Chapter 16 #2
Stepping outside, I locked the door behind me.
I shifted into my wolf form, ready to make the fastest hunt of my preternatural life.
The wolf’s vision took over, displaying heat signatures of prey within a two-mile radius.
With my head lowered, I detected a rabbit’s scent nearby.
A twig snapped to my right, and I darted my attention in that direction.
The rabbit’s red, yellow, and pink heat blazed in my vision.
As I moved my body toward the ground, I crept closer to it, pursuing from behind.
Once I was within jumping range, I pounced on it with teeth bared, snatching it in my jaws.
I raced back to Aurora, my four paws pounding relentlessly against the ground.
When I reached my porch, I shifted back into human form, holding the dead rabbit in one hand and my pants in the other.
I walked into the loft to find Aurora sitting on the couch, rocking back and forth.
She sprang up when she heard the door close.
Her gaze roamed from my naked form to the animal limp in my hand.
“Harkin, what—"
Tossing my jeans aside, I beckoned her with a claw. “Come here, sugar.”
She moved toward me with such stillness that it almost looked as if she floated.
Once she stood in front of me, her eyes unable to choose between focusing on my dick or the rabbit, I nudged my chin. “Tilt your head back.”
My canines, designed for tearing instead of a vampire’s piercing, stretched out as I ripped a hole in the animal’s throat.
Aurora had her mouth open, neck craned back.
I lifted the rabbit, letting the blood flow past her lips.
Her fangs sprang out once the first drop hit.
It fell into her mouth and the skin surrounding it, some rolling down her chin and past her cheeks.
I’d hunted for plenty of others before, for other females, but this was something far more erotic than I could’ve predicted. She’d made the promise to herself to no longer hunt humans. I wasn’t sure if she ever hunted animals. It was something I was glad to offer her. To provide for her.
When the blood stopped dripping, Aurora fluttered her eyes and lifted her head. She used her thumb to wipe the excess from the corners of her mouth. I grabbed a cutting board from the cabinet and tossed the rabbit onto it to cook for dinner later.
“Harkin,” Aurora said, her voice husky.
Turning toward her, she leapt into my arms, pressing her mouth to mine.
The metallic tang of animal blood coated my lips from her tongue.
Blood smeared against my skin and into my beard.
I wrapped both arms around her, continuing to kiss her and share my kill’s blood with her, moving us toward the hallway.
Knock. Knock.
“Fuck,” we said in unison.
Gulping and clearing my throat, I rallied enough to say, “Pack members are supposed to be takin’ turns watching the perimeter.”
“Did someone warn them they would hear all kinds of screaming and yelling from inside and to avoid beating down the door when that happens?” Aurora arched a brow, the blood still staining her chin and lips. She had no business being that sexy doin’ that.
Grunting, I shook my head. “No, but I’m about to warn them now.” After reluctantly letting go of her, I turned toward the door.
“Hey,” Aurora said, reaching for my hand and catching my pinky finger. “Thank you.”
Wiggling our joined fingers, I winked at her. “Any time.”
Whoever was at the door, they’d best tell me the Cove’s fallen to every primordial god in existence, or so help me.
When I yanked the door open, Kaida stood on the other side of it with her fist raised, ready to knock again when I hadn’t answered in the first two minutes. Her eyes dropped straight to my hard as granite dick. “Well, hello, Alpha.”
“What is it, Kaida?”
Kaida’s gaze traveled up to the blood on my face. A grin as wide as the doorframe formed on her lips. “May we talk outside for a moment? Promise I’ll be quick.”
“Aurora, I’ll be right outside the door,” I shouted over my shoulder.
“I’m not a five-year-old human child, Harkin,” she yelled back, blowing air kisses at Waffles.
Closing the door, but letting it open a crack, I folded my arms. “Talk to me.”
“Did I mention I really like her?” Kaida pointed toward Aurora. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking. Is Aurora, is she, somehow part shifter or something?”
Kaida had always been one of the smartest in the bunch. However, I’d still guard Aurora’s secret. Though I’d also never lied to my pack.
With a neutral face, I said, “She’s something different. Not entirely vampire. We’re still tryin’ to figure it out.”
“It would make sense. The way she smells. And given your pack, under your alpha orders, are the only ones not driven into a frenzy, what if she’s—” Kaida paused, making sure I was paying attention. When I vigorously nodded, she finished with, “—your mate?”
A sizzle traveled up my spine and into my head.
The thought had crossed my mind several times of late, but I couldn’t make sense of it. There were signs that happened when a wolf found their mate. If there’d been any between us, they weren’t obvious.
“I ain’t sure that’s possible, Kaida. Wolves can’t be mated to vampires.”
Which was fucking stupid.
“Sure, but you just said she’s something different.” Kaida’s eyes were lit with hope and excitement over something that had nothing to do with her.
Sighing, I rubbed the back of my neck. “It’s possible. Time will tell. Was that all?”
Kaida puckered her lips, then nodded. “Yeah. For now. Also, give Aurora this for me.” She lifted a bag, and all but shoved it into my chest.
“Have you forgotten how to say please?”
Kaida rolled her eyes. “Please, Alpha, give that to your mistress of the night in there.”
Mistress of the night had a ring to it.
“Will do. Assume you’re takin’ first watch?”
“Yup. Don’t worry. Anything I hear is secret safe with me.” Kaida grinned, her wolfish canines showing. She popped gum into her mouth and trotted off the porch.
I eyed the bag as I walked back inside. “Aurora, Kaida brought you some—” I froze when my eyes lifted to find Aurora on the couch with my comforter from the bed scrunched up on it, the pillows strategically placed.
“I’m sorry. I got this sudden urge to just, I’m not sure. It smells so deliciously like you.” She smiled at me with fond, doting eyes.
If I didn’t know any better, Aurora had started to nest.