CHAPTER 34

Once we had satiated our desires, at least for the moment, the two of us headed back to training. It had been challenging to keep our hands off each other and I was grateful when Griff got called away for a meeting with Thea and the other officials soon after so I could catch my breath—a moment of reprieve.

Of course, I still had to spill the beans to the girls. Which meant going through the details, bit by bit in order to satisfy Kit's nosiness. She wouldn't be content until she knew she had all the goss. And honestly, I didn't blame her. I felt the same way about her budding relationship. But it meant I wouldn't really get a chance to relax or rest my hyperfixating mind.

While physical combat was vital in our line of work, it was also imperative that we understood the theory behind wolf protection, including myths, legends, antidotes and history. Therefore, among all our training, we occasionally replaced the final hour of physical training with a strategy class or had larger workshops between 10am-12pm instead of weapons and combat. Today happened to be one of those days.

In a previous class, we had been taught about the best way to ‘put down' a wolf. The animal lover in me physically cringed at hearing such a thing, but the hunter part—that now lived within me—tolerated it. Only as an absolute last resort.

I took the information with a grain of salt, taking note of how to take down a wolf instead. Today's lesson was similar, looking like a scene from a science lab as we mixed chemicals and herbs to make enhanced weapons or toxic potions and antidotes. Turns out, things like wolfsbane from the Vampire Diaries were very real. And here I was, once again feeling like Jeremy and a member of The Five as I made these concoctions.

Kitana, all gloved up, was crushing the purple plant with a mortar and pestle to use in a special bullet casing, the empty capsules scattered all around her. It was a crazy sight to behold and once again I had to mentally reassure myself that this was my life now and it was indeed very, very real.

"Alright, we've waited long enough now, Vee. You're killing me," she said, sticking out her tongue in concentration as she ground the last bit before she continued. "Did he pat that kitty? And if so, how many times?"

I was using a dropper to transfer a few drops of wolf's venom into a test tube. Which I needed to pause in order to appropriately look at my friend in shock. "Oh my god, Kit. You need to wash that mouth out with soap! Do you talk to your mother with that thing?"

"I don't talk to dear old mumsy very much these days. The time difference in Japan and their busy schedule running the academy there makes it difficult. Plus, they just keep pestering me to move there." She shrugged. "That's beside the point. Don't distract me. I need to know everything."

Billie chuckled beside me, plopping a few more oils and herbs into the mixture that we were creating together. "We are curious," she stated sweetly with a gracious smile.

The academy had found a way to reverse engineer the venom in a wolf's fangs into a poison that could be used against them to stop their ability to shift while the formula was in their system. Having witnessed the pack in their beast form, I could understand how that would be helpful to have on our side.

I had only ever known the wolf gene to be hereditary. But while that was the most common pathway, it apparently wasn't the only one. Wolf shifters had the ability to turn humans into one of them if they bit their victim on a full moon. The bite would have to be gentle enough not to kill but strong enough to penetrate their skin and give the venom time to enter their bloodstream. It would turn the human rabid and animalistic, giving them hallucinations until they either eventually turned or died, depending on how strong they were. This was yet another thing that River conveniently forgot to tell me. Maybe because he thought one day I'd risk it for him. And who knows, when I was ageing and he wasn't, at least not at the same speed, I might have—in a past life. We called the formula Deviators.

Just as I finished stirring the concoction and was about to start talking, Carter slid into the chair beside Kit.

"I can tell you what happened between the love birds." He grinned, slinging his arm around our friend who stopped attacking the wolfsbane long enough to smile back at him. Turning towards her, he greeted her with a kiss. "Hey, babe."

"Where have you been?" Her brow raised. She was looking extra cute today with her lab coat and short platinum hair plaited into two braids.

"I tried to skip but Thea caught me on her way to the meeting and told me to get my ass back here and make myself useful." While Griff and Kit excelled at weapons and combat, and Billie was talented at parkour and acrobatics, Carter was a wizard when it came to potions. He was naturally gifted in alchemy. In fact, he was often roped into running these workshops with Colonel Lennox or Major Harper.

"Car," Kit scolded.

"What? I can do this shit in my sleep. You know it's my thing. Anyway, I'm here now. So, what do you losers need help with?"

"You can fill us in on all the juicy details." Kit's eyes lit up mischievously.

"I was just about to tell you," I protested.

"Finally." Kit's eyes went wide with excitement. "Well go on then." She looked at me expectantly while Carter fiddled with his rings, a stupid smile on his face. Meanwhile, Billie leaned over the bench, waiting to hear my story. Whenever we had these workshops they added extra portable tables in the Diner that we used alongside the concrete benches as workstations. We just had to make sure we cleaned up extra carefully after so no one accidentally got poisoned when we ate in here later. But hey, we were hunters. We lived life on the edge. Apparently if the wolves didn't kill us, toxic potions and plants would.

With their full attention, I began to explain what happened with Sienna, keeping my voice as low as possible so no one else would overhear.

Kitana was the first to lose her shit. "That's it. I'm going to kill her." She stood up, hands slamming on the table. Her gaze skimmed over the room, looking for Sienna. The blonde bombshell was on another bench in the far corner with Lola, Megan and Stacey. Bret, whom I'd fought at the Tangle, was also in their prac group today. Thankfully, they were far enough away that they were out of Kitana's danger range.

"Kit, will you sit down!" I whisper-shouted, trying to console her. People were used to her dramatics around here but that didn't stop them from looking, including Sienna's group. I didn't need more trouble from her.

