Nervous Heart
1746 Words
Wynn called out again, making Selene laugh.
“Do they ever leave you alone?” she asked, amusement lacing her voice.
“Yeah, right. That’s like telling Sam he can’t eat,” I scoffed, leading her back out into the open air.
She laughed again. “No way, that's got to be a lie.”
“Nope, I swear. Ask anyone who knows him, and they’ll tell you—Samuel Brake is a bottomless pit. I’ve known my friends since I was seven, and I consider them family,” I said.
I glanced at her, watching as she bit her lip nervously.
“That thing Lorne said about me being an Alpha? Completely true,” I continued. “I’m the Alpha of the Howlers, Neil is the Alpha of Shadow Storm, and Dad loves lording the fact that he outranks us over our heads.”
Her voice wavered slightly. “Um, do you think we could maybe… I don’t know… that we could probably have a… um…”
“You want to go on a date,” I suggested with a laugh. “After what just happened, I think we can manage it.”
The Dragon Mouth had a few false teeth—stalactites that, when removed, revealed a hidden doorway leading to the Coven grounds beyond the cave. As I worked the last one loose and set it aside, one of Hunter’s guards, Silvia, materialized seemingly out of nowhere. She grinned, motioning for us to follow.
“We’ve been anxiously awaiting your return, my Lord. May I ask what kept you away?”
“Training, running from my supposed Mate, dealing with my brothers and nephews, and suffering through the boring-as-hell Alliance meetings. You know, the usual Alpha duties,” I told her.
Laughing, she guided us down the dirt roads weaving through the village. “I see you brought your entire pack with you this time.”
My gaze swept over the curious Vampires who lingered in the shadows, their silent observation making Selene tense beside me.
“Everyone with me today falls under my protection,” I stated, my tone firm.
Selene whimpered. “God, I didn’t think it would be this intense. M-maybe I should go.”
“Don’t go, Selene,” Jake called. “We got this, right, Alpha?”
I nodded in agreement. This wasn’t a problem for my crew.
The mansion loomed ahead of us, its towering white marble exterior gleaming under the midday sun. Its sheer size and pristine beauty made it impossible to ignore—a structure designed to command attention.
Standing on the steps, looking thoroughly bored, was Micah. His fingers idly skimmed the worn pages of his father’s old journal, a familiar sight.
“Still trying to figure out what he was thinking?” I asked as we approached.
His head snapped up, and a grin stretched across his face as he swiftly shut the book.
“Logan!” he exclaimed, pulling me into a firm hug. “I was starting to think I’d have to send a messenger to check if you were still alive, little cousin.”
I chuckled as he led us inside, choosing to take up the rear to ensure no one was left behind.
As we stepped into the mansion, I glanced over my shoulder, watching two fully armed guards seal the doors behind us with practiced efficiency. Their presence was a silent reminder of the ever-present need for security.
Maria’s hushed voice reached me as we entered the main hall. “I don’t see any pictures of Nikolai on the walls…”
Micah’s expression darkened. “That’s because he’s a traitor,” he said without hesitation. “If Father had been half the man he pretended to be, we wouldn’t be the newly crowned Lords of the Ruby Fang.”
“So, just in case you forgot about my pack, I brought them along,” I said, gesturing to my friends as I introduced them.
Micah scoffed. “Like I would forget the three little Witches who made Father break character and reveal his true colors. Jacob was the only one who never gave us any trouble.”
“This is my Beta, Paul Grey, and his baby sister, Heaven. The twins are the other two-thirds of Triple Trouble—Devon and Samuel Brake,” I said, pointing to each of them in turn.
Micah chuckled. “It’s good to finally meet the people my young cousin is always talking about. And the other two?”
I glanced toward them. “That’s my little brother, Lorne. And as for Selene… well, she insists she’s my Mate, though I’m not entirely sure yet.”
Micah frowned thoughtfully. “Strange. Normally, your Vampire heritage would have allowed you to recognize your Mate immediately. But given your Werewolf genes, the delay makes sense. There’s no one else we can ask about it, considering you’re the only one of your kind we know of.”
Paul nudged my shoulder. “So, you talk about us, huh?”
“Duh,” I said, shoving him playfully. “What, are you actually looking forward to another year of public school?”
“This is our last year.” His grin faltered, shifting into a scowl. “It is, isn’t it, Logan?”
