The Chase: Book 2 in The Hunt Series Read online

  The asshole scoffed, then chuckled. “Prophecy,” he said unbelieving.

  “It’s true!” I defended. “At least they think it is.”

  “So what? What does that have to do with us? You said they wanted Liam’s welp, right?” He looked up at AJ, as if to share some sort of silent joke that I got the feeling was me, then looked back down at me. “Huh? What’s it got to do with me?”

  “Well, I thought,” I swallowed again, because here goes. This could end up with either me dead or exiled or really great. “If you contacted them, letting them know what I know before the other hunters died, that Gearden has a mate.”

  “A mate?” Vic asked, suddenly all ears, as he leaned in a little closer. “What about this mate?”

  “The Hunters think that Gearden is a part of the prophecy and if he’d mated, then so is she,” I told them.

  “Stop chattering about some prophecy, kid. We don’t believe in that shit,” Vic said in warning.

  “Yeah, but they do,” I pointed out to him, watching both guys hopefully.

  Vic stilled for the briefest of moments then eyed AJ who shrugged minutely. Slowly, Vic turned away and walked back to sit in his chair he probably thought of as a throne. When I remained quiet, he waved a hand in a continuing motion and said, “Well, go on then, tell me what you got,” he said, as if I should have known to speak, bastard.

  Keeping my incriminating thoughts to myself, I did as he asked and told him everything. If the hunters took down the McIntire pack, it left them vulnerable for a siege by the Westboro and Vic could have a chance at something he’s always wanted: to challenge Liam as alpha of the McIntire pack.

  And I’d finally get to go home.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Maeleigh

  It had been thirty minutes. We all sat in our seats and watched the teacher write things on the white board, lecture and try to engage us in eye contact, but for the life of me, I still had no idea what she was talking about. Third period was going to be a long one.

  Just as I was blinking away the fuzzy vision my drifting had caused, Bri slid her notebook on my desk. I read the message she’d written for me.

  “Has Gearden asked you to homecoming yet?” I stilled and thought about it. Was homecoming that close?

  Subtly, I shook my head. Annoyed, she crumpled a loose sheet of paper and threw it at Gearden who sat on the other side of me.

  The dangerous way he slowly turned to glare at her would have rattled anyone’s bones but Bri didn’t bat an eye. Instead, she glared at him, leaving him to look at me in askance. I just shrugged and pretended to go back to the lecture.

  My mind was elsewhere. The fact that I had proclaimed my love, like some rom-com, to Gearden this morning kinda had me more nervous than the eerie text messages I had the night before. With all that was already going on, I didn’t know if I should tell Gearden at all. His wolf was already so wild, hovering just beneath the surface. What happened if I told him and I lost him entirely? If he did something that he couldn’t come back from in wolf form, I don’t know if I could forgive myself. Seeing as how my relationship with the other people I loved was so up in the air, it made me break out in a sweat at the possibility of something similar happening with Gearden. My dad was trying to make amends but I could still tell he was keeping things from me. It seemed like every time I saw him, he revealed something new and I didn’t like it. Sure, parents didn’t always tell their kids everything, but it seemed like these secrets all had something to do with me, so it didn’t settle well, it just made me even angrier, at him and myself. I wanted to forgive him, but I felt like I kept falling for a trap that I should have already learned to look out for. Just the thought of Mom had me choking up. Every time we drove home from school we passed by the newspaper where she worked, but not once did I have the courage to tell Gearden to pull over. I hated myself for it, too. I was a coward because of it. Somehow, I’d convinced myself that as long as I didn’t face it, she still loved me.

  And the texts, they were just words. No one’s done anything. At least not yet. When, if ever, something did, I’d tell him.

  When the bell for lunch rang, I shook myself out of the stupor I was in. That whole saying, if you can’t fix it, stop worrying over it, is crap. I couldn’t fix being Gearden’s mate, I couldn’t fix being this “special person” the goddess supposedly prophesied hundreds of years ago. I couldn’t fix whatever this mystery person meant by being the next alpha?

