Chapter 13

Vena fell backonto her bed and rubbed her hands over her face.

"At least we don't have to sleep in the closet this time," I said, trying to console her and make a joke. It didn't work.

She bounded off the bed and started pacing the room again.

"If it weren't raining, I'd go for a run," she said.

"Wouldn't recommend it. There's a Massive Canine who might think you're playing fetch."

She finally cracked a smile.

"Better?" I asked.

"A little. I just hate the way my mom thinks that being with the "right" guy will help me settle down. The right guy wouldn't ask me to settle down. He wouldn't try to stop me from hunting. He'd have my back, you know?"

I sat down on the edge of the bed and watched her move.

"Where's this coming from all of a sudden? Because she suggested MC share a room with you? You know that was more to poke at your dad for supporting your choice of sleepwear."

"Don't kid yourself. She saw a man willing to drive from D.C. for his boss. Do you know what that is in her book? Responsible. Down to Earth. Safe. I should tell her he's a werewolf."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Should we raid the pantry for some rage snacks?"

"I'm not leaving this room." She gave me sad eyes and handed me a flashlight. "But a snack might help."

Shaking my head at how well I knew her, I motioned I'd go and silently slipped from her room. Across the wide hallway, the door to Shepard and MC's room was still closed. Hoping that meant Shepard would keep MC contained for the night, I went downstairs.

While walking the hallway, a flash of lightning illuminated everything briefly. I counted to eleven before the boom of thunder rattled the nearby windows. After it faded, I used my flashlight to guide me.

Just outside the kitchen, a soft glow from Mr. Hunter's study shone into the hallway. I poked my head in and saw him scribbling notes at his desk. Leaving him to his work, I slipped into the kitchen and hunted in the cupboards for a bag of chips.

The sound of the rain lashing the windows had my attention drifting to the windows, though, and I stared at the dark panes for a moment.

Cross wouldn't still be out there, would he?

Setting the chips on the counter, I moved to the back door and cupped my face against the glass to look out. In the next flash of lightning, I saw him standing under the trees in the backyard. He wasn't hunched or trying to hide from the deluge. He just stood there like it was a sunny day with a light breeze and stared back at me.

When I turned the lock, his lips curved at the corners. He was insane. Or just really didn't care about the elements at all. He had fallen asleep on a stone slab after all.

Sheltered by the awning, I stepped out into the driving wind. It tugged at my nightgown as I quietly closed the door behind me and crooked a finger at Cross.

He closed the distance between us in a blink. Water dripped down his face and off his perfect nose.

"You shouldn't be out here, Everly," he said as his warm gaze swept over me, flickering with black.

"I was about to say the same thing to you. Not sure if you noticed, but it's raining."

His grin widened.

"The rain doesn't bother me. But I do look forward to having a home of my own so we can have these conversations somewhere more suitable." As he said it, he trailed a wet fingertip down my cheek, jaw, then neck.

I shivered lightly.

"Please don't stay out in the rain."

"Are you inviting me in?"

The words were barely out of his mouth when his gaze jerked to the door behind me. He snarled quietly and vanished. The door burst open, and Shepard blurred past me.

"Dammit, Shepard," I said.

Knowing yelling or telling him to stop wouldn't do any good, I went back inside and resisted the urge to lock the door on his ass.

Instead, I tucked the bag of chips under one arm, grabbed a bottle of wine with my free hand and headed to the hallway. Miles' voice drifted out from Mr. Hunter's study.

"...want to hear it, but it's related. I know it is. I saw Grandpa's book before Vena hid it somewhere again. The book has information about some valuable stones, and the map I found has–"

"Miles, that's enough," Mr. Hunter said sternly.

Cringing, I hurried past and tiptoed my way up the back staircase. Everything was quiet as I made my way to Vena's room until I opened the door to slip inside.

The harshly whispered threats Vena was delivering to a very unintimidated MC immediately stopped. She retreated a step, taking a deep breath as she glared at the floor.

