Escaping Death

Hunter

We all felt him return last night. He teleported directly into his room and didn’t come out until this morning with her scent practically tattooed on him. An immediate hush befalls our group when he joins us in the kitchen. Ace catches my eye first, I know he sees my conflicted emotions, and he has the decency to at least look a little guilty for fucking the girl I loved…the girl I still love.

Eli can’t keep the smile off his face, he’s absolutely chuffed that Ace caved because if Ace is good on his word then that means it’s any man’s game now when it comes to Sol. Dean is spending more time trying to keep my emotions from spiraling than thinking about repercussions of last night, while Tate sits on the counter on his phone like it’s a normal morning.

“Smells like you had a hell of a night, eh Alpha?” Eli says before Ace can even take a seat.

Eli whimpers for a moment when Ace crushes him under his warning, but continues to poke the bear as soon as Ace lifts his aura. “Aw, look how bashful Alpha Ace is. Her pussy must be sweeter than I thought.”

I dash across the kitchen, fist raised and ready to connect with his teeth but Ace steps between us before I can land my hit on Eli.

I’ll handle him, H. Go wait in the other room. Ace links me. His eyes are flickering between green and black, each time lingering on black a little longer before normalizing.

I push Ace off of me and stalk off to the other room like Ace commanded. Dean and Tate are dismissed next, and then after a minute Ace walks in ahead of Eli who is holding his bruised jaw and bloodied lip.

A smirk slips across my face with sick satisfaction that Ace clocked him for what he said about Solana but despite our shared history, today’s truth is that Solana is free to make her own decisions. I have no right to get upset over who she chooses to love or get involved with, and as much as it would slowly kill me to watch, I would trust any of these guys to protect and cherish her like she deserves. Hopefully I’m just getting ahead of myself.

“With Mitch handled, we’ve got one last job before we can focus entirely on Nightshade.” Ace begins. “But this last assignment is going to take at least a week and that only leaves a week before our first productivity report is due on Nightshade. Tate tell me we’ve got something.”

“I told you about my theory on the connection between Nightshade and Caligo. I tapped into their security feeds and have been watching for anything that might lead us to him.”

Ace stares at him patiently waiting for him to continue.

“I need to be there one day soon. Either before our trip or immediately afterwards. On two occasions only I saw the bartenders use a register on the far end of the bar, every other time they use the two in the center. It could be nothing, but it is curious.”

“Sol’s parents own the club, she works there as much as any employee,” Dean says.

Ace’s brows pinch together, “what’s your point?”

“My point is, wouldn’t it be easier to ask her? She should know how everything works there, I’m sure she could tell us what that other register is for. Or better yet, if she’s seen or heard about any connection between Nightshade and Caligo.”

“I don’t want to rely on her account of things,” Tate says carefully.

“You don’t trust her?” I accuse.

Tate shakes his head, “other way around. She doesn’t trust us, at least not enough to disclose the best kept secret on the East Coast. And that’s even assuming she knows anything about it.”

“Tate has a point,” Ace agrees. “Let’s get the trip done and then you can have carte blanche with Caligo.”

“And as for us?” Eli’s question is directed at Ace on behalf of the group. “Do we have carte blanche with Sol?”

Ace’s knuckles bleach white hot beneath the death grip he has on the arm rests of his chair. “Solana is free to make whatever decisions she wants,” he grits the words out like they’re painful to swallow even for him.

“Well that’s a relief.” We all turn in unison upon hearing Solana’s voice. She stands at the bottom of the stairs with her hand resting on a popped hip, wearing Ace’s sweatpants low on her hips and a crop top shirt that barely covers the bottoms of her breasts. “Because I’m going out today.”

— — —

Solana

Ace’s warm amber and sandalwood scent blankets me when I wake up, though when I turn over to face him I discover that he’s left me alone in bed. It’s probably for the best though, because if his scent alone has me salivating for him I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself from mounting him if he were here.

I’ve never been so happy to see my sister’s name appear on my phone than now, forcing me to focus on anything other than Ace.

Calla: girls day today. Do not say no, I will have Griffin hunt you down.

I’d rather eat glass.

Solana: I’d love to

Calla: yay!

Solana: except I can’t. I’m under Queen’s orders to stay where I am.

Calla: actually… I asked mom and she said you could hang out as long as you had your bodyguards.

Fucking hell.

Calla: 10 o’clock, the spa across from Caligo.

Solana: …can’t wait…

So far Ace has been reluctant to let me out anywhere. In his defense those were dangerous places behind enemy lines, but dealing with my sister is just as treacherous.

The quick shower I take does little to rid me of Ace’s delicious scent. I don’t regret what happened last night in his office, or again when we were both struggling to fall asleep in bed, but I know the rest of the house is going to be hellbent on provoking Ace for details.

Which is exactly what Eli does when I hear him from where I stand at the top of the stairs asking Ace if they have permission to pursue me. Ace gave me his word that he wouldn’t tell the guys about us being mates, but when I hear Ace tell them that I’m free to do what I want my heart constricts painfully in my chest. I expected his discretion, I didn’t expect to be disappointed by his lack of possessiveness.

I have to let all of that foolish feeling go though and hold up my end, pretending like we’re not mates and that him declaring open season on my heart and body doesn’t crush me.

