Tasting The Enemy

Elaine POV

“Elaine, stop!” Nik yelled and stepped in front of me, blocking my exit.

I stomped my front paws on the ground.

Shoot, I thought.

“Elaine, you don’t have to run,” Blazer said from behind me.

Why did they have to make things so difficult?!

I expected the betas to swarm me but they were occupied outside with the commotion Azaire was making. My Father and Avena would be down at any moment.

I took a step forward but Nik stood his ground. I bore my fangs, warning my brother. I didn’t want to hurt him. I knew I could even though Nik was a powerful Alpha wolf, I was an Alpha female I held just as much power.

“What are you doing?” Nik demanded. “Don’t tell me, Blood Moon pack’s here for you?”

It was hard to express myself when I was Dove. I rolled my eyes.

Before my Father appeared. I lowered my head and readied to attack.

“Don’t even think about it, Elaine,” Nik warned.

Too late. I thrust myself forward Nik jumped out of the way. He cursed behind me. I knew they’d follow me but I had to let Azaire know I was out without attracting the betas’ attention. Last thing I needed was an army chasing me.

“Azaire, can you hear me?” I said through our link.

The connection was weak but I knew he felt me.

“Follow me to the forest,” I said through our link.

I was overwhelmed with warmth and security and I knew he got the message. Blazer howled into the night. Time to go. I may have a defective wolf but I was fast. With my brothers hot on my heels and my mate close I couldn’t let them meet.

I ran through the lake to hide my scent. I pushed my wolf to her limits, swimming across the lake to get the spot Azaire and I first kissed. I shifted back to my human form and coughed.

“Elaine,” Azaire gasped.

“Good… you got my message.”

Azaire picked me up and held me tightly. “You didn’t get any of mine.”

“I’m sorry. Neel knocked a lot out of me.”

Azaire kissed my face, his warmth chasing the bitter chill of the lake.

“I can’t believe you came here,” my voice cracked.

“Did you think I would abandon you mate?”

“I hoped you wouldn’t. Things are complicated now…”

“You’re telling me, I had to tell Richie everything.”

I looked up at him. “And?”

Azaire shrugged. “He’s cool with it.”

My mate pulled his body away from me and grabbed a shirt from the base of a large rock. He wore plain loose pants. I thanked him and slipped the shirt on.

“What happens now, Azaire?” I asked.

Azaire tucked me under his arms. “I take you home.”

It had been a long day I could do that. I wrapped my arms around Azaire’s waist and melted into him. He started to guide me away from our spot when the ground shook with heavy footsteps.

“Let my sister go!”

I spun in Azaire’s arms. He locked me in his embrace. I felt his intense hatred through our mate bond. Nik locked eyes with my mate then he looked at Azaire’s arms around my waist then he looked at me. Blazer stumbled onto the scene seconds later. He took in the scene quicker than Nik instead of rage he was overcome with confusion.

“I won’t repeat myself, Shaw. Let her go,” Nik said, murderously.

“So you can abuse her?” Azaire responded.

I looked to Blazer for help but he shook his head and threw his arms in the air.

“Nik-”

“Don’t,” he cut me off. “What the fuck is this?”

“What does it look like Ryker? She’s mine,” Azaire said, tightening his hold around me.

I knew his wolf was on the edge of his skin, ready to pounce and rip the nearest object to shreds.

Nik laughed and ran a hand through his hair. Blazer raised his brow.

“I should have put you in the ground instead.”

Azaire growled. He burst forward. I tumbled to the side and fell. I reached for him but narrowly missed him as he and Nik met in the middle.

“No!” I yelled. “Stop!”

“Nik,” Blazer grabbed Nik’s shoulder but our older brother easily brushed Blazer off.

Azaire rammed his fist into Nik’s jaw. I gasped. Nik stumbled back but wasted no time in slamming his foot into Azaire’s gut.

“What did you say, you bastard?” Azaire blasted.

Blood oozed from my brother’s nose and my mate’s eyes were murderous.

“Please stop,” I said, standing. “Blazer!”

