Hot Blooded (Jessica McClain)

chapter 4

I crept down my apartment hallway like a burglar.

I hadn’t had the balls to confess to my neighbor, and unlikely new pal, Juanita, I was leaving again for an undisclosed amount of time. She was an extremely intelligent woman and at some point she was going to start questioning me and my new revolving posse of extra-large men, and begin to reevaluate the misplaced loyalty she’d somehow invested in me. Plus, I’d already inadvertently put her in harm’s way when I’d asked her to keep an eye on my place, and I wasn’t planning on doing it again.

Keeping her at arm’s length was the safest for everyone.

My wolf snapped her jaws at me, urging me to move faster. I’m going. It’s just easier if we don’t have to deal with the neighbors. This is what humans call finesse. See me finessing my way through the hallway instead of barreling down it like you’d prefer? My way makes us invisible; your way brings people out to investigate. She bit the air in front of her.

My wolf was past agitation and on to full frustration. Her number one priority was reaching Rourke. Nothing else mattered to her. But my human obligations made it impossible to drop everything and run after him. Not to mention we had no idea where to start the search until the vamps arrived. Getting their help locating Colin Rourke, the werecat who happened to be my mate, was the no-no deal I’d struck with the Vamp Queen. I’d sworn an oath to her, against my father’s wishes, to return to New Orleans very soon, in exchange for vampire aid. The vamps in question had been out scouting since last evening, and after they awoke tonight, they were supposed to magically arrive on my doorstep. They were our quickest way to Selene, the Lunar Goddess, we were tracking, and I’d sacrificed a lot to make that deal.

It had been only thirty-six hours since we’d left the Queen, but it felt like an eternity.

We’re leaving soon. Hang tight. She growled, but finally settled down.

In the very brief time I’d spent with Rourke something had changed. His clear, pale eyes, ringed with the thinnest line of emerald, were still at the forefront of my mind. His scent was etched like an intricate pattern into every part of my soul in painful detail—the rich, dark cloves mixed with sweet molasses—almost as if I smelled him right now. The images of him fighting for me, protecting me, kissing me, were overwhelming, and they played over and over in my mind like a broken movie projector.

I had to find him. When my thoughts drifted to Selene harming him in any way, my nails shot to sharp points before I could stop them. I wasn’t just going to kill her—I was going to annihilate her. The anticipation that filled me was delicious. My wolf barked sharply in agreement, opening her jaws and twisting her head like she was about to snap a neck. You got that right. She doesn’t stand a chance against us. She gave a decisive bite. I know you’ve been patient and if it had been up to you, we would’ve left right away. But staying was the right choice. We have to wait for the vamps. Without them, we lose too much valuable time. You have to trust me on this.

The logistics of who was in control and how often was still an uncertainty between us. I’d slammed a barrier down in my mind after our first real fight for Dominion and it still held. But I’d found quickly that I could relinquish control to my wolf when I needed to, and when the crisis was averted, she was back on the right side. In light of the scary-Prophecy-from-hell, my wolf and I were going to have to start working together as a team, learning to share both power and knowledge fluidly. I wasn’t going to survive this mess without her, and she didn’t stand a chance without me. There was a common place in the middle—it was the next natural step—but I wasn’t ready to merge us yet. She still had a lot to learn about the human decision-making processes. I had to be the boss in this world, and as of right now, she wasn’t buying it. If I switched control to her this minute, we’d be bounding out the nearest window after Rourke.

A sharp laugh punctuated the silence at the end of my hallway. I’d been lost in thought, but it brought me back quickly.

It was coming from my apartment and it was female.

There was a distinct, unmistakable ring to it. So much for sneaking under the radar. My wolf gave a yip of irritation.

I walked up to my door and pushed it open, resigned to my fate.

“Hola, Chica!” Juanita wooted as I walked in, waving at me from inside my open kitchen. “Look what I brought for you! I bring you deenar! Jour brother, Tyler—” She pointed at my brother, who was on the other side of the kitchen, sidled comfortably up to my breakfast bar on what looked like a borrowed stool. “He lets me in and says you are both leaving soon. Es jour grandmother sick again?” That was the excuse we’d used last time I’d gone away unexpectedly.

