18. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

After pulling a pan of baked spaghetti from the oven and grabbing two mugs of hot chocolate, Ava ushered Remmus to the stools that lined her kitchen counter. Long ago, when she'd designed her quarters, she'd opted for a larger kitchen by vetoing the formal dining area.

It was an easy question for her: why plan for guests when she could have a double oven? Besides, the great hall was always open for community purposes, and Ava seldom ate alone in her quarters like a recluse.

The only spot to eat in her quarters were the stools where her gorgeous mate was currently perched.

Ava ventured behind him to grab a pair of wine glasses. Though neither could truly become inebriated, she occasionally appreciated the temporary feeling of tipsiness. Turning, she got an eyeful of the gorgeous man on the stool.

She licked her lips.

His massive shoulders, coiled with muscle, were defined even through his cashmere sweater. The tanned skin of his forearms reflected golden in the warm light, one inked in dark grey-blue and the other remaining a blank canvas. He was dutifully dishing out food for her, being meticulously careful with each deposited spoonful as though he'd been scolded in the past.

Her lips quirked, but her heart bloomed with appreciation. She couldn't remember the last time anyone had pampered her like this. To see the cocky male so domestic was surprising, but immediately treasured.

Coming up behind him, she pressed herself into his back, sneaking her arms around that toned waist to express her appreciation and draw him near. What she didn't expect was Remmus swiftly becoming a statue, every muscle locking in place.

For a second, he didn't even breathe.

The disconcerting reaction was there and gone again in less than a second, and Ava couldn't tell if she'd imagined it.

Gently, she laid her head on the back of his shoulders, sighing in contentment. His warmth bled through her thin sweater, the minty scent of him tickling her nose. He chuckled, and she appreciated the depth of his voice.

"Since you've decided to become a barnacle instead of a wolf," he said, "does that mean I get to eat all the baked spaghetti?"

She gave him one more squeeze around his waist before she detached, coming to sit next to him on the stools.

"Even barnacles eat, Remmus."

Ava took a swig of hot chocolate, a satisfied purr rumbling through her as she closed her eyes and savored the richness. Beside her, he poured them both a glass of wine.

"What do they eat? Salt? Ocean water? Are they even alive?"

Laughing, her lips twisted in a wry line. "I think barnacles exist on the pure, undying love of whatever creature or inanimate object they've attached themselves to."

"Well, as the creature attached to your barnacle affections, I'll endeavor to feed you well." Winking, Remmus raised his glass. "To barnacles."

"Barnacles."

Clinking her glass on his, Ava took a sip before forking several mouthfuls of baked spaghetti into her mouth. The silence was only punctuated by Remmus' delighted sighs, and she took it as an indicator that he was enjoying the meal as much as she was.

"So, what did our pal Orren have to say while he was trying to creep on you in dark corners?"

Ava had almost forgotten. Swallowing, she shrugged her shoulders. "Seems our friends at Citizens are deep in it. Using my keen powers of seduction, I was able to get him to brag about their contacts with the military." She sneered. "And the fact that they're abducting wolves again."

"They are?"

Remmus' head turned to catch her eye, giving her a chance to revel in the beauty of his gaze. Shards of blue interspersed the green, the color difference dazzling up close. She would've said the crystalline clarity of each color was impossible, yet here he sat before her. Somewhere, deep within, a question formed in her mind, but she shook it off.

"Ava?"

Blinking, her cheeks burned red. "Sorry, got distracted."

"By my devastating good looks?"

"Something like that."

"You were saying about the wolves?" he prompted, gently nudging her with his elbow before downing another swallow of wine.

"Yeah." She traced her fork through the puddles of spaghetti sauce staining her plate. "Orren said they were ‘walking on the wild side and grabbing a few feral wolves where they could'. I think they've got some in holding cells somewhere."

Years ago, when the Citizens had first arrived on the scene, they'd begun shooting wolves with the intent to turn them rabid. Though the werewolves now had the vaccine to combat the effects of the concoction they'd brewed, it always remained a question of whether or not the wolf would be strong enough to resist.

The Raeth was quiet for a beat. "We're going to find them."

Something in her chest unknotted, and for a second, her eyes burned. Remmus was a ray of sunshine in the darkest of night, and his overwhelming positivity seared through any bleakness she felt.

His hands settled on her shoulders, so gentle and kind, and concern came through their unfinalized mating bond.

"Don't cry, Blondie; we'll find them. I can promise you that."

Blinking through tears, she gave him a watery smile. "I know. I'm just happy you're here."

For a beat, it looked as if he was dumbfounded by her comment, as if he couldn't understand why she'd be happy for his company. A thread of confusion trickled through their bond, but it was almost immediately followed by a cocky smugness that felt far too false.

