Chapter 15 #3
“But I won’t ask you to do that. You keep it, and together we’ll watch it sit unused and collecting dust.”
He steps away once more, and my heart flutters in my chest. At this rate, I’m going to develop an arrhythmia.
“You’re really okay if I hold on to it for a while?” I ask as we continue down the path.
He nods. “If you want. If it makes you feel better to have it just in case. I want you happy.”
Fuck, how is he so perfect?
Glenn clears his throat. “I want to ask you a question, but don’t want you to take this the wrong way.”
“O-kaaay? Are you breaking up with me?”
“Fuck no, just…had a question about the fae part of you.”
“All right. Go on.”
“Attie told Forest that the fae part of you would need to accept an alpha bond.”
My eyes flash to Glenn, and I flex my hands. “You gonna mark me?”
He lets out a small grunt. “You gonna let me?”
My next word is breathy and low. “Maybe.”
His eyes meet mine, and I see the red staining his cheeks, the way his chest labors with each breath.
“But yes, I would need to accept it. A fail-safe, it seems.”
His eyes flick to my neck, and I see the hungry look in his gaze.
“But no marking. Not yet. Because we’re here, the cave I told you about,” I say, gesturing to a bush on the side of the path.
“I don’t see any cave. Is this some kind of magic shit?”
“Ha, no. Come on.” I grab his hand and pull him forward. “It’s just camouflaged. But listen, when we get inside, you need to be quiet because there’s a watcher down here.”
“A watcher?”
“Yeah, it’s a sacred place, and there’s this hot spring that has healing properties…”
“No shit.”
“Yeah. Now shhh.”
I drag the bush slightly to the side, revealing a hole. Crouching down, I put my feet inside and look back at Glenn.
“Ready?”
His eyes meet mine, and then I push myself forward, my body whooshing downward until my feet land on the wet ground. It’s slightly jarring, but I’ve done this enough that it doesn’t faze me.
I stare up at the light filtering through the opening and see the bottom of Glenn’s feet appear. Then, a second later, he’s next to me, his head swiveling back and forth as he takes it in.
It’s darker here, the bright scatter of stones near the entrance long behind us. Back here, the air feels heavier, thick with the promise of something hidden.
My fingers lace with his, and I lead him through the narrow passage until it spits us out into a hollow chamber.
The spring lies before us, still and glittering faintly.
Two lamps on the cave walls cast a weak glow, just enough to reveal the rippling surface.
The light doesn’t reach far, and the shadows at the edges seem to move as we step up to the pool and peer down into it.
“What’s it used for?” Glenn asks softly.
I put my finger up to my lips, and he makes a face at me.
Then I dip my hand into the water, wetting my finger and placing it against his lips.
He stares at me intently, the air growing thicker. His tongue swipes out and slides against my skin, and I feel the tingle move through my body at his touch.
My skin hums as I dip my finger into the water and place some into my mouth. I’m not injured or sick, so the effect of the water on me just makes me glow, makes my body slightly overheated.
Once, I had an entire mouthful and ended up as bright as a fucking star.
I’ve learned my lesson. Now I only take drops, the smallest amount possible, to prevent myself from going supernova.
Glenn’s eyes slide across my skin, which is glittering slightly, a soft glow in contrast with the lamps on the cave walls. The water before us ripples as I offer Glenn another drop, his tongue curling around my finger and sucking.
I want to know what he’s feeling. What is this water doing to him?
I want to ask, but I’m afraid that if I speak, we’ll be caught, and the watcher will find us and scold us.
I don’t want to be brought to the leader of the pack.
He frightens me.
My finger leaves his mouth, and I step closer, my hands moving around his shoulders and into his hair. My mouth slants over his, and I taste the slight buzz on his tongue, can feel the bulge in his pants.
I grind against it, feeling the need building inside of me.
I want him already.
But then a sound behind us has us wrenching apart.
“You’re not allowed in here. You know that. Fae are not to go near the water.”