Major Harper glared at us as she approached. The female was scary, but nowhere near as scary as Thea. She was tall, like her fierce leader. But unlike her, she had light brown skin, green eyes and medium length jet black hair that was shaved on the side. She also had multiple black piercings that covered her ears. I didn't run into her too often but she occasionally helped with training. Most of the time she was strategizing with Thea and Commander Lennox. Other than that, she maintained and updated our arsenal, ensuring our weapons were equipped with the latest compounds, from silver-coated to wolfsbane doused or Deviator infused.She stopped right before us, her heavy boots thudding as she halted. "Is everything okay here?"

"Perfectly fine, Major. I was just excited that I'd finished my wolfsbane bullets. Ready for my next patrol." I cringed at the tinge of sarcasm in Kit"s tone but thankfully nothing consequential followed, the official choosing to ignore it.

"Alright." She didn't seem like she bought it but she also didn't question it further. Like I'd said, they were not too strict around here. Turning to Carter, she frowned. "Carter, can you make yourself useful and help recruits that might actually need it. These girls are fine."

He scowled. "Why does everyone keep implying that I'm useless today?" Grumbling, he got up and headed over to another table, the chains around his neck clanging with the movement.

The girls and I exchanged looks as we struggled not to laugh until Harper was out of earshot.

"Seriously, Kit. We could have avoided that all together," Billie chastised in the motherly tenor she often used.

"What?! I was mad."

Billie sighed. "I know. Me too. That's just too far. Even for her."

"Guys, it's fine. Honestly." I tried to calm them. "Griff actually ripped into her pretty badly."

"He did?" Billie's dark brows arched in question.

"Yeah."

"And then what happened? After you were interrupted, how did things … uh … proceed?" Kit probed.

I laughed. "Well, I was pretty distraught and extremely embarrassed. I was going to leave. But Griff took me outside. He attempted to wipe my dress, which was super cute. And then he asked about River. And one thing led to another, and he told me that he can help me forget. And well, I finally had my opportunity. So I said yes."

Billie's eyes were bright. Kitana squealed with glee, clapping her hands in excitement, which earned us another unhappy look from the major.

"And then?" Kit encouraged.

"Are you seriously going to make me tell you all the details?"

"Yes." She smiled.

"Okay, so we came back to the compound and the car ride back felt excruciatingly long. We both just wanted to jump on each other, but you know me. I wasn't going to get too frisky in the cab with the poor driver having to awkwardly ignore us. So we got back and then he literally pulled me through the gym and took me up the passageway to his room. Which, by the way, why did no one tell me there were secret passageways that led to other floors?!" I demanded, getting distracted.

"Hold on. He took you to his room?" Kit's mouth was agape, ignoring my question.

"Yeah?"

Billie's expression mimicked Kitana's. "That's very interesting. I think he really likes you, Vee." Her eyes were contemplative. Thoughtful. But she didn't give too much away.

I breathed out a frustrated breath. "I can't … can't think too much about that right now. We've agreed that this is just casual." My heart warmed at the thought though.

"You did?" Billie asked, concern clear on her beautiful face.

Kit cut in. "Billie, shhh! Let her get to that part. I don't want to miss anything. Continue. Pleassee."

"Alright, alright. So we went back to his room. And he took me to his insane bathroom where we were planning to clean up. I still had the drink all over me. But, well … we didn't get that far because he pushed me against the bathroom wall and we kissed. Actually … I kissed him." My cheeks burned at the memory. "And then after that it was all just a blur. It was like we had ripped off the seal and were just hungry for each other. So he lifted me up and carried me to the bed. And yeah. I'm sure you can use your imagination for the rest, Kit," I chuckled coyly.

"Ahhhh, I just can't deal. You two are so fucken cute." She held her heart, eyes closed as she smiled. "Yes, I will definitely be using my imagination to fill in the rest, don't you worry." She laughed before looking me dead in the eyes. "So, how many times?"

"Um, maybe like three? Throughout the night." My cheeks were definitely red with blush as I pointedly looked down at my work, not making eye contact with them.

"Damn, girl. You must have been starved from the dry period you had. Good for you." Kit patted me on the back. "And then this morning?" She wagged her brows at me.

"Well, we didn't when we woke up. I was literally in a state of shock waking up in his arms. He definitely made an attempt but I forced myself out of there so we could get to training."

"Which you basically missed anyway," Kit snickered.

I couldn't hide the flushed grin that appeared on my face. But I tried, biting my lip. "Yeah. Things got a bit heated. Being partnered with him now is going to be impossible." I bit my lip again. "He took me to the strategy room. I was convinced it wouldn't happen again. That maybe it shouldn't. But he was adamant that it should. And honestly, after last night, I couldn't resist. I was hoping it would, but didn't know where he would stand on the subject. But after he insisted, I couldn't say no. So we agreed that we'll keep doing whatever this is but that it'll be casual."

"The strategy room? I like your style." Kit's blue eyes held a sense of pride, like a teacher delighted in the progress of their students.

Billie turned to me. "I'm so happy that you did what you wanted. That you put yourself first, Vee." She rubbed my shoulder. "And the casual part. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

I knew she was concerned for me but even if maybe I wanted more later, the terms of this arrangement were technically my doing. I didn't know if more was even on the table but I didn't make much of an effort to find out, wanting to protect my heart instead. "It's what I need. For now anyway." I smiled warmly at her.

"Then I'm elated." She grinned, her doe eyes full of delight.