September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(88)

It was nice to spend time with her like this. Too often we were lurking in the darkened streets of the city, hunting vampires and other not so pleasant monsters. Unleashing the beast inside was more enjoyable with another. One could only wander the forests alone for so long before boredom became madness.

She loped off through the brush, and I followed along at a casual pace. I thought about Dayne’s invitation to run with Doghead on the full moon. Would Shaz be willing to come along?

Eventually he would see that I just wanted the best for him. My intent wasn’t to drive him away, merely to show him what could be. What I hadn’t told him was that it terrified me to think of how I would be without the balance of light. I might be a stone cold bitch that saw him only as prey. If that were the case, he would be far better off without me.

Losing my light was something I tried not to think about. I shoved it out of my thoughts night after night, pretending it wasn’t real, that maybe “one day” just wouldn’t come. But it would. I knew that.

I bounded after Jez, hurrying to catch up when her longer legs carried her away. She disappeared into the trees, and I tracked her scent as I followed. Like so many times before, I was tempted to keep going, to continue on this path away from the house without ever intending to return. It was perhaps a shifter’s greatest temptation, to remain as animal always and abandon the human world. I couldn’t come out here anymore without considering it.

Arys would never let me go though. He would seek me out wherever my four legs took me. Knowing that was both reassuring and terrifying.

I broke through the trees into a small clearing and jerked to an abrupt halt. Jez was face to face with a whitetail deer fawn. It couldn’t have been more than a couple of months old. White spots still dotted its back. It peered at Jez with big, dark eyes. Holding perfectly still, it waited. Jez sat back on her haunches, trying to appear less intimidating. I followed her lead and got down on my belly.

The mother lingered. I could smell her, but I couldn’t see her. For the space of several heartbeats time stopped.

I knew Jez wouldn’t hurt such a young, helpless creature. The fawn seemed to know it too. Ever so slowly it leaned forward inch by tiny inch until it’s nose bumped against Jez’s. Then it froze.

I held perfectly still, watching this special moment. A predator bumped noses with prey, and it was precious.

A crow shrieked at us from a tree overhead. The shrill caw sliced through the calm, ruining the moment. I felt like it had revealed our secret, announcing to the forest that we were frauds. That we were monsters.

The fawn turned tail and fled. I exchanged a look with Jez, finding joy in her eyes. I wanted to share it with her, but I stared at the crow instead. It stared back, accusation in its beady little eyes. The annoying bird knew we didn’t belong.

It shattered my delusional belief that I could leave the world of humans and vampires to live out my days among nature. Being a wolf was very much a natural part of me that I truly loved. But it didn’t mean that I belonged here with the forest dwellers.

Everyone saw me as a hybrid now. The vampires wanted to take me out. The wolves had given me a chance, but it had come at a price. And the humans had become prey. I walked in many worlds and belonged to none.

And it f*cking hurt.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.” Kylarai’s squeal of delight echoed from the bathroom through my bedroom. “In less than two hours I will be Mrs. Coby Haines.”

“Hold still,” Jez admonished as she wrestled with Ky’s hair. Over top of Ky’s head, she flashed me an excited smile.

After spending two days at home, keeping to myself and running with Jez, I was feeling pretty damn good. This was going to be a great night. The wedding was scheduled to begin at dusk. The reception would follow. Arys would join us then. An invitation had been extended to Jenner though he had politely declined. Kylarai had also extended an invitation to Kale though I didn’t expect to see him.

A few of the Stony pack wolves had spent all afternoon decorating the backyard. Several rows of chairs were lined up before a beautiful flower and vine draped archway. The guests would be facing the end of the yard where the forest could be seen beyond.

Buying property on the edge of town was one of the best decisions I’d made. After living at Kylarai’s, I’d gotten spoiled and needed to have a forest-bordered property of my own. My closest neighbor was on the other side of the tree-lined graveyard that separated us. It was about as private as it could get. A great location for a werewolf wedding.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you shine like this.” I sat on the edge of the tub with a hand-held mirror doing my makeup while sneaking glances at Ky. She was beaming.

“I’m afraid I might pee myself when I get up there in front of everyone. Or pass out.” A hand flew to her mouth, and she gasped. “What if I throw up?”

“Morning sickness?” Jez asked. She wielded a curling iron like a pro, creating perfect spiral curls in Ky’s deep brown locks.

“No. Just nervous. I never let myself believe this would happen.” She giggled, a high-pitched, anxious sound. “I also never thought I’d be thanking you for attacking a stranger on the street, Lex.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “It was my pleasure.”

We could joke about it now, but what I’d done to Coby wasn’t really funny. It made me think of the wolf Shya had forced me to make for him.