WITCHES OF WOLF CREEK: TRUTH

Chapter 23: Neeve

As soon as the Falck cousins leave to go about their business, I stretch out in bed. The sheet slips under my chest, so I pull it up over me and inhale the scent of my two wolves. It bewitches me instantly, and the memory of our antics crosses my mind. The night curled up in the arms of these two ephebes left me groggy. A smile forms on my lips as I think of the feel of Tyler’s skin under my fingers, and Emmitt’s languid kisses, as the three of us merged. I burst out laughing and bring my hand to my lips. It was so good!

"You seem rather perky."

This voice tears me away from my torrid thoughts. I wince before standing up abruptly and finding myself face-to-face with Levenach.

"Lenny?!"

His lips curl. From the shimmering veil that covers his slender body, I guess it is his astral projection. When it materializes, all you can see is fire. He seems oddly in a good mood, which surprises me since Levenach is more of a taciturn type. This effect is further accentuated by his dark and slightly curly hair, which he wears at the shoulders, all supported by a pale, thin and muscular body. A body that I have known… and that I embraced, a long time ago.

"You found those responsible, right?"

He walks around the bed without taking his eyes off me. I sit down holding the sheet over my chest.

"I advance in the investigation," he says.

"And?"

"Our research led us to a group of sorcerers from another state. I will go there during the day to find out more. I wanted to let you know before I left Wolf Creek.

"So we still don’t know who wants our skin, is that it?"

"I hope to solve this mystery soon."

I sigh. Guessing my concern, Levenach sits down next to me.

"Do not worry, I’ll find who wants to hurt you. The Shadwes, the Monas and your family are also in on it. It was your brother Mark who found this lead."

"Mark…"

Thinking of my brother sends a sad feeling back to my chest. I miss him.

"How is he?"

"He’s fine, but like your parents, he’s worried."

"You didn’t tell them where I was hiding, did you?"

"I didn’t take that risk. The fewer people know about your location, the safer you are."

"There are only nine days …" I whispered.

"I know."

His hand pushes a strand behind my ear. The touch of his fingers on my cheek causes me to cringe. Levenach widens his eyes a little and clears his throat as if he had just realized his gesture. He gets up, suddenly uncomfortable.

"Anyway, I’m leaving today. In the meantime, don’t leave this place."

"How do you expect us to leave? Elinor is sequestered by the Alpha and Sixine is in jail.

"With magic, you would have no trouble running away."

"But if we use magic, we’re dead. The wolves are already having a hard time integrating us when we are supposed to be of their race. If they discover the ruse, we’re in trouble.

"Given the strength of your three powers, it would rather be them to worry about, don’t you think?"

"We’d risk being detected if we used them, and…I wouldn’t use my powers against them."

At this remark, an annoyed expression spreads over Levenach’s features.

"I don’t understand," he said.

"They’re… nice, actually."

"Who?"

"Wolves."

His face turns pale. His body quivers with tremors as he rests beside me.

"Are you kidding here?"

"No, I’m serious. Wolves are pretty cool if you take a closer look."

Levenach suddenly has a gesture of humour and pulls the sheet that covers me to my feet. Surprised, I was unable to counter his gesture and found myself completely naked and at the mercy of his gaze. It’s an interested look at first, before his eyebrows furrow, finally guessing why I’m not wearing any clothes. The expression on my face only confirms what he fears. I’m wondering. What did he think the last time he saw me here? That I was playing a role in saving my skin? That I would never be mad enough to go any further? I realize that at that time, I thought so too. But not anymore. Not anymore now that I’m attached to the two big wolves, with such magnetic caresses, such reassuring arms.

"You slept with those guys?!" Levenach exclaims angrily.

I bend over to grab the sides of the sheet and pull it up over me. Annoyance creeps over me as I throw fireballs at him with my eyes.

"It doesn’t concern you!"

"I’m the Amnistral, Neeve. Of course, it does!"

I don’t see it coming when his fingers tuck under my chin and squeeze it hard.

"You’ll risk more than attempted murder if it reaches the ears of the coven."

I jerk my arm out of his grip.

"No one will know!"

My remark only annoys him a little more. Levenach gets up and is about to slip away when I call out to him to stop him.

"Lenny, wait!"

I can already see his body dissolving in the mist.

"Lenny!" I repeat as I climb out of bed to approach his smoky figure.

The sight of my naked body stops him for a moment. Then a gleam of sadness can be read in his eyes, and he disappears.

I remain dazed by the void he leaves in the room. s**t…

An hour later, I’m still clenching my fists and pacing the room. Levenach’s arrival has shaken me up and my nerves are strained. I try to clear up my thoughts one by one:

We only have nine days left, and we still don’t know who wants us.

Elinor and Sixine are locked up, and it’s not possible for us to establish a plan.

What will happen to us when we get out of the wolves’ den, if Levenach fails in his quest?

What will happen when we find the sorcerers?

Can I continue as before and put my blinders back on this stupid law that prevents us from connecting with a community that doesn’t look so terrifying after all?

And if it’s found out that I slept with Tyler and Emmitt, what will happen to me?

