Archaic (Reverse Harem 2)

I can feel that anger, that raging inferno starting to grow inside of me again. It is the first thing I have felt since the funeral, and though it isn’t at all what my Ma had in mind, I am hell bent on using it to motivate me off that porch and out of the darkness that I have become so comfortable with.

I no longer care about the past, about the fact that I was made for the Primal. I no longer care about the fate in which those cats threw me into. The only thing I care about anymore is the sweet taste of revenge. I stand up from the rocking chair and walk down the steps, looking out at the hills. I know what I have to do. I have to find out who killed Kyle, and I have to avenge his death. I have to rip the face from his killer just as they did my husband.

I can feel the adrenaline start to pump through my veins once again. This time though, it is no longer a search for the truth.

It is a search for the enemy that lurks in the shadows. I won’t live in fear for the rest of my life, and I won’t rest until I know that my husband’s killers are buried deeper than I buried Kyle, only they won’t get the luxury of a casket if there is anything left of them by the time I am through.

I step forward scanning the countryside. I know that Sebastian is still out there, he would never leave me unwatched. I close my eyes and take a deep breath in through my nose, searching for his scent. The air is still for a moment, but when it starts to blow, that dog’s perfume is right there, floating off the hills in front of the farm. I smile menacingly and take off running down the dirt path, tracking his whiff. My feet were moving faster than ever before, and for a moment I close my eyes, feeling the wind on my face.

I hit the turn in the dirt trail and slide to the side, slowing down and walking carefully to the top of the hill. Immediately Sebastian senses me and turns around, his eyes big, a look of concern on his face. I look at Sebastian for a moment and then over at a short woman, long brown hair, distinct features, a strange smile on her lips. Her shirt is low cut, her breasts pressed together, showing more than enough cleavage.

“Clarissa,” he says rushing forward. “What’s wrong? What is it?”

“Nothing is wrong,” I say, glancing back at the girl again. “Um, who is she?”

“No one,” he says gruffly.

“Hey,” she whines, sticking out her bottom lip.

“Sebastian,” I reply, smacking him in the ar

m. “Why are you being so rude? Is this your girlfriend?”

“No,” he says shaking his head wildly. “Absolutely not.”

“He can if he wants to be,” the girl sings in a high-pitched tone, laughing at herself.

I smile and look over at Sebastian who is rubbing his forehead in frustration. I have to admit, when I raced up the hill this wasn’t the scene I was expecting, and to be honest, I felt a slight twinge of jealousy thinking that he might be with someone else. Of course, I had no right. I chose Kyle, and I didn’t regret that for a second.

“Hi.” I smile. “I’m Clarissa.”

“Hello.” She smiles back, sticking out her hand. “Penny.”

“The Opossum.” Sebastian groans.

“Ahem, rude,” she says giving him an evil look. “Penny Masters, and yes, I am a Primal Opossum.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say. “I didn’t know there were Primal Opossums.”

“Not a lot of us now that my sexual prowess is not being reproduced,” she replies shaking her hips. “But we are here.”

Penny is interesting, a surprise in ways. From the outside, you would expect calm and collected, but as soon as she speaks, it is nothing but wild and wooly. I guess that’s kind of like an Opossum. They are often misrepresented but can be vicious as hell if backed into a corner. I know this well living on a farm, fighting them off of the trash on a regular basis.

“ Maybe you can shoo her off now ,” Sebastian says in my head.

“ Be nice ,” I reply, giving him the stink eye.

“So, I am so sorry to hear about your hubby,” she says, putting her arm around my shoulders. “I have lost my mate, too.”

“Oh, no,” I reply with sadness. “I’m sorry. How did he die?”

“Well, it’s a long story.” She sighs. “Anyway, I think I might be some help in finding out who did this to Kyle.”

“Really?” I smile.

“NO!” Sebastian turns and marches up to me. “You are not jumping back in the fire on some suicide hell mission because you want revenge.”

“Seriously, you need to stay out of my head,” I reply through gritted teeth.