Eclipsed Hearts

I Crush Everything

[Ian]

I stood by the house, waiting for Mari Damson to finally show up. Yesterday was a good day. I enjoyed spending the entire day with the kids before I had to leave them for a whole week. I trusted Fern and Jaden to take care of them while I was away.

However, that wasn’t my major worry. The rogue having info about my family in his office bothered me all day. What the hell was he up to, and why was he following us?

He never approached me outside of the spots I knew he hung out at. He already knew I was a werewolf when we met. We could smell it and I knew there was no way I could hide that from him.

Was he concerned about werewolves in the area? Maybe he was concerned I might be in a formal pack. Packs often prefer to kill rogues instead of taking them in. They saw them as potential trouble for their people.

When he discovered we weren’t an official group, he didn’t make any moves, leading me to believe he saved that information in case he required it. That made sense. I would’ve done that too. Hell, I did the same.

I looked into him and found out everything. That’s when I decided he had to die. I’m not a threat to him, but he’s a threat to me. I wouldn’t put my pack on the line for werewolf solidarity. It was a matter of survival of the fittest, and since we were weaker, I had to play by different rules.

Many werewolves would argue that what I did wasn’t fair. Survival didn’t care about fairness. I wouldn’t even think about following the rules if it meant those kids’ lives. Their survival mattered more than my own life.

After scanning the area, Mari cautiously made her way toward me on the porch. She had a lost look in her eyes, but a determined expression on her face. Goddess, her eyes were always so expressive.

Despite her outward coldness, her eyes gave away her thoughts. What did her eyes look like when she said werewolf children were monsters? I wondered a little, then remembered myself.

Once she finished being useful, we needed to make sure she died. Mari was an even bigger threat than the rogue. A single mistake could cost us everything.

“I’m ready when you are,” she said with a fake smile.

Mari was wearing a pair of light-colored jeans, a pink knit shirt, and a green and white cardigan. A pair of light blue and white sneakers matched the suitcase she carried. It was light blue with white seams. Did she do that on purpose?

It was as if her outfit was both casual and meticulously planned. I wondered how much time she spent planning everything yesterday. How much time did she spend thinking about what to wear, how to behave, and what to bring to make a good impression?

“After we park, we’ll split up. I sent your reservation through the chat. It matches the ID you used for the alias last night. Don’t act friendly with me. Only communicate through the texting app. I’ll send you an itinerary with the groups you’ll attend. Come on, I’ll fill you in on the drive to the dock,” I replied and started walking to my car.

“Okay,” she answered hollowly.

I didn’t want to ask if something was wrong, but the tone in her voice echoed inside of me painfully. No, she was just feeling guilty because she thought she’d lost her connection to another hunter. It wasn’t because of me. She didn’t know me.

I quietly squashed the tiny flicker of hope inside me. No amount of regret can undo the deaths of the werewolves and children. I had to keep telling myself that. Luckily, the space this week would help. I wouldn’t feel as attracted to her or have these passing thoughts of rescuing her, sparing her, or wooing her.

After loading our bags into the trunk, we got in and drove towards the docks. My car wasn’t a concern since there was long-term parking available. It wouldn’t cost me nearly as much as getting these reservations had.

Mari didn’t say a word as I explained everything, including the plan to take the rogue somewhere private to kill him. The cameras on the island had poor placement and convenient gaps in coverage. After I finished, I waited for questions that never came.

It wasn’t long before we reached the docks. We had an awkward silence. Mari seemed lost in thought, maybe thinking about the things she’s done in the past. I couldn’t help but wonder how she would’ve turned out if she wasn’t raised as a hunter. Her silent manner of processing and existing made me wonder about the child she was prior to losing her family. That’s the reason she claimed to be a hunter.

Looking at her from the corner of my eye, I assessed her with no anger or bitterness, something I had never done before. She didn’t notice me. She had a vacant stare as she gazed out the window into the distance. Although I felt increasingly uneasy, I couldn’t ignore how stunning she was. Physically, my mate possesses all the qualities I desired.

I wouldn’t mind if my mate was human. This was especially true if my mate was tough, smart, and could handle herself and my pack. Mari was pretty close to being all of those. Everything except being able to protect my pack.

“I know you hate me, but I want to make sure we’re successful. We won’t succeed if we’re not on the same page. Is there a way to fix this before it starts becoming a hindrance in our work? We can’t work like this. What do you want from me?” she asked.

Glancing at her, I could see that the icy mask she often wore was gone. The expression in her eyes was a mix of vulnerability and confusion. She was desperate for a connection, even if it was just a professional one.

“You’re right,” I said, gripping the steering wheel more tightly. “We can’t work like this.”

When I said nothing else, she sighed and sat back in the passenger’s seat. She really was right. I was focusing too much on the fact that I couldn’t let her live and my own feelings about her being my mate.

“I’ll put my feelings aside so we can work together to kill this rogue. I’m sorry I let my feelings about your family cloud my judgment. You’ve been focused on the job and professional the entire time. It wasn’t fair for me to keep pushing you away,” I said as I watched the road.

I risked a glance at her and Mari’s face lit up like I had just granted her a personal audience with Oliver Sandulf. She immediately averted her gaze and kept her emotions in check. It was like someone locking sunshine away.

It was only fair to let her do her job with no obstacles. It’s what’s best for everyone. The mood in the car lightened as we found a parking spot in the lot by the dock.

The island did not allow cars, only the owner’s carts for employees and utility vehicles were permitted. There wasn’t much for utilities out there. Because of the lack of cell signal, slow internet, no Wi-Fi, and landlines, guests had to concentrate on the events, presentations, and classes.

Mari walked off before I even finished locking the car. I shot her a message asking where she was on the boat. We’d keep our distance from each other. Since we didn’t touch, her scent didn’t stick to me. Some fresh air and no werewolf would suspect she’s hanging out with a werewolf.

I got on the boat and instantly felt relieved. Taking a moment alone would help me get ready and think about what I said to Mari. Despite chaos and pain, I couldn’t let emotions cloud my judgment.

For the pack.

Eventually, the boat started moving. With my bag between my legs, I stood at the railing and gazed at the dark water of Lake Michigan. It wasn’t the perfect time for a water excursion. The rain cooled things down. The water and wind were so cold, they made my skin sting.

Some people were shivering. They were wearing more than Mari was wearing. She must be cold….

I clung to the railing to prevent myself from going after her. She was an adult and could warm herself up if she got cold. I seem to destroy everything I touch, anyway.

There was no excuse for me not being nicer. I made a terrible decision, and it hurt us both. My surprise wasn’t a valid excuse. I shook my head. I needed to take my mind off of it.

“A familiar face. What a treat,” a familiar voice said in a rich, deep voice.

He had a gravelly undertone that made him sound older than he looked. We were right. He was going to the event.

Turning, I looked at him quizzically at first, then pretended I recognized him. I stuck out my hand and grinned at him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” His eyes slowly raked up and down my body.

It hadn’t been an act. He actually was interested in men and women. That could prove useful this week. I’d do what I had to do to ensure his death.