Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

Sebastian chuckled. “It was pretty awesome.”

Caia frowned. “It was nothing. Really, we’re fine.”

“He got his way, though, right?” Jaeden assumed.

She nodded, staring out into the darkening forest beyond. “For now.”

By eight o’clock the next evening, the pack had gathered at the back of Lucien’s home. Caia strode toward them, Sebastian on her right and Jaeden on her left. Having them beside her was comforting, but it did not diminish her nerves. She took in Lucien, standing tall, straight, and powerful in the middle of his pack, angling his head to listen to whatever Ryder was saying.

Jaeden stopped beside Magnus—deliberately, it seemed—and the Elder smiled at Caia before coaxing her into his side. “You’ll be okay,” he whispered, stroking her cheek. “Your eyes give away your panic. Don’t let them see.”

Caia nodded gratefully, taking a deep breath. She squeezed Magnus’s hand, reassuring him she was all right.

“You okay?” Sebastian asked as she returned to them.

“I’m fine. I promise.”

The pack was gathered in little groups. Irini was cuddled up to Aidan. Ella and Magnus talked quietly with one another. Dimitri and Julia stood with Christian, but Lucia was nowhere to be seen. She’d obviously gotten babysitting duty this time around. Caia’s eyes swept the circle. There was Alexa, Malek, and Finlay standing with their family. Dana and Daniel were with theirs.

“That’s my mom and dad,” Sebastian whispered in her ear, pointing to a young-looking family. “And my kid sister Seana. She’s a pain in my ass.”

Caia smiled, detecting the tenderness in his voice. He waved at his parents, who smiled back and nodded politely to Caia. She returned the gesture. Sebastian nudged her affectionately with his shoulder. She shared a smile with him and then turned her attention back the pack. After a few seconds Caia realized someone was missing.

“Where’s Yvana?” she whispered to Jaeden.

Jaeden screwed up her face. “Everyone heard about how she reacted to you. Lucien banned her from this run as punishment.”

Caia’s eyes widened. She had not expected that. She glanced at Lucien and found him watching her.

There was that odd flutter in her stomach again.

His silver eyes flashed concern, and she gave him a slight nod to assure him all was well. Goddess, they were a protective lot; it was exhausting but undeniably nice. He nodded back and then murmured something to Ryder.

They stood for a few more minutes, talking among themselves, until a hush fell over the pack as they gazed up at the quarter moon.

“Tonight is a special run.” Lucien’s voice echoed through the pack, drawing all eyes to him. “Tonight we run in honor of the safe return of my sister Irini and our brother Rafael’s daughter, Caia.”

Caia felt her face warm as a hum washed around them. She waited for him to say more as he scanned the pack. He was born to be a leader, his magnetism alluring, his strength and assuredness comforting. She could feel it drifting over and wrapping around the pack. They were content with their young leader, she could sense it.

“Artemis, go with us,” Lucien said.

“Artemis, go with us,” the pack repeated, and then they began to undress. She looked away as Jaeden and Sebastian stripped without hesitating, gaped as Irini and Aidan undressed each other, grinning wildly as they touched one another. It wasn’t just them, Caia realized. Couples watched each other as they disrobed, regardless of the other lykans.

Everyone was more than at home in their own skin. There was a sexual element to it among mates.

Her cheeks flushed.

She felt like she was invading their privacy.

Someone pinched her arm. Keeping her eyes at face level, she turned to find Jaeden raising her eyebrows as if to ask, What are you waiting for?

Taking a deep breath, fingers trembling, Caia undressed. No one’s looking, no one cares, pretend this is just an ordinary run, and it’s just you. You do this all the time.

The mantra may have worked, but as her last piece of clothing dropped to the slightly damp earth and goose bumps prickled her skin, she made the mistake of looking up and found Lucien gazing at her. No. Not gazing.

Perusing.

She shivered, the cool night breeze forgotten as she flushed red hot from top to toe.

Holy Artemis.

Lucien’s eyes darkened to a coal gray and his hands flexed at his sides before curling into tight fists. She felt frozen beneath his stare. All except her eyes, which escaped his intense gaze long enough to peruse him return.

Holy, Holy Artemis.

At the sound of what she could have sworn was a low rumble from his chest, Caia mentally slapped herself. She was staring at Lucien. No. She was ogling Lucien. Her pack leader.

Cheeks hot, she tore her eyes from him, and glanced around to make sure no one had noticed their silent but electric interlude.

And of course, Alexa had.

The beautiful wolf glowered at Caia like she wanted to rip out her throat. Caia could almost hear her threatening to tell Lucien about their little incident earlier in the week.