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I shoveled the last of the taco in my mouth and looked up at my brother, who was making a face at me. “What?” I asked around a mouthful.
“You’re a pig,” he said, shaking his head.
I swallowed the food and sucked a swig of soda through the straw as I rolled my eyes. “Because that’s the first time I’ve been called that?”
“And won’t be the last,” Beckett said under his breath, chuckling.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I heard that.”
“I wasn’t whispering,” he came back in a sing-song voice while biting back a smile, his drink to his lips
“Fuck you, Beckett,” I said, sticking out my tongue like a five-year-old. I swiped a chip around my plate to collect whatever had fallen out of the taco. “I’m starving I can’t help it.”
“So are you full now?” Aden asked, staring at my nearly bare plate, the vacant basket of chips, and the almost empty bowl of guacamole.
I lifted a shoulder. “I could still eat.”
Beckett stared hard at me and said, “I’m pretty sure I know what else you need. I’ll take you out for that later.”
I made a face because I realized he was talking about blood, but I supposed he was right.
Aden made almost the identical face I had, the thought of having to consume blood like a vampire completely repulsive to him as it had been to me before I’d become a hybrid freak. Even though we thought nothing of it when we were wolves. The bloodier, the better. I patted my big brother on the arm.
“He’s not wrong,” Karina commented, inclining her head at Beckett before lifting a glass of dark-red wine to her lips.
“Don’t encourage him,” I said pointedly.
Evan laughed and put his arm around his wife. “She’s good at antagonizing vampires.”
She punched him in the shoulder, and then they kissed briefly. I rolled my eyes.
We were all sitting in a corner booth at the 16th Street Taco Bar and I could see Aden eyeing the waitresses, even though I knew he was looking for one in particular. He’d been dating one named Celeste, a gorgeous brunette, for a few months now, but she wasn’t our server tonight.
“Now that you’re done stuffing your face, do give us alllll the deets on how you took down Alexander,” Beckett demanded.
I turned and looked into his azure eyes and noticed he’d styled his dark-blond hair differently. It was swept up into a mini-pompadour when before it had been side-swept off his forehead. His trendy aqua polo shirt and black skinny jeans made me self-conscious of the distressed skinny jeans and pink hoodie I had thrown on before heading down here to meet my friends. I subconsciously fingered a stray chunk of hair that had fallen out of my messy bun and slid it behind my ear.
“Well, after begging Kellan to take me to Estes Park to find that asshole, he reluctantly agreed, thinking it would be a short trip...”
I proceeded to launch into the story, complete with voices and hand gestures. I elicited an impressive collective gasp when I reached the finale about relieving Alexander of his head. I, of course, left out the part about Kellan and I having our first time together in the water. That was a little secret I was happy to keep to myself for now.
Karina wrinkled her nose. “I have to say, in my eighty-plus years, while I’ve seen my brothers do it, I have never removed a head. But... I’m impressed, I won’t lie.”
I beamed. “Thanks, girl. But I had to use the dagger to finish it off. Don’t believe the movies; it is not easy. Those spinal cords ain’t no joke.”
Aden shook his head. “This is one sick fuckin’ conversation.”
“Indeed,” Karina replied, nodding.
The server came by and asked if we needed anything else, and I told her I’d like a Fat Tire in the bottle. She nodded and left.
“Probably shouldn’t drink during the full moon, Ayla,” Evan said.
“I know, but really... it doesn’t do much. I just like the taste of that particular beer.”
“It really is awesome. And a local beer.” Aden lifted his own bottle to his lips.
“Speaking of...” I steeled myself and swallowed my pride. Looking at Evan, I said, “Do you think it would be okay if I hung out with you tonight? The past two nights haven’t gone well with me becoming wolf-girl by myself. I mean, the night before last was awesome since I killed Alexander, but last night—I kinda destroyed my kitchen.”
Karina’s eyes went big, while Aden chuckled and Beckett gasped.
Evan smiled at me. “Sure, you can hang in my non-man-cave. Besides, I can’t say I’ve seen another hybrid up close and personal before.”
This made me happy, but I noticed Karina bristled beside me. I was pretty sure she wouldn’t think anyone would notice, but I did. So I turned to face her. “Do you hang down in the man-cave too? Make sure he doesn’t break anything?”
