Tasting The Enemy

I had work today but I had a nagging feeling I wouldn’t be able to leave this house that easily. Surely, my brothers knew what happened last night. I didn’t know what Dad told them but it didn’t matter. They always believed him.

Dove was still dormant so any plan I came up with was up to me. I backed a small backpack full of clothes and threw it out of my window. It landed in a rosebush a few feet from my window. I wanted to say goodbye to Opal or tell her about my plans but right now trust was something I couldn’t afford to give out.

“Elaine,” Dad said the second I got downstairs. “Where are you going?” he added.

“To work… at the lodge. Rick needs me.”

He nodded slowly. “Neel wants to speak to you. He wants to hear from your mouth that your wedding will take place a week from now.”

A week from now?!

Neel appeared behind my Dad. He smirked victoriously.

“I would love your reassurance, mate,”

I clenched my teeth. “No need to worry, There will be a wedding.”

“Hmm, you’ll have to forgive her. Elaine hasn’t been feeling well lately,” Dad said.

“Don’t worry, Laiken. I’ll take good care of my mate.”

Dad nodded before he disappeared upstairs.

“Maybe you can take some lessons from your friend on how to please a man,” Neel spat.

“You big fat oaf!” I spat.

He raised his hand to strike me. I ducked but in the process, I tripped and hit my face on the mahogany table near the staircase. I cut my cheek open. I glared at him as I cradled my throbbing face.

Neel frowned at me. “I can’t say you didn’t deserve that. If you learn to behave I’ll treat you like a queen.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I bit my tongue. In his dreams.

***

I used the first aid box at work to cover up my cut. Everyone kept staring at me but no one asked what happened. I tried to busy myself with work but there wasn’t much to do at the lodge today. Not that many people for us to cater to that Saturday. My phone hadn’t stopped ringing though. I couldn’t speak to Azaire with a cut on my face I couldn’t face him either. I didn’t want him to pick another fight with Neel.

Since the lodge was quiet I slipped into the storage locker downstairs. Everything was just as I left it. The wolf enhancers were tucked away behind stacks of boxes.

I only needed a little. I inhaled the enhancers and instantly felt Dove wriggle out of her shell.

I placed a hand on my heart and sighed. “It worked.”

I pushed the packet of enhancers back behind the boxes and straightened my clothes. Unfortunately, Dove couldn’t heal my cut, but just having her around was good enough. My phone vibrated in my shorts before I exited the storage room.

It was Azaire. He was just going to call me again.

I answered the call. “Azaire.”

“What the hell happened last night?” he demanded.

“I can’t talk right now I’m at work.”

“At the lodge, right?”

“Yes, but we can’t see each other not right now. Please.”

“Too late. I’m in room 502.” He hung up.

I gawked at my phone. Was he serious? I found out a couple minutes later when I knocked on room 502 which happened to be our finest room. Azaire answered the door, he bore down on me. He hadn’t bothered to shave today. He opted for a white t-shirt instead of a black one to hold his sculpted muscles. He leaned against the frame and crossed his boots at the ankles. His laid back demeanour lasted a second because then he focused on the red and swollen spot on my cheek.

“It was an accident!”

He dragged me inside.

“Accident? On your face? Do you think I was born yesterday? Which one of those low lives did it?”

“My brothers would never lay a hand on me,” I said protectively.

“Your Father would, Neel would. Did Neel do this? I’m going to kill him. This time I’ll dismember him.”

“Stop please…”

“Stop? He deserves to get his face smashed in.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” I pleaded.

“Fuck, Elaine.” He examined the band-aid I placed on the cut. He stroked my cheek but shook his head. “I can’t let this slide, babe. I can’t.”

“Neel tried to slap me but I ducked and fell on the table. It was an accident.”

“An accident he caused. Why did you leave? What the hell?”

I wrapped my arms around his middle and held on tightly. I wanted to tell him I had a defective wolf but I was scared he would reject me. No one wanted a mate who could ruin his children’s chances of having strong wolves. He tangled his fingers in my hair and kissed my forehead.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked gently.

“What?” I replied.

“That you were a virgin.”

“Oh… uh… must have been the nerves. I wanted you to be yourself.”

“Fine. Promise me you won’t leave this room until I get back.”

“Why not?”

“I have things to take care of in my pack but I couldn’t function until I knew you were okay. I’m not satisfied with your safety, babe.”

“I’m not going back there Azaire… I can’t.” My backpack was under the bench in the employee’s lounge. I had my savings which would be enough for a hotel but beyond that I didn’t have a plan.

“We’ll figure this out together. Hey, it’s going to be okay, I won’t leave you.”

I nodded but I didn’t completely believe him. He pulled me into his arms. His actions spoke volumes, our mate bond told a story or defiance and passion that’s when I knew he wouldn’t leave me.

Pounding came from the door and I jumped.

“That’s probably my boss. I’ve been in here too long.” I said

Azaire chuckled. “No, it’s not.”

He marched to the door and yanked it open. A man I recognized from the Blood Moon pack stepped into the room with a mischievous grin. He was the one who came to Azaire’s side after he gave Neel a beating.

“So this is the girl that’s got you running around Elvira Falls like a headless chicken.”

“Ross,” Azaire growled. “I told you to wait in the truck.”

“Yeah, yeah. I just thought you’d like to know I just saw Nik Ryker arrive and leave a few minutes ago. The owner doesn’t look too comfortable now.”

“This can’t be good,” I said.

***

The three of us set off to find Rick. Thankfully, a few guests were occupied and the other staff members were busy.

Rick was by the counter.

“Oh, there you are Elaine. Your brother just left. The Alpha’s ordered me to fire you.”

“This is neutral ground he can’t do that,” Azaire said.

Rick rubbed his forehead. “He said you’re moving to the mountain pack and you don’t need the job anymore.”

“That’s not true!” I gasped. “Rick you can’t fire me. I need this job.”

“I don’t want to fire you, kid. Some of our rooms inched into Black Claw territory. He’s threatening to burn them down. I can’t afford that.”

I shut my eyes. Alpha Laiken is a tyrant. Without me, he won’t have his precious army. Without that army, he can’t wage war against anyone.

“I understand Rick. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’ll send you your last check. Will you be okay without it today?”

I nodded. “I have enough for a motel.”

“For your own good don’t tell me what motel you’re going to.”

This was it. No turning back.