Tasting The Enemy

Elaine POV

I put the hair straightener on the on the dresser. I fluffed it up to add a little bit of personality. I wore a petite denim skirt, sneakers and a white long-sleeve shirt. I finished it off with a gold necklace. Dove was still awake and active. Having her around gave me confidence I hadn’t felt in a long time.

I gathered my banner. I’d finish it in the art room at school.

I dashed into the kitchen quickly to grab whatever was made for breakfast before I left. The downside of living in the pack house was all the food was snatched up before you walked into the shower in the morning.

I found a few bits of bacon in a bowl and apple juice in the fridge.

“This will have to do too,” I said, adding the bacon to a napkin.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I felt a heavy presence come up behind me. I could only be one person.

His large tattooed arms gripped the counter from either side of me. He caged me against his chest and the marble counter but I refused to turn around.

“I’ve been thinking of ways to punish you for your little stunt at the Blood Moon Pack but after seeing those sexy legs I think I’ve forgiven you, mate.”

“I am not your mate.” I spun and my wolf flashed in my eyes. She expressed her disgust and rejection. Neel’s wolf flashed in his eyes too but his response was weak.

Dove’s show of dominance was firm and she refused to bow at a lame attempt at putting her down. Neel didn’t like that though. He grabbed my face and squeezed.

“Listen to me you little whore. Your Father wants my army-”

“So why don’t you sleep with him?”

His nostrils flared at his eyes went wide. I ducked under his arm and slipped away.

“As much as I’d love to chat, Neel I have to go to school,” I gave him a mischievous smile.

I thought I got away scot-free but my brother decided to walk into the kitchen.

Crap, I thought.

“Where do you think you’re going dressed like that?” Nik barked.

Blazer smirked.

“I’m going to school. I’m still allowed to go, aren’t I?”

Nik’s features hardened. I slipped between my brothers, hoping to make a fast getaway, but Nik grabbed my arm.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to do, Elaine but-”

“I’m trying to go to school! I have to finish the banner for the football game. You know the one Blazer’s playing in.”

“Leave her alone, Nik. No one ever messes with Elaine.”

“No, thanks to you,” I sighed.

He winked. “You’re welcome little sis.”

“It better stay that way you know the deal,” Nik said firmly.

I eyed my older brother up and down. We didn’t have the best relationship. Sometimes I thought he hated me because Dad cheated on his Mother. Dove has fuelled my responses the entire morning but this time I put her down.

“You’re going to kill it tonight, Blazer. Bye,” I said and walked out the front door.

The only thing I looked forward to today was seeing Azaire.

***

“You’re not finished!” Jenifer yelled.

She and Helen barged into the art studio seconds ago in their cheerleader uniform. Quin sent her minions to do her work for her.

“I was waiting for the paint to dry. Here take it,” I said, standing from my stool.

Helen tilted her head to the side. “What the hell is this?”

I rolled my eyes. “The claws are made of iron to show our resilience and strength. The bright blue moon is meant to show how strong our spirits are and if one thinks carefully they’ll understand that our essences as wolves comes from the moon too,” I said proudly.

Jenifer frowned and snatched the banner roughly. “You were asked to make a banner not draw a literature assignment. This will have to do.”

Helen flipped her brown hair over her shoulder and pranced out.

I let out a frustrated breath but at least I was done with it. I had a few weeks of high school. I didn’t need to attend everyday all I had to do was show up for graduation. With Alpha Laiken’s plans would I even make it to graduation?

“Neel’s a fool if he thinks we’re getting married.”

Cheers and laughter boomed outside signalling the beginning of the game. I settled on my desk in front of a blank canvas. I felt comfortable here in the dark silence, alone. I might have been confident in the morning but I was back to being quiet, wallflower Elaine who didn’t like the crowds.

Though, this was my brother’s last game of his high school life so I had to see him play. I used the long way to get to the stands. I walked through the gymnasium turned and into the locker rooms where I’d exit out at the pool.

“You might want to turn back,” Dove said causally.

“Why?” I paused.

“Trust me,” she hissed.

The air reeked of sex, lust and a hint of cigarette smoke. I cringed and backed up. Please don’t tell me it’s Blazer again. This can’t keep happening. Whoever was having sex was being destroyed.

“Ugh! Alpha Neel! You’re even better than I imagined!”

My jaw dropped.

“Does my reputation precede me?” he barked out a laugh. His laughter only momentarily drowned out the sound of skin smacking.

“Goddess! It does. Harder, show me exactly what you’re made of.”

“I will,” Neel grunted.

I backed up. They were in the girl’s locker room. A black shirt flew out of the stall and backed up even faster. Quin’s shameless screams filled the locker rooms. She should have been out there leading her team.

“I tried to warn you,” Dove sighed.

“At least I didn’t see anyone naked,” I replied.

Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t imagine it. I shivered. On the bright side at least he wasn’t bugging me to have sex. I made it to our school’s home ground. Half the town was here supporting the youth. The miniature stadium was rocking and my banner was flying high with the cheerleaders!

I beamed as I watched them hold it high.

The team was about to head out to the field. That was when I felt a warm sensation crawl up my arm.

“How much do you want to bed Black Claw gets their asses handed to them?”

I snorted. “We have the best attack in the country.”

“You clearly haven’t seen the Shaw boys play,” he whispered in my ear.

I turned to meet a man wearing dark sunglasses, a black hoodie and a baseball cap under the hoodie.

“Is this what you call a disguise?” I whispered.

“I’m holding my scent back too.”

I almost forgot we made a deal to talk tonight. It wasn’t safe though, Nik and Neel were here. I wasn’t sure about my Dad but just Azaire being on Black Claw territory was dangerous.

“Wanna get out of here?” I asked.

“Please,” he replied eagerly.

I smirked and took his hand. He took the lead. He opened the passenger door to his truck for me when we got to the parking lot. We could hear the roar of the crowd from here.

“Any other Blood Moon wolves here?” I asked.

He flashed me a sexy grin. “That’s confidential information.”

“Even to your mate?” I raised a brow.

He barked out a laugh. “Especially to you. You’re trouble, Elaine.”

“Look who’s talking.”

He reached out and picked me off my seat. I curled up on his lap. Being with him felt right. I lay my head on his solid chest.

“I ran five laps around Shaw Castle last night,” Azaire said.

“Why would you do that?”

“To ease the sexual frustration I felt. We can’t ignore the mate bond forever.”

I sat up so I could look into his eyes. I had secrets, I was using wolf enhancers and I was engaged. Despite that, I didn’t want to reject Azaire. He was my enemy by default but I couldn’t help but think about those soft pink lips and his tatted arms. I bit my bottom lip and his eyes focused on it. The force of the mate bond was too strong to ignore.

“What do you want to do?” I whispered.

“There’s no coming back from what I want to do, Elaine.”

“Take me, Azaire.”

A moment passed. My heart was pounding and my palms were sweaty but the words were out there. There’s no going back and I didn’t want to back down.