CHAPTER 26
Rue
The next few days pass without any more visits from the psycho not-so-feral, yet I can’t help but feel like I need to look over my shoulder at every turn even though I haven’t left the cabin.
The small reprieve from Caylix was a welcome one, but it didn’t last long. Reality came crashing in the very next morning.
Two shifters were murdered by ferals and a third the following day. It makes my heart ache thinking about it.
And the thing is… we’re still no closer to finding answers about my blood. Dar’tha seems to have dropped off the face of the planet too. The number Caylix had for her is no longer in service, and anyone he’s reached out to about her has no information.
Everyday it’s seeming more and more like another dead end.
Something will have to give soon.
I’ve considered reaching out to the witches but have shot it down several times. Letting them in on this information will only get me killed or turned into a test subject. Someone somewhere has to know something. We simply need to find them.
Not to mention how things went with Slade is constantly on my mind, tainting my mood even though I try not to let it. I can still feel him in my chest and under my skin. Sometimes I even get tiny glimpses of his icy eyes when I close mine, but he hasn’t tried to visit again.
The guys are leaving it up to me to decide whether I lie to him and come up with a cover story or tell him the truth about everything. My heart is telling me to choose the latter, but I’m still uncertain about how he’ll react.
I’ve grown closer to each of the wolves, and we’ve settled into an easy routine, even though they’ve been busy running things from the sidelines. Arya only has authority to do so much, and I know they need to return to their duties… but a part of me is afraid of a repeat of what happened a week ago.
Admittedly, I’m beginning to feel stir crazy waiting for the next shoe to drop. Caylix and Rhys do their best to keep me busy, even pulling out board games and coming up with other indoor activities, but I miss my sketchbook and pencils. I’d almost kill for them, or even a canvas and easel right now. Not being able to rely on it to cope with my feelings has been rough.
“What’s on your mind, vixen?” Rhys asks, and I realize I zoned out mid card game. Kathan and Caylix are staring at me in concern.
“I miss my sketchbook,” I admit out loud. “It’s been hard not being able to draw and let my emotions out on paper…” I trail off and wait for them to say something.
Rhys grins softly at me. “You like art, huh? Well, how about we head into town today and see about grabbing you all the supplies your heart could ever want? Would that make you happy?”
An excited squeal bursts out of me and I leap from my seat at the breakfast nook. “Yes, yes! Oh my god, yes. Can we go now?” My elation crumbles when it hits me that I’d be exposing myself. “It’s probably not safe…”
Caylix seems to have a silent debate with the others. “To be extra safe, I’ll call in some enforcers to tail us. Go get dressed, little witch. I know you’re dying to get out of here.”
I wince. Am I really that obvious?
“It’s not you guys,” I rush to explain.
“We know,” Kathan responds. “We understand. At least we get to let our wolves out to do perimeter checks. You, on the other hand, are always cooped up inside.”
He’s not wrong.
“It’ll be good for you,” Rhys adds, standing and giving me a quick peck on the lips before giving me a nudge toward the hallway. I waltz into my bedroom and throw on a cute outfit. It’s one of the sets Kathan picked out for me, and by the rumble of his chest, it doesn’t escape his notice when I step into the living room.
He eats up the distance between us in a few long strides. “Looks so much better on you than it did on the rack,” he murmurs close to my ear. “But it’d be even better on the floor.” He glances pointedly at the rug where he watched me get fucked earlier this week.
I gasp, followed closely by a groan. “Kathan.”
Have I mentioned the sexual tension between the four of us has been off the hexin’ charts? Everything that happened the other night has only amplified my need for them.
“Get in the car before I decide to throw you over my shoulder and say to hell with going to town,” he rasps, his eyes flashing yellow.
Indecision wars within me, but ultimately the need for fresh air and drawing supplies wins out and I make a beeline for the SUV, Kathan’s chuckles following me the whole way.
