Page 80 of The Hunger
Megan snorted. “This isn’t a holiday dinner where you send the young people to the kids’ table, Raiden. Fenris stays. They all do. They help me use my words when I’m angry, instead of going around throat-punching anyone who annoys me.”
Raiden inclined his head, but I could still feel his frustration and worry.
“Shall we go to Lander’s office?” Adira asked.
“Why the hell else—”
I reached out and set a hand on Megan, stealing some of her annoyance, and answered on her behalf.
“By all means, Adira.”
Adira’s gaze shifted between the four of us, and I didn’t miss the glint of amusement in her gaze. The woman had a death wish. And based on the way that Megan’s anger increased with each step as we followed Adira up the stairs, she was about to see what happened around an angry Megan.
Mr. Quill sat behind his desk with Mrs. Quill standing beside him when we entered.
“Anwen said you went to the Oracle,” Adira said. “Would you—”
“How am I not dragging your ass to hell?” Megan demanded. “If anyone deserves a hell ride, it’s you.”
“Being a pain in your ass isn’t against our laws or a sin, according to man. It’s merely inconvenient for you,” Adira said patiently.
“You’re more than a pain in the ass. People are dying under your watch. How many humans are you up to now? At least three since I’ve been here. You don’t value life. You meddle in the lives of creatures you deem worthy. Then, when your meddling could really make a difference, you wash your hands of things. The brownies are a good example of that.”
“The good I do outweighs those trivialities. Look at how I’ve helped Eliana.” She smiled at me. “Without my so-called meddling, she would still be refusing to eat.”
“Perhaps if you would meddle less, she would have found a better meal,” Raiden said, interrupting.
“Raiden, now isn’t the time,” Adira said.
“You’ve been saying that for the past week. Enough is enough. I want Fenris home with the pack at night, where he belongs, spending time with the females who might actually be his mate.”
Each one of Raiden’s words was like a tiny knife to my heart.
“Dad, that’s enough,” Fenris said, taking my hand. “I already told you Eliana is my mate.”
His thumb smoothed over mine, lending me comfort.
“See?” Raiden demanded, pointing to Fenris while looking at Adira. “She has him so twisted up he doesn’t know what’s real anymore. Lust and the love that comes when you scent your mate for the first time are two different things, son. Trust me.”
All my old doubts came flooding back, and the weight of my guilt stifled me.
“Raiden, the lack of a previous, successful succubus and werewolf pairing doesn’t mean it’s not possible,” Mrs. Quill said. “You need to be more open about this. And even if Eliana isn’t his mate, no permanent harm will come to him. You know that.”
“No harm?” He returned his angry gaze to Adira. “He’s using Eliana as an excuse to avoid making a choice. He’s my son and a member of the pack I lead. When you pushed for the pack to support the Council, you swore the Council wouldn’t interfere with pack practices. By allowing this to continue, you’re interfering.”
Adira looked at Fenris and me.
“If she’s your mate, why aren’t you mated?”
Fenris answered for us.
“Eliana’s been forced to do enough to appease the adults in her life. I won’t push her into having sex just so my dad will finally believe that we’re meant to be together.” He looked at Raiden. “Your disbelief isn’t my problem. It’s yours.”
“That’s unfortunate and leaves me little choice,” Adira said. “Until you’re mated, you need to listen to your father and return to pack territory to spend time with your females. You can see Eliana at the Academy tomorrow.”
Rage unlike anything I’d ever felt exploded around me. And it wasn’t all from Fenris.
My gaze spanned to my best friend.
