“Prince Damion Hastings has arrived earlier than expected in Scarborough. You are required to return home ASAP.”
I read the text again, as if I couldn’t believe it the first time around, my heart hammering in my chest, the thumping extending to my eardrums and wreaking havoc on my senses.
I knew the day would come when I'd have to face my parents and the prince. But amid all the chaos with this mission we embarked on tonight, I wasn't expecting it on this already full day I've had.
Sulking with pouted lips and stomping my feet like I'm a child throwing a tantrum draws Emily's attention as she enters my bedroom.
“Hey, what's up?” Emily asks gently, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I show her the text, too shaken up to speak about it.
“Right…” Emily huffs firmly, straightening up as she turns to face me. “This is the moment of truth, isn't it? This is the reason you married Hunter.”
“B-But—” I start to protest, my bottom lip trembling. “We barely had time to speak about how we're gonna do this. He's probably not prepared to announce that he's my husband to my parents. And neither am I.”
“You don't have to announce it yet,” Emily suggests, her brows arched. “Just go there and sus the situation, like you do when you're on a mission.”
I nod slowly, thoughtfully, already calculating my next steps.
I hate to admit it, but the only way I'm going to get through this mission is with my partner—the werewolf I'd always been partnered with during our most difficult missions in the black ops squad. We've always worked well together, and tonight proved that when we were out there in the woods.
Narrowing my eyes with focus, I decide to push aside my personal feelings and concentrate on this mission, treating it with caution because that's the only way I'll get through it. Meticulous. Calculated. Hunter is only my partner for this mission, that's all.
Chapter 8 - Hunter
Keeping my eyes narrowed on the witch as Nicholas leads her into the holding cell, there's a part of me that wonders what Delilah saw in her that had them chatting as if they were old friends while we made our way through the woods.
The witch can't be trusted after she'd attacked us in Oakland, even if she claims that she was defending herself. It's not like we'd gone after her with guns blazing, tracking her in our human forms instead of pouncing our wolves on her.
Even now, as Nicholas steps out of the cell and Tyler shuts the gate with a loud, metallic click, the witch turns to us with pleading, sad eyes, but I don't buy it for a second.
“Come on,” Tyler says, making his way to the stairs. “We're meeting the girls at my place.”
“I'm starving,” Nicholas adds, patting his stomach as he follows Tyler.
“Are we just gonna leave this one here?” I ask in confusion, glancing over my shoulder and spearing the witch with a suspicious glare.
“Yeah, I doubt she's gonna talk now, anyway. The spell Delilah cast on her will last for a couple of days, so we're safe until then,” Tyler explains, and I tear my gaze from the witch's eyes and follow my friends out of the dungeon.
When we're on the ground, Nicholas slaps my shoulder and grins. “We didn't get much time to talk with everything that's been going on. You and Delilah, huh?” His brows wiggle suggestively, green eyes glittering with humor.
“It's not like that, Nick,” I chuckle nervously. “We did what we had to do to get her parents off her back about marrying the prince.”
Tyler inhales sharply, as if hiding something he knows from Nicholas.
“It was a good idea, Hunter. This group can't do without Delilah. We saw that tonight.”
“Exactly!” I grin. “I couldn't imagine her being whisked off to Europe and leaving us behind.”
Tyler nods slowly, but a suspicious glint flashes through his eyes and makes me frown, wondering if there is something he knows that he's not letting on.
He's never been suspicious about our secret relationship before, but now it feels like he suspects something. To deflect, I decide to put some distance between Delilah and me to show them that this marriage is fake.
“Hey, now that the witch has been captured and won't try any tricks for a bit, do you think Emily will wanna go home? I think I should go back to Sean's pack, recuperate after tonight's mission.”
“You're welcome to stay in Portland, Hunter,” Tyler says, his expression softening. “There's no need to hurry.”
“Yeah, or you could join me. Crescent Moon will be delighted to meet you.”
