by G. K. DeRosa
What’s up? I shot through the pack bond, opening our connection.
Lucien’s been on the move. He’s visited a few of the Lunar Pack alphas, but I haven’t been able to trail him far enough to find out why.
Middle of the night visits? That’s certainly odd. I paced in front of the couch in the living room.
Even for a vampire. Vander’s chuckle resonated through my mind.
Keep on him and see if you can find out what they’re meeting about.
Will do, brother. How’s Sierra?
Okay. I peered through the crack in the door. Did you find anything on her grandmother yet?
Nope, Hyacinth Allaire is as good as a ghost. I have a buddy in the CIA running her image through their facial recognition software. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.
Thanks, Vander. Don’t know what I’d do without you.
Never become supreme alpha, that’s for sure. Another chuckle.
You know I never wanted that title, and now I’m certain that stealing it from my father is the only way to keep Sierra safe.
You’ll do what you have to, Hunter, and it’ll all turn out as it should in the end.
I hope so.
Get some rest, and I’ll see you at the arena in the morning.
I grunted and blew out a breath. Another day, another trial, and another opportunity for my father to accidentally cause Sierra’s downfall. Had he been working with Ransom too? Was the whole thing a set up? And what was Lucien’s role in all of this? Anxiety brewed a deadly storm in my gut as I paced the small living room.
“Hunter?” Sierra’s sleepy voice seeped through the crack in the door.
“I’m coming,” I called out and buried the churning dread. I didn’t want it rushing through the bond and disturbing her.
“Everything okay?” She lifted her head from the pillow, her violet irises performing a quick scan over every inch of me.
“Yeah, I just couldn’t sleep and got up to have a glass of water.” I folded into bed beside her, and she curled into my chest, draping her arm across my torso. Her presence immediately soothed my unease, and I relaxed against her.
As if she’d noticed the change in my mood, she tipped her head up to meet my eyes and swept her lips against mine. Instead of the chaste kiss I’d expected, her tongue darted between my teeth and tempted me into a fiery dance.
Her hand reached beneath the waistband of my boxers, and I jerked up. “Sierra…” I growled.
“What?” She batted dark, sooty lashes at me, and a rueful smile split my lips.
“We have to get up in a few hours and be in peak condition for the trials.”
She swept her hand over my arousal and smirked as I leaned into her touch. “Seems like everyone’s already up.” She shot me a wicked grin as she quickened her strokes.
“This is not why I spent the night,” I gritted out, desire pooling low. I hadn’t had a release after our failed attempt earlier and the building tension was nearly at a crescendo.
“I know, I know.” She continued her teasing, and my determination slowly faded. “Just lay back and relax and let me take care of you for a change.”
The empty hollow in my chest deepened as I watched her, my heart longing to feel something. I wanted to love her more than anything. Not being able to was constant torture. Tenuous emotions flitted by, disappearing on a breeze. I tried desperately to hold onto them, but they slipped through my fingertips.
So instead, I focused on the other feelings, the desire, the passion, the overwhelming need to protect her. For now, it was all I had, and I’d hold onto it with fangs and claws.
Chapter Seven
Sierra
* * *
At least today’s events were nowhere near as life threatening as the day before, thank the goddess. I didn’t think I’d survive another one so soon after. As Terra applied salve on the gashes across my arm, I cursed Triton and Aquor for ganging up on me. The trial had been fought in wolf form, a sort of cross-country relay, through the surrounding forest and nearby lake. Those bastard wolf-fish had attacked me in the water.
Luckily, my magic made an appearance, and I’d blasted them with witchfire as soon as I’d made it to dry land. I was starting to realize it was easier for my wolf to access my mystical powers.
The hair on the back of my neck bristled a second before my mate stormed through the door of the infirmary. His knee was bandaged, and a few black and blue splotches marred his face.
“Are you all right?” He barreled by Terra and nearly knocked her over to get to me.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine, just a couple scratches. You?” The Faeries and the Celestials had mounted an attack on my mate, keeping him away from me for most of the competition.
