Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

Caia lowered her hindquarters back in surprise at his interference

And then Jaeden and Sebastian dispelled the moment as quickly as it had sprung up by throwing themselves playfully at Alexa.

She snapped her jaws near their throats in warning. But then flicked a wary look at Lucien before following them into the woods. After all, Alexa didn’t want to find herself out of favor with the Pack Leader. She was smart enough not to antagonize Caia further.

Caia stared up at her ceiling, her muscles weary from the most energetic night she’d ever spent as her wolf self. It was a pleasant physical exhaustion that had taken over her previous mental exhaustion, and for this she was thankful.

Tonight had been unexpected. She had feared losing something special by running with the pack, but instead she had touched what it really meant to be a lykan. There was incredible freedom in being in wolf form. Freedom in expression—to show affection she might not show as a human, a childish, animal friskiness that was frowned upon in human society—and it was the most fun she’d ever had.

More than anything, it made Caia feel a part of something, a part of a family, like she’d felt on Friday night with Lucien and Jaeden’s family. It was intimidating, and scary, and exhilarating all at the same time. She shifted onto her side, her gaze drifting out the window and into the dark of the trees where she had played mere hours earlier.

Still, what was she to make of the pack?

Jaeden and Sebastian, she got. Irini and Aidan, Magnus too, and even Ella. But Lucien? She felt something between them. A tension. Attraction? She wasn’t sure. She had never felt anything like it before. Whatever it was, it made her dream of him. And after tonight and his long, languorous perusal of her, she imagined he’d find his way into her dreams again.

Caia sighed and flipped restlessly onto her back. She couldn’t have feelings for Lucien. She just couldn’t.

Alexa would kill her.

9

By Artemis’s Will

Caia’s friendships with Sebastian and Jaeden deepened quickly over the next few weeks. Jaeden, in particular, was her constant companion. If anyone had asked her a few months ago how she’d feel about that, she would’ve readily replied she disliked the idea of having her privacy intruded upon so much. And to be constantly surrounded by people? No thanks.

But weeks with the pack changed her. If she came home to a quiet house—a rare occurrence—her mood would darken, an inexplicable anxiety pressing on her chest. Part of her resented this chip that had been knocked out of her fierce independence, and another deeper, hidden part of her she was reluctant to accept was glad of the company, happier than she’d ever been.

She also gradually got to know the rest of the pack as they sought advice from Lucien and she’d enjoyed another pack run, this time relaxed enough to interact with members of the pack outside her small circle of friends.

It was beginning to feel like home.

And soon there was celebration within the pack as Aidan and Irini announced their plans to mate. This was followed by Irini arguing with Ella over wedding ceremony and party details. Caia was happy for Irini and intrigued to see what the ceremony entailed. After all, she’d never been to one.

“Is it like a wedding?” she asked Ella one Saturday afternoon as they dress shopped. Caia tried to tell Ella she wasn’t an evening-gown kind of person, and Irini tried to back her up. But Ella put her foot down. “No, no, no!” Caia was to wear a dress in the same shade as herself and Irini. End of discussion.

“So, it is like a wedding?” Caia asked for the fifteenth time. Ella was so preoccupied at the moment, it was like pulling teeth to get an answer from her about anything.

“No, and yes.” She smiled, holding up a bronze silky thing in front of Caia who wrinkled her nose.

“No, and yes how? That’s not really a good color on me.”

“I agree,” she tutted and shoved the thing back onto the rack to shuffle through more options. “Irini, how’s it going in there?”

Irini called from behind the curtain of the changing stall, “I never knew dresses could be this complicated. I don’t think this color will suit Caia.”

“I think it’s going to be difficult to get a color that will suit us both,” Caia replied.

“This is a nice shade,” Ella mused, pulling out a dusty-pink satin dress.

Caia took it and held it up in front of her, studying her reflection. “It’s actually quite pretty,” she relented.

“Ooh.” Irini appeared from behind the curtain, wearing a long, citrus-colored gown.

“Oh no.” Ella shook her head at her daughter’s appearance.

“I know, Mom, told you so. I look like a giant orange. Anyway, I was oohing at Caia’s dress.” She gestured to her. “I like that color. I think it would work with our coloring too.”