I laughed, shaking my head.
Paul’s expression turned grim, his skin paling as realization hit. “I can’t do it alone, man. You can’t leave me. Can’t you just fail on purpose or something?”
His panic escalated while I struggled to hold back my laughter.
“Logan, this isn’t funny. You know I can’t handle my siblings on my own.”
Finally, I relented, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Relax, Paul. I’m still going to help you graduate.”
He let out a deep sigh of relief. “Mom would have my head if I failed.”
“She’d have my head for letting you fail,” I countered with a smirk.
Paul’s mother was one of the few people in the Shadow Storm pack I never dared to cross. Witch or not, she commanded respect—and fear. If I stepped out of line, even by accident, I knew I wouldn’t get off easy. Still, I had a little more freedom than most, given I was responsible for her four youngest children.
Selene’s grip tightened around my hand, her unease rolling off her in waves. Even without looking at her, I could smell the fear—sharp, anxious, restrained.
I followed her gaze and spotted my family spread across the lounge.
Harold, Justin, and Jerome were clustered around the billiards table, focused on their game, while Stanley, Hunter, Vincent, and Peter sat in front of their massive sixty-inch flat-screen, immersed in whatever battle was raging on the screen.
None of them spared more than a passing glance at my group.
I gently pulled Selene into a quiet corner, giving her space. “They’re not going to hurt you, Selene,” I assured her, keeping my voice calm.
Her wide eyes flicked up to meet mine, searching. “How do you know?”
“Because I do,” I said evenly. “These guys are my family. They’re bound by the Alliance treaty, and breaking their own laws would mean the death penalty. So whatever has you on edge, it’s safe to say you’re not in any real danger.”
She blinked at me like I’d grown another head. “They’re part of the Alliance?”
“As of today, yes,” I confirmed.
Jake brightened up. “Hey guys, where’s the spare remote?”
“In the side table,” Justin replied, lining up his shot at the eight-ball.
“Loser’s got midnight patrol, man. Make that shot count,” Jerome scoffed, egging his twin on.
Micah’s expression soured. He hated their relentless competitiveness. “Justin, Jerome—shut it before I have Hunter rearrange the schedules and put you both on patrol tonight.”
Hunter smirked at the mention of schedule changes. “I could do that now, brother.”
“I don’t know about you, Jerome, but I’m shutting my pie-hole,” Justin laughed. He sank the eight-ball in one smooth stroke, then tossed his cue to Harold. “Rack ’em up, big brother.”
Harold grinned. “Hope he’s in a losing mood.”
Stanley glanced over at Jake as my Delta joined the game. “I need a sniper, you game?”
“Hell yes, I’m game. Move over, you freaking mosquitos. Let the big wolf on campus show you how it’s done,” Jake said, perching on the arm of the sofa.
"Big wolf on campus, my a—"
"Child present," Maria warned, fixing Hunter with a sharp glare that dared him to finish his sentence.
He turned to face her, and in that instant, his entire body froze.
I knew then—Maria was his Mate.
Slowly, he rose to his feet, taking her hand with a reverence I'd never seen from him before. He pressed a deliberate kiss to the inside of her wrist, his voice dipping into a formal cadence. "Good evening, Miss. I've heard nothing but good things about all of you from my young cousin. Welcome."
Maria’s silence was telling—an uncharacteristic pause that spoke louder than words. Her usual sharpness, the assertive edge that had defined every interaction until now, seemed to melt under the weight of Hunter’s unwavering gaze.
I could hear her heartbeat, rapid and fluttering, betraying emotions she wasn’t yet willing to voice. There was something magnetic in the way Hunter looked at her—intense, searching, as though he was memorizing every detail, imprinting the moment into his very being.
Biting my lip to keep from laughing at the irony, I walked over. “Hunter, I wanted to know if the terms of the agreement were to everyone’s liking.”
“We’ve signed it, Logan,” Micah answered. “The terms you suggested were fair. If you or the others ever need us, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I signed it before leaving my office,” Hunter added, his tone matter of fact.
Maria rolled her eyes before turning away, shifting her focus to the rest of the girls. A few minutes later, she strode back, her expression exasperated as she grabbed Wynter by the back of the neck, halting her before she could further distract Hunter and the others.
- Writer