"Happy because I'm eye candy?"

"Well, there's that."

Glancing away as a blush rose once more, Ava finished the last of her wine, then turned back to Remmus … who suddenly had two plates of gourmet cheesecake, one in each hand. Ava's nose scrunched up in surprise.

"Where in the world did you get those?"

"Magic."

Setting them down on the counter before them, he smirked before plucking a fork out of thin air. Then, he proceeded to spear a delicious looking bite and lift it to her mouth.

"Open up, wolf."

As soon as the creamy treat hit her tongue, she melted into the luscious flavor and hummed in appreciation.

She let him continue to feed her, encouraged by her wolf who was begging for more pampering. To her embarrassment, she'd eaten all of her dessert and half of his before she caught her own error.

"That one was yours!"

Remmus laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "I rather enjoy watching you. Besides, you fed me, so I'm just returning the favor."

When he offered her another bite, she pursed her lips together and glared at him until he gave in and shoved it in his mouth instead.

"Isn't teleporting plates of cheesecake into my quarters a colossal waste of energy?"

"Yep."

"So, why drain your magic for it?"

The delightful dimple in his cheek made an appearance. "Because it's good cheesecake, and you've clearly enjoyed it."

Ava couldn't deny it.

***

Ava's fingers traced her lips. She'd replayed the moment their bond had surfaced a thousand times since it'd formed the day before. Its beating pulse was an ever-present link to the man she'd begun to fall for, who was currently catching up on a few hours of sleep himself.

On one hand, she'd never felt more alive than when she was with Remmus. When was the last time she'd even thought about making a snow angel or going for a joyride on someone else's bike? The Raeth had sparked something new and exciting within her, and it didn't hurt that he was wrapped up in a tempting, delicious package.

Even when they'd been playing in the bar, his lips kissing a trail up her neck had lit a fire in her.

But her past tainted her present. Ava had trusted a Raeth before, albeit unknowingly, and the result was the destruction of her entire village. Her parents had met their ends before her very eyes, and those responsible for their deaths had celebrated their victory and bathed in her parents' blood.

Avelina!

Each shriek of her mother's voice had imprinted itself onto her spirit. Her parents had called out her name while they'd been slaughtered by the psychopathic killers and their son. The memory was a brand on her soul. She hadn't been able to bear hearing another person shout her given name after that. Her mother's dying, desperate calls came to haunt her every time. She became Ava.

Ava had run and survived. She had packed what she'd needed, the bare minimum, before tacking up her father's two steadiest horses and left before the murderers could return and finish her. The crimson-soaked earth and the slain bodies of everyone she'd ever known stayed behind. In the next village, she traded one of the horses for currency, quickly drawing attention to herself as an unattached teen. By the time she'd gathered the coin from her horse, three men had already begun trailing her. She'd thought to outrun them, but the most valuable possession she had—her remaining horse—was unsaddled and grazing in a paddock too far to bolt to.

Ava had sprinted toward an alley, intent on hiding until they lost interest. She hadn't counted on there being a fourth man. Hiding behind a pile of rubbish, she'd screamed when he'd grabbed her by the neck and forced her to the ground while the others gathered around him. The only reason she'd gotten out unharmed was the man who'd rescued her: Aidan.

The sounds of their screams had echoed to the heavens.

Aidan had taken her in, brought her to pack lands where he'd clothed, fed, and sheltered her. Driven by unfulfilled rage against the Raeths who'd wronged her, Ava had become Aidan's most devout trainee, sparring with pack members who ranged the gamut in terms of strength and skill. When Aidan had told her of their supernatural nature, she had simply taken it in stride.

The alpha and his pack searched for the Raeths that'd killed her parents, but they'd never been found. It was as though they'd simply disappeared, vanishing into thin air along with Ciru. Embittered, Ava had leapt at the chance to become a werewolf like the people who welcomed her as one of their own from the first day she arrived in their camp. When she came of age, Aidan's bite had turned her immortal.

Since then, she'd never been comfortable with any Raeth—except Remmus.

Remmus had shattered the barriers she'd erected in self-defense eight centuries ago. He'd stormed through them as though they hadn't existed, giving her that dimpled smile that melted her into a thousand pieces.

But she'd seen—and felt—that he wasn't all grins and giggles. There was darkness in his past, and he'd readily admitted he had baggage. What would happen if those sins were more than Ava could bear?

She submitted to sleep that'd undoubtedly be tarnished with nightmares. She curled up on her bed, tugging her black fleece jacket tighter around her. Though pillows dotted the bed, not a single blanket could be found in her sanctuary. Ever since the moment her mother had covered her in blankets, she'd never been able to stomach the entrapment again.

Sleep took her, but restfulness did not.

