The Hunt

“He did what?” Mom demanded, her eyes flickering with black.

I immediately regretted spilling everything.

Mom took a calming breath and gave me a tender look, along with another tissue. The tears had started as soon as I’d gotten into my car and hadn’t stopped since. I’d driven to my parents on autopilot, not thinking of how Mom would react to seeing me cry.

“I don’t understand why he doesn’t like me.”

“Fenris adores you, Eliana,” Dad said. “Even I could see that.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was all an act.

“I meant Mr. Wolcott.” A frustrated exhale wavered out of me. “I’ve been polite and respectful. I’ve tried to do what was asked of me, within reason. I’ve never done anything to give him cause to dislike me to the point that he would tell me not to come back.”

The hurt flared open all over again, and tears streamed down my cheeks in earnest.

“That old wolf just has his head up his tail. Ignore him. If you want to spend time with Fenris, then spend time with the boy. I’d like to see Raiden try to stop you.”

“I think you’re missing the point, Mom. Raiden and the pack elders have been throwing girl after girl at Fenris. Even boys. It’s obvious that Raiden wants Fenris to find someone as long as it’s not me. What did I do wrong?”

“I don’t think I am missing the point, baby. Raiden kicked you out like some piece of unwanted trash. I saw the way Fenris looked at you and how you looked at him. You are not unwanted, and that mutt has no right to keep you from his son. As you’ve pointed out, you’ve done nothing to deserve that treatment. Raiden is being a speciest.”

“A what?”

“Discriminating against you based on your species. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a misanthropist, too. I need to tell Adira what’s happened. I know she has Raiden searching for that human. He obviously can’t be trusted with matters outside of his own kind.”

I highly doubted Mom was worried about Ashlyn. More than likely, she just wanted to call Adira to give her an earful concerning what Mom regarded as a gross mistreatment of me.

My phone buzzed yet again in my purse. Ignoring it, I blew my nose and tried to reel in the hurt.

“I’d prefer you not involve Adira, Mom. While your intentions are good, hers rarely are.”

“I want to respect your wishes, but I can’t allow this to go unaddressed. I either call Adira, or I go see Raiden myself. While I vastly prefer the latter, the choice is yours to make.”

Based on the way Mom’s eyes were flickering black, I knew she was completely serious about wanting to visit Raiden. I also knew that she wouldn’t take, “let it go,” as a viable option.

“Fine. Call Adira. But please know that it isn’t going to help anything.”

Mom immediately dialed Adira’s number and put the call on speaker. Adira picked up after the second ring.

“Nicolette. To what do I owe this pleasure? Are you out of workers already?”

“The workers are adequate, and the club is coming along nicely. That’s not why I called. I need to speak to you about Raiden’s behavior toward Eliana.

“After having breakfast with us, the kids went to Fenris’s home to spend some time there. Do you understand what I’m telling you? Eliana brought Fenris here to meet me and her father. Then, Fenris took her to his home. She chose, Adira. And while she was at Fenris’s house in the boy’s bedroom, Raiden overheard them, assumed they were about to have intercourse, then stormed in to stop it and told Eliana she was not welcome in his home.”

Mom’s fingernails tapped over the surface of the wooden tabletop.

“My daughter is sitting here with me now, her pretty face streaked with the tears she’s shed over that braying ass’s insult.” Mom immediately looked at me. “It’s Biblical, so it’s allowed.”

Her quick defense of her swearing almost made me smile. Adira’s response did not.

“What would you like me to do?”

“You’re the one who started this game. A game I’ve been allowing because I want what’s best for Eliana. What’s best is not treating my daughter like she’s not good enough for some four-legged—”

“Mom.”

She glanced up at me and immediately averted her gaze.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m upset on your behalf. Eliana does not need self-doubt, Adira. Fix this, now.”

“I’m at Raiden’s door. I will speak to him again about the use of his son and contact you with the outcome of our discussion.”

“Handle this appropriately, Adira, or I will.” Mom disconnected the call and gave me a strained smile. “Rather than wait for her return call, let’s go visit the club.”

Her eyes were still flickering, and I knew what her offer meant. Given that my vision was still sharp, Club Blayz was the last place I wanted to see. I wiped my face and gathered my used tissues.

“I think I’ll go check on Elbner. I haven’t fed him yet today.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am.”

Mom gave me an extra-long hug before letting me go.