“Fine,” he growled.
“What happened today, my child?” Terra turned her warm gaze on Hunter despite his foul mood.
“The others are teaming up against us. They’re using Sierra to distract me, trying to eliminate her from the game.”
“You’re sure?”
He nodded. “It was no accident we were separated.”
“Do you think it’s Tyrien?” I hated the tremor in my voice as I spoke his name. I despised that man so much sometimes I couldn’t breathe. Waiting to get my revenge was becoming unbearable, but how was I going to take him down?
“I don’t know,” he huffed out. “At this point in the game, the stakes are higher and it’s hard to say. As supreme beta, I’d be a target to knock out anyway.”
Terra placed a final bandage and gave me a smile. “All set, my dear. You should be as good as new by this evening.”
“Thanks, Terra.” With Cass taking care of the Royals, I hadn’t seen my friend today. I’d kept a wide berth from Ransom and his brother. “Tell Cass I’m sorry I missed her, and we’ll catch up later.”
“Of course.”
Hunter bent down and dropped a chaste kiss on the healer’s forehead. “Thank you for taking such good care of her.”
“It’s my duty and honor, my boy.” Pride gleamed in her light eyes as she regarded Hunter, and I was so thankful he had her growing up. “Sierra tells me you’re headed to the human world?”
Hunter nodded, his lips thinning. He hadn’t exactly been thrilled when I’d told him we were going to visit my great aunt Hilda. He wanted me to rest, but I insisted I was fine. Which I was. A little mystical potion and my enhanced wolf healing and I’d be as good as new. But every day that passed, we were further away from finding Grams. And if there was anyone that could help me find her, it was Hilda.
I hopped off the exam table and threaded my fingers through Hunter’s before he could get away. “Speaking of, we should probably get going.” I yanked him toward the door with a quick wave back at Terra. “See you tomorrow and thanks again!”
As we turned the corner of the underground corridor, approaching footsteps drew my attention to the dark shadows moving toward us. Craptastic. Ransom and Castor were the last two wolves I wanted to see right now.
The pain of Ransom’s betrayal stung. Hard. I’d trusted and really cared about him, despite Hunter’s warnings. I couldn’t believe he’d leave me to die even after what I did to his mother.
Hunter stiffened beside me, every muscle going taut as the brothers neared. He let off a warning growl, and his beta magic pulsated down the narrow space. He must have barked something through the pack link because the pair parted, each hugging the wall as we passed.
Ransom happened to be on my side, but his eyes remained glued to the floor as I scurried by. Still, I could feel his hatred boring into me.
As soon as we left the dim tunnels behind and reached the arena entrance, I released the breath I’d been holding. “I’m not sure I’m going to survive another week and a half of this,” I mumbled.
“Let’s hope Ransom and Castor get disqualified in this round, and you won’t have to deal with them anymore.” I opened my mouth, but Hunter pressed his finger to my lips. “Don’t torture yourself,
Sierra. Sonia deserved to die for what she did.”
“But Ransom didn’t deserve to lose a mother, no matter what she was responsible for.”
He shook his head, his jaw clenched tight. “We still don’t know that Ransom wasn’t involved from the beginning. Don’t beat yourself up about this anymore. What’s done is done, and there’s nothing we can do to change it.”
Hunter stomped off ahead of me, and my shoulders slumped. Despite what Ransom did, I couldn’t believe he’d been after me from the start. Maybe I was being stupid, but I didn’t care. He was my friend and if he came to me with an explanation and an apology, I’d probably forgive him. Even after his lame excuse that letting me fall was for my own good.
I picked up my pace and hurried behind my mate.
My thoughts spun as I walked beside Hunter toward the two-story apartment building on the beach. Sand gritted between the soles of my shoes and the coquina walkway, the steady scrape, scrape like the crashing of waves on the shore. The neon sign flickered “Occupancy Available” in a slow, erratic beat. I’d never been to Aunt Hilda’s place, but luckily I’d found her address in Grams’ things. She’d left the house in exactly the same shape I’d found it in the week before. I wondered if she’d even bothered to pack before she fled.
