Tasting The Enemy

Elaine POV

Neel knew he didn’t attack Azaire and worst of all he knew I attacked him. When he’s sober he’s going to sing like a canary. Instead of walking home to an empty house, I stayed the night at Opal’s.

“I’m never drinking again!” Opal groaned.

I giggled. “I told myself the same thing.”

She turned in the queen-sized be to look at me.

“Elaine… I’m so sorry! Now I’m really never drinking again. I couldn’t even help.”

“I don’t want to think about it,” I mumbled.

She pouted. “Azaire pummelled Neel.”

“Please don’t tell anyone. I lied to Dad.”

“Of course not. I would have done the same thing, but why?”

I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe Blood Moon wolves aren’t so bad?” I chuckled.

“That’s not what people here think. Nik will stop at nothing to see them down. Which is why I regret helping him last night.”

I sat up in the queen bed and clutched the sheets.

“What did you do?”

“Don’t tell anyone!”

I gasped. “Opal, what did Nik came you do?”

“He made me steal. I went into the late Alpha’s study and stole their moonstone.”

Every pack has a moon stone it’s a gift from the moon goddess. I know they’re just precious but it’s rumoured that they have some of the goddess’s power in them.

My eyes grew wide. “You would have been punished badly if you were caught.”

Opal attempted to sit up but she winced and shut her eyes. She clutched her head and lay down again.

“My head’s pounding… it was a bad idea but you know how your brother is.”

“What does he want the gem for? Doesn’t our pack have its own gem?

Opal winced. “He wouldn’t say.”

“When they realize it’s gone they’re going to suspect us.”

“I regret it.” Tears filled her eyes. “Now I feel like I’m going to puke.”

My phone buzzed with the text from work. I had to take the morning shift because Rebecca called in sick. I rolled out of bed and searched for my bag.

“You’re not going to puke.”

“I feel awful.”

I touched her hand, and without thinking I let the power flow between us. When I realized what I did it was too late but it was only a small dose that took away her hangover.

“You’re… not going to puke. I have work I have to go.”

“Now?” She sat up and frowned. She must have wondered where her headache went.

I feared my skin would start opening up so I grabbed last night’s dress and hurried out.

“Yeah! It’s an emergency see you later.”

I darted out. Thank goodness we were neighbours. I raced home and my skin hadn’t opened up yet. I once healed a dry plant and cuts formed on my thigh but I was fine this was weird. Was my curse weakening? Do I have a chance of finally being free?All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

***

“Thanks for coming in on such short notice, Elaine,” Rick, the manager said.

“No problem.”

“I need you to clear out the new delivery of olive jars in the storeroom. The truck will be here in twenty minutes.”

I hurried to the storeroom. On my way, I stopped as pain shot through my ankle. I winced and looked at the blood pooling into my socks.

“So much for things getting better.”

I pulled up my socks and rushed into the dark storeroom. Another wound formed on my right calf. The job would be hard with my curse acting up. I carried boxes out as fast as I could but when another wound formed I cried out and dropped a box.

The top split open to reveal packages neatly stored.

“These aren’t olives,” I said.

Each packet was stuffed with orange powder. It made me curious about the other boxes. I peeked in one and they had olives. I opened a packet hoping my suspicions were wrong.

“Wolf enhancers,” I whispered.

I took a picture.

“Elaine! Hurry up the truck is here!” Rick called.

I couldn’t stuff the whole packet in my pocket it was huge. I hid the open packet in the storeroom.

“Coming!” I called back.

Sealing the box again I hurried to get them upstairs until everything was gone.

“Where are they going?” I asked Rick.

Rick was a staggering man. He was larger than my Father but as soft as a teddy bear. He was a rogue. Most businesses in neutral territory were run by rogues.

“A hotel in Black Claw. The one that belongs to the late Luna’s family.”

I nodded.

That wasn’t a good sign. I expected them to go to Blood Moon but not my pack. Someone there was expecting a shipment of wolf enhancers. What would they do when they discovered they were short one? Heading back inside, I realized my curse wasn’t acting up anymore.

My wounds had healed.

“The wolf enhancers healed me.”

It was the only logical explanation. I became giddy because I might have found a cure to my curse that didn’t involve my family. I got a call while I was taking inventory.

It was an unknown number. Normally I ignored these but curiosity won the battle.

“Elaine.”

I froze and nearly dropped the toilet paper roll I was about to stack.

“A-Azaire?”

“Neel’s not close by is he?” My mate asked.

It was strange knowing I had a mate. The goddess deemed me worthy enough to have a fated mate.

“I’m at work.”

“Work?” He asked.

I playfully rolled my eyes. “The Alpha’s daughter isn’t supposed to work?”

“No, she’s supposed to be guarded and treasured always.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. It isn’t always the case.

“There’s a football game this Friday. We can meet each other then?”

What about the wolf enhancers? The only one I could trust was Opal and there wasn’t much she could do.

“I can’t wait that long to see you.”

He chuckled. “You miss me that much, Little Wolf?”

“Wrong choice of words,” I blushed. “I found something… I can’t say over the phone and I don’t know who else to trust other than… you.”

“Fine. Meet me by the lake. Our spot in an hour, cool?”

“Yes,” I exhaled.

“Do I need to be worried? I swear if you have a scratch-”

“No, I don’t. An hour,” I said and hung up.

My mate was my enemy but I had to trust I hoped it wasn’t a mistake.