The hurt of rejection echoed inside of me as I drove to Megan’s. But so did the fear that Adira would somehow make things worse. I wasn’t simple. I knew that Mom thought I’d been close to feeding on Fenris before Raiden had interrupted. I hadn’t been, but denying it would have only made her worry more. After all, that was the whole reason Mom and Adira had arranged to have the wolf tossed to the reluctant succubus. And that was why Mom was truly angry. She’d gone along with Adira’s plan, and in Mom’s mind, it had almost worked until it backfired at the last moment.

Based on Adira’s quick portal to Raiden’s house, she understood the tenuous situation they were all in with my mom. However, I’d seen the resolution in Raiden’s gaze when he told me not to come back. He wouldn’t change his mind. Fenris was very much off-limits to me. That meant that Adira was going to scramble for a way to save herself.

People did crazy things when they were desperate. I knew that from first-hand experience.

Once I parked in my best friend’s driveway, I called her, needing comfort.

“Twice in one day? I’m honored and worried,” Megan said when she answered.

“I broke up with Fenris.”

“No!”

I jerked the phone away from her pained howl of denial.

“That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?” I asked.

“But why?”

“Because I’m pretty sure people in Italy just heard you.”

“No, why did you break up with him?”

I sighed and looked at Megan’s perfect house, the place where she and Oanen would settle down and raise oodles of kids together. A cute, cozy future filled with love and laughter. I knew I was destined to have love and laughter in my future too, but not the same kind.

“So many reasons. It wasn’t being fair to the girls he actually has a chance of spending his life with. I was getting too comfortable around him. Too attached. And it’s obvious his dad is strongly opposed to me.”

“Those are all bullshit reasons. You were only his girlfriend for what? Six hours? That’s not enough time to get too comfortable or attached. March your butt back to Fenris, and tell him you’re sorry,” Megan said, her tone completely serious.

Oanen’s voice rose in the background.

“Stay out of it, Megan. She can make up her own mind about the furball.”

“She called me because she needed advice, and I’m giving it to her. She didn’t call you. You stay out of it.”

The phone disconnected, and I sighed. I’d lived with Oanen for four years. I knew his ways enough to guess that he’d just taken the phone from Megan. While I’d only known Megan for a few months, I could guess what her heated reaction would be. It’d take her a while to call me back.

Leaving the car, I noticed Elbner once again watching me from the door.

“Who were you talking to?” he asked.

“Megan.” I opened the door and let myself in. He trailed behind me.

“Does she know when she’s returning?”

“She didn’t say, but I think it’ll be soon.”

He made a non-committal sound, which didn’t surprise me. His next comment did, though.

“For the quality of the work I’ve done here, I require increased payment.”

“I can stop by and feed you again tonight.”

“No. Eating once a day is plenty. Gold will suffice.”

I stopped mixing the ingredients to look at the goblin.

“I’ve never heard of a goblin asking for gold.”

His color darkened, and he crossed his arms angrily. I hurried to reassure him before he plucked off one of his holey shoes.

“I’ll speak with Megan and see if she agrees to your request. I can certainly vouch that you have worked miracles with this place.”

He harrumphed and went to the table. Taking his retreat as a sign that my answer had mollified him, I hurried to finish mixing his meal and left the house.

While Megan wouldn’t know anything about goblins, never mind the payments they required, I could think of one person who would. I dug out my phone to send Mom a text. Instead of messaging her, I started to read one of the texts from Fenris that I’d been trying to avoid. They were spaced out from the time I left to about five minutes ago.

Fenris: We need to talk. Call me.

Fenris: You’re not at the cabin. Where did you go?

Fenris: Come on, chipmunk. You can’t run forever.

Fenris: I’d rather lose the girlfriend and keep the friend. Please tell me we’re still talking to each other.

I groaned and opened a new message.

Me: Do goblins ever ask for anything other than their typical meal of oats, milk, and honey?

Mom: Only when they’re up to no good. Never pay with anything but food.

Me: Thanks. Any word from Adira?

Mom: Yes. Everything is fine. Just a misunderstanding. Go find Fenris and enjoy yourselves.

I knew Mom well enough to see that she was downplaying whatever Adira said. However, I wasn’t interested enough in the outcome of Adira’s conversation with Raiden to call and pry it out of Mom, or worse, call Adira. I just wanted a place to hide away from it all.

If Ashlyn was still in Uttira… I groaned and sent another message.

Me: I know Oanen probably has your phone hostage right now. When you get it back, please send me an update on your plan for finding Ashlyn. I’m officially friendless in Uttira and have nowhere to go because your goblin throws shoes, and I’m avoiding Adira.