I already knew the answer, but I was trying to include her.
The server came back with my beer and I thanked her as I picked it up to take sip.
Karina shook her head. “No, it’s better if he’s alone. He hasn’t broken anything, but there isn’t much there to break, only the TV, the game system, and the remotes. Everything else is just books and nothing breakable.” She looked at her husband and looped her arm through his. “Besides, he’s very well in control. I just prefer to give him his space. Plus, the, uh, smells.”
With the beer bottle paused at my lips, I raised an eyebrow. “Smells?”
Becket chuckled. “Yes, wolves stink.”
I heard Aden growl.
Beckett turned to him and said sheepishly, “No offense, man.”
Aden glared at him, and then stared at me with pleading eyes as if he wanted to get the hell out of there, and I couldn’t blame him. He wasn’t a fan of Beckett’s and just put up with him for my sake. I knew he disliked Karina just a little less than Beckett, but he had never said as much.
“So you’re cool if I come crash over there tonight? I need to learn some self-control, and I figured I could learn from the best.” I smiled at Evan.
Karina shook her head. “No, I don’t mind at all. In fact, it should have been part of your training anyway. And...”She lowered her voice. “I’ve got bagged blood, so that should make you feel a little better and calm.”
I nodded. “Huh, maybe that’s why I was in a rage last night. I just needed a little of the red stuff.”
“I’m sure it was,” Evan commented.
This was such an odd conversation. If any humans nearby had heard us, they would certainly think we’d all escaped from some kind of mental institution. But the music was blaring, and I was fairly sure only our little circle could hear our conversation.
Once I finished my beer, we paid our bill and left the bar. I gave Beckett a kiss on the cheek and promised him a friend date soon, and then made my way to Evan’s Mercedes so he could take me back to their house.
Aden grabbed my arm and pierced me with a serious stare. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
I nodded and looked over his shoulder at Evan and Karina. “I’ll be right there.”
“Look, I’m stoked as hell you killed that asshole, but are you sure that’s the end of it? I mean, what if he had friends who will come after you?”
I snorted and looked up at my big brother, whose concern for me was endearing. But I was used to it; he’d always looked after me. “That idiot could barely string a sentence together, I highly doubt he had anyone who would want to ‘avenge’ him.” I made air quotes. “Kellan got rid of the wife and the kid is taken care of, too. Like I told you guys.”
“Someone is going to discover that little grave eventually, Ayla,” he reminded me, lowering his voice.
I nodded and tried not to get emotional, remembering the way the poor child had looked before I’d placed him into the earth. “I know, but what am I supposed to do about that now? It was the least I could do for the kid. I couldn’t stomach doing anything else, despite being a crazed half-wolf with a questionable conscience.”
Aden’s features softened and he hooked an arm around my neck and pulled me close to him. I inhaled his familiar scent and wrapped my arms around his back. “I just worry about you, sis. Ya know? So much shit has happened.”
I nodded into his chest. “It has, but I can’t rest until I find Linden. I’m glad that dick who attacked me is dead, but there’s no rest until I avenge Austyn.”
Aden’s head nodded as it rested on top of mine.
I sniffled. “I miss his silly ass. I miss him so much.”
He pulled away and looked into my glassy eyes. I swiped away a tear that escaped.
“I miss him too. We’ll get him, I promise. But I need you to promise me something, too.”
I looked up at him. “What’s that?”
“If you find him—no going rogue and taking off after him without thinking. You call me. I need to make sure you’re safe, and I need to be there when he dies.”
I nodded and gave him a sad smile. “I promise.”
Evan pulled up next to us in the G-Wagon. He pointed to the moon. “We gotta go.”
Sighing, I knew he was right. I gave my brother one last hug. “Thanks for coming down off the mountain to meet me. And please be careful driving up back up.”
“We miss you up there, you know.”
I chewed my lip, grateful it had healed. “I doubt that. I was just in the way.”
He chuckled. “No, you weren’t. Now, be careful, okay?”
“I will.”
He walked away and I hopped into the SUV. I exhaled in relief that I would be with Evan. I couldn’t be trusted to be alone while I was a half-crazed wolf-girl.