A pang of hurt assaulted my insides at thoughts of my grandma. How could she just abandon me? Especially right after losing Mom? I shoved the useless thoughts away, burying them in the dark hole I kept memories of my mom. Grams obviously wasn’t the person I’d thought, and I needed to accept that.
“You okay?” Hunter’s hand tightened around mine.
“Yeah.” But I wasn’t, not really. It was easy to push away thoughts of my family’s betrayal with all the chaos in my life, but if I stopped to actually think about it… No, not now. I eyed the door at the end of the row, the one with the ocean view and sucked in a breath. “1C, that must be it.”
“Let’s hope she’s happy to see us,” he muttered.
I didn’t know much about Hilda. I hadn’t seen her since I was a child, since I’d been living with Grams. Or rather when she was hiding us out. But my great aunt was Lune Sacré and the only relative my grandma ever spoke of, so for now, she was our only shot.
I paused at the bright yellow door and lifted my knuckles. Here goes nothing. I knocked softly at first, but when no one answered I put a little more effort into it. Still nothing. I glanced at my watch and loosed a breath. With the time difference between the realms, it was just a little past two. “I guess we wait?”
Hunter nodded. “Sure.” He turned his gaze to the beach, to the dark blue water just a few yards away. “We can go for a relaxing stroll on the beach.”
I harrumphed but bent down to unlace my sandals anyway. I supposed a little salty sea air wouldn’t hurt. As we followed the path to the rickety wooden steps that led down to the beach, we passed an older man with a wide-brim hat, his cheeks rosy from exertion. The scent of fish wafted to my nostrils before my eyes settled on the bucket he proudly carried.
“Fish are bitin’ today,” he said.
I gave him the best smile I could muster, and he responded with a toothy grin. Before I reached the steps, I spun back. “Excuse me, do you know Hilda?”
He slowly turned, and the smile was back. “Of course, I do. We’ve been neighbors for more than a decade.”
“I’m her great niece, Sierra. I came to surprise her, but she’s not home. Any idea where she might be?”
“Sure do.” He ticked his head toward the ocean. “She’s out for her afternoon swim.”
“Great, thank you. We’ll just wait for her then.”
“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you. Hilda doesn’t get much company.”
And just like that my hopes were dashed that Grams had come to hide out with her cousin. I gave the friendly man a wave, and we trudged down to the beach.
Once we reached the shore, my eyes settled on a hot pink bathing cap bobbing between the gentle waves.
“Hilda?” Hunter asked.
“Must be.” I tried to wave her down, but it was no use. “Guess we wait.”
Hunter folded down onto the sand and tugged me into his lap. The feel of his skin against mine released the tension in my shoulders, and I leaned back against him.
“How is it possible that just being near you makes me feel so much better?”
“The wonders of the impending mate bond.” He nuzzled my neck and buried his nose into the crook of my collarbone.
“I wonder what it’ll be like once we complete the bond.”
He didn’t answer for a long while, and just when I was certain he never would, he muttered against my skin, “A thousand times better.”
I didn’t want to start a fight, not when we were about to meet Hilda, but after our failed attempt the other night, I couldn’t wait to try again. For multiple reasons.
We sat in a comfortable silence for a while, watching the undulating waves and breathing in the fresh air. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done nothing for so many consecutive minutes. Eventually the buzzing in my veins waned and I just enjoyed the tranquility, the time in my mate’s arms.
We’d come such a long way and instead of beating myself up for what we hadn’t been able to accomplish, I should’ve been celebrating the wins. But the dark shadow of my mom’s death weighed on me. It begged for vengeance, a vengeance I had no idea how to achieve.
Hunter kissed my cheek, trailing his soft lips across my skin. Ever since the other night, waves of his desire were a constant through our bond. A satisfied smile parted my lips. It pleased me to no end to have that effect on him.