Megan: She’s waiting for Zayn to return her call. We’re going to visit Elizabeth, his sister, today. That means we’ll be in New York. We’ll be home soon.

I grinned, already picturing how angry Megan would be with Oanen for responding to me on her behalf. However, my humor faded as I backed out of the driveway.

With nowhere else to go, I headed for the Academy. There wasn’t much left of the day and, hopefully, it would be the last place Adira or Fenris would look for me.

The halls were quiet when I slipped inside. The mermaids in the pool dove under the water when they saw me walk past, and I hoped that meant they would stay away from me. I thought of Eras and cringed. Maybe the Academy wasn’t the best place for me. Maybe I should have gone to the Roost. No, Yem would tell Adira if I showed up there.

Decided, I went to Principles of Public Integration and slid into my seat. It was only when I met the eyes of my instructor that I wanted to smack my forehead. This wasn’t the first place Adira would look because she didn’t need to look here. Her spies would inform her if I showed up. I’d walked right into her spy network.

Torn between the urge to run and the urge to stand my ground, I managed to stay in my seat until the next bell. I was the first one into the hall, though. Not that it helped me. I’d barely taken a few steps when Adira’s portal shimmered ahead.

Rather than fight my way through the body of students flooding around me, I folded my arms and marched right up to her.

“Tread carefully, Adira. My patience for authority is limited.”

Movement around us momentarily slowed.

“How unlike you, Eliana. I simply wanted to ask if you could deliver this to Eugene. There are few others in Uttira I could trust with the safety of a human.” She held out a book for advanced math.

I took the book.

“I’ll see that he gets it. Anything else?”

“No. That will do. Unless, of course, you’ve seen Fenris. He isn’t answering texts, and Raiden said he left shortly after you.”

“I haven’t seen him and don’t plan to.”

“Why ever not?”

“Because there’s no need. If you don’t mind, I have class.”

Without waiting for her answer, I walked away and met Jenna’s eyes in the crowd. She hurried to join me.

“She’s gone,” she said.

“Good. Can you get this to Eugene?” I handed the book off to her.

“Of course. What are you doing?”

“Not going anywhere near Eugene. Adira’s plan to get me to feed off of Fenris failed. Eugene is still Plan B.”

“Is it true what you said about Fenris? You’re not planning on seeing him again?”

Pain radiated from her. I stopped walking to meet her gaze.

“I didn’t know he’d been kissing me. I thought he was being playful like always. I’m sorry for my part in hurting you.”

Jenna spontaneously gave me a quick hug.

“Eliana, you and Fenris didn’t hurt me this morning. It was the moment of accepting my worst fear that hurt me. When I saw him with you, it suddenly hit me that my mate isn’t in Uttira.” She gave a slight shrug. “He’ll find me eventually through the meetups the elders plan.”

“I’m still sorry. And I hope you’ll be able to stay if that’s what you still want once you meet him.”

She nodded and tentatively lifted the book. “I’ll get this to Eugene. He and the others heard about the Club Blayz opening for the rest of us and are wondering if they can join in, too. They’re itching to get out since the rest of us are moving around without any problem.”

“I’ll talk to Megan and Mom. I’m not even sure when the soft opening is.”

“Don’t worry. As soon as you know, the word will spread quickly.”

Her phone started to ring. When she glanced at it, I saw Fenris’s number.

“Please don’t tell him I’m here,” I said.

She looked up at me, showing her confusion.

“Are you really avoiding him?”

“Fenris invited me over, and his dad uninvited me.”

Her confusion only grew.

“Fenris invited you to his house? Inside?”

“Yeah.”

“Whoa. He’s never invited anyone.”

“Raiden has, though. You. But not me. It’s better if Fenris and I avoid each other for a while. Hanging out with me is just going to make things worse for him, not better.”

She gave me a doubtful look but nodded.

“Thank you. I better get out of here before he shows up. Plus, Adira still expects me at the Roost.”

I hurried away before Jenna could question me further. I wasn’t completely convinced that she’d be able to keep my presence to herself. Which was why I’d also misled her into thinking that I was going to the Roost. And why I sent Eugene a quick text.

Me: Jenna mentioned your interest in attending the soft opening for Blayz. I’ll talk to my mom later tonight and let you know what she says.

His reply was immediate.

Eugene: Thanks. We’re going stir crazy. The girls are letting me stay at their house just for company.

Me: Can you let Jenna know where you are? She’s going to drop off a book for you from Adira.