Man, the guys have been holding out on me. The art supply store they brought me to is small but houses two stories with everything an artist dreams about on the daily. There’s every color of paint under the sun, brushes in all shapes and sizes, and a vast array of markers, pens, pencils, and charcoal. You name it, it’s here.
I don’t think my jaw has been off the floor since I walked through the door.
“This place is beautiful,” I murmur, eyes scanning the shelves of notebooks. I have to find exactly the right one. Not too big because I don’t want to carry around something bulky, but not too small either as sometimes my drawings fill up entire pages and spill onto the next.
A glimpse of movement in my peripheral captures my attention, and I catch a vampire and a shifter darting into the aisle behind us. Close enough to be here if anything happens, but far enough away to be out of sight, out of mind. Their presence doesn’t bother me because I know how dangerous this little outing is, and I’m glad they’re taking extra precautions in case the hex hits the toad. Everyone knows toads explode with magic and you know… guts everywhere. It’s not a pretty sight.
“I’m glad you like it here,” a feminine voice says from somewhere behind us. I glance over to find a mousy, dark-haired girl restocking the shelf of journals and planners. “Thanks for coming into Art Magic. Is there anything you’re searching for in particular?”
“Honestly, I’m only browsing right now, but I’m in love. I wish we had something like this in the city.”
Her nose twitches like she’s discreetly inhaling my scent. “Ah, thought you smelled like a witch. Well, I won’t keep you, but if you need anything, holler.” Her eyes shift behind me and widen like she’s only now noticing my company. “Alphas,” she greets. “Is there anything you need?”
“No, we’re along for the ride,” Rhys replies, curling a hand around my waist. The gesture makes butterflies take flight in my stomach and not because I think this girl wants my men, but because he’s displaying affection in public and I’m all for it.
Her lips split into a grin. “All right, well, like I said, if you need anything, I’ll be around,” she repeats and then leaves me to my perusal.
Eventually, I find the right notebook. It’s spiraled with a hard canvas cover which holds up way better than the flimsy paper ones. It’s more expensive, but the guys swear up and down the prices don’t matter. And considering they lead an incredibly large pack… they’re probably financially sound, so I don’t object.
By the time I’m halfway down the aisle of utensils, Kathan’s arms are overflowing with stuff. “Huh, who knew the big guy would come in handy for something after all?” I quip and watch his brows dip. He rumbles a growl at me, and I put my hands up in surrender. “I’m kidding!”
“I’ll show you kidding, sunshine. And if you’re not careful, I’ll take you into the bathroom to show you exactly how handy I can be.”
Desire instantly swarms me, and I flush bright red. Note to self, teasing the big bad wolf will end in huffing and puffing and blowing my panties right off.
I’m saved from the shifter by the shrill ringtone of my cell phone. The screen lights up when I pull it out of my pocket, showcasing Darcy’s smiling picture and her name underneath. For a split second, I consider not answering, but then I remember she’s covering for me at work. With a reluctant frown, I answer, “Hey, Darcy. What’s up?”
“Girl, where are you? You’ve disappeared off the face of the planet! The coven is starting to ask questions.”
Shoot. What do I tell her? Not the truth, but maybe something to pacify her. “I already told you, it’s a long story.” She huffs at me, but I cut her off before she can start in on me. “If you must know, I’m still with the alpha. He’s my mate.”
She squeals shrilly and I drag the phone away from my ear to save my eardrums. “Oh my cauldrons! Have you completed the bond yet? What’s it like?”
The questions are rapid-fire, and her excitement confuses me. She’s never been this curious about my life. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch the shifter that’s been tailing us approaching. He strides up to Caylix, a troubled expression on his face. Meanwhile Darcy is talking a mile a minute in my ear, but I’m no longer listening to her.
“Alpha,” he greets respectfully. “A feral was caught approaching town. Would you like us to go check it out?”
