Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

His eyes were drawn to Caia laughing with Jaeden and Daniel in the kitchen. His gaze kept finding her. Had been ever since their “moment” in her bedroom this morning. The sight of her standing in the dress as the sunlight filtered across her face just … ah, it was like he’d been punched in the gut—the force of the feeling was that strong. He almost kissed her. He knew he would have if his mother hadn’t walked in. That woman had good timing; kissing Caia would have been a mistake. The timing wasn’t right.

“Why are you standing out here by yourself?” a familiar voice brushed his ear.

Lucien’s hand tightened around his beer.

Alexa.

She rounded the stairs to stand too close and he gave her a patient smile. Uncomfortable with the way she arched her back, trying to impress him with her low-cut dress that fit like a second skin, Lucien kept his gaze carefully fixed to her face. He wasn’t immune—and the girl was gorgeous—but her machinations were so obvious. She wanted him because he was the Pack Leader, and nothing more. She was just like her brother. And that hadn’t ended well.

“This is a happy occasion, Lucien. You should act like it.” She ran her fingertips up his arm. “I could make it happier.” The provocative comment was followed with a saucy grin.

Lucien stepped away, wondering how long his patience with her would last if she kept growing more obvious. He hadn’t minded her showing up with his lunch every Saturday because … well, he was usually hungry by the time she did. But the past week, her visits had become daily, and her flirtations more explicit.

The hope in her beautiful dark eyes made him uneasy. She would find out soon enough that even if he might have been interested, there was no way he could make her his mate.

“I’m gonna get another beer.” He walked away, pretending he hadn’t seen the petulant twist to her mouth. Wandering toward the kitchen, he frowned, realizing Caia and the others had left. Where was she? He strode in, dumping his empty bottle in the recycling in time to hear her familiar laughter.

Following that sound, he stopped in the kitchen doorway and watched as Sebastian pulled her along to the end of the right side of the back porch.

“Sebastian, what is going on?” Caia asked as the young male pulled her up short and pressed her into the back of the house. Lucien’s brows drew together. He’d had his suspicious about Sebastian’s feelings for Caia, the way his eyes followed her when she was in the room, his constant hovering and protectiveness. But Caia seemed oblivious.

Even now, when Sebastian had her positioned against the wall and was leaning into her, she was smiling up at him without a clue the boy was about to make a move. Agitation tingled in his blood. Sebastian was a good kid … he did not want to have to deal with him.

“I thought we should talk.” Sebastian’s grin was loopy, his eyes dazed.

The kid was drunk too? Goddess, it took a lot to get a lykan drunk. How much had he consumed?

“About?”

“You and me.” He leaned in even closer.

Caia tensed, pressing a hand to his chest. “Sebastian, how much have you had to drink?”

“Enough. Forget about that. I need to tell you something.”

“Well, tell me so we can get back to the party.”

“Caia …” He groaned and swayed into her. “Caia.”

“Sebastian?” She chuckled lightly. “Goddess, spit it out. I’ve never seen you like this before.”

I’ll bet she hasn’t.

“Okay.” Sebastian straightened, rolling his neck on his shoulders as if preparing for a fight. “Caia. I want you to know … I want you to know that I don’t care that you’re different.”

Uh-oh, where is this going? Lucien prepared to interrupt.

Caia glowered. “Different?”

He nodded, continuing on foolishly, “I want to be here for you, Caia, when things get rough … and they’re going to. I think we should mate, Caia, before your po—”

“Hey!” Lucien boomed, cutting the boy off before he said something they’d all regret. “What are you guys doing out here? You should be inside enjoying the party.” He smiled for Caia’s sake, but inside he was burning. He was going to kill this kid.

The boy at least had the good sense to look nervous.

“Sebastian, I think you’ve had enough to drink. Why don’t you go inside and help yourself to some water? And that’s not a suggestion.”

He nodded blearily, glancing at Caia before rushing off the porch and inside. Lucien watched him go and then turned back to her.

“Did you hear any of that?” she asked, her confusion clear.

He nodded and took a breath. He needed to be calm and smooth, and she would think nothing of it. “He’s drunk.”

Caia stared suspiciously up at Lucien. Her mind still whirred with Sebastian’s proposal for them to mate. She hoped Lucien was right and it was just the alcohol talking, but she hadn’t even realized Sebastian thought that way about her. And what the hell had he meant about protecting her when things got rough?