Chapter 8 - Peter

Jogging across the field towards Rider feels surreal. The bright sun above and cool breeze blowing gently through the long grass make me feel like I’ve been dropped into an idyllic movie set. Instead of it being comforting, though, I’m on edge.

Just waiting for the unseen director to scream “cut!” before my life turns to shit again.

I’m relieved when I see Rider break out of the group and run towards me. I didn’t start jogging specifically to get here quicker—I wanted to get away from Lucy. Rider running makes my little sprint look less like an escape, even if it does enhance the all-too-happy movie-like feel.

When I crash into my brother and wrap my arms around him, a fierce glow burns in my chest. It’s painful, but at the same time, it’s bliss. We rock back and forth a bit, slapping each other’s shoulders before letting go.

Rider steps back, and the wide grin on his face must echo my own. Even though it comforts me to see my twin brother again, the impossibility of finding him after all this time lends credibility to the impossible surrealism.

“So, how was your wedding night?” Rider asks with a mischievous grin.

“Oh, don’t even,” I groan. “The woman is a complete nightmare.”

I fight the urge to look over my shoulder and watch her coming across the field. Just a moment ago, when I saw her walking down the path with light flickering across her face and wind dancing in her hair, I almost stopped and kissed her.

You’re under a spell. It’s not real. She enchanted you, and that’s it. End of story.

“That bad?” Rider asks.

I nod. “She made me hunt around in the kitchen and make my own dinner. Then got on my case about cleaning up. It was brutal.”

Rider chuckles, patting me on the shoulder. “Pete, I’d like you to meet the modern woman. At first, it seems as if her demands are unreasonable. But I promise you, it’s worth it.”

“Oh, yeah? How was your wedding night with Fiona?”

Rider looks a little uncomfortable and shakes his head. “It was, uh… lively?”

“I feel like there’s a lot to this story I’m not getting.”

“How about I show you around town?”

“Nice redirection. I see you haven’t changed one bit.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

I laugh softly. “You slip out of anything you don’t want to talk about with the ease of an eel in wet mud. You’re not fooling me, buddy.”

“Okay,” Rider says, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “You got me. But my offer to see the town still stands, and I’m not nearly drunk enough to talk about my first few days married to Fiona.”

“Jesus. That bad?”

“Depends on who you ask,” Rider chuckles. “Come on.”

I glance over my shoulder and see Fiona hurrying to meet Lucy. The two girls hug and start talking immediately. I let Rider lead me up the hill past the hall to the wide dusty path that serves as the main street.

Rider gives me a quick tour, showing me the renovations they made to existing buildings and the new ones they constructed. I’m impressed by how much work they’ve done and how comfortable their home is.

I don’t like living in town with Lucy. Neighbors looking over my damn shoulders, every sound on the street heard by all the occupants. I could handle an isolated spot like this, though.

When we pass the schoolhouse, Rider shows me their classrooms and proudly points out his son’s work.

“So, you got a kid, huh?” I say.

“Yeah,” Rider says with a ridiculously big smile. “It wasn’t part of the plan, but now that I have him in my life, I can’t imagine it any other way. Once we get back to the hall, I’ll introduce you.”

The idea is extremely nerve-racking, but I nod and smile. I don’t think I’ve ever interacted with a kid in my entire life. The idea of this child being my nephew, a blood relative, only makes it weirder.

“Hey, before we head back, I meant to ask if you had any spare clothes,” I say, gesturing at my feet. “Lucy forgot to magic my gear along with me.”

“No problem,” Rider answers, leading me back to the other end of town.

His cabin is very old, but one of the nicest in town. I follow him up the wooden steps into the cool shadows of the living room, admiring the high ceilings and spacious lounge area.

After putting on a pair of Rider’s boots and filling a bag with spare shirts and pants, we head back to the hall. Food is being put on the long table, and people are talking as they gather around, laughing and joking as they choose seats.

