Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sherese
His eyes land on me and slowly track down my body. I can feel his gaze like a caress, and I don’t know how to respond. His eyes linger on my legs a moment before they track back up to my face. “No,” he finally says, “but you smell better.”
I frown at his cryptic words, but my phone rings, distracting me. When I see it’s Ava, I answer. “Hello.”
“Bryce told me what happened. Are you okay?” She doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “He also told me he was being an idiot and asked if you did it. I chewed him out for that. I seriously don’t know what he was thinking. I mean, obviously, he wasn’t. Are you okay?”
She finally pauses for a breath. “I’m okay.”
“Did you get hurt? Bryce said your shirt was all torn up.”
“It was, but I’m fine. They didn’t hurt me. Hunter kept me safe, and your mate showed up and drove them all off.”
“I’m so sorry that happened to you. Bryce is going to punish all the ones who went after you.”
“He shouldn’t do that; they’re just trying to protect their pack.”
“They shouldn’t have come after you. They should have gone to Bryce with their concerns,” she says adamantly. We talk for a minute longer and then hang up.
“She’s right.”
I turn to where Hunter is standing near the window, looking out. “They should never have come here. That’s not how we deal with a problem in our pack. They should have gone to Bryce or Ryan.”
I don’t argue with him. I can tell he’s still on edge. I am too, honestly. His eyes meet mine from across the room as I plop down on the couch. “Do you think a vampire got onto the pack property without anyone knowing again?” I ask him
“Yes. All it takes is for them to inject themselves with the scent blocker, and we’d never know they were here if they stayed hidden.”
“It’s weird. I didn’t get any sort of feeling, but I guess I was sleeping.”
I lean back against the couch. “Are you just going to stare out the window all night?”
“Got a better suggestion?”
“Want to play a game?” I'm not even sure where that came from. “Wait, do you even own any games?”
“I have a few card games.”
“Really?” I ask in surprise.
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“Yes.” He gives me a dark look, and I shrug. “What? You’re not the kind of guy to have games sitting around his house.”
“What kind of a guy am I then?”
I shrug. “The kind whose idea of a game is to see who can run the longest or lift the most weight or something like that.”
He finally steps away from the window. “Just for that, I’m going to make you play a game with me.”
“What game?” I can’t help but ask.
“It’s a surprise.” He comes back a few minutes later and drops a box of cards on the table.
I look up at him. “UNO? Really?”
“It’s a game.”
“You’re right. It is a game.”
He drops down onto the couch next to me. “I’ll deal. I don’t trust you not to cheat.”
“Seriously?” I flick him on the arm, just for that. He smirks but shuffles and deals. I take the cards into my hand. “How do you play again? What? It’s been a long time.”
He explains the rules, and we get started. Even though I haven’t played in years, it comes back to me. We’ve only been playing for a few minutes when he calls out, “UNO.”
“Seriously? I still have like six cards.”
He shrugs. “One of us has to win.” I give him a stink eye and then proceed to give him a draw four card. When it’s my turn, I give him another one and then another one after that. “Really?” he asks in a dry voice.
I smirk at him. “One of us has to win.”
He still manages to beat me that round and then the next three rounds. But I finally get him in the fourth game. “Took you long enough.”
I ignore his comment and stand and stretch. “Do you think they’ve figured out anything?”
“No. Bryce has been keeping me updated.”
I frown at him. “That would have been nice to know.”
He leans back against the couch and looks up at me. “Why? They don’t know anything.” I bend over and pick up the cards. “What do I need to do to sell it to the vampires that you have me enthralled? What does it typically look like?”
His questions throw me for a loop; I wasn’t expecting them.
“I’ve only seen it a few times, and honestly, it’s not pretty.
They really think they’re in love with the vampire that drinks from them.
All they can think about is being with him, having him drink from them again.
I think because you’re a male and a wolf, you don’t have to be that pathetic. ”
His eyebrow lifts. “Pathetic?”
“It’s actually pretty sad. I’ve seen it happen to the human women Rizo brings in sometimes.”
Hunter’s eyes flash. “Human women?”
I drop my gaze. “Yes.” I put the box of cards down and step back. “I would try to get them out, but I can’t. They're kept in part of the facility that I don’t have access to.”
“Hey,” Hunter says softly. ”I’m not blaming you. You aren’t the one doing these things.”
“I should have done more.”
“Stop. Shaming or guilting yourself just makes it worse.” He glances towards the door. “Bryce and Ryan are here.”
I feel myself tense at his words, but I force myself to keep a blank expression on my face. Hunter opens the door, admitting the alpha and beta. “Hey, Sherese,” Ryan says. He and Bryce both look so serious. My stomach knots up.