  I could only focus on what I could fix, I reminded myself as I followed Bri out with Gearden behind me.

  In the hall, Bri gave Gearden a tongue lashing away from my view, so I was left to mull over my thoughts more on the way to the lunch table. Watching them, I was reminded how much different he and his wolf were. Or maybe I just didn’t know the real Gearden? We had only just known one another for a few weeks. The feeling between us, at least from myself, were intense. But it seemed like his wolf felt it even more so. Dangerously so. I didn’t know what I could—

  It hit me. I could fix one thing. And it might have an effect on another. The problem was, getting Gearden to go along with the idea.

  Looking up, I caught the end of whatever argument the two were having. Bri jerked her head towards me with a pointed look at Gearden and then shoved him. When she caught my gaze, I rolled my eyes at her. To which she just stuck her tongue out and I chucked.

  Gearden reached for my hand and I grasped his and gave him an amused smile. I knew very well what Bri had pestered him about, homecoming. The only thing I did catch before I got lost in my own thoughts was something about his “man card.”

  It didn’t bother me though, him not asking. And I think that was only because I didn’t put much thought into the dance myself. It made sense to mean more to Bri though, as she’d pretty much given her life to it for the last few weeks.

  As we exited the hall and stepped into the quad area, the sun warmed my face. It was starting to get cooler with Fall in full swing, but at this time of the day, the sun was at its highest and warmest and I soaked it up as much as I could. Gearden left me to go grab us a Cup-a-Soup from the little lunch stand in the quad’s center, while Bri and I made our way to the table.

  As we walked, a tickling feeling crawled up my nape. I rubbed at it and suppressed a shudder. Dropping my hand, I waved to Caleb as he smiled in greeting. Mid wave, I felt a whisper of air move behind me, nearly on top of me. Quickly, I spun around. I expected to see someone standing there, close. But there was no one nearby. Frowning I glanced around wearily before turning back around to hurry to the table. Bri took a spot at the table rather than off to talk business with Freya. As I started to slide on the bench beside her, Caleb raced up and got my attention.

  “You alright?” He asked. He was such a sweet guy. One of the youngest in our group but wicked smart. Bri had told me that Liam trusted his word on anything Druid over any of the other Druids, save Jolleen, in the pack. I wondered if it was one of his magical skills, to excel in academics and history of the Druid.

  “You looked—“ A shadow approaching caught both of our attentions. Looking up and over, I saw Gearden returning with three Styrofoam cups of sodium filled goodness towered a top each other.

  “What’s up?” Gearden inquired as he handed out the cups, one to me and one for Bri.

  I shook my head, as if to say it’s nothing, when Bri chimed in, “Caleb was asking Maeleigh— “

  Purposely trying to dodge any attention she may have thrown my way, I peeled back the paper lid of the cup and checked the noodles.

  “Why does Caleb think you were scared earlier?” Gearden asked. I played it cool, though, and grabbed up a plastic spoon he had placed on the table and tore open the protective bag to stir the soup.

  “It’s nothing,” I told him.

  “It’s not nothing. I can still smell fear in your scent,” he pointed out, stirring his own soup. Caleb had already rejoined another group of boys, sophomores, I think.

  “I thought
I felt someone behind me, but no one was there. That’s it. I wasn’t scared.”

  Damn him, he gave me a side eyed look telling me he wasn’t buying it. “I wasn’t! I mean, not really. Surprised, more like. I was surprised.” I huffed, totally ready to be done with this conversation. “Can we just eat, please?” I ripped off the lid and started to take careful bites of my soup.

  I could tell that I hadn’t given him an answer that was satisfactory to him, but he was just going to have to deal.

  ***

  When I finally dropped my bag in my room later that day, I huffed out a sigh as I looked around. I was torn. I had reading to do for the project we were still working on, but I just felt so tired. After all that’s happened in the last couple days, I was emotionally drained. Turning away from my room and the work that needed to be done, I headed to the media room.

  Ro was stretched out on the couch flipping through channels with a bored look when I entered. Ah, a kindred spirit, I thought.

