“Can I get you two anything else?” Lucille offered once she had set down Donovan’s plate as well.
“Some privacy, please,” the alpha said.
Lucille’s eyes passed over him and then June. After a second, she slipped a hand into the front pocket of her jeans, taking out a key ring. Placing it on the table, she said, “Don’t worry about the dishes, just lock the front door when you leave and put the key under the mat. I’ll come back later to clean up before the dinner rush.”
Donovan pocketed the keys and quickly rushed out, “Sorry if we’re imposing on you, Luce. I’ll make sure you profit from today, I promise.”
“I may be getting up in age, but I remember what it was like to have a mate. I would give anything for my Alex to still be here. Make sure you make every minute count, both of you,” Lucille said, addressing Donovan but looking at June.
June shuffled awkwardly in her seat as the older woman left. Her stomach grumbled and she wasted no time digging into the mountain of food in front of her. Between her first and second mouthful, she asked, “What do we do now?”
“We have breakfast,” Donovan remarked, “like normal people.”
“A hunter and a hybrid,” June chortled as her fork hit the plate. “We’re far from normal.”
“Then let’s pretend we are,” he drawled with shining eyes.
She rested her elbow on the table and put her chin on her hand. “Okay, fine. Say you were human, and I was raised elsewhere and not the complex. Would this be a date?”
“It is a date.”
“You didn’t ask me out,” she commented, blinking at the alpha. “It’s not a date unless you ask.”
Donovan’s lip quirked, causing June’s heart to flutter. He leaned forward and asked bemusedly, “Will you go on a date with me, June Gilley?”
She hummed and tapped her chin, pretending to think it over, and then, “Depends. What do I get out of it?”
“Breakfast.”
“And?”
“And…time well spent with an alpha?” he tried, brows pulled together. When she didn’t respond, he sighed, “What do you want?”
June worked to keep her face stoic, this was a hostage situation, after all. Eyes on the alpha, her gaze didn’t waver. “I need to see my cousin.”
“I can make that happen,” he agreed and went back to his food.
But June wasn’t finished just yet. While he chewed, she added, “And I want to call my dad.”
The alpha’s reaction was unexpectedly funny. He choked and then proceeded to down his entire glass of water. Out of breath, Donovan protested, “No, not happening. Ashby has gone decades without an attack from the hunters. I’m not going to signal them here.”
“I think it’s too late for that,” June bit back. Easily, she lied, “Dani’s mate and Lycos may have already opened Pandora’s Box.”
“My answer remains the same,” Donovan spoke forcefully but kept his tone flat. “Do you want a repeat of what happened in the library?”
“Fine,” June snapped, recalling the phone he crushed to dust. She took another bite of her eggs to occupy her racing mind. Not that she expected it to happen this soon, but obviously, he didn’t trust her yet. Sucking up her pride, she attempted to reconcile. “I guess I’ll go on a date with you.”
Donovan smiled but his heart didn’t look in it anymore. “Thanks.”
“Yeah, sure,” June muttered. They settled into a suffocating silence once again which only made the diner feel like a very, very small box. Her throat constricted and the food on her plate was suddenly blurry.
A hand touching hers made June jump. Donovan grimaced. “I wasn’t trying to make you cry. I’m sorry.”
She withdrew her hand from his, hating herself for immediately missing his touch. “Can we leave? I’m tired.”
“Sure,” Donovan said and slid out from his side of the booth. He held out his hand out to her but neither of them said anything when she ignored it.
Driving down the road, Lucille’s restaurant grew smaller and smaller in the mirror. June watched it until it disappeared, her head resting on the window. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she admitted, “Argument aside, it was a good date.”
“I promise to not make you cry next time,” Donovan vowed.
“Best of luck,” she told him, completely serious. He had no clue how emotional she could get. Thinking of all the ways she could drive the man beside her to insanity, June smiled.