“Who was it?” I ask.
“Sherese,” Hunter says, but I ignore him. I need to know.
Bryce is the one to tell me. “Her name was Kelli. She was single.”
And now her life is over. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” Bryce’s voice is hard. “I know you didn’t do it, Sherese. I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry.”
His words shock me. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not, and Ava may never talk to me again.” He gives me a slight smile, and I have hope that we’ll be okay going forward.
“Do you have any leads?” I need to know.
“No. The best we can come up with is that a vampire crossed onto the pack property without us knowing. Kelli must have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s not actually what we came to talk to you about.
We think in light of things, it’s best for you to lie low for a little bit.
Pack members are upset and looking to blame someone. ”
His words aren’t a surprise. I’ve already been thinking about it. “I’ll return to the vampires. We’ve been talking about it anyway. Now is probably the best time, while things are chaotic here. That gives you time to deal with things without me around.”
Bryce’s frown has increased while I talk. “I don’t know, Sherese.”
“I do. I need to go back. I told Garrett I’d get them Ajax; I need to follow through. I just want to get it over with.”
Bryce stares at me for a long moment. “If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
“Okay. I’ll tell the team to get ready. They can probably be ready to go as early as tomorrow.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
Both men turn their attention to Hunter, and I know they don’t need me there any longer.
I need to pack anyway, so I head to the spare bedroom.
After I’m packed, I listen at the door and no longer hear Ryan and Byce.
There’s a knock at my door. I open it, unsurprised to see Hunter standing there. “Fight’s on. Want to watch it?”
I don’t have to think twice. “Yes.”
I grab my blanket from my bed and follow him out to the couch. He’s already settled on the couch, watching the TV. I settle next to him on the couch, being careful to keep space between us. He eyes the space and then looks at me. “I don’t bite.”
I roll my eyes and move just the slightest bit closer.
“Who’s fighting?” He gives me the rundown, and I settle in to watch.
I find myself totally immersed in the fight.
About halfway into the second fight, I feel myself growing tired.
My eyes get heavy, but I don’t want to go back to my room.
It feels good sitting here with Hunter watching the fight; it makes me feel kind of normal.
It’s a losing battle to keep my eyes open.
I try and fail, but I don’t head back to my room.
I want to enjoy this moment as long as I can.
But when Hunter shakes me awake sometime later, I know it’s time to head to bed.
He stands and puts a hand out to me. I’m surprised, but I put my hand in his and let him pull me to my feet. “Thanks for letting me watch with you.”
“Anytime.”
I walk back to my room, feeling sluggish and tired. But there’s something I want to say, something I’ve been thinking about all night. “Hunter?” I call his name before he goes into his room.
He turns back to me. “Yeah.”
“Thank you for believing me that I didn’t do that.” I don’t have to let him know what I’m referring to; he just knows.
“You don’t need to thank me for that.”
“Well, I’m thanking you anyway because it meant the world to me.”
He studies my face for a moment. “Why?”
“Why?” I repeat back to him.
“Yeah.”
I stare at him, trying to think through how to explain it. I’m way too tired tonight. “I guess it’s just nice having someone in your corner.” When I speak again, my voice is really soft. “It’s been a long time since I had somebody in my corner.”
“Well, you didn’t have me before.”
“And now I do?” I ask. He nods, and I stare at him. I decide I am way too tired for this conversation tonight. “Goodnight, Hunter.”
His face softens. “Night, Sherese. Get some sleep.”
The next morning comes fast, and with it comes the news that we’re flying out today.
Hunter and I, Cody, Leo, Alicia, and Bryce will fly close to the vampire location.
Hunter and I will walk the remaining miles in.
I’ve done a good job keeping my thoughts at bay, but during the plane ride, I can no longer push them aside.
Thoughts of returning to the place I said I never would again return to run through my mind, and it’s hard to find that cool I usually have.
On the way, the team puts the final details in place.
I try to pay attention; I really do. But all I can think of is how Rizo will respond to my returning.
Will he be angry? Will he punish me? A lot of it will depend on how good a story I can spin, and honestly, that’s not my strong suit.
The flight passes all too quickly, and then it’s time to head out.
We timed it so that we would arrive at dusk, so I can travel without worry.
The team gets into place, and then Bryce stops before Hunter and me. “Keep each other safe.”
“We will,” Hunter says. I stay quiet. I’m still trying to figure out a way to get in there without making Hunter have to follow me. So far, I haven’t come up with any great ideas. I’m running out of time to figure something out. All I know is I’m not taking him in there with me.