That deep, rasping voice has me freezing and turning toward the watcher, an older man with white hair and a long dark robe, who is staring at us intently.
Glenn’s arm moves around me protectively, and I lean into him, still feeling that hum under my skin, a song, a slow and steady beat.
“Sorry, I just wanted to show him the pool.”
“And drink from it. You know what I told you would happen the last time, and still you disregarded it. Your kind are always sneaking about, making trouble for the rest of us.”
Glenn stares down at me, his arm tightening around me, but I can feel curiosity radiating off him. He wants to know what will happen.
“I’m not making trouble. It was just a drop,” I say, feeling my cheeks flame. I can’t believe we were caught, but then again, maybe I wanted to be.
“A drop shared is all you both need. You were warned, and you did it anyway.” The watcher stares at us long and hard, and I lean into Glenn as we’re escorted from the cave. We move past the entrance, the stones glowing around us before we step outside.
It’s not as cool out here, the mild breeze hitting our pebbled skin.
“Don’t come back unless you’re invited, Arbor,” the watcher says, and I sigh, giving him a nod. He looks at Glenn and then back at me before uttering something cryptic.
“Red is not a warning. It’s a promise of things to come. When it glows brightly, disaster follows.”
Then he simply disappears back into the cave, and Glenn arches an eyebrow at me.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Glenn asks, and I shrug my shoulders.
“No idea. He’s always doing this shit.”
“So, what were you warned not to do, and why is what you did a bad thing?”
I meet his gaze and wet my lips, my heart thumping in my chest.
“The water is enchanted. It has healing properties.”
“So you said.”
“But if you consume it with another…even the smallest drop…”
I pause, and Glenn nods to encourage me to continue.
“It starts the bonding process. An uncontrollable thirst for the one you share it with. At least until after the next full moon.”
“The bonding process?”
“Well, that’s what they say, but I’m not sure I believe it. I’m assuming you still need to bite me. Just makes it easier, I guess.”
“And you risked it with me?” Glenn asks, and I swallow.
“You disappointed?”
He wets his lips and then pulls me in closer.
“No.”
I already feel a zing of something brewing in my system, something heady and strong.
Glenn, pieces of him. They’re infiltrating me, his bond trying to weave its way through my body and into my heart. It’s making me slightly overheated, my hole growing slick with each step forward.
“You okay?” Glenn asks, his hand moving into mine as we walk from the cave entrance back toward town.
“Yeah. Do you feel it?”
“Mhm,” he hums and then squeezes my hand.
“It will wear off eventually. Unless…”
He says nothing, just continues to hold me, our feet shuffling on the ground the only sound in the forest.
It’s quiet, almost eerily so.
“Where is everyone?” Glenn asks, and I turn my head side to side, trying to figure it out, but I don’t see anyone.
“Not sure, but maybe it’s best if we head back to Attie’s trailer, just in case something is going down.”
“What would be going down?”
“I don’t know? A rival pack headed our way? Maybe someone is in trouble?”
Glenn’s gaze suddenly fixes on the town hall. “They’re in there. I can hear them.”
The door suddenly swings open, and Jex steps out. I can hear the commotion now—a low, nervous rumble. Something is definitely amiss.
“What is it?” I ask, not able to help the nervous thrum in my chest. I move to step inside, but Jex holds up a hand.
“Wouldn’t do that if I were you. It’s nothing to do with you anyway.
It’s a private town meeting. You understand, right?
” he says softly, and my heart sinks. I know what he means.
They like me just fine when they’re able to use my hole, but I’ve never been a part of this pack, this family.
Not really. They only ever put up with me because of Attie, and I was a convenient omega.
“Can you at least tell us what the issue is?” Glenn asks.
“Just ongoing problems with one of our pack members. Kind of expected, though, considering who it is.”
“Who?” Glenn asks
Jex arches an eyebrow at me and then blows out a breath. “Red. Zed isn’t happy about it.”