  “Can I join you?” I asked out loud. He flicked his eyes to me and shrugged. Taking that as a welcome coming from Ro, I sunk into the couch on the corner, propping my feet up on the table and leaning into the overstuffed pillows there, his large feet near my arm.

  “Your feet stink,” I told him. They didn’t, but still, I wanted to tease him.

  He looked at me and said something to the effect of, “Deal with it” and I chuckled silently. Looking at the tv, I saw that he’d finally settled on a rerun of Supernatural and set the closed caption on before dropping the remote on the table. I rolled my eyes at his selection but sunk deeper into the cushions.

  Just before the ending, Gearden found us. Instead of taking a seat in the empty spot across from me, he knocked Ro’s feet off and took the spot they were on and then plucked me up by the waist to drag me onto his lap, holding me tight. I reveled in the feel of him surrounding me. He’d only been away for an hour, doing business stuff with his dad in the office, but my body missed him.

  Me too.

  I stilled in his embrace, and, picking up on the 180 my body language made, so did Gearden. What the hell?

  “What is it?” He asked.

  Trying to make sense of it, I shook my head. “I thought I— “

  He smells good. All of him. He—

  “Holy shit!” I sat up straight, nearly falling off him.

  “Maeleigh, what’s going on? Are you okay?” I could sense his agitation but his feelings took a back seat for a moment, I was dealing with some heavy shit!

  “Uh…I think someone else is talking to me. Like you do,” I told him, beginning to freak out.

  “What? Who?” I could feel him tense up, his muscles bunch up as if prepping for a fight.

  “I don’t know,” I told him, trying not to totally wig out.

  “What are they saying?” He inquired.

  It was my turn to tense up. Avoiding his gaze, I started to slide off him. “Oh, um. She’s talking about you.”

  He frowned. “Me?”

  I sat on the couch beside him, counting my breathing to help calm myself.

  “What is she saying?” He was curious and more than a little amused by the notion. But no way was I comfortable sharing, so I just shrugged.

  Yeah, that didn’t fly. “Come on. How can we figure out who she is if you don’t tell me what she said?”

  I looked towards Ro who wasn’t the least bit shy about his eavesdropping. Huffing a breath, I told him. “She says she likes the way you smell.”

  The mirth quickly drained from his face when my words seemed to sober him.

  “The way I smell?” His gaze drills into me until it flicks to Ro then back. He repeated himself aloud for his brother, “She says someone’s talking to her. About the way I smell.”

  Suddenly Ro’s face came between us as he smirked at me. “Sometimes I forget.”

  “What?” I asked. I had no idea what he was referring to and I hated the language barrier between us, he was starting to become a good friend. Silent, yes, but good.

  Gearden took my hands and held them firmly as Ro withdrew himself to stand and leave the room, leaving us alone.

  “Maeleigh,” Gearden said.

  “What? Do you know who it could be?”

  “Yeah.” I could tell he was apprehensive, and it kicked my anxiety up a notch.

  “Well, who is it?” I demanded. I couldn’t take it any longer damn it. I could barely handle Gearden in my mind, and I wasn’t even aware others could talk to me through my thoughts. I was told it was just mates who do that.

  “It’s you,” he told me.

  I gave him the deadliest of death stares. “I’m serious, Gearden. This isn’t my sub conscience or something. Someone is really talking to— “

  “No, Maeleigh, you don’t get it.” The excitement on his face was irritating. “It’s your wolf who’s talking to you.”

  “What?” I drew back from him, confused.

  “Your wolf. She’s finally making an appearance.” He started to grin, and it was apparent to me that he was more excited by this than I was.

  “No. It’s gotta be something else,” I argued, withdrawing my hands from his so I could stand and pace a little.

  He watched me do a few laps in front of the couch before he frowned up at me. “I don’t understand. What’s got you so spooked?”

  I absently shook my head. I wasn’t ready to go there, not yet.

  “Maeleigh.” But it was obvious he wasn’t going to let me retreat.