The hot pink dot dipping up and down between the waves began to grow larger, and I sat up straighter. “Look, I think she’s coming out.” I jumped out of Hunter’s lap and darted toward the shore.
A thin woman in a matching hot pink bathing suit emerged from the tranquil sea. Her eyes fixed on mine as she yanked off her bathing cap. “Sierra, is that you?” Her light gray eyes widened as they ran over me then bounced to Hunter.
“Hi, Aunt Hilda. I know it’s been a while, but there’s something important I need to talk to you about.”
She nodded and grabbed a towel and beach bag strewn on the sand a few feet away. Wrapping the colorful towel around herself, she motioned for us to follow. “I figured you’d be coming. I just didn’t think it would be so soon. And not with him.”
Great. Apparently, Grams had kept Hilda up to date on everything. “He’s my fated mate, Aunt Hilda, and right now the closest thing to family I have left. He goes where I go.”
Hunter wrapped an arm around my shoulders and tucked me into his side as we walked back up to the condo. Play nice. We need her help, Sierra. His warm voice echoed in my mind and tamped down on my temper.
“I’m sorry,” I added. “It’s been a tough few weeks.”
Her lips thinned, and her eyes dipped to the sandy floor. “I’m sorry about your mother. I can’t imagine the pain you’re in, child.”
When we reached the door to her condo, she paused and eyed Hunter. As if finally deciding, she unlocked the door and motioned us in. The living room was small but quaint, filled with beachy knickknacks and colorful décor. She pointed at the pale-yellow couch and tightened the towel around her chest. “Have a seat. I’ll get changed and be right back.” She kept her gaze trained on Hunter until she disappeared through a narrow hallway.
“You don’t think she’s going to try to give us the slip, do you?” Hunter’s suspicious gaze trailed behind her.
“Not if I can help it.” I jumped up and raced to the back of the apartment. Light seeped through a closed door, and I wiggled the knob. Locked. Dammit. “Aunt Hilda?” No answer. Focusing on the tiny flicker of magic in my core, I flipped through the countless spells I’d memorized at Arcane. “Portem apertum,” I muttered, wiggling my fingers.
The click of a lock springing open kindled a burst of hope in my chest. I pushed through the doorway a
nd found my aunt halfway out the window, her legs flailing behind her. “Aunt Hilda!” I shouted. Grabbing her towel, I jerked her back inside.
Shame was written across her face as she hugged the towel to her chest. “I’m sorry, Sierra, but I can’t help you. I don’t know anything.”
“Please, just sit and talk to us. Grams abandoned me; please don’t do the same.” Hot tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them back. “She disappeared right after I lost Mom, and I need to find her. You’re the only one left that can help me.”
“But I can’t, child. Hyacinth barely told me anything about you or your mother, then about a week ago, she contacted me out of the blue and told me everything. I was shocked to say the least. I knew how much she hated the Dragos Pack and the supreme alpha, but I never knew why. She told me you’d come to look for me and the less I knew the better. She only told me the bare minimum, then said she’d be leaving and forbid me to seek her out.”
“And you have no idea where she could’ve gone?”
She shook her head. “My cousin was always a secretive woman. Then when she abandoned her role as high priestess she only became more so.”
“How about the Lune Sacré, what can you tell me about them?”
Her jaw clenched, and she glanced down at the floor.
“Please, Aunt Hilda, I have to find them.” I reached for her hands, pleading. “If Grams won’t break Hunter’s curse, maybe someone from the coven can help me.”
“Child, no one in that coven would ever go against the high priestess’ wishes. It would be the utmost show of disrespect.”
“Then maybe someone can help me find her.”
“Doubtful,” she muttered.
“Well, I have to do something,” I shouted, louder than I’d intended. “I love him, Aunt Hilda, and he’s all I have left. I have to fix this.” Tears streamed down my cheeks. I tried to sweep them away, but they just kept falling.
The hair on the back of my neck prickled, notifying me of my mate’s approach. Wait, I shot through the bond, hoping he’d catch it. If I had any hopes of getting through to my aunt, I had to do it alone.