Vanilla Moon: Acrimony

by Airiel Hawkins

  He waived me off. "I'm okay," he said.

  I gave him a suspicious look. "Really?" I asked. "When was the last time you ate?"

  He sat in silence for too long.

  "Get yourself some food!" I urged. "Or here," I held my plate out. "Take some of mine. I won't eat all of this."

  He smirked. "Yes, you will," he said. "I'll get my own plate," he promised before he stood back up. When he returned to the table, he had as much food as I did.

  "Did you know this is my favorite?" I asked.

  He laughed as he nodded. "I know," he replied.

  He gave up the bed to me when it came time to sleep. He didn't want to make me feel like he was trying to get somewhere by sleeping by my side in the bed, so he slept in a chair next to the large picture window in his room.

  Chapter 16 ~Wolfgang~

  After Ceres fell asleep, I decided to assess the damage to the house. Most of it was structural. Eighteen windows needed replacing. There was some cosmetic damage caused by the fires. Some of the décor in the house was completely trashed.

  The worst of the damage was the two women who had died in the attack.

  Brenda came in with her three strongest followers. Together, the four of them infiltrated the house. They killed two before going upstairs.

  Mira was missing, but at least she was alive.

  The first of the dead was Denise, a pregnant woman who had tried to stop the Witches from going upstairs. She fired a round into a Witch, who turned the bullet back at her. It pierced her heart and, being pregnant, she died in an instant.

  The second woman was another familiar face, but she wasn't one of our wolves. She hailed from the Moab pack. She was Riley's ex and the mother of his son. They had one of those epic breakups that almost caused World War III. I couldn't imagine why she would come here. She had their son back home and hated Riley enough that she made it clear they could not be in the same room ever again.

  I looked up to see my cousin approaching. We had the bodies in the den, to keep them away from people who shouldn't see them. He had the door open and was coming in, so I rushed over to him to keep him from seeing her.

  His eyes were already locked on her body. "Who is that?" he demanded. I heard the recognition in his voice and knew that he didn't want to believe his senses.

  "You don't want to see," I said.

  His eyes bled from blue to amber as he looked at me. "Who the fuck is that?" he asked again.

  I couldn't hide it from him and we both knew it. "It's Angela," I whispered.

  He pushed me aside before I could stop him. I stumbled as he rushed to her body. I saw him kneel beside her and pick up her limp hand. It surprised me to see him so broken up over her death, but I supposed I would have felt the same in his place. They may have hated each other, but they shared something that connected them forever.

  "I'll kill them for you," he whispered to her.

  "Fuck me…"

  I looked back at the door and saw Rodney staring at his brother. I saw the sadness in his eyes. "What's going to happen to him?" I asked.

  "He's coming here," Riley said. There was no disputing it. Now that Angela was gone, he had the right to claim their son. He always had that right but respected that Angela was capable of raising him when he himself was not, so he had let her. They had broken up before she knew she was pregnant. Riley wasn't ready to be a parent when Caleb was born, so he paid child support instead. He and Caleb spoke frequently, so he wasn't a complete dead-beat dad. He even had visitation rights while Caleb was with his parents.

  "Have you told Selena about him yet?" I asked.

  That was her queue to walk into the den. She looked around and I knew she was searching for him. When her eyes found him, her face changed. "Riley?" she asked.

  He looked up at her and then dropped Angela's hand as if it burned him. "Lena," he said before rushing to her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

  Selena pushed him away and looked at Angela. "You knew her?" she asked.

  Riley nodded. "She's my ex," he confessed.

  "She saved my life," Selena whispered.

  He hugged her again before he guided her to a chair and sat down. "I need to tell you something," he said. At that moment, I knew he had neglected to tell Selena something very important about his past.

  It felt wrong to stand here and listen, but this conversation affected my pack, therefore it was my business to be here. If Riley wanted privacy, he would have taken Selena into another room. I had the distinct impression that he hoped that she wouldn't freak out too much if they were in a room with other people.

