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“I’m sorry about your parents,” I tell her, wanting to address this first. I’ve been lucky enough not to have lost anyone close to me, so I can’t even imagine how she must feel. “Do you know which pack it was?”
“There are rumors going around that have something to do with Shadows,” Helia replies with a shrug. I freeze, my entire body stiffening. Fortunately, she doesn’t notice. “As a doctor, I’ve dealt with a lot of gang shootings and witnessed first-hand that retaliation only brings more death. While I don’t want to get involved in that, Hekate made it her life mission to bring the covens from all around the world together and exterminate the wolves once and for all.”
She must be referring to Gavin’s old pack, my wolf comments.
She’s referring to my youngest brother who left and married into the Lafayette family and became a king in his own right. Before he rose in the ranks, he was the Alpha of the deadliest pack of wolves in the Grey kingdom. He fought in numerous battles and led twice as many hunts. It’s a high possibility that he’s the one Hekate’s looking for.
As if being a witch and a wolf wasn’t an obstacle enough, I complain. I don’t know what I’ll do if my brother’s the one who killed her parents.
He did his duty, my wolf reminds me. You are to do nothing.
“Wait,” I say as I find my voice at last, my brows furrowing. “Your sister is Hekate?”
Helia raises her brow in question. “Yes, why?”
“Please tell me that there’s more than one Hekate in New York City,” I plead, but when she shakes her head, I know for sure that I’m even more fucked than I originally thought.
“Grayden, you’re scaring me,” Helia says slowly. “Tell me what’s going on.”
I sigh heavily and run my fingers through my hair. “Right now, your sister is literally our worst enemy. She’s on the top of our most wanted list. Every wolf is looking for her. My brothers are looking for her as we speak.”
“Why?” she asks, the question barely audible. Her eyes are wide and scared.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” I scoff. “Well, for starters, some lower coven under her command took my brother and his alpha hostage. They managed to get out alive, but it’s not looking good for your sister because the royals are putting their differences aside to bring her down. Apparently, she’s one of the biggest threats our kind has faced since the original witches that cursed us. It also doesn’t work in her favor that she’s experimenting on rogue wolves, giving them abilities that they shouldn’t have in the first place.”
“I had no idea about any of that,” Helia says with so much sincerity that I’m inclined to believe her. “What happens now? With us?”
“I’m not sure,” I reply honestly. “Here’s the thing. I like you and I don’t know what to do about it because I’ve never liked anyone the way I like you. You’re funny, kind, compassionate, beautiful, and just about everything I’m not. You’re the opposite of what I’ve ever seen or been around, and I like that.”
“I like you, too,” she admits, her eyes locked on mine. “I’ve always kept a distance from other humans because of my connection to the witches. I didn’t want to live a lie and not tell my partner about who I was. The funny thing is, that though in theory, you know everything about me, that’s also the problem.”
“How about a break then?” I suggest, going with the flow as an idea forms in my head. “Let’s each go our own way for a week or two and see what happens with our families. When the dust settles, hopefully, the situation between our species will be clear up as will these things we are feeling.”
“Sure,” she agrees, although she doesn’t sound too convinced that this will end up well. To be honest, neither am I, but there’s nothing else we can do right now.
I clear my throat and stand up. “I’ll get out of your hair. Someone will come by later to gather my things.”
“You don’t need to,” she tells me, but we both know that I do.
“Don’t worry about the room, I’ll cover all the costs,” I continue. “You and your friends can take the private plane back.”
For fear that I’d chicken out, I do my damn best not to look at her as I walk into the living room to grab my jacket. My wallet is still in its pocket as is my phone. Without another word, I go to the door.
“Grayden,” Helia calls, running after me.
I turn around just as she flies into my embrace. She presses her lips on mine in a desperate last kiss. I return it without hesitation, soaking in her sweet taste. Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her as close as our bodies allow, her flowery scent filling my nostrils.
“Goodbye, Helia,” I say against her mouth, then let go of her, and leave before I can change my mind.
The image of the sadness on her face will be forever imprinted in me. Her usually bright green eyes are now dulled with pain.
The worst part is that it’s not even our fault. It’s just the wrong time and the wrong place. We’ve been born into the wrong families and the wrong species. It’s as simple as that. A tale as old as time, and a feud as old as our existence. For the first time ever, I understand why the witches thought that being a wolf would be a curse.
CHAPTER 10
Helia
The plane has barely landed when my phone starts ringing. I glance at the screen and grimace.