MC reached out like he was going to touch her. The big idiot obviously didn't like his fingers.

"You should leave," I said softly.

He dropped his hand to his side, nodded, and looked at Vena.

"Think about what I said."

Then he left.

"I really hope that whole bottle is mine," she said.

I held it out to her. "What happened?"

"Massive Creep decided to march his ass in here and try to kiss me. After I punched the Moronic Cunt in the mouth, he had the balls to tell me I needed to let go of Anchor. That he was a better wolf. That he wouldn't try to hold me back from anything I wanted to do. As if Anchor ever did. Major Callous. Mega Cold-blooded. Muff Cream."

She tipped the bottle back and started gulping.

I quickly closed the door, knowing he must have heard her. Hopefully, he would get the hint that Vena's heart was already taken and her brutal words would be enough for him to back down. But I had my doubts. After all, he hadn't backed down from Shepard. Not really.

Escorting Vena as she continued to tip the bottle to her lips, I settled her onto the bed and set the flashlight on the nightstand so it faced up to the ceiling, bathing the room in a glow.

She muttered under her breath between each gulp of wine, and I knew I had to get her mind off MC, or she'd be hungover and in an even worse mood tomorrow.

"When I was in the kitchen, I peeked out the window and saw Cross standing in the rain."

Mid bottle tip, her eyes rounded, and she coughed, spraying some of the wine on her nightgown.

"He's here? Out in this weather?" She brushed off the wine with her hand, which made me cringe. "He's going to get struck by lightning if he stays out there by the trees."

"He wasn't there for long. Shepard ran out of the house and chased after him. I'm not sure where either of them are now."

Vena sighed. "Hopefully, Cross went home."

"Vena, he has no home. We were supposed to help him find one. I feel really guilty. All this time, he's been without a roof over his head while I've been sleeping soundly in my bed."

She patted my arm. "He's resourceful. And we'll find him a place soon."

Voices in the hallway drew our attention. We tiptoed to the door and opened it enough to peek out.

"Oh, you poor thing!" Mrs. Hunter said as she looked at Shepard, who was drenched. "How did you get so wet?"

He ran fingers through his hair, slicking it back from his face. Water rolled down his neck and onto his shirt, which clung to him like a second skin.

"I checked the car," he said. "I thought I left the window open."

"Let me get you a towel." Vena's mom hurried to the bathroom.

Shepard's hard gaze shot over to Vena and me. We both squeaked and jerked back into the room. Vena shut the door and grinned at me.

"You're in trouble." She hopped back into bed. "But I have a feeling there's a get-out-of-jail-free card, and he's about to make it easier by stripping off those wet clothes."

I shushed her. "He can probably hear you."

"Good."

I shoved the bottle of wine at her. "Drink so you and your mouth fall asleep soon."

Her expression immediately turned contrite.

"Aw, Ev. I'm sorry for poking too hard. You know I just want to see you happy. I don't care who you are with as long as they treat you like a queen." She grinned again. "And if you end up with Shepard, you would be queen…of his pack."

This time, I took the bottle away from Vena. "Obviously, I was wrong. Wine is the opposite of what you need."

She hugged my waist and then turned to lay her head on my lap and stared up at me as I sipped the wine instead.

"I will keep my nose out of it for tonight," she said.

"Tonight only?"

"I'm your best friend, roommate, and sister from another mister. How can I keep my nose out of your business for long?"

She was right. And normally, I didn't mind. But the Shepard and Cross feud was getting out of hand. They needed a truce and fast before one of them died. How, though?

I sighed, knowing I wouldn't solve the issue tonight because I was too tired to think straight. Yet, there was something else that wouldn't allow me to sleep.

"Hey, Vena," I said softly, not wanting anyone to hear.

"Yeah," she said as if she'd already begun drifting off.

"I heard Miles and your father talking."

"What are they researching this time?"

"I think Miles wants to get back into your grandparents" research, but your dad shot him down pretty fast."