“Are you kidding me!” I screeched as I rattled the bars of my new prison. “You tricked me!”
“No, it’s more like a precautionary measure,” Evan said with an apologetic smile.
We were, indeed, in their basement. Just as he’d said, it was a serious man-cave. A humongous TV, an Xbox, a big metal bookshelf bolted to the wall with a ton of books lined on them, and a dartboard with the darts locked up behind a Plexiglas case secured with a small combination lock.
On the far end, in front of the basement window, was a long bar. It had a padded top and three barstools, all bolted to the floor. All the booze was locked up in a thick plastic case behind the bar. There were a lot of recessed lights built into the ceiling. A sofa and comfortable-looking recliner chair were set in front of the TV. A double bed sat at the other end. And... looking freakishly out of place, was a floor-to-ceiling metal cage—the one in which I now found myself.
I was livid, but that was nothing new. The full moon was out, so of course I was angry.
“You’re a dick, Evan. I’m not gonna hurt you.” I slammed my fist on the bars. It hurt, but they didn’t need to know that.
Karina shot me an apologetic look and then disappeared up the stairs.
I flipped off her retreating figure.
“Mature, Ayla,” Evan said. He was trying to smile, but it was more of a grimace, as he was fighting off pain and fever, like I was.
I mimicked him by mouthing back, Mature, Ayla with a really sour face, and before I could laugh at my own childish antics, the fever hit me and I doubled over. “Fuck.”
I plopped down onto the small mattress on the floor of my cell, and put my head in my hands. I breathed through the pain, and waited for the transformation to start. I was wearing nothing but a two-piece swimsuit because I didn’t want to tear my clothes. I didn’t think Karina was too thrilled when she saw me in it, especially since Evan was wearing nothing but boxer shorts, but I would hope she’d get over it. I hoped she knew I didn’t have any interest in my teacher, my mentor. He was more like a cousin, or maybe a brother to me. Hell, he acted more like my dad most of the time.
I lay back on the mattress and growled. “I hate this.”
“Me, too,” he replied, as he was also doubled over in pain. As pissed as I was at him for putting me in this cage, my heart still went out to him. He cried out as I heard his bones break and I watched as they began to protrude through his skin, wishing to break free. Blood and foamy drool dripped from his mouth as his fangs descended. I knew that pain all too well, and nobody should have to suffer like that. But, sadly it seemed we were both stuck with it—cursed with it.
After unleashing a litany of curse words, I was suddenly okay. It seemed the hideous transformation was taking less and less time, and for that I was grateful.
Still seated, I opened my eyes to see Evan standing in front of me, looking just as beastly. He really wasn’t kidding, we did look like Mr. and Mrs. Bigfoot standing there. A small smile crept up on my mouth, which turned into a big smile, and then I started laughing. I couldn’t help it. His scowl turned to a smile, and then he, too, started laughing.
When we’d both stopped, he said, “You’re pretty hideous, Ayla.”
“You’re no prince yourself,” I came back with a snort.
He stopped laughing and sat on his sofa, and used his claws to pick up the remote to turn the TV on. I watched as he grabbed the game remote and hit a button, which caused the game to flare to life. It was beyond bizarre to see him sitting there playing a zombie-killing video game looking like the Teen Wolf.
“You’re seriously gonna leave me in here?” I asked awkwardly around my fangs, bringing my knees up to my chin and wrapping my arms around my legs.
He looked at me over his shoulder, smiled a toothy grin, and went back to his game. “You’ll be let out with good behavior.”
“I don’t do well with boredom.”
He huffed, paused the remote, and walked to the bookshelf. I watched as he ran his hairy-fingered claw over the spines of the books, and then stopped at the one he wanted with a smile on his face. He then used his sharp, black fingernail to tip the book toward him, and gripped it in his fist. He stalked over, got close to the bars, and slipped the book through, then winked at me with his creepy yellow eyes. He then plopped back on the sofa and resumed the game.
I looked down at the book in my claws and frowned. Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King.
I bit back a smile. “You’re a dick, Evan.”
“I’ve been waiting, like, ten years to do that.”
I looked up. “Huh? What does that mean?”
He shook his head. “Never mind, I’ll tell ya later.”
I sat down on the mattress, leaned up against the bars, and opened the book.