Elaine POV
“What was that?” I asked.
“It better not be Richie,” Azaire growled.
“I haven’t seen Opal all night. I hope she’s okay. Her Mom might make her get rid of the baby.”
Azaire’s jaw clenched. “Richie wouldn’t let that happen. Neither would I.”
That baby was inheriting quite the family. I wanted to ask him if his Mother knew about the pregnancy. I could only imagine how happy she was about having her first grandchild but it wasn’t the right time. I wanted to cry and scream simultaneously.
“Wait here,” Azaire said.
He slipped out of the bathroom. I walked to the sink. My heels were killing me. I glanced at myself in the mirror. The makeup couldn’t mask the tiredness and the pain. I just had to get out tonight.
“Mate,” Azaire said.
He shut the door.
I didn’t want to lie to him but I felt compelled to. I wasn’t myself anymore and it was because of that stupid blood promise.
I turned towards him. He looked so sexy in that suit. I smiled because I knew he hated wearing suits.
“Why are you trying to break out? Didn’t you want to go with your Father?”
I stared at the blue tiles and bit my tongue.
“Did you know about the attack on my Pack?” He took a step forward.
“Were you playing me?” he barked.
“Damn it, Elaine say something!”
“I love you. I really do but I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I don’t want to talk. I’m not myself when I’m around you.” Tears rolled down my cheeks.
Azaire shook his head. His perfectly combed hair fell out of place. I longed to run my fingers through it.
“Please don’t leave…” I whispered.
“What do you want?” he asked gently.
I stared at him and I hoped he’d get the picture.
He took a few more steps until he was right in front of me. He toyed with the strap of my dress and exhaled.
“We’ll figure this out, okay? Then I’m going to take you home and make love to you.”
I dropped the strap he toyed with down my shoulder. Azaire’s eyes followed my moves.
“You know we’re in the middle of a dangerous operation, right?”
I bit my bottom lip.
“Okay, just a taste.”
My mate’s lips pressed against my neck and my legs nearly turned to mush! We haven’t been apart that long but it might as well be an eternity. I traced my fingers up his arms as his teeth teased my skin.
“I won’t leave a mark. My mark is enough.”
He lowered the bodice enough to reveal an erect nipple. Azaire sucked his bottle lip and heat rushed to my core.
Please do it.
He planted kisses on my chest and moved lower until he took my nipple in his mouth and sucked. I threw my head back as his left hand caressed my back.
Ugh, this man!
Azaire’s groans of satisfaction turned me on more. I wanted more of this. I needed and craved it. He pulled back though and lifted the bodice.
He stroked my mate mark. The strap hid the mark Azaire gave me. It was a beautiful reminder of our love and bond. It fuelled my desire to get the hell out of this house. The second Dad marries Avena I’m probably dead for real.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said.
Azaire nodded. He gripped the back of my head and crashed his lips against mine in a hard and fierce kiss.
“Now let’s go.”
Azaire opened the door for me and I walked out first. I had to find Lawrence and Lynn. Last time I spoke to Lynn she said the magic was stronger tonight than it was earlier but she was around. I feared the guards would catch her but she seemed like a more than capable witch.
“You!”
I paused and blinked. Neel blocked my view of the party.
“Watch it, Neel, if you touch her I’ll end you,” Azaire threatened.
He placed a protective hand on my waist and glared at Neel.
Neel wore an expensive dark blue suit and bow tie. I hadn’t seen him in what felt like forever but it still felt too soon. I grimaced at him and he glared at me.
“What do you want?”
“Answers. I didn’t know you were a hybrid! I didn’t sign up for that.”
I rolled my eyes. “You knew I had healing powers.”
“There are tons of wolves in my pack with those abilities but none of them are Alpha females.”
“Okay so what, Neel? Is this why you’re making a scene?” I hissed.
“No, I don’t want any part of your Father’s crazy plan. I’m taking my wolves and I’m leaving.”
Azaire and I shared a look.
“Let me guess you made a blood promise too?” Azaire questioned.
Neel paused, clenched his jaw and nodded. “How’d you know?”
“It’s Laiken’s style. I’m guessing you can’t tell us anything either,” Azaire said, frustrated.
“Of course not, but he can.”
“Are you crazy? He’d never tell us. It can’t be that easy,” I said.
Neel chuckled, pulled out his phone and dangled it in my face.
I gasped and grabbed his arm. “No way.”
“I’ll only let you listen to it for a price,” he said and grinned maliciously.
I frowned. “Jackass.”
“You burned me don’t forget you owe me!”
My magic was still dormant and so was my wolf. I realized I was effectively human at this point. Azaire pushed me aside and grabbed Neel by the collar of his shirt.
“You’re not going to touch my mate in my presence. You’re going to tell us what you know or I’ll just beat your ass up again and leave you chained to the bathtub, got it?”
Neel grumbled. “Let’s go.”
We ventured into the crowd one by one, careful not to be spotted by Nik or a highly ranked beta. After making it out of the house we slipped into the forest which was far enough from the mansion.
“How isn’t the blood promise stopping you?” I asked Neel when he pulled out his phone from his back pocket.
“The problem with your old man Elaine is he is an old man. The blood promise didn’t say anything about me recording the conversation. I can’t say anything and I won’t but Laiken will.”
He pressed play and Dad’s voice streamed out of the speakers.
“You want to be on my side for this Neel. I want your army ready. After I marry Avena and the full moon appears my plan will be in motion. I have all my children ready for the ceremony.”
“What ceremony?” Neel asked.
Dad laughed. “The sacrificial ceremony I need to become the next moon god. I have the blood of a pure werewolf, the blood of a vampire and a witch. Everything I need to evoke magic powerful enough to make me all-powerful.”
“Whoa, are you insane? You can’t do that.”
“Many have tried and died but that’s because they didn’t have pure enough sacrifices. What’s purer than three siblings?”
My blood ran cold. I fell into Azaire and gripped his shirt.
“You’re going to murder your own children? What about my marriage with Elaine? You were going to kill my Luna anyway!”
“She was meant to be killed that’s why I had her! That’s why I had all of them.”
“Tell me this, Laiken, which son are you sacrificing? Nik or Blazer?”
“That’s not a question. Nik is loyal and my true heir. He’ll inherit the Pack and begin the next bloodline of wolf deities.”
“This is fucked up.”
Neel ended the conversation.
“This is what your Mother couldn’t tell us, Elaine,” Azaire said.
I couldn’t speak or process what I just heard. I made a promise to deliver myself to him so he could slaughter me.