Suddenly, I think of my family and the opprobrium that would be cast on them if the story of my escapades reached the ears of sorcerers. Would the Monas and Shadwes support my family if I was exposed? I suspect not. Beliefs in the shadow world have been rooted for so long that I would pass for a heretic and end up at the stake before the eyes of my loved ones.

Panic overwhelms me. Then I remember the sweetness of the cousins. The carnal beauty of the moments we shared. I can’t regret it… I needed them. I wanted them. It was a natural and pure emotion. Far from all the precepts established by our ancestors… Not very tolerant ancestors, in my opinion.

My stomach growls. I still can’t relax. I leave the room in defiance of the recommendations of the Falck cousins. I’m hungry!

When I arrive in the kitchens, I am greeted by Lyle. He greets me with a nod before inviting me to sit next to the one he calls Masha. Masha? The athletic young woman with black irises gives me a big smile, before shoving a piece of almost raw meat down her throat. As soon as she swallows it, she gives me a cheerful smile.

"So it’s you, Neeve of the North," she said in her clear voice.

"Um," I say, munching on some hot goat cheese toast Lyle just served me.

"The cousins only praise you."

I swallow my bite and gulp a little at the joyful irony I read on her features. My reaction amuses her, as she puts a hand on Jake’s. I then understand the relationship they have within the pack. Jake’s enamoured gaze confirms his attachment to what I guess is his companion.

"Oh yeah?"

She laughs, immediately imitated by Jake, then by Lyle who joins in the general hilarity.

"OK, what?" I asked, a little livid.

"Oh no, nothing," Masha replies.

I squint, inviting her to unpack his thoughts. It doesn’t take long for me to be satisfied… or not.

"Emmitt and Tyler were exhausted this morning. And we have rarely seen them so happy."

In a second, my cheeks turn scarlet. Jake almost pisses himself on it and Lyle can’t laugh anymore. My gaze skims the lettuce leaves laid out on my plate.

"I don’t see why," I say, feeling that I’m not a credible narrator.

"Tyler even had a few body aches," Jake said.

Whore…

"Don’t worry, Neeve," Masha says. "If you’re being teased, it’s just because we’re happy for our pack brothers. It had been a long time since they had found a female they liked."

"Oh…"

Can a conversation be more awkward? What’s the trick? Among wolves, do we confide with whom we sleep as soon as we wake up? I suddenly want to leave the table when the Falck cousins burst into the room.

"When we talk about wolves!" exclaims Lyle, placing a friendly hand on my shoulder.

My eyes turn to the cousins and shoot them. Far from being moved, Tyler bends down and kisses me on the mouth, followed by Emmitt who even lingers a little longer on my lips. My eyes almost pop out of their sockets in the face of such shamelessness. I’m already boiling when Masha says:

"Torrid…"

Holy s**t!

This time I stand up, my cheeks ready to burn, my lower abdomen tingling unseemly.

"You’re leaving already?" Emmitt asks me.

"Well yes…"

My conversation is rich this morning… My eyes turn to Lyle.

"Thank you, Lyle, it was delicious."

"You’re welcome."

I turn around and start to leave the kitchen when Tyler grabs my hand.

"I come with you."

His wink says it all. Emmitt puts a hand on the small of my back.

"You know we can’t let you wander the halls alone, don’t you?"

He licks his lips. I nod stupidly, which makes him smile. I melt on the spot when he pushes me towards the wide corridor of the den. It is only after a few metres that the laughter of Macha, Jake and Lyle melt into the calm of the cave.

"I can’t believe you told the pack everything!" I say once I’m sure we can’t be heard anymore.

Emmitt chuckles, kisses me on the cheek, and tightens his grip on my waist.

"We’re not hiding anything here. And Masha is like a sister."

"Yeah, well, I wish I had known about this before…"

"Before what?" says Tyler.

"Before... Nothing, drop it."

I sigh. They laugh.

"Before succumbing to our charms, perhaps?"

"How cute, Emmitt," Tyler remarks with a chuckle.

"Delectable, even."

"Relax, pooches!" I shout. "You’re not that charming. I felt alone, that’s all."

"You have a funny way of breaking your loneliness, Neeve of the North."

"I’m fine with that," Emmitt whispers in my ear, letting me know he’s totally ready to do it again.

I go to retort when Tyler lifts me off the ground and takes me at a run.

"What the hell are you doing?" I ask.

"What do you think?"

It doesn’t take more than a few seconds before reaching our lair and even less before I find myself on the bed, surrounded by my two insatiable lovers. The smiles on their faces make me melt. Their lips on my skin scald me. Then I think back to what I said to Levenach. At his eyes when he realized I had mixed … Tyler’s tongue on my neck tears me away from that thought and I’d rather feel the emotions of Emmitt’s kiss, than the one racing through my chest at the memory of my ex, and the crime I’m committing.

How can so much tenderness, so much desire and beauty be considered punishable?

So no, I’m not ready to stop.

So yes, I surrender myself to their arms.

And I don’t think about it anymore.

I don’t want to think about it. We should all mix...