Tasting The Enemy

Elaine POV

“You know you could stay with me you don’t need a motel,” Azaire said the next day in his kitchen while I looked through the newspaper.

He stood on the stove scrambling eggs.

“I don’t want to get you in trouble,” I replied.

“I don’t get in trouble, mate. You’re safer here.”

“Your brother-”

“Richie may be the Alpha but he’s still my little brother. No one’s touching you.”

“Too bad, Opal’s on her way to help me look for a place safe enough.”

He set the pan aside and levelled me with his eyes. It sent fire to my core. We barely slept last night but Azaire treated me like an egg because of my episode.

“You can come visit,” I said softly.

He walked towards me and made me stand. He held me to his chest and brought his face to mine. Our noses bumped. I felt his dominant wolf show himself to mine. When it came to Azaire’s wolf, Dove became submissive and gentle. Thanks to Rae’s magic Dove had woken up but she wasn’t as powerful as she was when I used wolf enhancers.

“I don’t want to visit you. I want you in my bed every day and night. I want your scent stuck to my skin like cologne. Are you really going to deny me that, mate?”

I smiled. “Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t but you know things are complicated. Tell your wolf to calm himself.”

He squeezed my ass. “Easier said than done.”

The doorbell sounded.

“Oh, Opal’s here.”

“I’ll get it.”

“Careful Elaine, your curse is acting up,” Dove said.

I stopped and my palm slit open. Blood pooled out of my palm and dripped on the floor.

“What’s going on, Dove?”

“The curse is getting stronger. You’ll have to take the wolf enhancers.”

I swallowed.

“Hey! Are you ready?” Opal hopped into the kitchen.

I fisted my palm and hid it behind my back.

I forced a smile. “Yeah, let me get my coat.”

“What’s wrong?” Azaire barged in. He could smell the blood.

I met his gaze. “Nothing, we’re leaving. We’ll be back later okay?”

“Elaine…” he growled out.

I scurried passed him before he demanded to see where the blood was coming from. The wolf enhancers were still in my bag but I couldn’t use them with Azaire around. He wouldn’t get it. I know they’re dangerous but they’re the only thing helping me. I felt the familiar agony of my bones burning and I knew I needed the enhancers now. I grabbed my bag and rummaged through my things.

“Elaine.” Azaire barged in and I dropped everything. I saw the packet of enhancers at the bottom of my bag.

“Azaire… I was just looking for a jacket.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Where is it?”

“Stop, babe. It’s nothing.”

When Azaire came in the burning sensation stopped. He took me into his arms and stared into my eyes. I felt the cut on my hand seals up. My mate helped me heal and combated my curse. This is what Avena was talking about but Dove said the curse was getting stronger.

“I’m fine. It was nothing, okay?”

He closed his lips on mine and kissed me passionately.

“Be careful mate.”

***

“So what’s going on at home?” I asked Opal as we buckled into her car.

“Bad. No one’s heard from the Alpha since you left. Aside from your brothers.”

“You think he’s worried?” It wasn’t in his nature to be caring or worried. He must be pissed I defied him. If I go back, he’ll murder me.

“I wouldn’t know. Your brothers have been acting weird.”

“I caught Blazer buying wolf enhancers. That could be why.”

I told Opal the entire ordeal without mentioning I had a packet of wolf enhancers at home.

“Late Luna Bianca? Her sister runs the hotel now. You think she has a hand in this?” Opal asked.

“The goons did say it was a woman who’s running the show.”

“That’s so weird. She’s so nice. Someone there has to be accepting the wolf enhancers.”

“Wouldn’t hurt to check out the hotel, though,” I said mischievously.

“Oh no, Azaire would not like that-”

A loud bash came from behind us and jerked us forward. Thanks to the seatbelts we didn’t go flying through the windscreen.

“What the hell?” I gasped.

A black truck rammed into Opal’s car and drove it off the road. Opal struggled to control the car but ultimately parked the car on the dirt road. Opal and I jumped out of the car at the same time. The black truck parked behind us and our attacker jumped out.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Opal shouted.

“No, Neel,” I gasped.

He marched to meet Opal and slammed his fist into her face. I screamed. Opal’s body hit the car.

“What’s wrong with you?” I barked.

Neel pointed at me. “You did this. You just had to run away, Elaine. Clearly, your Father never taught you how to be obedient.”

“I will never marry you, Neel. Get that through your thick head.”

I had nowhere to run. The road was quiet and the nearest station was miles away.

“Don’t try to run, sweetheart.” Neel wrapped his hand around my throat and squeezed. “Your Alpha wolf is no match for mine.”

He blasted me with thunderbolts of Alpha power. His dominance forced me down. Each blast felt like it was taking out a limb. Dove attempted a fight back but she crumbled against the tremendous show of Alpha dominance. Neel had won this round he was taking me back to my Father’s house.