I met my twin brother’s amused expression as he shoveled in a big spoonful of something that looked and smelled delicious. I tried to keep the impatience out of my voice. “Yes. Unfortunately she’s come down with something else. We got a call this morning and we’re going to have to make another trip to see… our beloved Gram.” I shut my door and walked across my empty apartment toward the pair. My entire living room was still free of furniture since my wolf had trashed it when we’d made our first change. “Juanita, you didn’t have to cook for us again. That was extremely nice of you, but we don’t want to keep putting you out.” She’d happily fed Danny while we were away. If this was going to become a thing, I was in trouble. Having her drop in on a regular basis would not be ideal for her health.

She clicked out of the kitchen and over to me in her high heels, reaching up to embrace me. I hugged her back, because what else was I going to do? My eyes watered as her floral perfume snuck up my nose. But under all that manufactured smell, I took in her real scent and smiled in spite of myself. Eucalyptus and lime fit her perfectly. Fierce and sassy bundled together in one compact five-foot package.

Before I could draw away, she planted a huge kiss on my cheek. I caught Tyler out of the corner of my eye, delight written all over his face. I smirked and mouthed just you wait. He shoveled another mouthful of food into his maw to cover up his laughter.

“Oh, es no problem to do the cooking,” she purred next to my ear. “I am happy to help you get back on jour feet. Jour life es complicated, no?” She gestured around my bare apartment. “It looks like bad luck has come to stay, but I weel help you. Es what I do best. Come; eat.”

“Um, okay,” I said as my stomach betrayed me like the traitor it was. “Thank you, Juanita. It does smell delicious.” The aroma was amazing, even though I had no time for company. If I was going to be completely honest, I never had time for company. I glanced out the window. It was still light out. My stomach protested again. I could spare a few minutes to eat—as if I actually had a choice in the matter.

“Come on, Chica. Don’ be shy. The saliva, I see it drips down jour chin. The chicken es my specialty. No other compares. You must taste for jourself.” She was remarkably strong as she half ushered, half dragged me to the counter and the giant pan full of chicken legs, sausage, and shrimp all spread on a bed of aromatic rice. A blast of saffron sent my salivary glands into overdrive. Jesus. My stomach gave another long, low growl. “Sit and eat. You work too hard, never taking enough breaks. You are losing too much weight lately. See, the men, dey like meat on the bone. It gives them someteen to grab on to.” She tossed her head back and laughed as she pulled out another stool. Both chairs were painted in bright colors and were obviously from her place. She’d brought furniture and food. This woman had successfully barreled her way into my life and it looked like she was here to stay. I found I wasn’t super against the idea, which was a little startling.

Tyler was coughing so hard at her last comment he had to rap on his own chest.

“Better be careful, bro.” I grinned as I sat down. “Chicken bones can be mighty dangerous if they go down the wrong tube.”

I picked up a plate without further prodding and dove in. After the first bite my eyes rolled back in their sockets. Dammit, why did Marcy always have to be right? Stinky witch. “Juanita, this is delicious,” I said between mouthfuls. “I mean, it’s really, really good.”

“Es no problem, Chica. When you get back, I cook for you again.”

I got lost in a few more heavenly bites, then glanced at the clock in my kitchen. My fork clanked down onto the plate. “Oh, goodness!” I said in what I hoped sounded like mock surprise. I felt bad kicking her out so quickly, but there was no other choice. I had to get moving. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Tyler.” I nodded my head toward Juanita. “If we don’t leave soon, we’ll miss the plane and Gram will be alone tonight.” How did you go about getting rid of someone who just cooked you a wonderful meal without looking like a chump? You didn’t really.

My brother put his fork down and stood. “Yep, we better get a move on.” He walked over to Juanita and playfully hooked his arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her cheek, all while ushering her toward the door. “Juanita, that was a truly fantastic meal. I haven’t had anything home cooked in a long time. When we get back, we’ll be sure to return the favor. It’ll be our turn to bring something by your place.”

“Oh, you are too much!” she twittered, looking up at my brother in adoration. “But I weel still do the cooking. Next time, I weel bring a feast!”

“That sounds perfect, Juanita,” my brother told her with a genuine dimpled grin. “We’ll be sure to let you know when we get home. And can you do me a favor? If you see anything out of the ordinary coming from this apartment, I want you to call this number.” He handed her a card from his wallet. “But—and I can’t stress this enough—please don’t try to act on your own. In fact, don’t even open your door. Okay, Juanita? If you hear anything, stay in your apartment and call me.”

