Eclipsed Hearts

Vengeful and Broken

[Ian]

“What are you planning?” I asked.

“What I’ve been planning since I accepted this job, Ian. I’m going to kill him. If it’ll make you feel better, you can kill me after that. I only kept living so I could avenge them,” she replied with that same distant look as if she wasn’t talking about her own death.

“Mari, I know this is going to sound ridiculous considering I was the one planning to kill you, but giving up like that isn’t like you. I know I haven’t gotten to know you very well, but I know that.”

She laughed. “It doesn’t matter. Either you kill me or my great-grandfather kills me for working with werewolves and for kissing one.”

“You didn’t know I was a werewolf the first time we kissed. You don’t have to tell him about the time you kissed me after you found out.”

Mari let out a weary sigh and shook her head in frustration before she laid back on the bed, covering her eyes with her arm. I watched her movements. I watched as she stretched her body and everything settled. Her dress hitched up slightly, revealing her luscious thighs that caught the light with their silky smoothness.

I yearned to bury my face in that divine spot, listening to her moans of delight. I closed my eyes, unsure if it was to shield myself from the vivid images or to embrace them fully. Why was this getting more difficult?

“My entire world fell apart and I fixed it in any way I could. I always knew how much he hated werewolves. I had a cousin who hooked up with a werewolf who kidnapped her. My great-grandfather didn’t ask her anything, only picked up a gun and killed her. Even if I don’t say something, if anyone in my family ever finds out and tells him, I’m dead. Not that it matters, anyway. I don’t really want to live.”

“You said you were going to retire,” I replied.

“You’ve been a hunter for how long? And you think we really retire?” she laughed. “Hunters don’t retire, we get too injured to keep going or we die.”

“Women retire. They find a husband and get to be taken care of while they spawn the next generation.”

“He never put me in the circles that built those relationships. That wasn’t a future I was given a chance to think about. I’d just screw kids up anyway. It’s better if I don’t have any. Are you sleeping on the floor or in the other bed with Keaton?”

Her attempt at changing the subject almost made me smile. I couldn’t stop myself. I had never seen her so vulnerable and transparent with me until that moment.

Observing her, I couldn’t help but feel a tightening in my chest, as if my heart were being squeezed. How is it possible for her to be dangerous, deadly, sweet, and broken all at once?

It was a mistake to have followed them. I really messed up by talking to them. I should’ve stayed away, then I wouldn’t be feeling like this.

Maybe he was right. Mari could be a better match for me and a great Luna for my pack. What if she was actually right and screwed up the kids? Was it worth giving it a shot?

I climbed into bed and cuddled up to her, wrapping my arms around her. Mari’s body tensed and she shifted her gaze to meet my eyes. Her eyes didn’t show any signs of deception. I only saw how confused she was.

“What are you doing?”

“Shh. You need to be hugged. I think you weren’t hugged enough as a kid,” I replied as I pulled her closer.

Mari stopped resisting and cuddled up in my arms. I could feel her tension fading away as she relaxed against me, fitting perfectly against my body. Her vulnerability peeked through. That bit of helpless need. That small weakness. When I held her earlier, while she was crying, I could feel her deep need for comfort and care.

The sensation of her hair under my fingers was pure bliss - each strand felt soft and silky, begging to be caressed. Closing her eyes, she exhaled with a tremble, as if finally freeing herself from a heavy weight she had been carrying for ages.

The soft harmony of our breaths intertwining created a serene atmosphere, filling the room with silence. A small snore escaped from the woman in my arms, and it brought a smile to my lips.

There was a definite connection between her and me. She had genuine feelings for me. No way would a hunter sleep near a werewolf without something influencing them.

Slowly, I moved off the bed with her and settled her on the pillows. I knew she probably didn’t want to sleep in her clothes, but I didn’t want to risk making her uncomfortable by helping her undress. We weren’t at that spot.

With a gentle touch, I tucked her in and made sure the spare blanket snugly covered her. As I stood there, watching her sleep, I couldn’t help but feel the warmth of affection wash over me, making me want to shield her from any harm. Her vulnerability stirred a protective instinct within me, a desire to shelter her from the harsh realities of the world.

As the bathroom door swung open, Keaton emerged, clad in pajama pants, his hair slightly damp, and his bare chest exposed. I clenched my teeth to suppress the growl that threatened to escape from my chest. I desperately didn’t want to disturb Mari after finally getting her to the point where she could sleep.

“Well?” Keaton asked.

“Well, what?”

“Now that you’ve let your guard down a little, like I asked, do you feel it?” he pressed.

“Feel what? The bond? The need? Yeah. I feel it.”

He sighed. “That wasn’t what I was hoping you would feel, but I’m glad you’re feeling the bond. When I met her, I felt something. I wanted to explore it since it seemed like it would be convenient for me. But then all of the assassination stuff started and I found out she was in danger. So, do you not feel the power coming from her? I don’t think our little hunter friend is entirely human. You know what that means, right?”

I thought about it, but shook my head. I didn’t actually know what would happen. Was it something that could hurt her? Something that would take away her chance to get revenge.

“She could be a witch, potentially. Humans don’t understand magic. The hunters hate us, but not all hunters are only focused on werewolves. The Damson clan only hunts werewolves. Her great-grandfather remarked once that he would hunt other monsters after all werewolves were dead,” Keaton explained.

Keaton got my mind racing with possibilities. If Mari were a witch, everything would be different. Protecting her from other hunters and any potential harm would become my top priority. I couldn’t shake the thought that she was a Damson, a killer. She seemed completely oblivious to the existence of any extraordinary powers beyond what her weapons could offer.

Maybe he was just talking out of his ass, but I would be open to the possibility. I’d never come across a witch, but I heard they actually exist. Vampires, too. Knowing that vampires were rare gave me peace of mind, as I had no desire to meet one.

“We just need to focus on keeping her alive for now and getting that wolf where we want him so we can kill him. I’ll deal with the mate bond and whatever her situation is once he’s dead. She needs to live until she can see him dead,” I ended softly.

He looked at me for a while, but I turned back to watch her sleep. She was so unguarded and vulnerable right now.

“Go take a shower. There’s some dried blood on you and you stink. We can take care of sleeping arrangements when you’re done,” Keaton said.

I nodded, then went to grab some of my things and headed to the bathroom. His room was bigger than mine in every way. At least we wouldn’t have to squeeze into one of the smaller rooms.

Money, power, and confidence were some of the key differences between Keaton and me. He was strong, and he knew he had everything exactly where he wanted it. That was the kind of Alpha I wanted to be for my little pack. I wanted to be strong for them and know I could protect them against pretty much anything.

Maybe this would be enough to get me to that place mentally. I wanted to be the best leader, the best father, and the best protector possible for my pack.

The question for me was, could I do that without my Goddess-given mate? Or was my pack doomed without her?

Goddess, please guide me.