even though your parents didn’t like each other?” Cori questioned around another mouthful of food.
“Our fathers had a dispute that turned very ugly. To be honest, I’m not even really sure what it was about. Anyway, they weren’t too happy when they found out Alex and I were friends with each other.” That was putting it mildly. They’d been threatened with banishment from their packs.
What would have happened if she and Alex had run off together? Cori wouldn’t be here. Chase and James would’ve never been born. She could’ve spared herself a lot of heartaches. Tears pricked at her eyes and she cleared her throat. Even though she’d lost both of her boys, she wouldn’t trade the time she’d had with them for anything in the world.
“There you are,” Alex’s voice boomed over Enid’s shoulder.
A plate dropped down beside her as the chair next to her was tugged out.
“Sorry,” Cori smiled. “You were gone and I was starving.”
Alex turned to Enid. “Hi.”
Enid shivered under his stare, her insides trembling as she recalled their encounter this morning. Heat pooled in her belly and she clenched her thighs together hoping her arousal wouldn’t permeate the air.
“I heard about the trip, Dad,” Cori began, tearing off a piece of jerky.
“You told her?” Alex lifted his brow as he met Enid’s eyes.
“No!” Cori rolled her eyes.
“I should’ve known you would find out before I could tell you,” he sighed. “Sometimes you’re too nosy for your own good.”
“That’s part of being a good alpha,” she reminded as her eyes lit up.
Alex chuckled as he set his napkin in his lap.
“Enid says you’re not going,” Cori replied. “Is it because of me?”
“We’re new here, Cori. I can’t leave you and...if something were to happen to me...” he trailed off as he picked up his fork.
“It sounds important, Dad. Besides, Alice is always happy to have me over,” she pointed out.
Alex blew out a breath. “Why do you want me to go?”
“You went out all the time at home,” she pointed out.
“I did,” he agreed. “But I knew you’d be safe there.”
“You don’t trust Darren?” Enid questioned.
“Enforcing a mating rule isn’t ideal. What if he lowers the age?” he questioned.
“Darren is a sensible guy,” she told him, following his gaze to Cori.
“Is he?” Alex probed.
Enid took a bite of her jerky and set it down on her plate. If she had a little girl would she feel any differently? She eyed Cori as the girl tore into her food. “She’s only twelve, Alex.” Cori was too young to mate. The girl wouldn’t have a heat cycle until at least sixteen or seventeen.
“Well, she won’t always be twelve,” he quipped.
Enid nodded. He had a point.
“And you won’t be gone but a few days,” Cori piped up.
Enid took another bite. Even though Cori didn’t appear to be listening, clearly she was.
“You’re being a little pushy, aren’t you?” Alex replied as he lifted his brow.
Cori rolled her eyes. “Dad, we lost our home. This place is our last resort—it’s everyone's. If we lose Mount Rainier we’re goners.”
Enid narrowed her eyes as she stared at the girl. “Are you sure you’re only twelve?”
Cori giggled and gave her a big grin. “Yep. But everyone tells me I spend too much time with my dad.”
“It probably is my fault. I haven’t given her a proper childhood. There aren’t any other kids in our pack. That probably didn’t help,” Alex admitted. “Are you sure you will be okay here?”
“Alice is like a big sister. I’ll be fine,” Cori assured. “Besides, Katie, Parker’s daughter, is quickly becoming my best friend.” Her eyes snapped to the entryway as the girl in question strode in with her older sister. “Can I be excused?”
Alex nodded at his daughter around a bite of food. Cori didn’t need to be told twice. She popped up from her seat and bolted to Katie.
“It’s good to see her making friends.” Alex turned to Enid. “I guess I’m in.”
Enid squirmed in her chair as her heart skipped a beat. He was coming with her. “Are you sure?” she questioned, flicking her gaze to Cori who was speaking animatedly with Katie.
“Yeah. If we lose the mountain, Cori won’t have a place to call home. She’s not losing two homes,” he insisted. “It’s bad enough she’s lost her home and half of her family. I won’t let her lose anything else.”
“I’m sorry about Melissa and Tate,” Enid told him in a whisper.
Alex cleared his throat. “Carter... was he good to you?”
Enid smiled as she chewed what was in her mouth. “Carter was a great guy. He was a good friend and an even better father to our boys,” she spoke honestly. Her love for him hadn’t been the same as it had for Alex, but she had cared for her mate.
“Your dad forced you into that relationship as soon as you got back home, huh?” he sighed as he looked over her shoulder.
Enid picked at her muffin. “I fought with him about it, but I couldn’t shame the pack. He’d already promised me to Carter and if I’d fled back to you it would have hurt my entire pack. I couldn’t do that to them.”
“Don’t apologize for being loyal to your pack—your family,” he assured.