She glanced down at the card and then back at Tyler with a wide smile. He had a fan for life. “Sí, I weel do this for you, Tyler.” It came out like Teeler. “But, for me, you must promise to take good care of jour sister. Do you hear what I am saying to you? Lots of bad theengs, they happen lately, and they weel happen again. Familia looks out for familia. Don’ let her out of jour site. Swear this to me.”

“I understand completely, Juanita. I swear I will look after Jess. I promise not to take my eyes off her.”

My heart gave a twist. Letting Tyler and Danny accompany me might not be entirely the right choice. As Selectives they wouldn’t be allowed to change into their true forms. It was forbidden under a sworn oath to my father, our Alpha. If they broke that vow, they would be severely punished. And the risk and danger, especially facing someone as powerful as Selene, would be immense. But I knew my brother would never see reason, so there was no use trying.

I just had to make sure nothing happened to either of them.

“Goodbye, Chica. I weel take care of things here for you, don’ worry.” She waved and blew me a kiss. I waved back. “And be safe on your travels. Jour grandmother needs you, I am certain. If the road is rocky, jus’ pick jourself up. That’s what my abuela always taught me.”

“Thanks, Juanita,” I called. “I’ll remember that.”

Tyler turned and closed the door, an amused expression still lingering on his face. He shook his head. “They don’t make humans like that very often. That woman has balls, and she’s fiercely loyal to you. Did you smell her strength?”

“I did, but just barely. My nose was struggling to get through all the Freesia perfume. And who knew you were such a rake? You got her out the door in one swoop. That was a talented maneuver if I’ve ever seen one.”

“I have a way with all the ladies.” Tyler grinned. “Even your elderly neighbor.”

“She’s not that old!” I laughed. “I think she’s in her fifties, but she could pass for late thirties on a good day. What do you think she meant about the bad things that are supposed to happen again?”

Tyler scratched his head. “I don’t know. She was probably talking about all your recent ‘coincidences,’ like your break-in and your ailing grandmother.” He smirked. “Your life has been a whirlwind since you made your first shift. Humans who are close to you would be foolish not to notice.”

I guess it was a good thing I didn’t know many humans. Juanita and Ray were plenty. I didn’t want any other human to end up on the wrong side of us like Ray had. If that happened to Juanita I’d be crushed.

“And, Jess, if you’re going to be a good wolf, you have to learn to parcel away scents efficiently. It’s a relatively easy thing to learn. Once you take in a new smell, you file it away and then you open up your senses to the next layer. If you don’t, you’re going to be at a severe disadvantage. You’ll never be able to identify or track anyone accurately.”

I stood, finishing the last bite off my plate as I headed to the sink, so I answered him in my mind. I have a lot to learn about being a wolf, don’t I?

Yep, he replied. Speaking like this felt like a feather brushing up against my consciousness, each word a soft tickle. And you’re damn lucky I’m a good teacher and have the time and patience to work with someone as inept as yourself.

I chuckled, covering my mouth with the back of my hand. I don’t think “inept” is the word you’re looking for. I’m thinking “destined for greatness” or “unbelievably rockin’ ” are better choices. I refrained from licking my plate and rinsed it under the running water.

Tyler had followed me into the kitchen and now was as good a time as any to fill him in on my day. My father and I had decided I’d be the one to tell Tyler what we’d uncovered today. Even though Devon had found the Prophecy on the Internet, it didn’t mean any of the other wolves had discovered the news. In fact, it likely meant most hadn’t. Wolves and technology, other than in the form of an Xbox and a giant flat-screen TV, didn’t mix well. But Tyler needed to know. He had the right to know. I just didn’t want to actually tell him.

Is everything ready to go? I asked instead.

Yep. The vehicle’s packed and waiting. He gathered the empty pan from the bar, one of those throwaway foils, and he pitched it into the garbage can before tying the bag and pulling it out.

I leaned my back against the countertop and crossed my arms. There’s something I need to tell you before we go. Telling him in my mind seemed easier, less harsh than spoken words.

He turned from shutting the fridge and set the garbage bag down on the kitchen floor. That sounds serious. He rested his body against the doorjamb.

Devon got a mysterious e-mail yesterday with a link that contained some interesting news. No use belaboring it. And from that he was able to cross-reference some things together about me. It has to do with who or what I might be.

Where did it come from?

It was on the Internet, of all places, but he doesn’t know who actually sent it to him. But, more important, Dad was there and confirmed it. I still don’t know what I think of all of it.

Dad knows what you are? Hesitation lingered in his voice.