  "Angela and I made a mistake," he began. "It was seven years ago, and we didn't know until after we broke up."

  "Didn't know what?" Selena asked, each word slow and cautious. Her tone promised a world of pain if she wasn't happy with his answer.

  "We didn't know she was pregnant."

  Selena's face hardened. "How could you not know?" she asked. Her voice wavered. Her chin quivered. I could tell she was trying not to lose control.

  "We were stoned," Riley said. "We were so wasted that neither one of us was thinking straight. It was the last time we had sex before we broke up once we sobered up. I told you that I used to be a different guy. It's why my dad sent me here. I don't remember what happened that night, so I can only imagine that we just happened to be one of those lucky one-in-five-hundred Lycan couples who managed to get pregnant without trying."

  "And the baby?"

  "His name is Caleb," Riley replied. "He's six years old and he loves monster trucks. He's wanted to come out and see me for years, but we haven't brought him here because Angela and I can't – couldn't – stand to be near each other and she was always afraid that I wouldn't bring him back. I didn't know she was coming. This is the first I've seen her."

  Selena clenched her eyes shut and took in a deep, shaky breath. She let it out and looked at Riley. "We talked," she said with a tight voice. "She told me about Caleb. We made plans to stay in touch…. She knew who I am to you. She knew that I'm pregnant…. She saved my life…. She said she couldn't live with herself if my family was destroyed before it was whole…."

  Riley held Selena tight. She clung to him for a moment before she pushed him away. "I can't look at you right now," she whispered before she ran out of the den. Ceres, who had apparently arrived at the den with Selena, chased after her. A few seconds later we heard a door slam and I hoped that Ceres wasn't in its way when it happened.

  Rodney and I looked at Riley. He stared at Angela's body for a moment before he looked up at us. "I'm going with you," he said to Rodney. "When you go home. I've got to get my son."

  Rodney nodded. "You'd better get right with Selena first," he said. "You don't want to go that far without her with you. You'll get sick."

  Riley nodded before he focused on me. "How are we planning to get your sister back?" he asked. My cousin: Man of Action.

  "We'll discuss it in the morning," I said. I turned to Rodney. "Do you want to take her body home, or shall I have her cremated here first?"

  Rodney sighed. "Let me see what my father wants to do first," he requested. "Put her on ice until I have an answer for you?"

  I nodded before I pulled out my phone. I called the clinic as Riley walked away to have them send someone for the bodies. As I spoke to Bree on the phone, Rodney followed me back to the library. I walked over to the window and rest against one of the bookshelves so I could stare out at the world on the other side of the glass. The night seemed to engulf everything so well that I couldn't even see the trees beyond the yard.

  "So, what does the Witch want?" Rodney asked.

  "My life," I replied. "And, by extension, Ceres's. Her plan is to kill me while Ceres watches and give her memory back just in time for her to realize why she's dying."

  "Alright… so, what is your plan?"

  "We have to get Ceres's memories back before we meet Brenda at the mill," I said. "It's honestly the only way we're
going to have a leg up in the fight. I'll figure out the rest tomorrow. Brenda wants us to meet her at the old mill at noon in three days. I've got time to think of something."

  Richard walked into the library then. I stared at him for a moment. "We need to speak about Anica," he said.

  My brow furrowed. "Okay," I said.

  Rodney bowed his head. "I'll see you in the morning," he said before he walked away.

  Richard sat down on one of the sofas, gesturing for me to do the same. I pushed myself away from the bookcase and sat down opposite him. Someone must have taken over watch at the clinic.

  "What's up?" I asked.

  Richard cleared his throat. "As you know, Anica's injuries were not as severe as the others," he said. I nodded. "The reason her injuries were not as severe is that hers were knife wounds, not claw. I have spent a lot of time discussing her condition with Dr. Cyrus because of the oddity of it. I would not wish to accuse someone without the full truth. Anica refuses to speak to anyone about what happened at the Resting Grounds since she spoke with you."

  I stared at him for a moment, trying to decide what he was trying to tell me. "Do you think she is responsible for the massacre?" I asked.