  “What if—“ I stopped myself. I knew this would open a can of worms, but he wouldn’t let it go unless I told him. “What if I go feral, too?” I could see the instant frown that marred his handsome features and I regretted my words. “I mean, I’m not your average lycan. What if— “

  He shook his head and stopped me. When he stood up to take my hand, and cup my cheek with the other, he said, “It’s not likely.”

  “How do you know that?” I implored him. None of us knew that I was capable of, if at all. If dad was right and I was this chosen one the prophecy talks about, then I was an anomaly. What if I couldn’t control my wolf?

  “Because,” he said. “Female wolves aren’t alphas. It’s the alphas that go feral because their wolves are so strong willed.”

  Oh, thank god. Or, goddess. Whatever! That was a whole other thing I wasn’t ready to dissect just yet. Sighing I let my forehead rest on his chest, taking a moment to revel in the relief I felt.

  “I can’t wait to see what your wolf looks like,” Gearden pondered excitedly while he stroked my hair comfortingly.

  I stilled. “Just when I think the worry for one thing is over, another problem gets tossed in!”

  Gearden only laughed and I didn’t have the energy to do anything about it.

  “Come on,” he said. He pried me from his chest before he slung an arm around my shoulders to lead me out of the room, Sam and Dean forgotten.

  When we reached the kitchen, he abandoned me the instant his mom volun-told me to cut veggies for the salad. Honestly, I was happy to do something as every day as prepare dinner, especially with my family. I didn’t freak out about that notion either. That one came naturally, and I full-heartedly agreed with it.

  “Pack,” the voice said again, followed by a pleased rumble. It made my hand holding the knife jerk, but I shook it off. It was going to take some getting used to, this whole sharing my head with another being. But, then again, it wasn’t too far off from sharing thoughts with Gearden so…

  Jolleen tapped the counter in front of me to get my attention. When I glanced up at her she pointed over my shoulder where Gearden stood with Liam at the entrance.

  “It’s decided and calls are being made as we speak,” Liam announced. I looked confusedly to Gearden.

  “There’s going to be a run tonight,” he told me with a wide grin.

  “A run?” I asked, tilting my head. Then I noticed that Jolleen wore a similar look on her face.

  “What’s going on?
” I asked aloud.

  “We’re celebrating your wolf!” Liam exclaimed, arms open wide to show his excitement.

  That made one of us, because, at his words, I jerked around to look at Gearden again.

  “What?”

  Right away he must have seen the panic and approached me. He placed his warm hands on my shoulders and rubbed them up and down soothingly.

  “It’s our culture,” he said. “When a young lycan first starts to communicate with their wolf, we go for a run and encourage the wolf to make its first appearance.”

  I shook my head in denial. No way was I ready to wolf out. I still wasn’t even positive if what I was hearing was actually my wolf. I could be having some sort of mental breakdown. It wouldn’t be impossible seeing as how I’ve gone through a lot of crap the last few weeks.

  “It’ll be alright,” he soothed as he drew me in for a hug. “I’ll be right there with you.”

  I just burrowed into his embrace. I got the impression that there was no way out of it. If it was his culture, then it made it mine. Not just for the possibility that I could be wolf as well, yes, I was still debating it, but also, if he and I were to be mates— lifelong partners— then I would have to accustom myself to his world.

  No matter how terrifying it might be.

  Straight after dinner, we all loaded up in the cars and headed to McIntire. When we arrived, there were already a few dozen people at the campsite and not just the people I’d already met. It appeared that some of the elders were there as well. The oldest person there looked like he could be my grandfather. There were a couple of other older people but only one as old as him. When he turned to greet Jolleen and Liam, I knew right away that he was Gearden’s grandfather. The green eyes and black hair were unmistakable trademarks of his genes. He hugged Jolleen, clapped Liam on the shoulder and then proceeded to pick Rowen up and hug her tight.

  Something in me stretched and grew interested, something not just myself. I felt it. My wolf. It really was her. And she was weary of O’Connell senior.