Yes. I shuffled my feet. He believes I might be some sort of female reincarnate from something called the Prophecy of the True Lycan. Apparently it was predicted that a powerful wolf would rise again, or some such thing. To tell you the truth, I don’t get it and I’m not necessarily buying it either. Reading something on the Internet doesn’t equal fact. But Dad has heard stories of the Y Gwir Lycae, and because there are several accounts that point to someone “unique,” he thinks it might fit. For now.

The Y Gwir Lycae? You?

You’ve heard the tales?

Some. When Dad holds the annual Council meetings there’s always drinking and reminiscing with the older wolves. I’ve heard some things over the years. Why would they think a female could be the Y Gwir Lycae?

Apparently this Prophecy has similar phrasing as some of the old tales. I have no idea. According to what I read, it seemed there was a female long ago and her job was to “vanquish” evil from the supernatural world. I don’t know if she was the first one or if she just shows up once a millennium to shake things up.

He ran a hand through his hair and blew air out of this mouth. What do you think it means?

I think it’s a stretch, to say the least. I told Dad I don’t feel any different. I don’t feel like someone else. I just feel like me.

He pushed away from the doorway and strode into my empty living room. I followed. “I think it means you’re strong,” Tyler said out loud. “And you can hold your Lycan form and fight, which we already knew. That means, whether or not you’re the actual Y Gwir Lycae—you’re still a Lycan.”

“I guess,” I responded slowly.

“Jess, we’re all descendants of Lycans. They were the first shape-shifters on earth. We carry their DNA. I think you just happened to get the whole shebang. Dad’s line must be strong, with deep ties to the old ones.”

“Okay.” I didn’t know where this was heading, but I was thankful he wasn’t storming out of my apartment in a rage. A strong alpha-born wolf, who was ahead of me in Pack status, couldn’t like hearing his sister was powerful, whether I was blood-kin or not. “I get that we all have latent Lycan genes, and mine just decided to come to the forefront. That makes sense. But it still doesn’t explain away everything else.”

“What else did this Prophecy say?” he asked.

“It said I’m supposed to be some sort of justice giver to the supernatural race.”

“What’s a ‘justice giver’ supposed to do exactly?”

I laughed. “I have no idea. That’s why we’re having this conversation. But just so you know, Dad and I both don’t think this has anything to do with me being the next Alpha. I’m not a threat to your direct status.” Tyler was on track to be the next Alpha leader, and every wolf in the Pack knew it. There was a distinct difference between being alpha-born and Alpha. Alphas were leaders, meant to be head of Pack—alphas were dominant wolves with aggressive natures.

“I know.”

My jaw unhinged a bit. “What you do mean, you know?”

“That smell thing I was just telling you about?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m really good at it.”

“So?”

“If you were supposed to be the Alpha, I’d already know it.”

“What? How does smell have anything to do with being a leader of Pack?”

“Dad and James both have the same particular scent underlay. It took me a long time to figure out what it meant. It isn’t something I can explain in words. Scents are complex and strange, with millions of delicate layers. But I knew what it was when…” He stopped.

“What?” I urged.

“When I scented it on myself.”

“Wow. That’s crazy,” I breathed. “Do you think being able to smell other people’s auras is a special gift of some kind?” Many supes had additional powers, something enhanced beyond the scope of what was normal for their supernatural Sect. My brother could run twice as fast as any other wolf, which was considered a “gift.”

“No.” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck and paced in a circle before answering. Just like our Dad. “I think I’ve just paid extra attention to it over the years and honed what was already there—what every wolf is capable of doing. We underutilize our noses because we rely too heavily on our strength.”

That was the truth. “So let me get this straight. You’re saying I don’t smell like a leader? What exactly do I smell like then?”

“I didn’t say that. I said you don’t smell like an Alpha. There’s a difference.”

“Less than a week ago you told me I smelled like a yucky girl.”

“You do… You have a very distinct smell. At first I thought it was because you were female, but now I’m not quite sure what it is. But your ‘aura,’ or whatever you want to call it, is totally unique. I’ve never smelled it on anyone, human or supe.”

“Maybe it’s the Lycan marker?”

“That’s a possibility.” He seemed deep in thought for a minute.

My eyes caught the light—or rather absence of light—out my window.

I must have appeared shocked, because Tyler turned to look out the window too. “What?” he shouted as I turned and ran without so much as another word.

“It’s full f*cking dark!” I yelled as I raced into my bedroom.