Eugene: Will do. Feel free to stop over too.

Me: I’ll think about it.

Tossing my phone into my purse, I hurriedly drove away from the Academy. If Fenris was still looking for me, he’d be running around town then go check my parents’ place. That meant I needed to head in the other direction. Into pack territory.

My phone buzzed with a message by the time I reached Fenris’s cabin.

Fenris: Where are you?

Me: Avoiding you. The only reason you want to talk is so that you can convince me I’m wrong. I’m not. I’m fine being your friend. I can’t be your girlfriend.

Fenris: My dad has no say in who I see or date. Adira made that clear to him and to me. I’m at the Roost. I’ll give you twenty minutes, nibbles. Then I’m seeking.

Why did that last line make my heart race?

Me: This is why I didn’t text you. You’re unreasonable. Stop bulldozing over my feelings in this. You were only one half of our relationship. I get some say, too. And I’m saying move on, Fenris.

I muted my phone and tossed it into my purse.

Wiping the tears from my eyes, I started the fire. I hated that Fenris was feeling as bad about the situation as I was. Well, maybe he hated it more because he saw me as a way out while I saw him as a temporary means to end my loneliness. Megan’s return would fix so many things.

Rubbing my hands on my pants, I stood and wondered what the heck I was going to do with the rest of my day.

Lemon cakes had babies with Boston cream pies. That was the only explanation for the odd creations that made a sudden appearance in my woodsy dreams. Cakey layers filled with lemon curd and topped with chocolate. The flavor was different but so good. And I craved more of it with an intensity that shook me even as I swallowed down what I was eating. It was like some deep part of me was sure I’d never taste these cakes again.

I ate ravenously, pulling in the flavors like a starving person. The thought didn’t slow me down. Instead, I became more frenzied as I fed until the trees shook around me. I’d been so hungry when I’d finally given in to sleep just after dark. That was way too early for a normal person, but it had been a welcome escape for me. An escape into my favorite cake-filled woods.

“Take what you want. I am yours.”

Inhaling deeply, I decided I wanted it all. Every last crumb. I gorged myself on everything the trees would offer. The number of mixed cakes decreased, replaced by a tempting variety. The old favorites were there. Spice cake, Death by Chocolate Cake, Lava Cake. But, there was a new one, too. Angel food topped with strawberries. It was the perfect end to the meal of a lifetime. I’d never felt so bloated.

The sweet, tangy burst of flavor from the berries was interrupted by a violent shaking that plucked away all the remaining cakes.

My cakes.

My food.

Gone.

Ripped from the dream, I snapped my eyes open. Fibers of the warm quilt stood out starkly even in the dim light cast from the fire. I didn’t care about those prominent details, though. Or the way the cabin shook around me or the way the wood creaked with the severity of the movement. I cared that something had stolen me from the place I wanted to be, where I could eat without care, and I wanted it back.

Arms wrapped around me.

“It’s an earthquake. We need to get out of the cabin.”

My bed partner started to lift me. Angry, I moved fluidly and flipped over the male who dared to touch me without permission. I pinned him beneath me, showing him who was in charge of the moment.

Fenris grunted, and his pupils dilated favorably as my hips settled over his.

“Eliana, you need to focus on the cabin,” he rasped. “On the shaking.”

He trembled beneath me, a delicious shiver that strengthened our physical connection.

“I feel the shaking,” I said, flattening a palm over his thundering pulse. His control was so thin, barely there. “You need to focus on me, Fenris. Feel me.”

The scent of his lust clouded the air, and I purred with satisfaction as my hips brushed his. He groaned beneath me, and his hands returned to grip my hips in an attempt to still my movement.

He, the one with so little control, thought to control me?

A sultry laugh escaped me.

“We have to leave, kitten,” Fenris pleaded. “It’s not safe for you here.”

“The world’s destruction is nothing compared to the weight of my hunger for you.” I slowly leaned and ran my tongue along his sternum. “Give yourself to me.”

“I already have. Do you feel this? Us? We belong together, Eliana. I’m yours, and you’re mine.”

The feel of his obvious devotion and proof of his earnest claim pressed against my shorts. Yet, the words penetrated the hunger riding me, and I jerked back from him.

“No!” I leapt from the bed.

Fenris was so lost to lust that he couldn’t react fast enough to catch me. But he still tried.

With a whine, he twisted, his hand outstretched to catch my tank top. His fingers barely brushed my back as I bolted for the door.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think straight. I only knew that I needed to get away before something truly terrible happened.