Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

She let silence fall between them, relieved that it was a comfortable silence for once. He’d surprised her with his kindness and patience tonight.

“Why?” she croaked, verbalizing the confusion in her head. “Why does Yvana hate me, and Ryder and Aidan don’t?”

“She was his mate, Caia. She can’t see reason in this.”

“I’m sorry.” Frustratingly, more tears escaped before she could stop them. Lucien tsked under his breath and leaned over to wipe the tears from her face and abruptly the taps in the sink and shower blasted on.

Lucien cursed and jumped up to turn them off. He muttered under his breath and then stared down at her. She felt his attention, but she stared at the faucet in the sink. A sense of déjà vu washed over her. Three times in the last few days water had flown out of pipes unexpectedly.

“Is there something wrong with the plumbing in this town?” she asked.

“What?”

Seeing his confusion, she murmured an unintelligible “forget it” under her breath.

“Caia.” He crouched before her again, his hand brushing her hair back from her face. Just like that she forgot about strange plumbing issues. “You going to be okay?”

She nodded mutely. Her pulse leapt at his nearness, his touch. Goddess, she hoped he couldn’t hear it.

He gave her a coaxing smile. “Why don’t you come for a walk with me?”

Something about his appeasing tone irked. Caia quickly got to her feet. “I’m not five years old,” she said, brushing past him. A thought occurred to her. That she didn’t want to appear weak to anyone in the pack. Appearing weak to these wolves seemed like a pretty bad idea. Caia stopped at the door and turned back to Lucien so abruptly, he just narrowly avoiding crashing into her.

Her skin tingled with awareness but she ignored it. Lifting her stubborn chin, she met his gaze and told him, “Just so you know. I don’t usually cry. It’s been a long few days, that’s all. I can handle myself.”

Lucien’s lips quirked at the corner. “I believe you.”

It was quiet out here, just as he liked it. Being Pack Leader, he didn’t really have much time for himself and was always more appreciative of the quiet moments. Caia strolled a few feet ahead, stepping over bracken and rocks as they picked their way through the woods. Lucien let her have some space, knowing she probably needed to collect herself. She was embarrassed but she had no need to be. Lykans were passionate and consequently emotional.

Yet the sight of Caia on the bathroom floor, her big eyes brimming with sadness and confusion, had twisted his gut into knots. He never wanted to see her like that again.

Damn these unexpected feelings toward her. They made no sense.

She was too young, too naïve. Too everything.

“It’s heaven out here.” She drew to a stop to her tilt her head back and she inhaled deeply.

Lucien smiled, stalking toward her. “It’s why I chose the house.”

“I can see that.” She smiled gently back at him. Her eyes were greener than ever. He felt himself caught in her gaze and was disconcerted to find himself a little tongue-tied.

At the long silence, she quirked an eyebrow, amused. Suddenly she seemed older than eighteen, and as if she knew exactly what kind of power she could have over a man.

But then she frowned, uncertainty flashing across her countenance and he was reminded how little she really understood.

What on Gaia was going on with him?

Lucien cleared his throat.

“Uh—” He stared into the darkening forest, scrambling to think of something to say. “Uh … oh, did, ah … Irini tell you about our pack history?”

“No. Apparently Irini didn’t tell me much.”

Lucien thought he caught a note of annoyance in her voice. “Are you angry about that?”

“No.” She shrugged, weary. “I understand why she couldn’t talk about it. But it was difficult not knowing...”

Her response touched him. Lykans were such volatile beings, usually quick to anger and frustration. In this way, she seemed different too. Mature, kind and compassionate.

Not at all what he’d secretly feared.

Better than he could have hoped for.

She made it difficult to keep his guard up around her.

Shoving his hands in his pockets he strode ahead.

“Where are you going?”

“Into the story. Are you coming?” he threw back over his shoulder.

He heard her laugh and then she fell quickly into stride with him but huffed, “Remember to slow it down a little. My legs are like an entire foot shorter than yours.”

“Are they really?” He perused them flirtatiously and then laughed when he caught her blush. She was too easy to tease.

“The story,” she reminded him.

Lucien chuckled. “Right.” He watched her as she stepped gracefully over a small tree limb. “You know the pack originates from Portugal, right?”

She nodded, not taking her eyes from her path. “Some of our surnames give it away.”