/CHAPTER SEVENTEEN/
The atmosphere had a chill to it the rest of the day once June and Donovan left the diner. Somehow, the alpha convinced her to accompany him on one more stop before they left town. Like the diner, the small clothes store they pulled up to was devoid of customers. Inside, the alpha stood off to the side as she fluttered about, gathering shirts, jeans, underwear, and shoes in her size.
June passed her spoils over to Donovan, eyeing her haul with satisfaction. “Okay, I’m done.”
The alpha looked down at his arms and then back up to her with a pinched expression. “Are you sure? You didn’t get much.”
“What can I say? I’m a minimalist,” June claimed, mentally adding that there was no point in spending a lot of money when she wasn’t going to be sticking around. She highly doubted she would be bringing a suitcase with her for when that time came.
Donovan eyed her before he started to bag her clothes dutifully. She watched as he pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet and placed it on the counter. Before she could remark that he was paying more than what was necessary, the alpha, with the bag still in hand, went around the shop.
June rolled her eyes and followed behind him as he grabbed random items, stuffing them in the bag. “Are you serious?”
“What can I say? I’m not a minimalist,” he mimicked while taking down a burgundy sweater off the wall. Hanger and all, it joined the other clothes. “Winter is just around the corner. It doesn’t hurt to over prepare, right?”
“You’re worse than my father,” she grunted, pinching the bridge of her nose as a headache began to take form. Sensing that she wouldn’t win this disagreement, June stood off to the side, watching helplessly.
“To each his own,” Donovan chuckled.
When he was finished, June’s single bag had multiplied by four. Donovan carried them all, refusing to let her help. He put the bags in the backseat as she settled herself in the front. Once Donovan was in the truck and they were pulling out of the parking lot, June aired, “That wasn’t necessary.”
“Maybe not but I enjoy providing for my mate.”
Ignoring him, she leaned against the door, watching the forest pass by. The blur of green and brown was an oddly calming combination.
The next thing June knew, she was suspended in the air. Cracking open her eyes, she saw the side of Donovan’s neck before sleep gripped her again. Sometime later, she woke in the alpha’s guest bedroom, staring up at the white ceiling.
Rolling over to face the window, June watched the sun start to rise through the sheer curtains. It seemed she was still on hunter time, waking before the morning light could fill a room for a training session that didn’t exist. When she heard movement from down the hall an hour later, she kicked off the feather down duvet.
Opening the closet door, June rolled her eyes, unsurprised to see that her new clothes had been hung up. She pulled a simple flannel off the closest hanger and a pair of black yoga pants from the dresser. After changing and tying her hair back into a high ponytail, she headed downstairs.
Donovan called out at the same time she stepped into the living room, “June, I made brunch!”
She willfully hoped that his idea of cooking wasn’t another sandwich and went to the kitchen. The alpha was sitting at the island with a cup of coffee.
June glanced at his mug as she walked his way. “I thought you said you cooked.”
“I did.” Donovan nodded and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Your food is on the counter. I would stay and eat with
you but I’m already running late.”
She paused, halfway to the counter. “You’re leaving?”
“Lycos will be here in an hour,” he supplied, setting his mug down. She took note that he was wearing a grey suit. “Your training will go better if I’m not here to distract anyone. Plus, Thalia’s over playing alpha and Creed’s getting tired of doing my paperwork. They need me.”
I need you, June thought and blanched. On the outside, however, she dismissed him, “Have fun, I guess.”
Donovan stood up slowly, saying, “I could stay if you want me to—”
“What? No, everything will be fine,” she interrupted and added, “Lycos creeps me out, but I can handle him. Go to work.”
The alpha looked at her skeptically, but June didn’t turn away. Finally, he nodded once. “I’ll be home as soon as possible. If you need me, you can get in touch with me through your cousin.”
June felt her face drain of color. “Dani’s coming over?”
“Well, yeah, you said you wanted to talk to her,” Donovan recalled. “Is that a problem?”
