Hunting His Vampire Princess (Book 6 of the Avec Series)

Chapter Eight

    Tracker sighed as he plopped down on the sofa. It had been a very long two weeks. He had scrambled to get Jade out of the hotel so she wouldn't continue to be anxious. The mermaid that had dragged her down really did a number on her. He wasn't sure who he blamed more, the boys that took advantage of her, the mermaid, or himself. He was going to miss the relaxing sounds of the ocean, that he was certain. But, he thought to himself, it would be worth it for Jade's sake. 

    He turned at the sound of the doorknob jiggling. The door burst open and in walked a very sullen Jade. "Hey cuz, why the long face?" 

    Jade just scowled at her cousin, she didn't feel like talking. The girls at school were just a bunch of bitches. She could deal with this on her own. She just needed to figure out how to join a pack. "Nothing. I have a lot of homework." She lied. She knows she will be shifting soon and that made her happy. 

    Tracker looked at his cousin, he knew when she was lying. He was hoping this change of scenery would have started to help her. He didn't know what else to do for her. "Well, if you need me," he began. "I'll be here." 

    She nodded and walked past him to her room. She sat on her bed and looked around the room, she couldn't wait until she could make it more her own. Right now, it held the essentials, her bed with a thick comforter in her favorite color, green. Her mirror topped -dresser and her nightstand. She couldn't complain, Tracker did what he could and she was grateful. She opened her backpack and held back her tears. The girls were so cruel to her, stealing her book and writing all through it. Destroying it. She slammed the book shut when a tear hit the page the water billowing out across the ink. She laid down on her bed and let the tears come. Would she ever be good enough for anybody? 

    Tracker rubbed his forehead in frustration. He really didn't know what to do for his little cousin. To make matters worse, she would be shifting soon. He would rather deal with her first menstrual cycle all over again than deal with her first shift. And that was scary! He certainly had a whole new appreciation for women though. The things they go through! He got up from the living and walked the short distance to his kitchen. He had always helped Leah with the cooking, she wanted him to be able to do anything. He opened the cupboards and rummaged around until he found what he was looking for. He smiled as he pulled out everything else he would need. This always made her happy. 

    The enticing aroma of baking soon filled the small cottage, bringing Jade from her room. She looked at Tracker and then down. She was embarrassed by her behavior earlier. She scratched the top of her head while looking up at Tracker, "I'm really sorry," she mumbled. 

    Tracker smiled as he used a butter knife to spread icing onto the chocolate cake, "I know." He nodded. He handed her a spoon, "Here." 

    She accepted the spoon with a sheepish grin on her face. He always knows how to make her smile, she was so thankful for him. "Mmm," she said. "You outdid yourself this time!" 

    He smirked and put a little icing on her nose, "Thanks." He was happy to see her more relaxed than when she came home. "So, ready to talk?" he asked. He turned to wash off the dishes he had used. If she were ready, he was there. 

    Jade shrugged, "Just some girls at this school." She looked down at her feet. She didn't really want to share what they did to her. 

    Tracker faced Jade, "I'm so sorry, cuz." He felt bad for her, she was almost the polar opposite of him. He was popular in school and everyone loved him, while she seemed to be so awkward and out of place. It didn't really help that had moved so frequently in the past. 

    She shrugged again, "I'm used to it." 

    He really wished she wouldn't be. She looked up at him, her face brightened. She had almost forgotten! "Hey, your birthday is tomorrow! What are you planning on doing?" 

    It was Tracker's turn to shrug, "I hadn't thought about it." He told her honestly, he had been so caught up in her that he thought about himself. 

    She hopped off the chair she was seated on and put her hand on his shoulder. "You didn't get to do anything for your birthday the last few years and you're finally going to be able to shift!"

    He chuckled, "I don't think that's all it's cracked up to be!" He was almost afraid of shifting, he didn't have any guidance on this issue and it was certainly new territory for him. At least once he's gone through it, he'll know what to do for her when it's her turn. Unless they've found pack by then. 

    "Well, do it for me." She asked him, she would pull out all her weapons in her arsenal. He deserved a break. "I promise, I'll stay in the cottage." She wanted no such repeat of what happened the last time she snuck out on her cousin. 

    "I'll think about it." He said, putting his hand up. 

    She crossed her arms and mock scowled, "You better do more than think!" 

    Tracker's smiled was genuine this time, its shine reaching his eyes, "Okay, okay. I'll go out tomorrow!" 

    She gave him a satisfied look, "Good." 

    ************

    Selene was watching the cousins from her pool. She was thinking of the safest course of action to help them get back to their packs. They needed to get there, the packs were falling into such ruin. The women were miserable, the children were not thriving. 