Caylix curses under his breath. “Fuck. They don’t normally hunt during the day.” He eyes the shifter. “One of you, go check it out. The other needs to stay here in case it’s a diversion.”
“Yes, Alpha,” the shifter says before slinking back into the shadows and out of sight. Hex, he’s good at that. Almost too good.
“Rue!” Darcy screeches. “Are you even listening to me? What did I hear about town and hunting during the day? What’s going on? Are you in the city?” She sounds far too intrigued for my liking. More like a dog with a bone than a concerned friend. Cauldron’s sake. I should’ve known.
Without as much as a goodbye, or a hex you, I hang up on her. Except the notification that pops up on my social media immediately has my heart beating faster.
*Darcy Allspell is monitoring your location.*
That witch with a B! I never should’ve enabled that feature with them, but it was handy when we went clubbing. At least I knew if I had my phone on me and I was murdered by a stranger, they’d be able to find my body.
“Vixen?”
I glance up at Rhys and the way he’s staring at me tells me this isn’t the first time he’s tried to get my attention. “Sorry, I got a notification that Darcy is spying on my location. That hexin’ witch bag.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. Why would she want to know where I’m at? Is it simply morbid curiosity because she’s interested in Rhys? Or something more sinister?
A few weeks ago, I’d brush it off, but now? After everything that’s happened… I don’t trust it or her for a single second, but I also don’t have any proof—only a gut feeling.
Kathan frowns and I expect him to… I don’t know… explode about how he was right about all witches being conniving spies, but he doesn’t. “You didn’t tell her about Caylix or me.”
His statement seems to confuse him as much as it does me. I gape at him in shock. “That’s what you got out of that?”
He seems to shake himself and his expression morphs into suspicion. “It is strange she’s monitoring your location, but the town isn’t a secret. In fact, we welcome all races here. Most witches won’t set foot on pack lands though. They say it messes with their abilities.”
Huh. I haven’t noticed anything off about my magic, but then again would it really make that much of a difference for me? “Yeah, before Darcy and Tessa invited me to The Growl, I’d never been out here. I knew it existed but staying in the city was always more convenient.” Now I wish I’d taken the time to explore. There was always this sense of restlessness sitting under my skin there, but here? I finally feel settled even with everything that’s happened.
“We’ll have some of our people check into your friends,” Caylix tells me, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Just in case.”
That eases some of my anxiety, and I reach up to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
His expression turns serious, and he wraps an arm around my waist, bringing me into his chest. “Next time tell her you have three mates.”
Rhys chuckles, running a hand through his blond hair. He gives the other two a smug-as-hell smirk. “See? Told you assholes I’m the favorite.”
Kathan punches his arm. “You’re something all right. Not sure if it’s the favorite though.”
Caylix’s lip twitches at their banter, but he’s still holding me to him. His warmth soaks into me and I snuggle in a little closer. He tilts my chin up to look at him. “I’m serious, little witch. Or else I might have to remind you exactly who you belong to.” His eyes flash gold and a rush of desire zings straight to my sweet spot. You know how a tea kettle whistles and almost vibrates when it reaches its desired temperature? Yeah, that’s me right now.
“So, don’t mention you and Kathan when I talk to them next. Got it!”
His chest rumbles with a growl, but there’s no real bark behind it. “You’d like me to do that, wouldn’t you, you sneaky little witch?” Memories of the other night flash through my mind. His cock inside me, Rhys’ finger inside with him, Kathan finishing on his stomach. Sweet moons, I’ve got to get out of here before we desecrate this art store. I’d be devastated if we got permanently banned.
I cough. “Okaaaay, I think I’m done. Let’s go pay for this stuff.”
“Right behind you, vixen.”
“Good thinking. The view from back here is fucking fantastic,” Kathan murmurs, his hot breath fanning my ear.
The innuendo is crystal clear.
If only I’d known exactly how quickly things would go to hell in a handbasket after this… I might’ve stayed in our own little bubble and let them have their way with me.