Vena nodded and then moved over to cuddle with her pillow. "My parents will never allow it. Miles will just have to look for something else to research."

I dipped down into the blanket and reached over to turn off the flashlight.

Vena was right. Her parents would curb Miles' research. All I had to worry about was a wolf and a vampire.

The stroking,feather-light touch on my hair woke me slowly. I didn't know why Vena was petting me, but I liked it. She was earning herself a club sandwich for sure today.

Smiling slightly, I opened my eyes. It wasn't Vena staring back at me, though.

From inches away, Cross' gaze swept over my face, lingering on my lips. My pulse skipped a beat. His eyes flickered black briefly before settling on their warm brown.

"Do you two normally sleep like this?" he asked softly.

I realized Vena had an arm over my waist and a leg over my legs while Cross lay in front of me.

"Yes, which is why I don't sleep next to her often. I'm either her body pillow, or she steals all the covers."

Cross chuckled and continued running his fingers over my hair.

"Not that I mind, but why are you here?" I asked.

He flashed a wide smile at me.

"The wolf's showering. I wanted to make sure you smell like me when you see him."

"Why do you keep antagonizing him?"

Cross' humor faded. "Because he will always have what I want. A life."

His confession made me profoundly sad for him.

I ran my fingers along his jaw, seeing his pain and loneliness. He wasn't a monster. He was an outcast because no one ever tried to understand him.

"You have a life, Cross. A really long one. Some people would give anything to have what you do, but very few of those people would be worthy of it like you are." Leaning in, I kissed his cheek. "Don't waste time on envying what someone else has. Embrace what you have."

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me flush to his body. The move stole me from Vena, and she made small upset sounds.

Cross' lips skimmed my ear and that place just below it. My breathing hitched.

"You tempt me, Everly."

His tongue flicked my skin, and I was two seconds from making out with a guy right next to my sleeping best friend when he jerked away from me with a wide grin.

I barely felt his lips brush mine before he disappeared out of Vena's open window.

Her bedroom door banged against the wall. Vena popped up behind me, and we both stared at the wet, glistening expanse of Shepard's exposed torso as he bolted across the room. Water dripped from the ends of his hair, creating rivulets that ran over his shoulders, across his chiseled pecs, and bumped down every ridged ab until they hit the edge of the towel loosely wrapped around his waist.

"I forgive you for every mistake you've made so far, Shepard," Vena said. "Ditch the towel, and I'll forgive future ones, too."

He was out the window after Cross before she finished talking.

"Damn, that was a fine sight," she said, lying back down. "I'd give anything to see him in just his pretty necklace."

"There was a necklace?" I asked with a smirk.

We both laughed until someone cleared their throat in the doorway.

"Vena," MC said. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Hell no." She pulled the blankets over her head.

With a sigh, I got out of bed and motioned for MC to follow me. Once I shut the door, I faced him.

"You're getting some friendly advice whether you want it or not," I said.

"I want it. What will it take to win her over?"

"Not acting like an obsessed stalker. Vena doesn't like the aggressive types. And you've been screaming aggression for days, MC. You need to back off and realize now is not the time. She likes Anchor."

"Anchor's not here, though, is he? I am."

I couldn't believe my ears. "And that's why she doesn't like you. You're putting your own thoughts and feelings before hers. She's worried about Anchor, and until he's back, I doubt she'll have a single romantic thought."

MC frowned, and I heard a small rumble.

"Growl all you want. It's the way things are. Can you imagine how you would feel if I decided I wanted you and started persistently pursuing you? Showing up at your house uninvited…telling you that I'm a better choice than Vena?"

"You reek of vampire. Wolves don't date blood bitches." He curled his lip at me.

I grinned. "I'll be sure to let Shepard know how you really feel about me."

Turning my back on him, I slipped inside Vena's room and checked the time. It was just after seven. Typically, it would be way too early for me to want to wake up. However, I loved Vena, and for her, I could make a sacrifice.