“Well that’s a relief,” I say, gaining the attention of all five of the Dogs of War, “because I’m going out today.”

Ace sighs heavily from his seat, already exhausted by today, “can we go one day, Solana? One day where you stay out of trouble?”

“My sister is asking to see me. It’s a store across the street from Caligo.”

“Tell Queenie you have more important things going on,” Hunter’s tone is bitter.

“Fine,” Ace acquiesces. “Eli and Tate are going with you.

***

From across the street I spot Calla looking immaculate as always. She’s in a flowy, knee-length white dress patterned with watercolor flowers complimenting her white hair.

“Is that her?” Eli asks after he follows my gaze to her.

I nod, looking self-consciously down at my black jeans and off-shoulder tee.

A hand wraps around my wrist before I’m pulled through the void and deposited on the other side of the street next to my sister.

Griffin.

Before I can hug him, though, there’s a loud crunching sound of broken bone as another pair of hands pulls me away and shoves me behind them, putting their body between me and Griffin.

“Eli, what the fuck!” I hiss from behind Tate seeing Eli and Griffin locked in battle.

“This asshole signed his own Death wish when he put his hands on you,” Eli growls, making Griffin laugh and throw his hands up in surrender.

“Sorry, I had to put the guys responsible for my girl’s safety to the test.” Griffin throws them a cocksure smile. “You passed.”

“Your girl?” Eli questions as though he’s been challenged.

I elbow my way past Tate, “for fuck’s sake, can you measure your cocks later?” I reach for my sister and we pull each other into a hug. We may not see eye to eye, and she may be the most annoying person on the planet, but she’s still my sister.

“Hi Lilly,” I say.

“Hi Shae,” Calla replies, gaining us inquisitive looks from Eli and Tate. I shrug at them and say, “travel rules,” as if that should mean something to them like it does to us. Our parents are very strict about it. Anytime we’re outside of the Grove we abide by travel rules.

“Don’t I get a hug?”

I look up and my brother Rhys is standing just behind my sister with arms folded over his chest and a look of feigned insult on his face. I run to him and leap into his arms, hugging him tightly to me.

Rhys has always been the closest to me of my three siblings. He’s not as uptight as Calla or Cole and he doesn’t treat me like I’m the odd one out even though everyone knows that I am.

I’m not the perfect, pretty, and polite queen-to-be. I’m not the Alpha male like Cole, destined to take over the welfare of the pack. I’m not even a warrior, a defender of the Grove, like Rhys. I’m the last born, the hybrid, the one who belongs with neither the dragons of the Grove or the wolves of Shadowmoon. I may be the daughter of a Queen and two Alphas, but you’d never know it.

Calla links her arm with mine and leads me into the salon with our four bodyguards in tow.

“Oh my Gods, tell me everything!” Calls practically squeals when we sit down at neighboring nail stations.

“About what?” I ask feigning ignorance.

Calla looks over her shoulder and then smirks at me with a raised brow. “About living in a house with five guys. Are they all as delicious as those two?” She’s practically salivating.

“I’m fine, doing really well actually, thanks for asking,” I mutter sarcastically but she doesn’t catch my annoyance.

“I don’t think I’d be able to keep my hands to myself. Have you hooked up with any of them yet?”

My face heats involuntarily with the memories of last night. Ace’s hands and mouth all over me, the way he felt situated between my legs, how completely he filled me…

“Oh my Gods, you totally have!!” Calla shrieks. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you blush like that. Which one was it? Was it one of them?” She nods over to Eli and Tate.

“Gods, no, it’s strictly business. I don’t even want to be there. I wasn’t joking when I said I was under Queen’s orders, I was all but forced to stay with them.”

“Such a hardship,” Calla mocks me with a roll of her eyes. “Anyway, they’ll have to let you come to my Centennial. Bring them all! I want to meet each one of your body guards.”

“As fun as my predicament is for you it’s been hell for me.”

“You’re literally the only girl on the planet that would complain about being housed with five hot, eligible bachelors. You know you never acknowledge how good your life actually is, you’re always so busy brooding over one thing or another. Isolation doesn’t become you.”

“I’ll take that under advisement.” I mock. “And while you’re living in your fairy tale princess bubble, I’ll be out here trying not to get killed by every blade on this coast with a vendetta.”

“If you ever came home then you’d know my life is far from a fairy tale.” She snaps back at me.

We finish getting our nails done in silence. Mine are pointed like claws and painted a dark purple, while Calla’s are perfectly squared and pastel pink.

When we approach the counter to pay Griffin intervenes and takes care of it for Calla while my brother grabs her bags and opens the door for her lest her nails get ruined. And she says she’s not spoiled.

They fawn over her nails and the need to protect both her and her manicure all the way across the street to Caligo. My lip is curled in a permanent snarl. It’s pathetic watching Griffin and my brother slave over her like they’re so fucking happy to do it.

Rhys opens the doors to Caligo and motions for us ladies to head in first. Eli’s warm hand wraps around my bicep pulling me back towards him. He slips his other hand beneath my hair cupping the back and side of my neck. Then very lovingly he kisses me. Our lips seal together perfectly.

He holds me to him unfazed by the audience around us. When he finally pulls back he runs his thumb over my cheek and whispers, “just thought you should know you look beautiful.”

He kisses me chastely once more and then leads me and Tate into Caligo past my stunned family.