Glenn stiffens, his hand clenching mine almost painfully.
“Seems Red’s been fooling around with one of your kind, too,” Jex says, and I cock my head.
My stomach drops. “A fae?”
He nods his head. “Seems so. A very nefarious one. It’s made Zed go nuclear. He’s also pissed at Forest, since your brother’s been bending over for Red and knew about the fae but didn’t say anything to the pack.”
“And how did you find out about this?” Glenn asks, making me jump slightly at the tone of his voice.
“About what? Your brother bending over for Red or Red getting involved with a fae?”
“Both.”
“Red just told us. He’s here. Finally came to us, saying he needs some help. Seems he made a deal with the devil, and now we have to sort his shit out. Red may have left the pack to live in your territory, but he’s still one of us. We never abandon our kind.”
My mind flits to recent memories of Red, to the person who slid up next to him when I was trying to get to Pit Stop. Was that the fae they’re talking about? Was that the recognition I felt, someone of my kind?
Jex slaps Glenn on the shoulder, pulling my mind away from those thoughts, and nods toward Red’s place. “Anyway, gotta go look up something. Be right back. Just don’t go in there, Arbor. In fact, it might be a good idea if y’all head out. I don’t want your feelings hurt.”
Glenn watches him go. I can’t look away from the closed door to the town hall, my mind reeling, my chest constricting. I’m not wanted. Not here. I should leave.
And I know that, at the moment, the pack will be angry and feral, their shifter natures wanting to come out and destroy.
Because Red got involved in something dangerous once again.
He let the pack down. He’s never thought about the consequences of his actions.
He’s always jumped in with both feet and floundered.
Just like he did when he left the pack.
He was tired of the rules and ditched the only family he knew.
And now look what happened. He’s attached himself to some fae and is in trouble.
A fae, one of my kind. Someone like me. Part of me.
And he’s come crawling back for help.
“You’re not like whoever this fae is,” Glenn says softly and pulls me into him. “You’re not.”
“I feel like it. I know they only put up with me because of Attie. No one really likes me around here.”
“I don’t get that impression.”
“They hide it well. They’ve gotten used to me, but this is going to really throw them over the edge. I should probably head home. I don’t want to be in the middle of all this when it goes sideways. I don’t want them to take it out on me.”
“We don’t have to go.”
“You don’t have to, but I do.”
He watches me intently for a moment and then nods. “I’ll text Forest and head home with you. I’m sure he’s not ready to leave yet.”
The door to the town hall opens, and Ten appears, jogging down the steps.
“Forest in there?” Glenn asks, and he nods.
“Yep.”
“Is he okay?”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine. Zed is handling him.
Oh, and…” Ten meets Glenn’s stare. “Just thought you should know, since you’re Skye’s brother and all, but Red just spilled everything.
He admitted to messing with your family.
He was apparently following orders when he made sure Skye and Mav broke their bond.
He messed with the cellphones to ensure it would happen and to prolong their pain. ”
“Why the fuck would he do that? For what purpose? Skye nearly died!”
Ten shrugs, looking unbothered by the fact that one of their own caused so much pain.
“All Red would say is that’s what he was told to do.
Seems the fae might have it out for your family, dude.
But then again, the fae can be tricksters, so maybe it’s not personal at all.
Maybe they’re just having a bit of fun at your expense. ”
“What the fuck?” Glenn murmurs.
But before he can say anything else, Jex shouts for Ten to hurry up, and Ten throws a thumb over his shoulder. “Anyway, sorry for the bad news, but watch your back. Seems Red’s got himself into a bunch of shit, and he seems to be dragging everyone else into it.”
“You going to help him?” I call out as Ten jogs away. He turns around, and his shoulders lift.
“Up to Zed.”
And with that, he’s gone.
“Let’s just get you out of here. We don’t need to be here for any of this. Forest can handle himself,” Glenn says, and I sink into him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. You’re my priority right now, Arbor.”