Chapter 18

M y mind figured out the perfect word for this place, perdition. That’s the one feeling that’s bottled up inside of me as Greyson strode back into the home the next morning with an apology as his greeting and a chaste kiss on my cheeks as a gift. I hadn’t batted an eye when I accepted it, either. It made me wonder if the curse had set in and if this was just a fever-induced dream. That has to be the explanation because I couldn’t even fathom the other opinion.

That I was falling for… a shifter.

A little over a week and I couldn’t seem to bring myself to leave this nightmare village. Thinking of how my mother and Del would chastise me made my stomach twist into a knot. It was just another thing that plagued me as I waited for…I’m not sure anymore.

Greyson had been adamant that he would never step foot in the witch’s territory. Which I can see why, but it felt like I was missing a piece of the story until we went into town one day.

It was a cold, wet Sunday when Greyson, Hawk, and I went into the nearby town called San Claude to buy food for the pack, or what should be called the underworld on Earth. Everything in the town was dark and dreary. Six medium size stores lined their main street as everyone in town had their tables on the sidewalk lined with their merchandise. Tou-sin was bigger than this town and nicer, if I were being honest. Many of the vendors turned to look at Hawk and Greyson. Their beady eyes roamed over us as the humans shared quick glances at each other. Greyson had mentioned that the people in town had a deep-seated hate toward them because of the land dispute, but I brushed it off as Greyson being too sensitive. I guess I was wrong.

“They’ve already turned their nose up, Grey. Let’s be quick about this and get home,” Hawk said hurriedly.

In the short time that I know Hawk, he wasn’t someone who was nervous. But today, Hawk’s normally wide eyes scanned the area every five seconds as if the boogeyman would jump out at us. It was weird to see shifters being jittery over humans.

“I agree. Kay, please try to stay nearby,” Greyson said. I wanted to mention how I could stray when he held my hand captive, but since it was nice to have some form of affection, I kept my mouth shut.

“Um, okay,” I replied. “Why are you guys?—”

My voice was cut off when a large man walked over. His heavy footsteps reminded me of Sir Reid’s when he had on his sparring boots. He had on a bright red shirt that bulged in the middle of his portly belly. The tight blue jeans fit his thin legs like pantyhose. I’ve never seen a more oddly shaped individual than him before.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite friends from the woods.” The man’s raucous west accent caused the nearby townsfolk to turn towards us.

Greyson cursed under his breath, and Hawk scowled as he watched the man.

“Hello, Mayor Perrins, we’re on a tight schedule. So we can’t stop to talk,” Greyson said as his hand tightened around mine.

“I won’t be long…” Mayor Perrins paused as his inquisitive eyes roamed over my body, leaving me feeling awkward. “Well, hello there. My name is Joe Perrins, and I’m the Mayor of San Claude. What’s your name, dear?”

“Her name is Beverly, and she’s from Ohio. She doesn’t speak much.” Greyson said as I contemplated whether he’d lost his mind, but I let him lead the way.

“Ah, the quiet ones are always the best,” he said as he winked at Greyson. Mayor Perrins’ eyes fastened on my breast. If we were back in Houston, I would have made him choke on his tongue until he died. “She has the prettiest eyes. Greyson, you’re a lucky man. She wouldn’t leave my side if I were you.”

I threw a cautionary glance at Greyson. He better not respond to that. And he hadn’t; instead, he changed the subject.

“We haven’t decided to sell Mayor Perrins,” Greyson said. “My uncle and I probably won’t either way.”

“We value OUR land and want to keep it in our community,” Hawk followed up.

“Your uncle?” Mayor Perrins asked. “But your father has you as his successor to the land. It’s documented at my office. Why would you and your uncle need to think about it when you owned the land?”

Why, indeed, Mr. Perrins. Although the lecherous mayor was off-putting, he had brought up a question that I kept asking myself. Every time Greyson decided, he had to ask his obtuse uncle. I would never question his logic, but it sowed a little seed of doubt in me.

Hawk answered. “Because that’s how it goes in our community. Now, I’m so sorry, Mayor Perrins, but we have to go.”

All I could do was shake my head and mutter my goodbye to the Mayor. Greyson had turned several shades of red but kept the conversation minimal throughout the rest of our trip.

