Moon Crossed (Werewolf Hunter Series): Season 1 (Episodes 1-6) (Crescent Hunter) (50 page)

I get ready to go, head
out the front door, and jump into my car. Going down the driveway,
I'm met at the end by a hunter waving me down. He's an older
gentleman.

I stop and roll down my
window. “Hey, there.” I try to smile.

“Hey, Claire, I
think we met once before. I'm Richard.” He offers his hand.

“Nice to meet you
again, Richard.” I shake his hand, then look straight ahead.
“I've got to run to the store. There's no food in the house.”

“We can send
someone. We're supposed to keep an eye on you,” he warns.

“I think I'll be
fine running to the grocery store. Not that there aren't wolves, but
I'm sure they aren't going to cause a scene in the bakery section.”
I huff out a laugh.

“I'm really not
sure about this.” He tilts his head to the side.

“I have my
daggers. I'll be fine.” I try to calm his discomfort. “Besides,
it's broad daylight and I just need a few things.” Ha, I have
it, I know how to end this conversation. I lean closer to the window
and say in a whisper, “I have to pick up some
girl
things.”

His eyes widen, as
though I just suggested sending someone into a pit of snakes. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” I
scrunch my nose. “So I'll only be a little while.”

“Well don't be
too long. Do you have your cell phone?”

I hold it up. “Fully
charged.”

“Okay, I'll see
you soon.”

In my head, I'm totally
cracking up; the power of the menstrual cycle in tight situations
amazes me. It's like some taboo mystery that men are terrified of.
I'll take it; it makes up for the cramps, right?

No.

Before going into the
store I don my hoodie, because I'd really like to get out of here
without anyone talking to me. I know it seems strange, and stupidly
proud. But if someone wants to talk to me, he or she should call or
come see me. I've reached out and gotten no result, so it's time for
others to do the reaching.

After surveying the
parking lot for Locke's or Lili's cars, I'm relieved that neither of
them are here. I'm still going to go quickly and get some
necessities. I should have made a list, because now my stomach is a
mess. I know I need to eat, but I'm not hungry.

I take a cart from the
corral and start through the store. Before I'm through the produce
section, the sensation of a wolf-borne fills me. I look around to see
who it is; my first inkling is Rabbit, but it's not quite right.

“Claire?”
Tors voice comes from behind.

I turn slowly. “Hey.”

He comes and gives me a
hug. “How are you?” His words sound more genuine than
your typical niceties.

My only answer is my
silence and pained expression. I glance away, unable to look him in
the eye for long.

“I've been
meaning to come by.” He looks down.

“That'd be nice.
Just don't try to sneak up on the house. All the hunters.” I
roll my eyes.

“Yeah, I know.”
His eyes widen.

“So, where've you
been?” I ask, still not looking him in the eye.

“Super busy.
Emily and I sort of have a thing going.” His cheeks redden.
“I've been staying at her place.”

“Ron's Emily?”
Those two were together for a long time.

His lips spread in a
huge smile and his face turns red. It's odd to see him like this,
since he is the king of apathy. “Yeah. We've both been sort of
hiding out, since we've been keeping it on the DL.”

“Huh, well, I'd
love to spend some more time with her; she's a sweetie pie.” I
push out a smile.

“I'd like that.”
He scans the area quickly, and I wonder what he's looking for.

“Have you talked
to Locke?” I ask.

“No, is he okay?”
he asks with genuine concern.

I shrug, trying not to
let my sour expression show through. “I haven't seen him.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I figured
you were hanging out with him.” Now I want to ask about the
other boys.

“No, not at all.”
He shakes his head.

“What about Cole?
Have you seen him?” My eyebrows arch involuntarily.

“No,” he
says absently, then a look of knowing comes over him. “Have you
not seen anyone?”

I hang my head. “No.
Not since...” I can’t bring myself to say Brogan's name
out loud. “The full moon.”

“Whoa, I had no
idea.” He pulls me into a hug. “I'll come see you
tonight, and I'll bring Emily.”

“Okay.” I'm
not really hopeful that he'll show.

“I gotta run.
She's about to get off work, and I'm picking her up.” He hugs
me again and leaves his hands on my shoulders. “It's going to
be okay.”

I don't know what to
say other than to ask him to come home. “Yeah.”

Absently, I throw
things into my basket. Of course, I make it a point to get coffee and
creamer. At least I won't starve, and falling asleep these days isn't
going to happen. There is no rest for the wicked.

Approaching the
checkout stand is scary; I know a lot of the cashiers and I really
just want to get out of here without having to talk to anyone.

Luckily, I make it out
to my car and start loading my groceries. I feel a wolf-borne
approaching, and turn around with my hand on my dagger.

“Hey, babe.”
Lili runs up, pulling me into a hug. “How are you?”

I look down, feeling a
little shell-shocked by her greeting. “Okay.”

She tilts her head.
“I've been worried about you.” There's something deeper
behind her eyes, which shift to Lenny.

“I have, too,”
he says without making eye contact.

“I'm fine.”
I want to talk to her about Brogan; she may not know. “Well,
I'm breathing.”

Lili nods, worrying the
cuticles on Lenny's hand. “I heard about Brogan. How are you
holding up with that?”

With all of the sorrow
in my heart, I look at her. “I'm not.”

“Oh, honey.”
She steps closer to Lenny. I look up at him, hoping that he'll say
something that won't be judgmental, or else explain to her that I had
to do it.

“I'll survive.”
I shrug, and continue putting things into the car. “So how is
Locke?”

She looks away again.
“He's fine, I guess. I haven't really seen him.”

“Really?”
This worries me.

“Have you not
seen him?” she asks with the first real air of concern.

“No, not since
the full moon.”