“Carter was kind enough to allow me to stay here. Not many men grant their mate’s wish to stay with their pack family.” Enid smiled as she plucked a piece of muffin off and popped it in her mouth.
“I’m glad the two of you were happy,” he told her.
“What about you and Melissa?” she wondered. Had he been happy with his mate?
Alex met her gaze. “She was a good mother to our kids, but honestly, I could never love her. She wasn’t you.”
Her heart skipped a beat at his admission and she swallowed hard as she held his gaze. Warmth flooded her chest and the pesky emotions she was trying to keep at bay crept back in. I don’t want to fall for him. I don’t want to get hurt again.
Enid nodded as she stood up. “I’m sorry you weren’t happier. If you’ll excuse me I have a few things to attend to before we go. We leave at dusk. I’ll see you then.” She didn’t give him a chance to respond before she strode out of the common area and into the comfort of the tunnels she knew so well.
***
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Alex asked as he tossed a small duffel bag over his shoulder.
Cori nodded as she wrapped her tiny arms around his middle. “I’ll do everything Alice asks,” she assured.
“I can stay if you want me to,” he reminded as he squeezed her tighter. Part of him didn’t want to leave, the other part wanted to ensure Enid was safe.
Cori pulled back and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You like her, Dad.”
“What?” he smiled as he shook his head.
“Enid. I’ve never seen you look at someone like that. She needs you more than I do right now,” she whispered as she shifted on her feet.
“You’re too grown,” he sighed.
“I’ve had to grow up fast,” she murmured. “It’s the world we live in now.”
“Maybe I’ve been too hard on you,” Alex grunted as he placed his hands on her shoulders.
“You trained me to be a leader, but you’re also a caring father,” Cori told him with a smile. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too,” he said, pulling her into another hug. “Be good while I’m gone, promise?”
Cori nodded against his shoulder.
“Do you like Enid?” he questioned as he pulled back and stared at his daughter.
Cori beamed and bobbed her head up and down. “I do. She’s nice, but seems really sad.”
“She lost everyone to the Wolf Flu,” he told Cori with a sigh.
“That sucks,” Cori said as she looked at the floor.
“It does,” he agreed. “Take care of yourself. I’ll be back in a few days,” he said bending down and kissing her forehead.
“See you soon,” Cori said as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Alex met her eyes one last time before he made his way back into the main tunnel. Leaving Cori was never easy. There were no guarantees in the world they lived in, but she was safe, and his daughter was right—Enid needed him.
He nodded at a few men and women as he pressed through the cavern and into the cafeteria. Enid, Parker, and Martin were already sitting at a table with Darren. He had a map rolled out and Enid was pointing to it as she spoke.
Alex tugged his bag up higher and made his way over to the meeting.
“You’re late,” Darren commented as he looked up.
“I was saying goodbye to my daughter,” he growled as he leveled Darren with a glare.
“It’s always rough,” Parker commented as he clapped him on the shoulder. “Leaving my two girls behind is the hardest thing.”
Alex offered
the other guy a smile. Parker seemed like a decent enough guy.
“All right, to recap,” Enid spoke up, meeting his gaze before darting her eyes back to the map. “Parker is going to set up here.” She tapped a spot on the map. “Martin will go here.” She pointed to another spot. “The shop we are going to is right here. If we find what we need and have a chance to set up. This will be the best spot to take a shot. We’ll only have one chance at this. If we blow it, the witches could use magic to deflect our bullets. Nobody fires without my order.” Enid glanced up meeting everyone’s eyes.
Parker and Martin both nodded and she turned to Alex. “Got it. Any idea what we are looking for?” he questioned, hating that they were going on a wild goose chase.
Darren cleared his throat. “There has been more chatter as they iron out the details of the trip. You and Enid should have a full twelve hours before the witches arrive to conduct your search. What they are looking for...” he trailed off and shook his head with a sigh.
“Chloe Sullivan’s family owned Apothecary. They were big on spells and potions. If I had to guess, we are looking for a book,” Enid answered as she folded her arms over her chest.
“A spell book?” Alex asked.
She nodded. “Yeah. If I’m right and that is what they are seeking, then it's important we find it first.”
“Why?” Alex wondered.
Enid licked her lips. “What do you think started the Wolf Flu?”
Alex gaped, swallowing hard. “A potion or a spell.”
“Maybe that’s why Nik attacked the witch,” Darren guessed. “He knew what she and the coven were up to.”
But Enid doesn’t think Nik had anything to do with the witch’s disappearance? Has she not told him her theory? He glanced to Enid as she twirled her hair up at the base of her neck.
“We should gather our weapons and get going. Does anyone have any questions?” she asked, glancing around.
Alex shook his head. He cast one more glance around the caves and vowed he’d be back soon to see Cori. The sooner they got this over with, the better.
Chapter Six