On our way back home, Hawk had walked ahead of us to give us some space. I couldn’t hold the question that was burning on the tip of my tongue anymore.

“Would you ever take a vacation to Houston?”

Greyson paused and turned to me, causing the bags to twist around his fisted hands. “You mean go into the witches’ playground? I would rather soon bury myself in wolfsbane than to be around your people, Kay. I’m sorry.”

There I stood with the inside of my mouth, turning to a sponge as I watched him. For the first time in my life, I was speechless. My mind told me to run and get away, but the silly little stupid voice inside me said to stay.

“It’s just going to be a quick meeting about our upcoming harvest.”

“It’s about food and decorations. Nothing more.”

“The pack has kind of just accepted that you will be here no matter what.”

All of those lies slipped off his tongue so easily and I was just as foolish to give in to the inch of hope.

That’s how I found my gullible tail marching behind Greyson toward the oversized, stuffy pack house. The massive wood building seemed to have a different wood structure than the tiny homes. If it was daytime, I’m sure this place would be flooded with sunlight from the dozen windows that lined the open room. The rickety old porch groaned as we entered the house. Inside, the wood panels were painted white, with a wood-burning fireplace center and a small stage on the other side of the room. Several rows of small brown chairs filled the middle of the room. Greyson explained that two doors led to a small kitchen and the other was an exit door.

The pack members filled out the several rows of chairs as they waited for Greyson. When they noticed Greyson’s tall statue filling out the door frame. They rose and kneeled towards him. Their heads were tucked with one arm folded in the back and the other at their waist. On one knee, they greeted him as Alpha Swiftwater as his long strides ate the distance between the door and the stage. When the pack members rose, they returned to their seats. Some took to turning their upturned nose at me as they sniffed the surrounding air. They kept wasting their time trying to figure me out, but their enhanced smell would always be met with the overwhelming scent of the deodorizer. And maybe it was me, but the tension had me wiping the thin line of sweat from my forehead. I shrank in the back of the room as I searched for a seat. With no such luck, I leaned on the walls. Hawk had offered to find me a chair, but I waved him off.

I stuck out like a sore thumb. My mother would die of embarrassment if she knew I was here playing house with Greyson. If you could call it that.

“We have little for this harvest as the crops were half eaten by the animals, and I doubt we will have enough, since the Blood Moon is tonight. Funds are extremely low. So, buying isn’t an option,” Oni announced to the pack room. His cold black eyes found mines when he said, “We won’t have any room to feed anyone outside of our village.”

The oversized white t-shirt became my shield against Oni’s murderous gaze as I gripped the edge of the shirt. My face flushed with blood as everyone turned back to look at me when they realized where Oni’s attention had landed. Their pursed lips and raised eyebrows greeted me where I stood in the back of the stale brown room. The muffled snickers of the teens on the other side of the room floated to my scorched ears. I should have stayed at home. I pleaded with Greyson to attend the meeting without me, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Greyson insisted I was a part of the pack and that “soon” everyone would kneel to my command. When he interlocked my hands, my magic warmed, and soon, my head was nodding before I could realize I was giving in to him.

“My mate can have my share at the harvest. It’s not a big deal.” Greyson said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Well, there wasn’t another choice,” Oni countered. “And while we’re at it, we need to vote on whether she can attend. The Blood Moon Harvest is for shifters only.”

“Not always…” He paused and stood in front of his uncle. The top of his bun knot was a hair below his uncle’s chin with his arms folded in front of him. All eyes were on Greyson as he challenged his uncle, which, from their gaze, wasn’t something that happened often. Oni's eyebrow quirked with a half cocky smirk. Greyson’s defiant look softened. “There was a time when other supernaturals attended. A time when we were all at peace. At least for one night.”

One of the Pack members closer to me muttered, “What a waste of the Swiftwater blood.”

My back ached from the wood panels as the duo went back and forth for ten minutes. Oni and what I’ve come to know as his supporters pushed Greyson until he folded. Doubt, pride, and pity thickened the pack room as we watched the two Swiftwater’s standoff. The pack on Oni’s side all wore smug smirks on their faces as they glanced at one another, and with every point Oni made, they nodded, and a resounding yes filled the room. Greyson’s supporters’ heads shook. A deep frown embedded into their faces every time he said, “I understand, Oni.” With every second that went by at this meeting and each “You’re right, Paráh,” that went by really cemented my inner thought of me being the foolish one.

