Tasting The Enemy

I was never drinking again. I went home with Azaire Shaw. The oldest, tatted, tanned and sexy Shaw brother? I could have done a lot worse but not him! He’s the enemy. The beta of the pack my Father wanted to destroy.

Azaire disappeared into the bathroom to change and I climbed out of the king-sized bed. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I recalled his solid muscles and his tattooed skin. His washboard abs were so perfect they had to be sculpted.

What would my Father think when he found out I was here? They would use it as an excuse to invade immediately. We couldn’t afford to invade the Blood Moon pack now not without the White Mountain pack’s support and I wasn’t in Neel’s good graces right now.

“How are you going to get home, princess?” Azaire asked, leaning on the bathroom frame.

I wished people would stop calling me princess.

“Why do you care?”

He lifted a shoulder. He looked even sexier in sweatpants and he hadn’t bothered with a shirt.

Not that I minded.

“I don’t, but I won’t be responsible for anything that happens to you if you leave.”

“Ugh, why did you bring me here?!” Last night was a blur.

I remembered a mansion, beer and a pool table.

“Don’t you remember almost fucking my brother?” He closed the gap between us.

I stepped back. “No, no, not Lucas. I wouldn’t.” I cupped my face.

“You seemed adamant yesterday.”

“I was drunk!”

“Clearly, and so was he because he knows not to associate with scum like you.”

“You Blood Moon men aren’t any better. You’re always causing trouble for our pack,” I spat.

Azaire scoffed. “We have nothing to do with the wolf bane or the wolf enhancers.”

“You had everything to do with the destruction of our dam and attack on the omega house.”

I was twelve when that happened. If a male omega hadn’t saved me I wouldn’t be alive right now. I didn’t let Azaire see the distress that memory caused me.

“Is that what Daddy told you? Believe him if you want. I have a list of the shit he’s done longer than my arm.”

“I don’t… want to hear it.”

It was all lies to make him look bad though, Dad was capable of that on his own, but I knew better than to trust a Blood Moon man.

I stormed into the living room. I pulled my phone out of my bag. Quin was probably drunk. The only person I could trust was Opal.

“Wait,” Azaire boomed.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“What?”

He invaded my space, forcing me to inhale his clean soapy scent.

“Do you feel something. Anything.”

I gripped my bag strap. I felt like shit, my head hurt and this dress was too tight.

“Does your wolf feel anything, Elaine?” He asked softly.

I frowned. My wolf couldn’t feel anything not until tomorrow night when the full moon appeared. Judging by the blood on the bed and the wrapping around my palm the curse was acting up early. No one knew my secret, not even Opal I wasn’t about to tell it to Azaire.

“No. I don’t feel anything, am I supposed to?”

He straightened his spine. “No. Get out and stay away from my brother and our territory.”

I puffed. “Tell him to stay away from me!”

I stormed out and hoped Opal was close.

***

My skin opened up on my arm while I was in the car with Opal. Blood stained the coat I had. I panicked because it never happened this early before.

“Want me to come in with you?” Opal asked.

I winced as the skin opened up on my shoulder. “No, I need a shower and a nap for my hangover.”

She smiled. “I’ll check up on you later.”

Once Opal drove off I burst into the house. I just walked into the house when Avena exited the kitchen with a cup of coffee in her arms.

“Avena,” I hissed.

Her brows knitted together in annoyance.

“Where the hell were you last night?”

“I need help. It’s happening! Where’s my Dad?”

“Now?” She frowned.

She grabbed my arm and dragged me into the kitchen.

“Your Father’s busy. Who did you heal?” She demanded.

“No one!”

She shut the door and held me in place with her cold eyes.

“Your Father’s in an important meeting with Alpha Neel and Alpha Keegan. He doesn’t have time for your antics.”

“My skin is opening up right now these aren’t antics.”

“Enough. Your curse only activates during the full moon or when you heal someone.”

“The full moon’s tomorrow.” I pleaded with my eyes but Avena only saw me as a nuisance.

She shook her head. I’ve only used my gift on my Father and brothers, and none have been injured. No one outside the circle knew about my ability to heal and the aftereffects of it.

“What will your Father say when he learns you’re out healing other people, Elaine?”

“I swear I’m not-”

“You infuriated Alpha Neel and nearly cost your Father this alliance now you’re going around healing others? Are you intent on being a nuisance all your life, Elaine?”

She stalked forward and slammed her coffee on the kitchen island.

I jumped.

“I should let your curse handle you but you’re not getting out of your obligation that easily.”

“Fine. I’ll find my brother’s instead.”

“They won’t help you. They’re loyal to their Father. You’re not.”

She walked to a drawer and pulled out a false bottom.

“Drink this now and burn the reminisce at the bottom. Wait until it gets dark.”

I held her glare. I should have marched out of there and left her with her herbs. She walked around here as if she was the Luna but she was only my Father’s puppet. I snatched the tube of twigs and green leaves. I let my anger settle. Right now she was the only one offering help.

A part of me wondered how legitimate the help was.

Hours later the sun had finally disappeared behind Iris Mountain. Glorious yellow rays spread out in the sky. Avena said to wait until it was dark but this was good enough. The stars would be out by the time I got to the forest behind the house.

The potion Avena gave me slowed the effects of the curse but when my skin opened up it was like someone slowly sliced me open with a knife.

I slipped out of the house without being noticed and entered the overgrown forest. It was then that an intimate and alarming scent made me change course.

“Eww!”

Blazer and a she-wolf. Couldn’t he do it in the house? I thought.

A quick walk brought me to Lake Dawn. Said to have the most beautiful mornings this side of the world. It was also forbidden.

“This is a great spot.”

I cried out when a fresh cut opened on my cheek. I dropped the lighter and the herb medicine. Another cut opened as I felt my wolf waking. The full moon isn’t out but I felt her familiar shake. I stripped out of my clothes.

My throat tightened and my vision blurred. Dove struggled to break through the curse. My bones broke and I cried out. I managed to dive into the water. No one would know I was out here. My heart beat so fast I felt faint. Not even water could soothe the rage of my curse. This time it had come to claim me.