***

Ava rose to consciousness languidly. Typically, she woke in wolf form, curled on her pillow with her nose under her tail. This time she had kept her human form, content and wholly ensconced in masculine heat.

She knew it was Remmus before she opened her eyes. Snuggled as she was into his embrace, every breath she took was perfumed with his minty scent.

His forearm was nestled around her waist, and he had deliberately tugged her into the hollow curve of his body. Ava hadn't felt so protected and cared for in centuries. Here, swathed in his embrace, she felt safe.

The steady breath that tickled over her shoulder told her that her mate was fast asleep, and she didn't want to wake him. Though he hadn't been in her bed when she'd gone to sleep, her nightmares would've alerted him of her fear. She was certain those dark emotions had brought him to her side during the night, just as she knew that he held her close in an attempt to soothe her.

It was sweet.

Ava's attention turned to the forearm that coiled around her. A forest banked against a raging river, boulders peppering the waterfall landscape painted over the living canvas. Undeniably artistic, she wondered where the scene had come from. Something was familiar about that river, as if she'd seen it somewhere before, during one of her travels. Rubbing her thumb over a pine tree, she frowned and rolled his arm to see the underside. Was this a memory of his, a scene from his childhood, or was it merely a depiction of a nameless forest?

There'd been no change in the steadiness of his breathing when she'd manipulated his arm. Heavy sleeper, no doubt. Though she longed to remain in his carefully crafted bubble of protection, a shower was her first priority. Delicately, she extracted herself out from his embrace and padded quietly to her bathroom.

Twisting up her hair into a knot when she was done, she threw on a sweater and skinny jeans before slinking out to check on Remmus. He hadn't even moved.

Frowning, she tiptoed over to where he lay and grasped his shoulder before giving it a subtle shake. "Wake up, Remmus."

When he still didn't respond, a thread of fear rooted in her gut. Pursing her lips, she shoved at his shoulder, not taking no for an answer. Digging her finger into the hardened muscle of his deltoid, she barked his name again and gave him a hearty shake.

He blinked groggily in response. "Huh?"

"Are you a really heavy sleeper?" She questioned as he stretched on her sheets. "I had to literally jump on your shoulder to get you to wake up."

A grunting laugh. "No, not usually."

His expression, full of remorse, made Ava regret waking him, and his slightly narrowed eyes were the only precursor to the drop of blood that trickled from his nose. Remmus pressed his hand to it.

"Why is your nose bleeding again? Shouldn't the silver be out of your system by now?"

"Guess it's grown attached."

"You need to see a healer, Remmus."

"Next time I'm on clan lands, I promise I'll hunt down Kaien."

Satisfied, Ava tugged on his wrist and hauled him out of bed and toward the kitchen. As she dabbed at his nose, he remained silent and still, that half-smile succeeding in brightening her day.

***

Twenty minutes later, they received Aidan's text that the next wolf den was ready to receive them. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours, she'd nearly forgotten about their mission with the HVAC recoding.

A flair of excitement pinged through her as Remmus prepared to pull the teleport lock from her mind. The first time around, her every instinct had pushed her to run. Given their new connection, Ava looked forward to the airy but comforting sensation of his mind brushing against hers.

When he reached toward her, palm up, she captured his fingers and delicately pressed them against her cheek. The sensation ignited something hot within her. Remmus' response, a soft smile that held no trace of the playboy grin, had her knees weakening.

It took effort for her to let go of the present and refocus on memories of the pack house—and alpha—at their destination. The last memory she had of Seth and his pack den was from five years ago. She and Aidan had taken an impromptu trip to see the second oldest werewolf when he'd had an exceptionally bad run of luck. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Remmus to register the location.

The teleport was slow, almost lazy, but the tender kiss he placed on her cheek afterward made her blush.

California was much warmer than Estes Park—or La Crosse. It was a balmy fifty-some degrees. If she'd had the time, she would've loved to go for a run through the massive forest.

Unlike the other dens, the Redwoods pack lived in a collection of individual homes that sprawled across several acres. Here, the community house functioned similarly to Riaz' great hall, and there was a constant flow of traffic in and out. Seth took the open-door policy to a new level: his ‘office' had no walls, and he encouraged any wolf to stop by his desk.

Appearing at the top of the pack house's stairs, their host grinned down at her. Dark hair, dark eyes, and nearly Aidan's height, he was an imposing figure. In addition to the dominance that clung to him, he was the first person Aidan had turned more than eight centuries ago.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"

His deep voice brought with it a wave of nostalgia. "Seth. It's been too long."

Taking the stairs two at a time, he closed the distance between them and pulled her into a hug. He smelled of pine and bleach, because when he wasn't at his desk, Seth was in his lab, working on perfecting the vaccine he'd developed against rabidity.

