Tasting The Enemy

Azaire’s POV

“You should have let me bust his head in!” I knocked the ornaments off the fireplace.

“Damn guys that was intense,” Lucas said, throwing himself on the couch.

“I couldn’t do that. That’s war right there,” Richie said.

I gripped the mantel and battled to contain my wolf. He blamed me for letting her go. I should have stayed. I should have fought for her. The thought of her dying in my arms scared me more than being separated though.

She was vulnerable and I should have protected her. I’m not losing another person I love to the Black Claw pack. Not her.

“Relax, bro, we’ll get her back,” Richie said.

“How can I relax? I let her down.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Megan entered the living room.

Francine lingered behind her in a pyjama shirt and shorts, but her brother was nowhere in sight as usual.

“Nothing, go back to bed,” I said softly.

“No, you two just went out and judging by your states you picked a fight. Alpha?” Megan crossed her arms.

Richie cleared his throat. “Since I’m the Alpha I don’t have to answer you.” He smirked.

“You don’t have to answer but you could because I’ll tell your Mom and she’ll strangle you,” Francine smirked.

“Blackmail is a crime,” Richie pointed at her.

The girl who was technically our younger sister rolled her eyes. “Come on share the excitement.”

“Just go to bed we’ll talk about it when the sun comes out, okay?” I said.

Francine knew she wouldn’t get anything out of us and left but Megan was stubborn. I’d been avoiding her since my wolf matched with Elaine. I needed to make things clear with her. We weren’t going forward and I couldn’t keep stringing her along.

“I’m heading to bed. It’s been an eventful night,” Lucas stood and left.

Richie soon followed suit leaving me with my former causal flame. She closed the gap between us and planted her red manicured hands on my chest. I gripped her wrists before she could go any further.

“You’re different lately.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” I said.

“We haven’t been together in a whole month, Azaire. Who are you fucking?”

I clenched my jaw.

“It’s someone else, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s not someone else but I don’t think this… us is going anywhere. We’re better apart.”

“Fuck you, Azaire. It is someone else. We’re better apart? Screw you.”

“Megan, this was casual. It was just sex.”

“That’s what I want! You don’t starve a she-wolf for a month.”

I clenched my jaw. Was I starving Elaine? With everything going on we didn’t have much time alone. Desire bubbled under my skin. I suppressed it or else I’d storm back into the Black Claw pack.

“I’m sure you’ll find someone else to take care of you. Trust me this is for the best.”

Megan curled her lips upward and crossed her arms. “Since we only have a professional relationship, you have to act like the pack beta before someone takes the position from you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means there are others eyeing your position. Goodnight, Azaire.”

I gripped the mantle. “Fuck.”

***

I lingered in the doorway of my room the next day. Elaine’s bag was still on my bed. Some of her clothes were piled out of the bag. I picked up the shirt and held it to my face. It felt like her and her feminine perfume. Something else alerted my senses.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“No,” I muttered.

I plucked out clothes from the bag and sniffed them.

“Damn it.”

I grabbed the bottom of the bag and held it upside down. Just as I suspected a bag of white powder spilled on the sheets.

“Why would she have this?” I growled. “Not her, not my mate.”

I snatched my motorcycle keys and darted out.

***

I drove to Black Claw territory. Half an hour later I stood in front of Opal’s front door arguing with the beta guard.

“You don’t have permission to come inside!” He yelled.

“I don’t give a shit about permission. I’m here for Elaine.”

“I’m warning you.” The beta pointed at me.

I battled not to snap his finger. The door opened behind him and Opal popped her head out of it.

“Azaire!” She hissed. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for Elaine. We need to talk it’s urgent.”

“You shouldn’t be here. Her brother just left.”

“Opal, it’s a matter of life and death.”

Opal narrowed her eyes but opened the door wide.

“It’s okay, Rider, I know him.”

The beta glared at me. I’d kick his ass later.

“What do you mean life and death?” Opal asked.

“Where is she?”

Opal crossed her arms and nodded at a shut door. I thanked her and walked through the door with a raging heart. There she was by the window staring out at the mountains that protected her pack. Her brown hair tumbled down her back, her shorts sculpted her ass, and her legs… gosh, they were perfect. Her hoodie covered her entire top half. I wanted to run my hand under that hoodie and explore every hidden part.

She turned around and her eyes lit up.

“You came.”

She ran and closed the distance between us. The rage I felt was doused by her touch.

“Hey, you okay?” I kissed her hair.

“No, I’m not. I can’t take it anymore.”

She broke me. Every accusation died on my lips. I wanted to keep her safe. I wanted to take away the pain.

“It’s going to be fine. I’m here.”

“Neel wants me punished and my Father’s going to hand me over.”

“What? When?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t been here but it’s only a matter of time.”

Losing her sent my wolf into a frenzy but losing her eternally was an even greater fear. I held her tighter, breathing in her scent and allowing my hands to explore her flesh. My mate was the most desirable thing on the planet. I buried my face in her neck and sucked on her flesh.

I forgot I came here in a fit of rage ready to confront her about why she was using wolf enhancers. Elaine dug her nails into my back and my last defences collapsed. She had me where she wanted me. She reclined her neck and moaned. The soft noise put a spell on me.

“Hmm, Azaire.”

My name on her lips was a command I couldn’t deny. I kissed down to her collarbone, memorizing the pattern of her skin. I’d been starving myself! Elaine was everything and I needed more of her.

“Oh, please,” she breathed out.

Opal wouldn’t walk in on us. I wanted to strip her of her beautiful bones and take her from the back. My wolf howled with impatience and I grew hard in my jeans. I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Isn’t this nice?” A feminine voice said.

Elaine gasped.

We broke apart but I held Elaine to my side.

“Avena,” Elaine spat.

The door closed behind the witch without her moving a finger. Fuck, I didn’t like a witchy business.

“So the infamous fated mate is here. How sweet,” Avena said, her eyes taking me in.

I swear it was like she saw my insides. She might have. She looked like she was into some dark magic. I wouldn’t be surprised because Laiken was a man without morals even though dark magic was banned in all packs and most covens.

“Leave him alone. Your beef is with me,” Elaine said.

“No, you want her you have to go through me,” I corrected.

The corner of the witch’s lips curled up. The door locked and the windows slammed shut.

“You little slut,” Avena spat.

“Watch it,” I barked.

“Of all the bastards this pack has to offer you had to go and find one from another pack. An Alpha wolf to make matters worse.”

“Why do you hate me so much Avena? What did I ever do to you?”

Avena’s nostrils flared. She tilted her head and her fingers flexed. I stepped in front of Elaine anticipating a spell. It hit me square in the jaw like a solid punch from a metal fist. I stumbled back but it would take more than that to knock me down.

“You think you’re tough, Alpha? I’ll chop you and your mate down to wood and burn you. No one’s coming between me and destiny!”

The whites of her eyes turned blood red. A fire erupted from the bed and rose to the ceiling. This witch was testing my last thread of patience but the fire spread to the window, engulfing Elaine and me in a ring of fire.

Okay, we might be fucked.