    The tiny galagos baby that she was nursing back to health was crying softly. Its mother had been killed by a mongoose. She found the poor thing in the tree crying for its mother. She picked up the bottle she had made for it and fed it. Soon enough she would be sending it back out into the wild, as soon as it could feed itself. 

    She sighed, "If only it were this easy!" She cooed to the galagos. Its wide eyes just blinked at her. She continued to speak to the tiny primate as if it understood her. "How am I going to get those two back to their rightful packs?" The furry baby just blinked at her. "I know I could just go down there and tell them, but that would just put them in danger. If I sent them back to their packs like this, they would both be killed in a heartbeat. Just look at what Paxton and Greyson did with their own fathers!" She shook her head sadly, "But, that" she admonished, "was a tragedy of their own making. Their greed and hunger for power are what caused it." She rolled her eyes, "Look at me, though, talking to you as if you can answer my questions. What they need is the ability to join a pack, but even then how will I get them back to their side of the world? And how can I get Mercy to her son?" 

    The goddess was still talking to the small creature when a deep voice entered her domain, "You really are going mad, aren't you?" 

    Selene jumped waking the dozing primate in her hand, "What in the world?" She cried as she turned to face her intruder, "Dolos? What are you doing in here?" 

    Dolos sauntered into the room chuckling at his success in startling the moon goddess. "I came to seek your help, honestly." 

    She made a face at him, "What do you need me for?" 

    Dolos rubbed his ear as he spoke to Selene, "The Fates are pissed off at me." 

    She didn't bother to hide her eye roll, "What did you do?" 

    "Well, you know, your two packs over in the middle east?" He asked. He knew he was playing with fire over admitting this, but if he didn't he wouldn't get her help. 

    Selene nodded, "I have plenty of packs all over the world. You need to refresh my memory." She didn't like where this was going. 

    Dolos rubbed the back of his neck, and mumbled so low she made him repeat his words. He spoke up, this time enunciating his words, "I said, the Greymoon Pack and the Bloodmoon Pack." He immediately flinched back, worried she would do something to him. 

    Selene's face fell, "Oh tell me you didn't." The realization that he was to blame for the current situation with packs falling over her. She was shaking her head sadly in disappointment. 

    Dolos dropped his head, pretending to be sorry that he was the one that caused the chaos.  He hoped his act was working. He didn't really care about the packs. Or Selene's feelings for that matter. He just wanted her help to fix the mess he made so the Fates would leave him alone.  He peeked up at her while keeping his head down, trying to see her facial expression. He could see his plan was working. Well, mostly. 

    She shook her head, she was doing her best to quell her anger at the god. She put the galagos down on the tree branch she had set up for it. She pointed an angry finger at Dolos, "How could you?!"

    Dolos did his best to look sheepish. "I'm really sorry!" 

    She shook her head and crossed her arms, "I don't believe it. Not for a second that you're sorry! Not this late in the game! It's been almost fifteen years! What, in the Netherworlds, were you thinking?" 

    "I didn't think it would cause this much harm!" He cried. "It was just a prank to see who would cave first! I didn't think they would come to blows, let alone kill their alphas!" 

    Selene shook her head, "That's the problem with so many of you! You don't think!" She pointed to her own watching pool, "Look!" She demanded, her tone making him approach. He was surprised she had this much authority. 

    He looked down into the pool and back at Selene, "What do those two have to do with this." 

    She scowled at him, "Those two, have plenty to do with this. As you so eloquently put it. That is the rightful rulers of those two packs." She pointed at the water. 

    Dolos looked up, "Well, then go to them and tell them." He said simply. 

    Selene laughed in his face, "Tell them what exactly?" 

    Dolos looked at Selene as if she were stupid, "That they are the Alpha and," he didn't know what the female would be called so he made up the next word. "Alphaess?" 

    Selene shook her head, "And this is why you are not to meddle in things that you don't understand. Yes, he is the future Alpha. But she would be a luna. And they can't just go back. They haven't been with a pack in years. They are struggling on their own. They need a pack to fall back on and because of you, they don't have that. They have no one." 

    Dolos was confused, "They seem fine." 

    "They are, but they can not confront a pack like this. Not even their old ones. The two men ruling those packs will kill them easily." 

    Dolos still didn't really understand, but he wouldn't argue with her. He knew better than to do that. "So you're saying they need a pack?" 

    Selene nodded, "Yes, they need a pack." 

    Dolos shrugged, "Then let them make one." 

    Selene inhaled at his words, how could she make him understand. "That's not how it works." 

    "Okay then, lead them to one." In his mind, his answer seemed simple. He didn't understand the hierarchy of a pack, nor did he care. He just wanted the Fates off his back. He didn't care how.