  Richard sighed. "Truthfully, she is the last person I would suspect of doing so. I vetted her myself once you brought her to us. I know her history better than most. On the other hand… the evidence is stacked against her."

  I nodded. "It certainly seems that way," I agreed. I shook my head as I let out a weary sigh. "Is she secure?" I asked.

  Richard nodded. "I instructed Dr. Cyrus to find some other reason to keep her instead of releasing her as planned. She is still at the clinic. While her wounds are knife wounds, they aren't healing, so she's decided that is why she has to keep Anica."

  "What do you mean they aren't healing?"

  "I think she's pregnant," Richard replied. The shock hit me in the gut like a knife. "Dr. Cyrus agrees. She's running tests to make sure. She'll call you when she knows."

  I sighed. "Anything else?" I asked.

  That was when a knock on the door sounded. Richard and I both looked. "Enter," I called out.

  The door opened and revealed Hunter. He nodded his head to both of us before he walked in and closed the door. "Wolfgang, we have a team that has not reported back," he said. I stared at him in shock. It had been long enough that I thought all the teams had returned. "I'd like to take some people and search their last known location."

  "Who is it?" I asked.

  "Kenneth's team," Hunter replied.

  Kenneth was one of our wolves. He'd volunteered to step up and lead a team when I needed one more person to do it. He was Margaret's son, so I'd chosen him. "Find them," I said.

  Hunter nodded before he left the room. I felt confident that he would find and rescue them if something had happened.

  I looked back at Richard. "Did Luke take over for you?" I asked.

  He nodded. "I asked him to," he said. "Needed to come back and rest a bit."

  "I'm sorry that I never sent anyone to relieve you," I said. I sighed. "Every time I think I can rest, another thing comes up and it's like there's no fucking end to this shit, you know?" I asked.

  Richard smiled at me. "Do you know what your father did the first time he came up against a situation like this?" he asked. I shook my head. "He banned everyone from the library–except your mother–and curled up under the desk. He didn't know how to take a break. He let everything overwhelm him. His first crisis was about a year after you guys moved here."

  "When Alan moved back and attacked us?" I asked.

  Richard nodded. "That's it exactly," he said. "And I think you've done a damn fine job, son," he grinned. "If I live to see the day you take your father's place, I'll be mighty proud to call you my Enkidu. Makes me wish I could serve as your Guardian as well as his, but… you know… rules." He made a face showing exactly what he thought about the rules. I laughed. I needed it.

  "Thank you, Richard."

  An hour later, Hunter returned with an update. Kenneth's team was decimated, but so were the Witches. Kenneth survived, but only because of the gun. The body count showed that every Witch was taken care of, but so was most of the team. Hunter had taken him straight to the clinic. Once I had the update, I went to my room, curling up on the chair by the window, and prayed for sleep. I tried not to think of how many more people we had just lost on my watch.

  Chapter 17 ~Ceres~

  It was almost mid-afternoon when I opened my eyes again. I yawned as I stretched. The room was still so unfamiliar to me. I had hoped that one of two things would happen when I woke up. Either I would be back in New York in my apartment, or I would have my memories back. Neither of those things happened, so I could only assume that this was all real. I really was a werewolf. I really did live in Utah now. It really had been two years since I left Todd.

  Wolfgang wasn't in the room, but there was a note on the pillow next to me. I picked it up.

  Baby—

  Whenever you wake up, come find me. I'm in the library, which is the room with the big doors with the wolf carving in them.

  —Wolfie

  I smiled at his nickname. It was cute. Innocent. But I could sense the danger in him. That name may have been sweet and innocent, but the man himself was not.

  Muscle memory led me to my clothes, and I changed before I ventured out into the hallway. On the other side of the door was Selena, holding a cup of coffee and a bagel smeared with cream cheese.

  I smiled. "God, I love you," I said.

  She gave me a tense smile. "I love you too," she said.

  I studied her. "We're fighting right now, aren't we?" I asked.

