Hunter's Attraction

Just A Boring Saturday

Sirena flipped through the tome, focused on the Virginia werewolf pack records. Ever since Aiden brought his concerns to her, she had immersed herself in the research. “I can’t believe your group of…Merry Men…has records of every pack on the eastern seaboard dating back to the late 1700s,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Merry Men?” Aiden chuckled, stepping closer, a playful smile on his face. “What is that in reference to?”

“Robin Hood. Didn’t you pay attention in literature class?” Sirena replied, her eyes still scanning the pages.

“Of course I didn’t,” he grinned, gently touching her arm to signal his approach. As she turned her head to look at him, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I was too busy staring at you.”

Sirena rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “This Cortez family doesn’t appear on this side of the continent until about two years ago, after the Chrysanthewaite pack dispersed.”

“Okay,” Aiden said, burying his nose in the crook of her neck, intrigued by what he was hearing. “Does it say when they migrated to the U.S.?”

“Um…” Sirena flipped several pages. “Half of their pack was…wait…” She paused, frowning as she processed the information. “It seems they didn’t all migrate concurrently. The previous Alpha—Alpha Hernandez—”

“The current Gamma?” Aiden interjected, still holding her close.

“Yep,” Sirena nodded. “He was Alpha at the time. He and several members emigrated successfully and settled in New Mexico. The current Alpha—”

“Alpha Tenoch,” Aiden added.

“Stop interrupting me,” she laughed, nudging him playfully with her elbow. “But yes. His father was the interim alpha. Then there was a huge fire, and…” She frowned, her gaze drifting. “The remaining members slowly trickled over. Some are still waiting for the State Department and all that.”

“Alpha Hernandez didn’t have kids?” Aiden frowned, curiosity piqued.

“Um…” Sirena turned a page. “Yes, but they’re deceased.”

“That explains the succession. When was this…fire?”

“Not too long ago. Four years. The more in-depth records are probably in Mexico.”

“Probably.” Aiden squeezed her gently, then released her, taking a step back.

“I’ll keep digging. But you,” she poked Aiden playfully, “you’re supposed to be having a sibling day with your sister.”

A mock sigh escaped him as he leaned closer again, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. “I’ll see you this afternoon. Later.”

***

“Finally, you have a case,” Lily said, squaring up with her target.

“What do you think I do all day?” Aiden chuckled.

“I don’t know,” she replied, releasing the arrow with a swift motion. Bullseye. “I assume you sit at a desk, twiddling your thumbs, thinking about Sirena.”

“Shut up,” Aiden laughed, tossing a handful of grass at her. “It’s a lot more than sitting at a desk. I had that job in Williamsburg last week.”

“What happened again?”

“Still waiting for the autopsy, but it seems like a textbook overdose.”

Lily glanced at her brother before notching another arrow and releasing it for another bullseye. “Isn’t that like…seven in the last two months? In Virginia?”

Aiden frowned. “You’re right. Dang,” he slapped his forehead. “I can’t believe I missed that. I’ve been so busy—”

“Picking out a ring for Sirena?” Lily smirked.

“…Okay, maybe I’ve been a little distracted.” Her smile softened. “But you know how Sirena is…what she’s been through.” Aiden’s expression fell. “It’s…not easy.”

“Want me to talk to her?”

“Like a girls’ night?” Aiden scoffed. “I don’t think she’s forgiven you for the last girls’ night.”

“She was outvoted. Even Monte wanted to watch 27 Dresses.”

“Anyway,” Aiden said, squaring up in front of his own target and holding a short kunai. “As I was saying…Alpha Tenoch recognized the kid right away. His name is Hector. Hector’s uncle is Alpha Tenoch’s Beta.”

Lily froze. “Are you serious?” Aiden nodded. “Was it…was it another pack?”

“I don’t know, Lils.”

“Well, do you have any suspects? Does Sirena know? Does Dad know? Are we in danger?”

“Lily, breathe,” Aiden said, placing his hands on her shoulders in a comforting gesture. “Let me worry about this. You focus on school, your jobs, and the boy who is vexing you so,” he teased.

“What!” Lily exclaimed, misfiring her arrow, but it still found the center.

