Ezra and I paused in front of Alpha Alpha Raymond and Luna Addison on the way out. “Thank you for arranging a ride home,” I said, “this evening has been lovely, but it is tiring.” My shoulders hunched inward.
“Yes, yes,” The Luna waved me off.
“And thank you for the invitation, Hunter,” I said to him over my shoulder. “It was too kind.”
I half-wanted Ezra to stay here to assess and monitor the situation. To be my eyes and ears here. I was itching to know what would be said after I left.
That would be the smart thing to do. But an overwhelming part of me, I couldn’t name, wanted the few minutes alone with him in the car. I needed a few moments to be myself, to drop the mask, and feel safe. I hoped I wasn’t risking everything for my own selfishness.
Ezra guided me out of the room and lowered his voice, “You were right; that woman isn’t a wolf.”
I wasn’t that surprised. I knew something was off. “What is she?”
Ezra glanced around, making sure we were fully alone. “A werecat,” he whispered.
I stilled, my eyes widened. “What?”
“I don’t know how you sensed it.”
“I got my wolf. I have the wolf senses,” I explained.
“Yes, our senses are heightened by that, but I didn’t even notice; I couldn’t tell, and I’ve been trained on top of those senses.” He paused. “I’m assuming you’ve had training too, but.. Still. The fact that you scented that was extraordinary.” He looked at me with awe.
I shrugged. “We can compare our senses later, see who can see further.” I gave him a smile. “But I need you to do something for me before we leave.”
“Anything,” he promised, and my stomach flipped at the deep sincerity of his words.
I waited in the front seat of the car, replaying the short evening over. I repeated everyone's names and packs paired them with faces until I knew I wouldn’t forget them.
The door opened, and I jumped, too lost in my thoughts. “It’s done.” Ezra slid in beside me and put the keys in the ignition.
“Thank you,” I said. He nodded, looking forward.
We drove into the night, the lights of the packhouse faded until he asked, “Why were you spared?”
I looked at him. “From my pack's slaughter?” I clarified.
He nodded once, still looking ahead.
“I was-” I swallowed. “I am the Alpha’s daughter.”
It was still hard to get out. I thought that was something he knew or we talked about, but I think I was just used to everyone in the pack house knowing besides the guests.
He seemed to go even quieter. “I’m sorry,” he said with such raw sincerity it curled through me. “I didn’t know.”
“Not a very good hunter then,” I snorted, trying to make light of it so I could push the pain away.
“Hunter?” he raised a brow, his brown eye slid to me.
I shrugged, picking at the skirt of my dress. “That’s what I called you in my mind.” His smile widened.
“I did hear the stories, some of them. I did the research, but I was focused on Blood River mainly.”
“There’s your mistake. You should have been looking at their enemies.”
“You’re right. But it was to our knowledge all of Blood Moon was taken out. I thought that would be impossible without a few running.”
“It was possible.” I cut in, my voice cracking. “I was chosen for my bloodline.” And Miles got away. Maybe there were others. But I saw the absolute carnage, how we were herded and practically defenseless against wolves.
“I can’t imagine the reason behind it,” he said seemingly to himself.
I looked out the window and blinked back tears, not able to face him. “Does cruelty need a reason?”
My hand was enveloped by his, and he held it tight, sending the warmth of connection and possibly understanding through my body.
A heaviness settled over me; it was becoming familiar. Tonight would hopefully have started something sent a few things into motion that hopefully would spread out and eventually help the greater cause.
There was so much uncertainty, and I had to put my trust in others, something that I hadn’t had to do in years. But if this came together, if even part of this did, then I could give my family, my pack, a bit more justice.
I wanted them to be remembered not as an Alpha who refused to back down but as an Alpha who fought to the end for those he loved and was betrayed. Anger flared through me, and Ezra rubbed the back of my hand with his calloused thumb, keeping it at bay.
I was grateful for the act of friendship. Was this what this was? My first true friend in years?
I glanced at him when I calmed a bit; his face was softer but still serious. I had a thousand questions I wanted to ask him, but I let us have a moment of silence instead of digging up his past.
We reached the packhouse sooner than I wanted, and I internally kicked myself for not using that guaranteed time alone to go over our notes of tonight and assess our findings or take time to work on the next steps. But I couldn’t really find it in me to regret it.