I notice Lucy sitting at the other end of the table and do my best to ignore her. Rider introduces me to a few people and then waves to a little boy with bright blond hair.

“Hey, Caleb!” he says to the boy. “Come over here, kiddo. I want you to meet someone.”

“Okay, Dad!” the boy shouts. As soon as he gets close, I see his eyes, the exact same shade of deep green as my own.

And Rider’s.

“Hey, Caleb,” I say with a smile. “I’m your Uncle Pete.”

“Hey!” Caleb laughs as Rider effortlessly picks him up. “You look just like Dad.”

“Yeah, that’s right, little buddy,” I reply. “We’re twins.”

“Cool!” Caleb announces. “It’s like having two dads!”

A lump rises in my throat, and I see the look in Rider’s eyes. There’s pain in it, but determination, too.

Neither of us had a dad at all. Caleb gets to have two—and he damn well should.

Even though I’ve known the kid for all of two seconds, I feel an unbelievable bond with him. I know that I’d fight to the death to protect him, and ensure that the evils of the world I’ve had to endure never, ever touch him.

“It’s nice to meet you, little man,” I say, gently ruffling his hair. “And I’ll happily be your second dad.”

Caleb smiles, and it’s so radiant and innocent that it almost tugs my heart right out of my chest. Even though I’m connecting with the kid, I’m relieved when Rider puts him down and Caleb runs away with his friends.

I’m definitely not ready for this.

When we sit down to eat, I feel incredibly out of place. The pack do their best to make me feel welcome, but the atmosphere just keeps getting more awkward.

There it is. There was no one to yell “cut,” but the idyllic scene has ended.

My wolf feels restless, dreaming of running through the surrounding hills, free and alone. The connections to all these people, even Rider, don’t feel warm and welcome—they feel like chains binding me to a life I didn’t choose.

Happiness isn’t real. Stability is an illusion. The only safety is in solitude.

I’m relieved when the meal wraps up. I join Lucy at the end of the table, happy to see that she appears relaxed and calm.

Maybe we’ll actually be able to communicate without arguing this time.

“Ready to go?” I say.

“Sure,” she answers, her smile slipping just a bit. She hugs Fiona, and I turn away, striding across the field towards the car.

Lucy has to jog to keep up, and I keep my distance, not looking back but listening to make sure she’s still coming.

“Will you slow down?” she yells as we hit the trees. “What are you in such a hurry for?”

“I’m not walking that fast,” I snap, walking faster. “Why are you being so slow?”

I hear an exasperated sigh, but I don’t slow down. When I get to the car, I have to wait several minutes for her to catch up and end up pacing.

“What took you so long?” I ask, exasperated. “I’ve been waiting ages.”

She folds her arms across her chest and shakes her head. “I decided if you want to rush home, that’s your business. I’m not exhausting myself or risking falling over in the dark just to keep up with you.”

“Fine,” I say flatly. “Let’s just go, then.”

She sighs, a bit too dramatically, then gets in the car. I jump in the passenger side, feeling my irritation rising steadily. I’ve never been good at controlling my temper, even at the best of times.

And this is hardly the best of times.

The connection I felt with Caleb, reuniting with my brother, and the kind smiles of all the residents of New Hope echo through me. But instead of soothing me, it feels like alarm bells are being set off. Everything I love about my life—the freedom, lack of accountability, and rejection of social norms—feels like it is under threat.

“Do you have any idea how we are going to break the spell?” I ask as Lucy navigates the dark mountain road.

“I messaged my mentor, Amanda. If anyone can help us, she can.”

“Great,” I scoff. “I’ve been enchanted by an amateur.”

“I’m not an amateur,” she says stubbornly.

“Tell that to the—what did you call it?—forced teleport. If you have the power to do that, how come you don’t have the power to undo this?”

“It’s complicated! Magic isn’t always straightforward.”

“How did you even target me? What was the stupid spell even about?”