"Get up. Get dressed. If we move fast, we can be out of here before Shepard gets back from his run, which means MC will need to stay behind to give him a ride."

Vena bolted out of the bed. Her nightgown went sailing.

We were ready to go five minutes later.

"What about Miles?" I asked. "Should we leave him to get a ride with MC and Shepard?"

"Yep," she said, flinging the door open.

MC was standing in the hallway.

"Vena, I–"

"Good morning," her mom called, coming around the corner. "I thought I heard you two moving around up here. Are you hungry, MC? I was making some waffles."

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Hunter," he said.

"Everly and I are going to have to pass on breakfast and head back early. MC, would you mind taking Miles back?"

Vena met his gaze, and I could see his conflict. He wanted to give her anything to make her happy, but by agreeing, she'd also be running from him. I felt a smidge of pity for him.

"Thanks," she said, patting his chest and walking by him with a smile on her face. She kissed her mom's cheek and kept going. I hurried after her down the stairs.

"Vena," her mom called as she followed.

Vena reached the front door and flung it open. She stopped in her tracks. I froze, too, seeing around her.

"Oh my," Mrs. Hunter breathed, proving she saw the same thing we were.

Vena's wish to see Shepard in nothing but a necklace had come true.

I'd known Shepard was fit and rippled with muscles, but seeing all of him spotlighted under the morning sun was more than my brain could handle. I averted my gaze. Even staring at the ground, the image of his golden, damp skin glistening in the light as he cupped two hands over his baby batter baster filled my mind.

Vena nudged me. "Toss him something so he stops hiding his panty pleaser."

"This is not the time," I said, even though I wanted a naughty nuggets sighting, too.

MC stepped around us and smirked as Shepard did his best to conserve a sliver of modesty in front of Vena's gawking mother.

"MC, get me a towel," Shepard said.

With a sigh, MC went back inside. Mr. Hunter and Miles showed up not long after, and I suspected MC had something to do with it based on Shepard's scowl.

Shit. Why was I looking again?

"Do I want to know why you're standing in front of my home without any clothes?" Mr. Hunter asked.

"I doubt you do," Shepard said. "But I would be grateful if you could take Vena and Everly inside until MC finds me something to wear."

"And I'd be grateful if you come inside before the neighbors call the police."

Mr. Hunter nudged Vena and me back and motioned for Shepard.

As he walked past us, Vena and I both blatantly looked at Shepard's backside. It was beautiful, marred only by a red welt on his right cheek.

"Do you think Anchor is built like that?" Vena whispered.

"I don't want to know," I said.

"I do. And I'm going to find out as soon as we find him." She frowned, and I wrapped my arm around her just as MC returned with a pair of shorts.

Shepard excused himself to change–taking MC with him–and Vena turned toward the door. I caught her arm.

"We should wait for Shepard," I said.

She gave me a what-the-hell look.

"I know what I said. But now I'm saying wait. He was just naked in front of your mom. We can't leave him."

When it looked like Vena would dig in her heels, I added, "Do you really want to leave MC here to ask your parents all about you?"

She stomped her foot in a show of annoyance but gave a nod. "Fine."

Vena's mom coaxed us into staying for breakfast while we waited. We grudgingly went to the dining room since the kitchen table wouldn't accommodate so many people and claimed our seats from the night before, with Vena sitting beside Miles.

Miles took the books out of the bag he'd packed and began flipping through the pages. Since Mr. Hunter was reading the book he'd brought, Vena and I waited in silence while Mrs. Hunter finished breakfast in the kitchen.

Vena kept looking at her watch. Ten minutes. Then twenty passed. I knew she was wondering what was taking her mom so long, but I was starting to worry about Shepard. How long had it taken me to look Miles in the eyes after he'd burst into the bathroom to rescue me from a fairy all those years ago? At least a month.

I was about to text Shepard when he and MC arrived. Neither seemed to be in a good mood. Shepard glanced at Mr. Hunter before his gaze swept over me as he took his seat. I saw the way his nose twitched and knew he smelled Cross.