She knew if she said yes, he wouldn’t leave. When she mentioned her cousin yesterday, June hadn’t meant she wanted to see Dani. She had only wanted to test the alpha’s boundaries and see how much grace he would grant.
Ignoring the burn in her chest and the acid swirling in her stomach, June shrugged. “Not at all. I’m so…excited.”
“She’s not going to hurt you again,” Donovan promised. He closed the space between them in two strides. Slowly, as if waiting to see if she would let him or pull away, he cupped her cheek and tilted her head up. “She’s part of my pack and my word is law. If anyone ever touches a hair on your head, there will be dire consequences.”
She let his words settled before speaking, “Okay. I trust that you trust her.”
Donovan gave her a half smile and then pressed a chaste kiss to June’s forehead. Automatically, she froze, her mind fritzing like an old computer as he stepped back, saying once more, “I’ll be home soon.”
Staying where she was, June watched him leave. His heavy footsteps gradually grew softer until they were replaced by the sound of the front door shutting.
It was a whole minute before June moved. She pressed a hand to her forehead with a shiver. Phantom lips brushed across her skin like a cool breeze on a hot summer’s day.
“God, when did I become such a girl?” June grunted and dropped her hand. She shook off the lingering nerves from the kiss and switched to hunter mode. She had less than an hour to snoop and was going to make every minute count.
First things first, she went to counter and grabbed the plate of eggs, bacon, toast, and assorted fruit that waited for her. The nausea coursing through her made throwing it away a guiltless act. Placing the plate in the sink, June eyed the back door. There was no one here to stop her from leaving but after spending yesterday with Donovan, she knew he wasn’t stupid. She bet he had a few pack members in the woods around the house just waiting for her to run.
Turning away from temptation, June left the kitchen. She wandered around the first floor. There wasn’t much to see other than the kitchen, living room, a linen closet, bathroom, and the Alpha Library.
Intent on finding more information about The Order, June pulled open the library door. She didn’t even make it a step under the threshold when she was pushed away by an invisible force. Her back slammed into the hallway wall and she fell to the ground on her rear.
She glared daggers at the room as she stood, rubbing her throbbing lower back. “I hate magic.”
The sane part of her mind had been telling her that Donovan had been lying about the magical barrier. Now, after the dream and seeing the orbs at the temple, June wasn’t so sure long she could keep denying what was in front of her.
Shaking off the intrusive thoughts, she retreated upstairs. On the second level, there were only three rooms, two of which she had seen. Stopping in front of Donovan’s room, she put her hand over the knob but stopped.
Hybrids have exceptional senses. Donovan would know by scent alone that she had snooped. As much as June wanted to look around, she seriously doubted he was hiding anything worthwhile in his nightstand.
She couldn’t risk losing the feeble trust she had gained and stepped away. But her curiosity had yet to be tamed and instead, she walked over to the last door at the end of the hall. Apprehension flowed through June when she grasped the handle. The hinges squeaked as she pushed it open. Without stepping in, she peered inside and cursed, “Damn.”
On the other side was a memorial to Marigold. The room looked like it hadn’t been touched, much less cleaned, for an extended amount of time. Dust motes floated in the air above the unmade four poster bed sitting in the center of the space. June avoided the clothes and shoes strewn across the floor as she stepped inside.
Her attention was pulled to the back wall that was dominated by fading photographs. Right away, she made out the teenage version of Donovan with shoulder length curls and a softer face. His face was carefree and nothing like the stressed alpha she had come to know. Tucked under his arm was a small girl, about ten years old. June knew without a doubt that this was Marigold. She and Donovan shared the same dark curls, curious eyes, and sharp chin.
In the bottom right corner of the photo, the words summer 2006 were scrawled in dark ink.
Another photo of an older Donovan and Marigold was tapped beside it. The brother and sister stood next to each other again, only this time they weren’t embracing, and both wore a smile that didn’t reach their eyes.