  She let out a strained laugh. "Technically yes," she replied. "But right now, that's not important. What's important is that I love you and you need me. You can remember this when you get your memories back."

  I nodded. "Assuming I'm not overloaded with information, I'll do my best," I promised.

  "Looking for Wolfgang?" she asked.

  I nodded. "He left a note that said he was in the library," I explained before I sipped my coffee. Selena knew how I liked to drink it. She didn't fail me on this one.

  She nodded and gestured for me to follow her. I did, shoving a slice of my bagel into my mouth as we walked. I was starving again. I wondered if there would ever be enough food. "Why am I so hungry?" I asked around my food.

  "Because you had a serious injury to heal," she replied. "That takes a lot of energy. We replenish our energy by eating. You'll be hungry for a while."

  I groaned. "Am I worried about my figure?" I asked.

  She laughed. "Not at all," she replied. "Not anymore."

  "Thank God," I said before I devoured the carbs.

  The fires had damaged a lot of the foyer of the house. I could tell where carpets used to be because the hardwood flooring under them wasn't as shiny as the exposed floors were. Singed floors and walls left the room with a soggy and smoky scent that made my stomach churn. I wrinkled my nose as I walked toward the tall ornate doors.

  They were beautiful and obviously hand-carved. Wolves. A forest. A full moon. The fires hadn't touched them.

  Selena opened one of the doors for me, which made my life easier as I still had coffee in one hand and a bagel in the other. When I walked into the library, I gasped, almost dropping the half of my bagel I had in my mouth.

  The library was a dream come true for me. My fingers itched to read the books contained in this room. It was stunningly gorgeous and made even more impeccable by the man standing by the fireplace.

  The fire wasn't burning, which seemed odd to me, but not for any reason I could place. Wolfgang smiled as the door shut behind me. "I see you found food," he said.

  I chuckled before I propped my half-eaten slice on my coffee mug. "Selena gave me food," I said. "Apparently we're fighting right now, but I don't know why."

  "Because she's pregnant," Wolfgang informed me.

  "Really?" I asked. "Why
am I upset about that?"

  He gestured for me to sit down. I did. He sat down next to me as I continued to eat. "Our loss is still very recent," he explained. "It's only been a few weeks since the night the Witches killed the baby. Selena and Riley were going to wait to mate until we had another baby on the way, but they got carried away and one thing led to another. The reason you're upset is because A) they didn't wait, and B) because they tried to hide it from us."

  "So basically, I hate all pregnant women right now?" I asked.

  He nodded. "That seems to be your state of mind."

  "I hope I'm over that," I said. "I have a feeling that I'm surrounded by pregnant women."

  "Almost every woman still alive in the pack is alive because they're pregnant," Wolfgang confirmed. "Being pregnant saved their lives because they can't hunt. Since they can't hunt, they weren't at the Resting Grounds when everyone was slaughtered."

  "Fuck," I whispered. It was the only word I could think of.

  I finished eating in silence. Wolfgang didn't have anything else to say right then. I felt comfortable being with him. I didn't feel the need to fill the air with conversation. Being with him just felt… right.

  I drank the last of my coffee and set the mug down on the table. "So, when did you want to go to the motel?" I asked.

  Wolfgang looked at his phone. "We can go now," he said. "Let me just let Cynthia know so she can hold down the fort."

  "Who is Cynthia?" I asked.

  "She's Luke's mother," Wolfgang said. I knew Luke to be Sophia's boyfriend. "She's one of the Guardians of our pack, which makes her the best person for the job of taking care of things here while we go somewhere else."

  Fifteen minutes later, we were settled in Wolfgang's truck and headed into town. I stared at the world around me, waiting for a spark of recognition.

  Nothing.

  Not one goddamn thing.

  It's one thing to not recognize a place because you've never been there before. It is another thing entirely to wake up in a strange place where you have apparently been living and not know east from west. My hands started to tremble as he drove. My heart raced. I felt my chest tightening and tears burning at my eyes.