The alpha pulled away and captured her shoulders. "How've you been?"

"Can't complain. Cortana's been an excellent addition to our den," she replied. "You?"

"Our tests with the vaccine have shown good results, so I'm counting it as a win." Seth sobered. "I haven't had any clanless contact in months, otherwise I would've reached out."

She shrugged, but kept the reply non-committal for Remmus' benefit. "It's not surprising—especially now that they're all post-Heat."

Nodding, Seth gave her a long look. "Aidan told me you've found your mate."

"Aidan talks too much," she scoffed, but the sound was full of affection, "but the rumors are true." Turning to the man next to her, she introduced him. "Seth, I'd like you to meet, Remmus—my mate. He's the Raeth in charge of recoding your HVACs. I think you'll like each other." She made a face. "Or hate. You both have a knack for surprising me at the worst of times."

Seth stuck out his hand. "I think we've met a few times, but here's to being official. I'm Seth."

They shook. "Remmus, Raeth handyman extraordinaire."

"Shall we?"

Seth wasted no time in showing them to the pack house's HVAC units and, like Sagan, he didn't hover. Remmus quickly got to work, pressing one hand against the machinery and going silent.

She crept forward, watching as characters scrolled across the display. It sparked a question in her mind. "When did you discover your ability?"

"About a century ago. You'd be surprised what falls under the control and access of a technopath. Computers, cell phones, sure, but even things like lighting and vehicles and circuitry, even. If you had a pacemaker, I could even make your heart go thump thump for me."

He waggled his eyebrows, that dopey look returning to his face with a vengeance. She giggled and couldn't stop herself from giving him a peck on the lips.

"Have you ever met a computer you couldn't hack?"

"Not yet, but keep distracting me with kisses to test that, please. A man should know the limits of his power!"

Ava hovered behind him, watching him work for a few minutes before she breached the silence once more. "Seth is responsible for the rabidity vaccine that we've been distributing to the rest of the packs. It's why his pack is so important—and partially the reason why Aidan didn't want to wait. Seth runs the lab here on Redwoods pack lands."

"Make sense." Remmus froze. "Have you had the vaccine, Ava?"

"I have. Most of Riaz's pack has now, except for a few of the non-combatants. We'll get to them eventually, but unfortunately, they were lower on the priority list, and we don't have that many doses."

"I'm glad you're vaccinated," he said. "And it only makes sense. Everyone was low on the totem pole at one point or another, and ensuring those who do field work are covered is the best-case scenario."

She chuckled. "I can't imagine you ever being low on the totem pole, Remmus."

"You'd be surprised, Blondie. When Nina found me, I'd been wandering around on my own for several years, barely surviving."

The predator beneath Ava's skin prowled forward as her heart skipped a beat. "When Nina found you?"

Remmus nodded, but didn't turn. "I trespassed on her clan lands, and she had every right to kill me. Kaien wanted to. Fortunately, they noticed I was a youngling still—seventeen, despite my efforts to appear older—and took me in."

"You weren't born into Nina's clan?"

"Nope. If I had been, I would've recognized the psychic boundaries that designated her territory. Walked right through them and hadn't even noticed."

"Where were you parents?"

Remmus flinched and something dark funneled through the bond between them. "They were dead by that time." He shook his head, and the shadowy feeling in their bond dissolved. "Nina and Kaien were the first Raeths that actually cared about my wellbeing. It didn't matter that I wasn't originally of their clan. Nina saw a youngling and took me in."

Emotions warred within her. While she could barely stand the thought of Remmus being young, alone, and vulnerable—much in the way she had been—his revelation had called to light the fact that Aidan's information on him was very wrong.

Remmus hadn't been born into Nina's clan as the alpha wolf had stated.

"You were clanless as a child?"

At the word, Remmus shifted to face her, his hand falling away from the machine. "I thought you knew? Aidan said he'd—he said he'd told you about my background."

"He thought you were born into Nina's clan."

"Aidan was away when Nina found me—didn't return for a few decades." Remmus grimaced. "Easy mistake to make."

Silence fell between them, odd and heavy. Ava knew Remmus couldn't change his past—and she didn't want him to—but knowing he'd been clanless was a kick in the gut. What she'd thought she knew was no longer true. Her heart thudded behind her breastbone, a sudden spike of fear rolling through her.

She needed an escape, even if it was only temporary. "Do you mind if I go on a run?"

"Of course not." His smile felt false. "I'll be here. Besides, it's the sunlight and silver part next, and I don't want you exposed by mistake anyway."

Nodding, she swung open the door and heard it slam behind her. Rushing for the outdoors where she could clear her head, Ava tried not to worry about what his past might mean for their future.