Chapter Twenty-Six
Sherese
When Hunter doesn’t say anything, I turn to him. He meets my gaze for just a moment and then turns to Bryce. “Yeah.”
Ava turns on Hunter. “What in the world, Hunter? Were you after a death wish, going against Garrett like that? You’re going to make an enemy of the entire pack.”
“Let it go, Ava,” I tell her in a calm voice.
“You’re defending him?” she asks, eyes wide. “He tried to murder the Northwoods Pack alpha. And may I please remind everybody that he’s literally the alpha of all alphas in the country. You can’t just get angry and snap like that.”
Anger on his behalf courses through me because I’ve been there. I’ve had it happen when you get so mad, you don’t even realize what you’re doing, when the vampire part of you is driving you so hard. “Let it go, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Bryce moves next to Ava, eyes flashing in warning.
I feel a presence at my back and know it’s Hunter.
I don’t know if he’s defending me or backing Bryce up.
“And what happened to you after the fight? Why did Hunter whisk you off like that? We were waiting for you to come back, so we could celebrate with you. And you just disappeared.”
“I couldn’t come over there.”
“Why not?” Ava pushes. “Rose and Samantha flew in just for this fight, and Sage, who never comes to the fights, came. They were all there for you, and you just blew them off. You’re one of us; you should have come over when you got done so we could celebrate with you.”
I snap. “No, I’m not. You keep trying to act like there’s no difference between us. There is, Ava! I’m not one of you. I’ll never be one of you!”
“That’s not true.”
“I’m not human! Stop acting like I am!” She flinches at my words, and Bryce is done.
I don’t wait for him to say something; I just walk past both of them and head outside.
I stare into the woods in frustration. I wish I didn't have these stupid boots on, so I could just go for a run. The front door opens, and I turn away. I don’t want to deal with anybody right now.
I know without looking that it’s Hunter.
Knowing what I know now about his heritage, it makes sense why I can always sense him.
I don’t say anything because I don’t know what to say.
I wish I had a place to escape to; I just want to be alone.
“Here.” I glance at what he’s holding. “Figured you could go for a run.” I take my sneakers from him.
“Thank you.” I slip off my boots and put my sneakers on.
When I stand, I take off my jacket and throw it on the steps.
I don’t say anything to Hunter because I don’t know what to say.
Instead, I run. My vampire vision lets me see well in the dark, and I tear through the woods, needing the release.
I make a mental note not to go too far. I already almost burned out earlier.
The blood helped, but right now, I’m running just to work out frustration, not to deplete myself.
I’m not sure how long I’m out there, but I eventually start making my way back.
When I get close to the house, I slow down and walk.
I’m a sweaty mess, but I feel better. I think about everything from earlier and feel defeat wash over me.
I’ll have to find Ava tomorrow and apologize.
It's too late tonight; hopefully, she’s sleeping.
Guilt swamps me. She’s been nothing but good to me.
When everybody else just saw me as the enemy, she saw me as a person. She deserves better.
I step out of the woods and walk towards the now dark house. “Feel better?” a low voice hits me out of the darkness. I look at the steps and see Hunter sitting on the top step.
“Yes.” My voice is quiet, and I walk towards the steps. “Thank you,” I tell him as I pass him. His hand touches mine, surprising me. I stop and stare down at him.
“Are you okay?” he asks quietly.
“I’m fine.” I start to move forward, but realize his hand is still touching mine. When he doesn’t say anything, I pull my hand away. “I’m tired. I’m going to go to bed.”
I step past him and am almost to the front door when I hear him stand. “Sherese.”
I close my eyes. “What do you want, Hunter?”
“Thank you for standing up for me.”
His words surprise me so much that I turn around. He's close, and I have to look up at him to see him. “What?”
“Earlier, you stood up for me. Nobody but Bryce has ever done that for me before.”
His words make me sad, and this night just feels like too much. “Well, thanks for getting me blood. I guess we’re equal.”
His voice is velvety soft when he speaks next. “And thanks for getting me out of the ring. You did the right thing.”
I’m suddenly curious. It’s probably the exhaustion riding me that makes me ask, “Why were you trying to kill the alpha?”
He stares down at me, and I can literally feel the intensity of his gaze. “Maybe someday I’ll tell you.”
“Why not right now?”
The corner of his lips tug up, and my breathing speeds up. I’m not really sure why. Once again, I blame the exhaustion. “You’re not ready for the answer. Not yet.”
“I’m not a child, Hunter.”
His eyes skim over me, and I stare at him in shock. Was he checking me out? Seriously. I need to go to bed. His eyes meet mine again. “No, you’re not.” His voice is deeper now, and I have a hard time catching my breath.
“I need to go to bed,” I blurt out. I take a step back and fumble for the door handle behind me.
I open the door and escape to my room. I close the door behind me and lean against it, trying to catch my breath.