Blazer threw his arms in the air. “What do you want me to do? He’s going to kill me instead.”

“Your brother was the bastard,” Nik spat.

Azaire grabbed Nik’s shoulders and slammed him against an oak tree. My eyes grew wide. Azaire’s hands circled Nik’s neck. One move and Azaire would snap Nik’s neck. I ran and yanked Azaire’s shoulder.

“Stop, stop you’re going to kill him!” I yelled.

“He deserves it,” Azaire grunted.

“You see what you chose, Elaine? All Shaws are monsters.”

“Monsters?” Azaire growled. “You killed my brother!”

“And your Father killed my Mother!”

My heart nearly stopped. The ground shook with heavy footsteps again.

“Hey! Enough!” Alpha Richie yelled.

I turned to discover Opal, Lucas and Richie racing towards us.

Blazer took advantage of the commotion to separate Azaire and Nik.

“You’re okay,” Opal said, enveloping me in her arms.

I didn’t think I was okay. When a slicing pain shot through my abdomen I knew I wasn’t okay and it would only get worse.

“The Alpha of a murderous pack,” Nik chuckled and spat a mouthful of blood.

Richie grabbed his brother’s shoulder and yanked him away. I watched helplessly as my curse grew in strength and inflicted serious pain on me but I couldn’t scream I couldn’t fall to the ground and cry I allowed the pain to consume me.

“You killed Aiden and your Father let you get away with you. You’re a psycho, Nik!” Richie blasted.

Nik rolled his neck and eyes but his gaze landed on me but he wasn’t looking at me. He was set on Opal. Opal held me tighter.

“What are you doing with them?” Nik took two strides forward before Richie blocked his path. Nik pushed him back.

“You traitor!” Nik yelled.

“I did what I had to do for Elaine. They helped when all you could do was follow orders.”

“You don’t know what you’ve done, Opal,” Nik growled, his eyes flashing with the outline of his wolf.

Opal lifted her chin, “I don’t care.”

Nik turned his back and turned to a startled Blazer.

“Take her,” Nik ordered.

“What?” he frowned.

“Oh my gosh, Elaine you’re bleeding!” Opal yelled.

I sprawled my hand across my middle but stood my ground.

“Elaine,” Azaire shrugged out of Richie’s hold.

“Don’t,” Nik blasted.

A wave of Alpha power thrust forward and hit me even though it was meant for Azaire. Azaire rolled his eyes instead as if the blast was a feather brush.

“You can’t save her. Only our venom can help her. You take her there’s no saying she’ll survive.”

I winced as flesh opened on my arm and blood stained the shirt. Azaire helped me last time my curse acted up. Why wasn’t his presence helping me now? Dove was too weak to answer me. My bones burned and my vision started blurring.

“I’m not going back. Not to that house.”

“You’re not doing well, Elaine,” Blazer said.

“She’ll be fine,” Azaire said.

Nik shook his head. “You didn’t tell your boy toy about your curse? How only we can help you?”

“I’d rather die, Nik,” I said through gritted teeth.

It felt like someone was twisting my insides.

“Dude, she won’t be fine. Her curse is tricky and it’s powerful,” Blazer said, genuinely concerned.

“And I won’t be stepping into Shaw territory to give anyone my venom.”

I wanted to spit in his face that I didn’t need him I had wolf enhancers but I couldn’t do that without disappointing Azaire. Was it worth dying over? I dropped to my knees and Opal dropped with me.

“Fine, we’ll go. The Shaw men will go back to their territory. Just help her!” Opal yelled.

“I’m not leaving her,” Azaire said.

“Hey, look at her,” Richie hissed. “She needs help.”

“Go now. Or she gets nothing from me,” Nik said.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Go to hell…” I rasped. “I don’t want anything from you.”

Opal shook me for being crazy. My vision blurred and my limbs weakened.

I met my mate’s gaze but I saw him in twos. His brother dragged him away. My heart squeezed. My eyes swelled with tears and my heart was overcome with emotions. We’d been separated again.