Tasting The Enemy

Elaine POV I felt as light as a feather and as free as the wind. I could go anywhere but I wanted to go home back to the Black Claw Pack. I didn’t have any friends why would I want to go back? It was what my soul wanted. It was what my blood wanted.

I could see the Pack House in my mind’s eye. It was over the distance. All I needed to do was take one huge step.

“Elaine!” Azaire shouted.

My eyes popped open. I saw the concrete ground first.

Azaire yanked me back into the room.

“What the hell are you thinking?”

My heart hammered against my ribcage. I didn’t know what happened.

I stared at the open balcony doors, showing the dark starry night. Azaire grabbed my face and made me face him but I pushed his palms away. I couldn’t make heads or tails of my thoughts.

“I-I don’t know Azaire.”

“You nearly jumped over the edge of the balcony. One more second and… fuck.” He raked a hand through his hair.

One more second and I would have been a pancake.

We decided to spend the night at Shaw Castle.

“I don’t have a history of sleepwalking and I certainly didn’t want to jump!”

I really wanted to go home though but I can’t tell Azaire that. It didn’t make sense to me and he wouldn’t understand either.

He wrapped his arms around me. I felt his anxiety and rage boiling through our bond.

“I would never jump, Azaire,” I whispered.

“I know. Someone wanted you to and that worries me.”

“We’ll handle it like we always do, right?”

He held me tighter. “Mate, I don’t want to handle things all the time. It’s time someone dies even if it’s your Dad.”

He left me and marched to the balcony. “I wish I never gave up smoking.”

I lay on the bed and watched him pace. “You used to smoke?”

He turned and I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Yeah.”

“I’m glad you did. I wouldn’t have gone out with you if you didn’t.”

“Very funny, mate.”

“Come back. We don’t have to kill anyone.”

He joined me and kissed me.

“Now I can’t sleep,” I whispered.

He caressed my cheek and brought my lips back to his. Instead of fear of almost jumping off the balcony, I felt the pull of the mating moon. Azaire swept my dress straps off my shoulders and lowered me on the bed. He dominated my mouth. I wrapped my legs around his torso and dragged me down.

“We’re not done talking about this,” he growled.

He planted a trail of kisses down my neck until he came to the spot between my breasts.

I arched my back to meet his hungry kisses. The Heat would come with force and turn me into an animal. The mating moon wouldn’t be here for a couple more days but the pull was strong and it had most of us in a frenzy already.

“More… harder…” I grunted.

Azaire’s mesmerizing eyes looked up at me from before he lowered himself to my eager clit and wet folds. His gaze held tease and danger. I fisted my satin nightgown and lifted the material to my chest.

What was he waiting for?

He slipped a finger through my folds and then another. He growled before kissing my clit.

Azaire thrust his fingers in and out at a steady pace but it was maddeningly beautiful I wanted it to go on forever. He curled his fingers continuously before adding his tongue to the mix. He was going to kill me but it would be a wonderful way to go.

Azaire suddenly pulled out his fingers and then climbed on top of me. He kissed and I tasted myself on his lips. Azaire opened me up to taste my tongue at the same time he penetrated me. I moaned in his mouth or else my scream would wake the house and they would all know what we were doing.

We spent the rest of the night tangled up in the bliss and safety of each other’s arms.

***

“Feeling weird today?” Azaire asked.

“No, why?”

“No reason,” Azaire grinned from ear to ear.

I frowned.

“What’s up, Rae?” Ross asked. They entered the kitchen simultaneously.

“Azaire called me and said there was something wrong with Elaine.”

I put down my coffee mug and glared at Azaire.

“Well, what did you expect me to do? You almost jumped off the balcony.”

“You could have told me at least,” I responded slightly frustrated.

“You know I would take better care of you than Azaire,” Luca said as he strolled into the kitchen. He leaned on the kitchen island and smirked at me.

“Get lost Lucas,” Azaire growled.

“You know you technically stole her from me.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I was too drunk to recall all the details of that night but just knowing it happened was mortifying.

Azaire grabbed his younger brother’s collar. “Don’t remind me.”

“All’s fair in love and war,” Lucas retorted.

“Get your ass to training we have a hunt in an hour.”

“Fine, fine. Remember my offer, Elaine.” Lucas rushed out before he got a knock to the head.

“I’m sorry, Elle. Alpha males can be so obnoxious,” Rae said.

“Tell me about it. I grew up with two overbearing ones.”

I would have grown up with three of them if Dad hadn’t hidden Lawrence all his life.

“You look fine to me. Your magic feels strong like a lot stronger than the last time we met. Have you been practising?”

I shook my head. “Haven’t had time.”

“Your aura is all over the place. It’s hella strong.” Rae took a step back.

“I didn’t know…” I felt bad she looked uncomfortable.

“You just need to practice otherwise it makes you stick out like a sore thumb to other witches. Some witches don’t like that stuff and see it as a threat.”

Is that why Avena’s always trying to kill me?

“Lucky for you I can help!”

“Great, we have a hunt to prepare for,” Azaire clapped his hands and kissed my cheek.

“A hunt?” I asked.

“Yeah for tomorrow night to welcome the mating moon.”

“What about the plan?”

“It’s still on. I spoke to Blazer this morning and he said he spoke to his wolf enhancer plugs. They don’t suspect a thing. Everything’s going as planned, mate.”

I nodded. “I’m glad he’s doing this. He’s risking a lot.”

Azaire nodded. “I wouldn’t want to welcome another one of your family members into the Pack let’s hope this goes well.”

I shot his daggers. He kissed my forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you more,” I said it with all my strength.

Ross and Azaire marched out of the kitchen and left Rae and me alone.

“Right, I brought some stuff. I left them in my car,” Rae said.

She left and I placed my mug in the microwave because it had gotten cold. The microwave sparked and the light inside it exploded. The cup burst and the door sprung open. I jumped out of the way before glass cut me.

“What?” I gasped.

The light overhead dimmed and I hurried to the safety of the door before there was another explosion. Hair on my arms stood and my wolf was agitated.

Magic, I thought.

The plants on the counter and in the pots on the ground died quickly.

There was an evil presence in the air.