He loosened a breath as he pulled around the back of the packhouse and removed his hand gently from mine. He grabbed the keys and opened the door. Ezra opened my door before I could move. Or maybe I was just lagging from the events of tonight.
I tried to shrug off the heaviness of being back here. I realized it was the first time I left this pack since I was taken.
He reached a hand out and I took it, letting him help me down. I wouldn’t admit it, even to him, but I needed the support more than I could put into words.
He didn’t drop my hand as we walked to the back of the pack house; I nervously shifted and looked around.
“Everyone is asleep,” he murmured. “I’ll let you know what I find out when I check in with The Alpha later. I’m hoping they stay the weekend and trust me to mind you.”
“Mind me?” I asked with a half-smile.
He glanced. “You know what I mean. In their eyes, you need protection.”
“I know.”
We stopped near the back door, and he dropped my hand. I looked at mine, feeling the hollow emptiness again.
“It’s strange, isn’t it?” he asked. I took a step back, bumping against the cool stone of the packhouse so that I could fully look at his face. “Human contact,” he explained. My gaze went to where the hand he held mine in flexed.
“You’re acting like it hurt you,” I murmured, trying to joke to suppress the hurt I felt.
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s unexpected. Unlike anything I had felt before, I’m just… I wasn’t expecting it. It’s new.”
I nodded, studying his face. My first instinct was to figure out if he was lying if he was saying this so that I would open up to him, connect to him, and then he could run to Alpha Raymond and collect payment.
“What are you thinking?” he asked me, frowning at whatever my face held.
I shook my head, chewing my lip. My wolf trusted him. I would trust him. But, Goddess, was that harder than I thought possible.
Your pack was betrayed by your uncle; it’s normal for you to be apprehensive - Aksala gently reminded me.
“A lot of things. Where to place my trust.” I shrugged, and he took a step forward. He towered over me, and I felt a connection to him like a cracking charge even though he wasn’t touching me.
“I understand,” he said, and I knew he did.
“I wasn’t expecting…” I trailed off with another shrug. I had too much to say and no words.
“Simone, you are nothing like I expected.” He cupped my chin in his hand, gentler than I thought possible from an orphaned assassin. His dark brows tugged together, and I felt like he was fighting internally with himself.
“As a prisoner or a potential assassin?” I quirked a brow, but my breath caught as his thumb brushed over my parted lips.
“Both,” he said. His smile tugged through his scar. It was a beautiful thing.
“You’re not what I expected either,” I admitted.
“Good.”
The constant rigidness seemed to leave his body, and he settled into himself, settled against me. His body gently pressed me further into the packhouse, and his strong warmth ignited an addiction. One of his hands moved to my cheek, and I leaned into it; butterflies erupted through me at his gentle touch.
He leaned closer to me, his warm breath fanned my face. The air was thick with anticipation. “May I?” he asked, and I nodded.
His lips brushed mine, and I stiffened, gasping at the way my stomach flipped and face heated. I never expected my body to react from just that. He pulled back, and I opened my eyes, confused.
“Did I do that wrong?” he asked. “Was that not okay?” He frowned, looking genuinely hurt.
I shook my head. “I was just surprised how good it felt.”
He let a deep breath out and leaned closer to me. I shut my eyes, and he pressed his soft lips against mine. I sucked in my breath as heat curled deep between where my legs met, and sparks danced through me.
I let instinct take over, and rational thoughts melted and moved my lips against his. I reached toward him, grabbed the nape of his neck, and tentatively reached for his arm, wanting to feel more of him.
His tongue slid over my bottom lip, and I opened my mouth. He dipped his in and slid it against mine. I sighed into his mouth as the warmth coursed through me, wrapping around me.
One of his hands moved from my face and cupped my lower back, pressing us closer together. I gasped as I felt myself heating from within. Unfamiliar feelings that reminded me of a needy unfurled and raced through me.
When he pulled back, I could barely find my breath. It was an experience I never dreamed of having in this lifetime. But it felt so normal, so right.
He looked confused for a moment before he gave me the brightest smile I didn’t think he was capable of. It made him seem his age, a young man that had a chance to choose for once. I wondered if my face mirrored his.