Page 121 of The Hunger
“I love you, Fenris. So far, in every aspect of your life, you’ve been a level-headed thinker. And, you’ve continually impressed me with your ability to see beyond the immediate problem, except in this one.”
“Have you considered that I’m not the one having trouble in this case?”
I set my hand on Fenris’s arm when he started to shake with anger. He took a calming breath.
“I know you think what you’re feeling is real, but try to look at this objectively. There’s never been a documented werewolf and succubus pairing. Ever. It’s always been wolf to wolf, Fenris. Why do you think you’re suddenly different?”
“I don’t think I’m different. How long does our documentation go back, Dad? A hundred years, maybe? Before that, most of our kind were still scattered and hiding from human discovery. We had no reason to associate with other species. What if all those mateless wolves the packs have put down lost their humanity because they weren’t looking for their mates in the right place? Living in these strongholds is forcing us to intermingle. Think about that, Dad, before you close yourself to the possibility.”
“Only if you consider the possibility that you’re under Eliana’s influence and not thinking clearly.”
Fenris threw his phone.
It shattered against the wall in an epic explosion of glass and plastic. Silence reigned, and I glanced at the other occupants in the room before looking at Fenris. His eyes were closed. His hands fisted. And his face was flushed.
“Seems to be a wolf thing,” Yanet mumbled before going back to her math equation.
Keeping a level head, I sent a quick text to Jenna.
Me: Let Raiden know that Fenris’s phone needs to be replaced and that he should contact you if he needs to get a hold of Fenris. Please meet us at the pool. Bring Willow and Laurel. Avoid Aubrey at all costs.
Jenna: On it.
I could feel the pain and anguish Fenris suffered because of Raiden’s doubt and started questioning our decision to wait. Yet, I cringed away from the thought of mating with Fenris solely to appease the adults in our lives. That wasn’t how I wanted to commit myself to Fenris, and looking at him, I knew he felt the same.
Tucking my phone away, I stood and touched one of Fenris’s hands. He opened his eyes and looked at me.
“Your father is right about one thing,” I said. “You are the most impartial person I know. So, if I were the one having an issue with my mom right now, what would you have me do?”
“I’d try to distract you from the issue for a while until you could come back and think things through with a clear head.”
I offered him my hand.
“Would you like to be distracted for a while?”
The grin that lit his face was breathtaking and made my heart ache with how much I cared about him.
“I’d like nothing more.” He accepted my hand and allowed me to lead him from the room.
Behind us I heard Yanet say, “I’d give my left tit to have her lead me away for an afternoon of distraction.”
I hurried my pace, and Fenris chuckled.
“Yanet has good taste.”
“She’s only saying that because I fed from you in front of her.”
“If that’s the case, then why wasn’t Eugene influenced, too?”
“Why can’t you be this logical when arguing with your dad?”
“I am. He’s just more stubborn than you are and refuses to admit when he might be wrong.”
“Thank you. I think.”
He grinned and opened the pool room door for me.
“Hey, Fenris!” a mermaid called with a wave. He waved back with an easy smile but never took his focus from me.
