Tasting The Enemy

Elaine POV

I hadn’t said a word the entire drive home. No one spoke to me. I curled into a ball and buried my head in my sleeve until the car parked.

“Get out,” Dad ordered.

“I will,” I snapped.

I didn’t want to see him. My eyes were swollen from crying and my wolf was angry and broken from being ripped from her mate again.

“Don’t you want to see your Mother,” Dad snapped back.

“What?” I looked up meeting his eyes for the first time.

As usual, his witch Avena wasn’t far.

She frowned. “Laiken, I wouldn’t advise on that.”

“I’m the Alpha, Avena and I don’t want your advice. I don’t need it right now.”

Avena lifted her chin but refused to look defeated. It was the first time Dad ever rebuffed her.

“You’re just going to take me to her? Just like that?” I asked.

He clenched his jaw. “After all these years you don’t know I don’t like to be questioned?”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

I blinked at him in response. He walked off and yanked the door open to another SUV. Avena climbed into the passenger seat. Of course, she couldn’t let this be an emotional moment between a daughter and her Dad. She always had to be involved.

“Elaine,” Blazer breathed out. “You okay?”

“I feel like shit, Blazer.”

“He’s taking you to your Mother what more do you want?” Nik snapped.

I shot him a glare that I would have hoped would level him but my rage rolled off him easily.

“I don’t expect you to care Nik. You don’t have a heart.”

Nik rolled his eyes and wandered off with his hands buried deep in his sweatpants.

“Don’t listen to him. He’s head’s not on straight. This is a good thing. You’re going to meet your Mom. I’m happy for you, kid,” he smiled but there was a sadness attached to it.

Blazer might have been accepted as an illegitimate child but he didn’t know his other half. Dad never spoke about his Mom, not even a bad word about her. Maybe out of respect for his wife but if he stepped out on her how much respect did he have for her?

“I’m sorry. I wish you could have the same,” I said and sniffled.

He pulled me into his arms and I melted into the brotherly and protective hug. It was the love and care I needed going into highly emotional situation.

“Be strong, okay?”

I nodded.

***

Damn, where were they taking me? I wondered. I’d been in a car with these two for over thirty minutes and they argued as if I wasn’t in the car.

“I still think this is a bad idea,” Avena puffed.

“You should have stayed behind then. This is about Elaine.”

“I don’t need to remind you it was your choice to cut that woman out of your life forever. What are you going to tell her when you put that girl in front of her?”

That girl? I thought. Wow. She couldn’t even say my name.

I wanted to ask Dad if he knew his right-hand woman had tried to kill me. Then again he might not care.

A few hours later I drifted off to sleep. I dreamed of Azaire. Gosh, what does he think right now? I hope he understands my love for him hasn’t died I just needed to do this.

“Elaine,” a soft voice spoke and a hand shook my shoulder. “Time to go.”

I’d never heard my Dad’s voice so tender before. I looked through the windscreen at the porch of a small welcoming house full of vibrant flowers.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“Your Mother’s house,” he frowned.

I was hoping for the name of the town. Despite my shaking hands, I walked out of the car. I kept my head high but refused to meet Avena’s eyes. I stood next to my Dad as he knocked.

Gosh, what if she wasn’t home? What if her husband answered the door? That would be awkward.

Dad knocked again and I was on the verge of fainting. The door cracked open and a set of sky-blue eyes peered out at us.

“Isaura, where’s your Mommy?” Dad asked.

“She’s making pasta,” the little girl replied.

“Can you get her please?” Dad asked.

I think my heart stopped. She stepped back leaving the door slightly open.

“Mommy! Uncle Laiken’s here!” She yelled and ran off.

Uncle Laiken? So he’s been here before? I gripped my head and battled to even my breathing.

“What’s Uncle Laiken doing here so late?” a feminine voice asked softly.

I couldn’t do this. I was going to pass out or hurl my guts out. I saw her blue manicured fingers before her smooth pale face came into view. She smiled revealing the laugh lines around her eyes.

“What a surprise and you’ve brought company… and Avena. Hasn’t it been a while, Avena?” She said, a smirk toying at her lips.

“Not long enough,” Avena grumbled.

Her discomfort made me happy.

“We need to talk. Privately,” Dad said, peering at Isaura who lingered behind her Mother.

I had a sister, I couldn’t believe this.

My Mother closed the door behind her and motioned at the bench on the porch.

“What’s wrong? I can sense something’s wrong Laiken you never were good at hiding your feelings,” she said with a warm smile.

This didn’t make any sense. It seemed like they had a good relationship. Otherwise, she would have kicked him out and her daughter who could be around six or seven was familiar with him.

I thought he hated her!

“This is Elaine,” Dad said, deadpanned.

Her blue eyes landed on me. I held her gaze and I think something within her snapped into place. I hadn’t opened my mouth since she walked through the front door and into my life.

“Elaine?” she asked.

“Gail, this is our daughter,” Dad said.

Gail stumbled and slammed against the door. “Impossible. She died. I saw her dead body.”

“No, she’s been with me.” Laiken’s words were void of any emotions it was as if he was reading the morning weather report.

Gail shook her head and tears glossed her eyes. “I held her lifeless body. How do you explain that? How dare you do this to me Laiken. Her death rocked me to my foundation. How can you bring it up?”

“Who are you?” she demanded of me.

“I’m Elaine. I’m his daughter…”

Her hand trembled she reached out and pulled it back.

“None of it was my idea but I took her.”

Gail’s glossy eyes moved from my Dad to Avena. She pointed her manicured finger.

“You! It was your idea. Only a witch like you is capable of something so horrible.”

Avena shrugged. Of course, it was her. My blood boiled it was as if my entire body was on an open flame.

“Ouch,” I cried out.

I gripped my middle.

“What’s happening?” Gail asked.

A fire burned in my middle. It was alive and it wanted to come out.

“She has witch magic,” Gail said.

“That’s enough for today. We’re going Elaine,” Dad ordered.

“No, I’m not going anywhere with you,” I protested but the living fire wanted out.

“You’re not taking my daughter again. You monster!” Gail yelled.

“You’re not keeping my daughter. Avena do something she can’t stay like this.”

Avena stepped into the spotlight. The last thing I remember before something hit me over the head was Avena’s ugly smirk.