She looks to Lenny.
“Have you heard anything?”

“No, nothing at
all.” He shakes his head.

“I'll give him a
call and make sure he's okay.” She pulls out her phone and
checks the time. “I've got to clock in.” She hugs me.
“I'll text you.”

Yeah, sure you will, I
think to myself, knowing how she must be feeling about Brogan. She
hardly showed any emotion. I don't believe she hasn't talked to
Locke.

Lili tugs at Lenny's
hand. “Come on.”

“Give me one sec.
I need to talk to Claire,” he says, releasing her fingers.

She bounces
toward the store, and he stands in
silence until she's out of view. I put my hand back on my dagger; I
don't know what he's going to do or say. “What's up?”

“I wanted to
really tell you how incredibly sorry I am about Brogan. I know how
much you loved him.” He puts his arms around me, disarming me
both emotionally and physically.

My entire body tenses.
I don't know if this is a ploy, and a creeper van full of wolves is
going to pull up and I'll end up being dragged away with a bag over
my head. Lenny pulls back from the hug with a single tear in his eye.
“I wish things could be different.”

“Me too.” I
hold back my own tears. “I miss the boys. I miss Lili.”

“Pike would still
like to have a sit-down with you,” he offers.

“Yes, but he's
yet to set terms or a time and place,” I point out. “All
I need is a time and place, and I'll be there.”

“That's not what
we were told,” he says, tucking his chin back.

“By whom?”

“Hayden. He said
that the time for talk is over.” Remorse fills his demeanor.

“That's not my
stance on this. I want peace, and that doesn't include anyone dying,”
I answer. “I'm going to talk to Hayden.”

“Claire, they're
coming for you one way or another. Pike has a hard-on for you that
he's not going to let go of. None of us can understand it.” He
leans in close to me. “I'm worried about you, and honestly,
removing the hunter/wolf thing, as your friend I really wish you
would run.”

“If none of you
are really agreeing with Pike, why haven't you overthrown him? Why
haven't you made the move for alpha so we can all get back to the way
things were?” I plead.

“He's too strong.
We're all afraid, and we know there's nowhere we can run.” He
glances down at his feet. “Pike
isn't the only problem. I've figured out
there's someone else that he's answering to.”

“Come to me. If
we unite, I can protect you and everyone else that feels the same
way.” My hands wave around wildly.

“There is a lot
of buzz about what's happening, and we all know that if he can
eliminate you, things will calm down. We have a theory that for some
reason this is more about
you
than the hunting of moon-touched
wolves.” He arches an eyebrow.

“So you're saying
that if I offer myself up, all of this will stop. That it won't set a
precedent?” I shake my head.

“Yes, I really
think that's the case.” He sucks in his bottom lip. “Do
you have any idea why he's after you?”

“No, I have no
clue at all.” I really don't. “Other than me being a
hunter.” Oh, yeah. Hybrid. But I find it interesting that Pike
hasn't played that card.

“Well, he hates
you. That's why I want you to run.” He puts his hand on my
shoulder.

“You just said
yourself that there's nowhere to go.” I arch an eyebrow.

He looks down again and
his cell phone dings. He offers a soulful look after checking his
message. “Please stay safe. I have to go.”

“You too.”
I pull my elbows in and shoulders up to make myself smaller.

He walks across the
parking lot without looking back.

Hey, when are you
and Hayden coming back? ~Claire

Hayden's home now,
but leaving tomorrow. Why? ~R

I have some
questions for him. ~Claire

I'm having some serious
trust issues with Aunt Rain. She kept so much from me over the years
that could have possibly saved me so much heartache now.

Like what? ~R

We'll talk later.
~Claire

I dial Hayden's number,
and he answers on the second ring. “Hey, Claire, is everything
okay?”

“Everything's
fine. I just have a couple of questions for you.” I should've
thought more about what I need to ask.

“Okay, shoot.”

“First, when am I
going to be allowed to go back out on patrol?” I really want to
get out of the house.

“I'd like to see
things calm down a bit. We've got your area covered for your nights,
so there are no worries there,” he reassures me.

“Okay, cool. But
I would like to get back out there.” I mean it.

“We'll get you
back out in no time. We just want to be sure you're safe.”

“The other
question I have is that Lenny, er, um, Riker, told me that Pike
wanted to have a sit-down with me.” I leave it there to see
where he'll take it.

He lets out a sarcastic
laugh. “Yeah, and by sit-down they wanted you to come to their
camp alone for 'peace talks.'”

“Oh, they wanted
me to come alone?” Even I think that's a bad idea.

“Yeah, we didn't
think that was in your best interest, and Rain said absolutely not,”
he insists.

“I'm not willing
to go alone. No way.” I think for a second. “But if they
want to call an official parley, I'm happy to show. But I want a
hunter contingency with me. I'm not suicidal.”

“Exactly.”
He's emphatic.

“I'm going to
contact Lenny to let him know that I want to talk.” For some
reason, I feel a strange need to please Hayden like a dad.
“Preferably in front of council representatives.”

“Good girl.
You're learning.” I can hear the smile in his voice. “I
have no problem with you trying to get that rolling, but don't get
your hopes up.”

“I know. Not just
to please the council, but if this is going to be an honest effort
toward peace, we have to do this right and above board.” I'm
really hoping this will work.

“It's worth a
try. Just be careful.”

“I will,” I
tell him.

“I'll come see
you when we get back.”

“Sounds good. You
be careful, too.”

Maybe Lili will return
this text.

Hey babe, please
have Lenny text me. ~Claire

Hopefully I'll hear
something soon. I would love nothing better than to get back to my
screwed-up normal. Maybe the boys will come home if this gets sorted
out.

It's Riker, what's
up? ~Riker