The alpha sister had dark bags under her eyes that matched the purple college sweatshirt she wore. Slightly behind her were two suitcases and over his shoulder, Donovan held a duffle bag.
Again, the date was written in the corner, fall 2014.
The remaining pictures were primarily dominated by a small guy who wore large square glasses and a woman with a short brown bob. In the one photo dated as winter break 2014, Marigold, the two others posed under a tree. The alpha sister sat in the middle, smiling at the camera. On her left, the guy was looking down at the book in his lap, oblivious. Meanwhile, the girl was caught looking at him with a grim expression. Her lips were pressed together, and her eyes were narrowed as if she had just smelled something sour.
Anyone looking at the imaged could sense her revulsion aimed at the guy. The girl’s face ruined the scene, making June wonder why Marigold had even bothered to put it on the wall. It made her want to know who the alpha’s sister really was. Marigold looked like the type of girl who gained the attention of a room just by walking into it. Not because she was pretty, but rather the fact that she was someone unforgettable.
June was still staring at the photo when a voice broke the calm quiet, “So, the rumors are true. The alpha does have a soft spot for a hunter.”
Cursing whatever higher being that was listening, she turned around. Leaning against the door, Dani had improved since the last time June had seen her. Her cousin’s cheeks were no longer sunken in and there was a shine in her eyes. The wild look that Dani had adopted at the complex was gone, replaced with something familiar, human even.
June kept her attention on the hybrid without fail. She had let her cousin get the best of her before and wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. “I was hoping you wouldn’t come.”
“Unfortunately, I’m here,” Dani quipped and huffed, “also, tell your mate he has amazing timing. His voice in my head wasn’t what I wanted to hear as my mate thrusted into—”
Holding up a hand, June quickly cut her off, “Please do not finish that sentence.”
Dani grinned. “Goddess, let’s not pretend you’re a virgin, June.”
“While that is true, I prefer to keep my escapades to myself,” she commented with a shudder.
“Escapades of any nature, I wouldn’t be exploring in here if I were you,” Dani said, changing the topic. Her eyes ran over the room from corner to corner as she continued, “Donovan isn�
�t like Bran. He actually loves his sister. I’m afraid of how he would react if he knew you trespassing.”
“I’m not trespassing,” she argued but crossed the room anyway. Dani moved aides, letting her pass. Shutting the door, Jun added, “I was simply…looking for the bathroom. Besides, who would tell him?”
Her cousin shrugged. “He won’t hear anything from me.”
June bothering to mention that Donovan was particularly soft towards her. She had a feeling that Dani already suspected as much by the look her cousin was giving her. Sighing, she cleared the air, “What do you want to know?”
Dani stood in the middle of the hallway, blocking the exit. Whether it was intentional or not, June knew she wasn’t moving until her cousin got what she desired. She had used this tactic many times when they were kids and June always gave in. It was easier than fighting.
“Is Donovan your mate?” she asked, a satisfied gleam in her eyes.
“He seems to think so,” June admitted sourly.
“And you don’t?” Dani questioned as crossed her arms over her chest. “Why?”
“It’s all a little too much like a fairytale, isn’t it? Soulmates aren’t real. He just wants to keep me here for some reason. Probably as leverage to get information from the hunters,” she said and then frowned because not once had Donovan asked about what went on at the complex. Still, her theory made more sense his claim that they were meant to be together.
“Or you’re just denying it because you can’t comprehend that something good is happening to you,” Dani stated. “If you can’t believe in that then think about how he electrifies your body when he touches you or when he looks your way. There’s magic in the way your heart starts to race, how your skin itches for his hands, and his eyes make you melt inside.”
June’s face grew hot as she recollected the times the alpha had done exactly what her Dani said. She shook off the thought. “None of that matters because I’m not staying. I have to go home, Dani. The council is going to send my dad to the Grey Zone! I can’t be here, living it up with strangers while Dale’s life is at risk.”
Genesis: (Book One of the True Luna Series) Page 14