Lucy goes very quiet, staring through the windscreen. For a few minutes, I don’t think she’s going to answer me.

“I asked for love,” she says very quietly. “I asked for a man like Rider.”

“That’s ridiculous!” I yell. “I am not my brother!”

“Got that right,” she agrees. “He’s not the nicest guy—everyone knows that. He was involved in some pretty bad business the last few years. But ever since he married Fiona and met his son, he’s made an effort to improve himself and the lives of everyone around him. When I made the spell, that’s what I was referring to.”

I scowl. “Are you saying there’s something wrong with me?” My voice is low and dangerous.

She shrugs. “There’s a lot of ways I could answer that question. The bottom line is, I don’t even know you, Peter.”

And you never will.

I leave my unspoken reply hanging in the silence, looking out the window as we drive back. The deep shadows and lack of light make the landscape look alien and unfamiliar, as if my life is descending into ever-worsening layers of hell.

When we arrive at the house, I wait impatiently for Lucy to open the door. When she stops in front of me, I stand far too close to her and get a hit of her luscious scent right in the face.

The scent is rich and deep, so fresh and sweet that my mouth waters. Along with the taste of peaches comes the feel of the soft skin, and the way the juicy flesh feels under my lips.

Fuck!

My cock is getting so hard, I can feel it pressing against the zipper of my pants. I take a step back, but it’s too late. Her scent is clinging to me, sinking into my pores and running in my blood. I can’t escape it.

“Hurry up and open the door!” I growl.

“Will you wait?” she hisses. “There. I got it. Happy now?”

I try to shove past her, but all I do is bump into her and get a new wave of her delicious, enticing scent. My wolf is awakening, taking me over, filling my mind with images of grabbing her, kissing her, shoving my hands into that warm, wet cave between her legs.

We stumble through the door, and Lucy sidesteps me to slam it shut. She flicks on a small lamp and faces me with her hands on her hips.

“What the hell is going on with you?” she asks. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re being more of a jerk than usual.”

“I’m tired,” I snap, holding myself back with every last scrap of will. “It’s been an… emotional day.”

“Fine. Whatever. Get out of my way, then. I’m going for a shower.”

I try to move, but instead of stepping away, I go towards her. My senses are completely scrambled, and the only thing that’s real to me is her scent, the feel of her lips on mine, and her skin under my hands.

So close. All I have to do is reach out. This is reality, not fantasy.

“Peter?” she asks, her voice low. She looks up at me, and I realize we are only inches apart.

“Lucy…” I whisper, rolling her name off my tongue, savoring it like sweet candy. Arousal floods through me, and my hands twitch, desperate to touch her. As if answering my own feelings, I sense a hot rush of blood flood through her. The peachy, sweet smell intensifies.

There is no thought in me, only red-hot lust and desire. I’m held, frozen in place by my own indecision.

Then, she gets up on her tiptoes and kisses me.

I grab her around the waist, yanking her against my body and reaching down to squeeze her butt as I thrust my hips against her. I feel her nails digging into my shoulders as she clings to me and rubs her body against mine.

I kiss her back, lapping at her mouth and searching for her tongue. She moans through our joined lips, a short, intense cry of pure pleasure. The sound shocks me, awakening my primal urges, and I slam her against the door to kiss her even harder.

She squirms against me, making plaintive moans as her legs wrap around me, climbing me. I hook my hands under her butt and lift her up, thrusting my hips against her.

Oh my fucking God. She’s not wearing panties.

A low growl rumbles in my throat, and I feel Lucy tense up under me. Her legs slip away, the death grip on my shoulders loosens, and she pushes me away.

“Stop,” she chokes out.

I take a step back, fighting for control. My heart is pounding in my throat, and my skin is on fire as I take deep, ragged breaths.

I wait for her to explain, but she just shakes her head, raises her hands to shove me out of the way, and runs down the hall without a word.