“I hate your accuracy,” Aiden replied with a grin.

“I am not being vexed by a boy. What makes you say that?”

“You’ve repainted your nails the night before each class this week.”

“So?” Lily shrugged. “I hate chipped polish.” Aiden rolled his eyes. “I’m not ready for boys or a relationship.”

“I figured,” he frowned. “But I don’t mind doing a background check on every male in your class.”

“I’ll shoot you with this arrow.”

“Fine. Fine. I’ll drop it for now.”

***

Sirena continued her research in relative silence, only pausing when she sensed Monte and Lena approaching. “Hey, guys,” she greeted them as they entered the kitchen. “Good walk?” she asked. Recently, she and Aiden had decided to let Lena walk Monte alone, but only to a certain point and never after dark.

“It was fun,” Lena replied, washing her hands in the sink. Sirena gave Monte a loving pat as Lena refilled his water bowl. “But we had to hide.”

“Why?” Sirena’s heart raced, and Monte’s ears perked up. “Did something happen? Did someone attack you? Were you being chased?” She rattled off her questions, her concern growing. “Where’s Aiden?”

“We weren’t being chased,” Lena said with a smile, filling Monte’s bowl. “There were a bunch of cars.” She wrinkled her nose. “Monte started walking in place, and then he did that head-tilt with a cry he sometimes makes when he wants me to be still. So, we hid in a big bush. Is the pack having a party? Can we go?” Lena asked eagerly, desperate to see anyone besides Aiden, Sirena, and Lily. She loved them like family, but she was getting tired of the same faces. Lena understood the need for secrecy, but still…

“It’s not a party,” Sirena replied, managing a small smile. “They’re having a pack meeting; they’re preparing for a funeral.”

“Oh no.” Lena’s expression immediately saddened. “Are they okay? Should we bring them flowers? Does Aiden know what happened?”

“I think flowers would be wonderful. We can pick some out tomorrow. It’s high time we introduced ourselves, anyway.”

***

The Cortez mansion was packed—standing room only. It buzzed with loud chatter as members discussed the purpose of this last-minute meeting among themselves.

“Are we relocating again?”

“My family can’t afford another move.”

“We’re still waiting for our visas to arrive.”

“Do you think someone’s doing drugs?”

“There’s only one druggie here.”

Fittingly, the last comment came from a member standing next to JP, clearly directed at him. He rolled his eyes. He’d been clean for a while now, and he had more than repented for his past mistakes. But there was no way his pack was willing to let it go. He felt his mom give his shoulder a comforting squeeze. “I’m fine,” he mumbled.

“They shouldn’t be talking to you like that. You’re the next Alpha.”

“Don’t say that,” JP pleaded, glancing around nervously. “That isn’t technically set in stone. Besides, they barely tolerate me as it is. How do you think they’ll react when they find out? Just… don’t tell anyone.”

“He’s right, sis,” Trixie chimed in from JP’s other side.

“I know,” their mom sighed, “but still…”

A hush fell over the crowd as Alpha Cortez and his wife, Luna Carmen, appeared at the top of the grand staircase. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” Alpha Cortez began, his voice steady but somber. “I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to say it. Earlier today… this morning, the body of a 15-year-old was found. He’s been identified. I regret to inform you that Hector Perez—yes, the nephew of my Beta—is no longer with us.” A collective gasp rippled through the members.

“What happened?”

“Was he murdered?”

“Was it an accident?”

Alpha Cortez raised a hand, silencing the crowd. “At the moment, I know nothing. But I am working with a Guild Hunter—much like our Protectores. He will assist with the investigation. My wife and I will arrange a meeting with them for a formal introduction. Until we know more, we will double our watch and increase our training. We will get through this. I just ask that you give the family at least 24 hours before contacting them. I know we are all eager to help and offer our sympathies, but for now… let them be. If I learn anything more, I will let you know. That is all. Have a good evening.”

***

Jean-Pierre held his mother close as they walked back home. Death seemed to follow him everywhere. He didn’t know how to escape it—first in Mexico, and now here. He felt a heavy weight in his chest, an aching sense of helplessness. He needed to do something; he just wished he knew what that something was.