Was this a sign?

“Let’s vote,” Oni said. “Who thinks that humans shouldn’t be able to attend?”

Everyone of Oni henchmen didn’t miss a beat as they raised their grubby hands. Greyson’s mouth dropped open slightly. His arms folded tight across his chest. From my standing point, I could see the fist at his side. I’ve spent enough time around angry men, including Sir Reid and my father, to know he was hurt or mad.

“She shouldn’t even be alive. If you asked me!” Mike yelled as I pinned him as Oni’s henchman.

“That was uncalled for, Mike,” Kathleen stood up and said. “We all know how you feel about Kaydian, but she’s here to stay, whether you or Oni likes it.”

That sent a tidal wave of mutters amongst the pack.

“I much rather hang myself than take orders from a human,” an older white beard shifter said. His frown stretched across his face. “This is embarrassing to your father, our legacy. Your father learned the hard way, and now you will, too.”

Before Greyson could respond, the old man continued. “They’re taking our land, and now they want to rule us.”

“And how do they know we’re shifters, Henry?” Kathleen countered. “Did you send a memo about how there is an entire world of supernatural living under their noses?”

“No, but there was a time recently when shifters were hunted by human hunters that knew about us.” Henry paused as he cast a sorrowful gaze at Greyson. “You should know better, Greyson. Your father would turn over in his grave.”

“Henry!” Greyson yelled. “Whatever my father may have thought about, my decisions are not relevant. He has long since taken his walk to the afterworld to be with the Earth Creator and my mother. Now it’s time we welcome Kaydian as my mate and our newest pack member. You’re welcome to leave the pack if you please.”

Some yelled, “That was uncalled for,” and others called for my death. One even said I should be a maid for the pack, cleaning and cooking as punishment for my people's wicked ways. Brazen bastards .

“Now settle down, everyone. No need to act like savages. That’s what her people are good at,” Oni said. His voice was like a soother for his minions.

“That’s enough, párah.” Greyson finally said. “You’re not allowed to treat my mate like that. If you have a problem, then direct it at me.”

“…And what will you do about it?” Oni said, standing with his arms across his stomach.

Tension thick in the air between the two Swiftwaters. So, now he grows some balls. If the cursed voice was still lurking around, it would have a field day watching me squirm as I waited. Greyson and Oni stood face to face. Both of their fists were balled up at their sides. And I couldn’t help myself. I wanted Greyson to stand up to his uncle and for me. The pack stood silent once again, watching the duo in their silent square off.

All he had to do was tell his uncle to kneel and make him apologize to me. I was due for one. Come on, Greyson! Do it for me. Oni quirked one of his thick eyebrows. And like a light switch, Greyson folded. Backing away from his uncle, he turned his reddened face toward the crowd.

“Pathetic!” a red-haired teen whispered to his friend who sat beside him. They both fell into a giggle as they looked on.

“His poor father is rolling over in his grave right now,” One of the older women from Greyson’s side muttered.

A cold lump sat in the pit of my stomach. Just below my skin, my magic tingled and itched to be released, rolling my lips in between my teeth. The soft flesh burned and ached as the metal taste overwhelmed my mouth. I couldn’t trust myself to open my mouth or to wiggle my fist. My palms were sweaty as I reeled in my magic. A muffled grunt rumbled in my throat. Snapping my eyes shut, I counted to thirty as my magic raced through me, making my legs quiver. It was the longest five minutes of my entire life. My white t-shirt clung to my skin. The cotton pants felt like weights on my thighs.

It was becoming harder to control my magic each day, and I convinced myself to stay. My once staunch tolerance for these bastards slipped further away from me. My time with them has made me realize that maybe my parents were right about the shifters.

“Are you okay, Kay?” Greyson asked.

Opening up my eyes, cold rivets of sweat dripped down along my face. Using the damp sleeve of his white shirt did nothing to dry my feverish skin. The corners of my mouth lifted as an unconvinced smile broke out on my face.

“I’m okay, Grey. I promise.”

I grabbed his hand and laced them together as we walked out of the now-empty pack house with my mind still on Greyson in the pack house. He will never be a good leader if he can’t even stick up for what he believes in. Just the thought made me wonder if this was worth it.