“Don’t read into any of it; you’re just tired.
” It’s not until I’m in bed a few minutes later that I remember my boots and jacket, but there’s no way I’m going out there to get them, not when it means I have to walk past Hunter.
Nope. I’ll just get them in the morning.
The events of today crash over me, and I’m pulled into a deep sleep within minutes.
The next morning, I wake up later than usual.
I lay in bed for a few minutes, dreading getting out of bed.
Everything from last night comes back to mind, and I resist the urge to groan.
I force myself out of bed. After a shower, I feel a little better about life.
I crack the door to my room. When I don’t hear anybody, I tiptoe out into the hallway.
My goal is to make it to the kitchen to grab a blood bag and make it back to my room without being seen.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I don’t see anybody on the way.
I don’t see Hunter on the couch, so hopefully he’s out letting his wolf run.
I grab a blood bag from the fridge and close the fridge door quietly behind me.
I’m almost out of the kitchen and feeling good about my success when a voice stops me. “Why are you sneaking around?”
I nearly jump out of my skin. I eye the male standing in the doorway to the kitchen, leaning against the wall. “Hunter! You scared me. Where did you come from?”
“You walked right past me. I was in the living room.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” I whisper hiss.
He smirks. “It was more fun to see what you were up to, sneaking around.”
“I’m not sneaking around.”
“You sure about that?”
I shake my head. “Yes.” When he doesn’t move out of my way, I eye him. “Was there something you needed?”
“Nope.”
“Okaaay. Well, then, can you move? Because you’re blocking me from leaving the kitchen.” He stares down at me, smirking. “What?”
“Nothing. Just practicing being enthralled.”
I close my eyes for a brief moment. “You’re going to be impossible, aren’t you?” He steps close, and I go still.
“Morning.” I jump at the voice and take a step back. Hunter moves out of the way, and Ava eyes the two of us.
“Morning, Ava.” I turn my complete focus on her. “I’m sorry for being a jerk last night.”
“No, it wasn’t you. I...you were right. I keep trying to make you something you’re not, and that’s on me. Not you.”
I swallow. “I needed blood last night.” It’s painful saying those words.
“What?” Ava asks in confusion.
“I was reaching burnout by the end of the fight. Between the adrenaline and the fight, I was nearing burnout. I needed blood. That’s why Hunter got me out of there.
I was weak and needed help.” I hate admitting that, but it’s worth it for her to understand.
“I wasn’t blowing you or any of the other girls off. ”
“I’m so sorry, Sherese. I had no idea.”
“How could you? I never told you. Vampires are pretty strong unless they go too long without blood. It’s the equivalent of needing a drink with electrolytes after a hard workout. We don’t exactly tell people that because they can use it against us.”
“I get it,” Ava says softly. “I’m really sorry.”
“Me too.”
And then she shocks me by hugging me. Ava’s not usually a hugger, and I’m obviously not. I stiffen when her arms wrap around me. The hug is over before I get a chance to respond, and she steps away. “Anything else I need to know, as your friend?”
“No. I think that’s it.”
“Good. All right. Let’s not do that again. Too much emotion for me.”
I nod. “Agreed. Where’s Bryce?”
“He’s in a meeting with Garrett and his crew. He said if they get done at a good time, we can try to leave today.”
“That sounds good,” I admit.
“Yeah, doesn’t it? It’s been good being here and seeing everybody, but I’m ready to get back home.”
She sits and leans forward. I frown and walk over to her. “You good?”
“Yeah, just trying not to throw up.” She looks up and grimaces. “Maybe you could move your blood bag out of sight.”
“Sorry.” I pocket it quickly. “You know, you were pretty hard on me, but I’m not the only one withholding. Somehow you failed to mention you were pregnant.”
“Surprise,” she says weakly. “We weren’t planning on telling everybody yet, but I’ve been so sick. It’s kind of obvious.”
“I’m really happy for you and Bryce.”
She manages a smile and lies down. “Thank you. You know, the one thing nobody told me was how stinking tired you are all the time in the beginning.” I watch her for a moment and then look over at Hunter with wide eyes.
Is she already asleep? I mouth to him. He looks back at her and nods.
I snag a blanket from the back of the couch and put it over her, and then head back to my room.
After drinking my bag, I toss it and then kill time playing games on my phone.
I may be playing the game, but my mind is a million miles away.
I’m trying to figure out how to get back to the vampires, without taking Hunter with me.
I know I’m going to have to be careful; he seems to see and hear everything.
Not much gets past him. If I’m going to do this, I’ll have to do it carefully.
I really don’t think they’ll chance showing up here again.
My best shot is that they show up in Arizona again, and when they do, I’ll go with them.
All I have to do is figure out a way for the wolves to get to Ajax, so Emma and her family will be safe.
And then I can escape from the vamps forever.