Mr. Hunter set his book aside and leaned back in his chair.

"I've played some pranks in my day. A few of them have resulted in the same undress as you were this morning. But, there's a time and place, boys. Make sure you're in a more secluded place next time. And not in front of my daughter. Or my wife."

"Yes, sir," Shepard said quickly.

"We understand," MC said a beat later. "It won't ever happen again."

I glanced at Vena. She studied her fingernails, avoiding MC as he leaned forward around Miles to look at her.

"Vena, if you have a moment, I'd like to apologize. Can we–"

"I'll go help my mom." Vena nearly sprinted from her chair.

"I can help," MC said as he rose from the chair.

"Stay!" Vena snapped.

He slowly sunk back onto the chair. Shepard and I both scowled at him.

Thankfully, Vena and her mom had breakfast on the table in ten minutes. Mrs. Hunter was her usual conversational self, asking Shepard and MC all sorts of questions. I could feel Vena's anger escalating. Tense, I barely ate anything.

As soon as Mr. Hunter finished, I picked up my plate. Vena took my cue and quickly grabbed her father's plate to take to the kitchen with me.

"You've got this," I said quietly. "Just a few more minutes, and we'll be on the road. And when we get home, we can take a morning nap. Doesn't that sound nice?"

She made a face at me.

"You just don't want me stabbing anyone."

"Exactly."

When we returned to the dining room, Shepard and MC were helping Mr. and Mrs. Hunter clear the rest of the table.

"We'll help with dishes next time, Mom," Vena said. "Love you both, but we need to go." She nudged Miles, who was still engrossed in his book, hard. "Get up, Miles, or walk home."

"Chill, Vena. What's the hurry?" Even as he complained, he closed his book and stood.

Everyone made their way to the door, and Vena and Miles said their goodbyes while Shepard and MC stepped outside. MC headed toward his truck. I didn't miss the scowl he shot Shepard when he saw he wasn't joining MC and instead leaned against Vena's car.

I gave Mrs. Hunter a quick hug, promised to keep her updated on Vena's love life, then hurried after my friend.

Vena hopped into the car and started the engine before Miles could get in.

"I will leave you here," she warned.

He rolled his eyes but sat in the backseat with Shepard while I got into the front seat before she threatened to ditch me as well.

No one spoke on the way back to D.C. I caught Shepard watching me a few times, though. Once we dropped off Miles, the reprieve was at an end.

"Are we going to talk about why Cross was at the Hunters' or, better yet, why he was in your bed this morning?" Shepard asked.

He didn't sound angry exactly, but there was something in his tone that made me feel like I was in trouble. Yet, I knew I'd done nothing wrong.

"Technically, he was in my bed," Vena said. "And I don't know why we need to talk about who I invite into my bed. I'm an adult with full mental capacity to make my own decisions even if you disagree with them. Same for Everly. Right, Ev?"

I tipped my head back and closed my eyes. "I'm not doing this."

"Doing what?" Shepard asked.

"Choosing a side. I don't want to choose. And if the people in my life keep pushing, I'm going to lose my patience. No one will be happy with the result of that. So, let's just relax and enjoy the car ride home."

No one spoke, and I took that silence as agreement.

Doc was waiting outside the house when we pulled up in front of it, and Shepard was out of the car as soon as Vena parked. I watched Shepard say something to Doc.

"What has his panties in a twist?" Vena asked, reaching for her door.

"People get upset when faced with a truth they want to ignore."

"What truth?"

"That Cross isn't the evil monster Shepard wanted him to be."

We both got out of the car as MC's truck rumbled to a stop behind Vena's.

When he jumped out and Vena's head snapped in his direction, I quickly ushered her toward the house. Doc wrinkled his nose as we passed.

"I'm going to shower and nap," I said as he followed us inside. "No waking me."

"What if there's an emergency?" Vena asked.

"I don't care."