Moon Crossed (Werewolf Hunter Series): Season 1 (Episodes 1-6) (Crescent Hunter) (68 page)

“It's whatever.”
I get up and head into the house. “I've got some things to do
in town. How long were you planning on staying?”

“Until you kick
me out.” He follows me into the kitchen.

“That's cool.”
I take my keys off the key rack. “Don't wait up. I'll probably
be back late.”

“Okay, I'll be
here,” he says, watching me head for the door. “Oh, and
by the way, we're back out on patrol tomorrow night.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, hunter
numbers are getting too low.” He hangs his head. “We're
needed on the front.”

“We'll talk about
what's really happening when I get back.”

Sugar Valley is a tiny
little
almost
town way up in the hills of northwest Georgia.
There isn't a grocery store in the actual town. This is my third
attempt at coming up here. Twice no one was home and the third time
there was no answer, but I could hear giggling inside.

At the end of a poorly
maintained gravel road is a small log cabin nestled in the pines.
Each of my steps are carefully placed, having learned where the booby
traps were on my first three visits. Honestly, she needs help
updating the security around here. Inhaling deeply while my knuckles
hit the wooden door does not help my expected disappointment.

The door flies open,
catching me by surprise. “What do you want?” There's fire
in her eyes and a dagger behind her back. She's in her fifties, and
she's beautiful. There's a familiarity about her that I can't quite
place. But by the way she carries herself, it's clear that she is
not
to be trifled with.

It's funny, this is a
warmer reception than I expected. Trying not to stutter, I say, “I'm
Claire–”

“I know who ya
are, we keep a close watch on our own kin. I asked ya what ya
wanted.” Her thick southern drawl has no charm when coupled
with the threatening tone. It's certainly feasible for her to know
who I am, with all the trouble I've been stirring up.

“Oh, um, well...”
Pull it together Claire. “I'm looking for someone. Are you
Vivian McAbee?”

“You still
haven't answered my question.” She bores into me with a stare.

“Ki told me you
might be able to help me find Coretta McAbee.” My words are
quick and full of false confidence.

“Ki.” She
pulls her lips to the side as though she's unhappy at hearing his
name. “That's one wolf who doesn't know when to leave well
enough alone.” She squints at me. “Well, come on in.
You're just lettin' the cold in.”

“Thank you.”
I wipe my feet on the mat and step into the warmth of the cabin.

“So why would you
be lookin' for Coretta?” She motions for me to sit on the
couch.

“I found her name
in some of the research.” I inhale a breath to keep going.

She purses her lips,
nodding. “Uh huh, and Coretta's in there.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“I don't know
anything about that.” She doesn't look me in the eye.

“What about Pike,
and what he was doing?”

“What he did to
her is unspeakable.” She sucks her lips into her mouth, deep in
thought.

“I'm trying to
stop him.” My tone is laced with hatred.

“I know you are.
That's why I let you in.” She holds her head up. “What
exactly does that research say about Coretta?”

This is a bit
uncomfortable; this woman is a complete stranger. “It talks
about her reproductive cycle, as well as a lot of results of testing,
but it doesn't say what types were done.” There really wasn't
much.

She leans in close to
me. “I'll tell you what he did to her.” She sits up
straight but lowers her voice. “He bred her like she was a
common dog. Gave her three children and killed two of em when they
weren't wolf-borne. Then when he got his wolf, he killed her.”

My lips part but
nothing comes out for a moment. Disgust fills my being as the thought
of anyone being so cruel. “He killed
her babies?”

“Yes, because
they were hunters, not wolves.” She squeezes her eyes shut as
though trying to not see the memory.

“So she was mated
with a hunter?” I ask, but I'm already working it out that she
had to have been the hunter.

“No,
she
was a hunter; Pike mated with her. Convinced her he loved her.”
Her lip curls in a snarl at the mention of his name.

“That's sick.”

“It is sick. Then
he killed her.” The words sound like poison on her lips.

“I'm so sorry for
your loss. Was she your –” I'm cut off.

“Are you out here
tellin' folks I'm dead again?” A sweet voice with a matching
southern drawl enters the room before she does. She's much older than
Vivian, and frail. She sees me on the couch. “Oh my goodness.”

“Hello.” I
stand up to offer my hand.

“Claire.”
Her warm smile could melt Jack Frost's heart. She pushes my hand
aside and wraps her arms around me. “I can see why my boy is so
taken with you.” She pulls back. “Let me look at you.”

“I'm sorry, but I
don't understand.” She's holding my arms out to my sides.

“I'm Coretta.”
She looks at me as though I should have known.

Vivian rolls her eyes.
“Coretta, it's hard enough keeping you safe without you coming
out here every time there's company.”

“She's not just
someone, she's Claire.” She nods slowly in approval.

“I'm honored,
really, but how do you know me?” I tilt my head, bewildered.

“I told you I
keep an eye on my kin.” Vivian pins me with a look.

Looking back at Coretta
and then Vivian, I see a familiarity. The eyes. They have the same
eyes, deep blue. I suck in a breath. “You're Cole's mother?”
Astonishment fills me and I'm covered in chill bumps.

“I am, but it's a
secret. We can't tell nobody.” Coretta leans into me. “But
I know
you'll
keep it safe.”

“Yes, ma'am, I
will.” I have to sit down at this revelation. “So that
means that...” I'm working it all out. It makes sense.

“It means a lot
of things, darlin'.” She smiles, taking the seat next to me.

“Cole's a
hybrid.” It comes out on a gasp.

“Just like you.”
She smiles.

“How do you know
that?” My features twist with question.

“Because Amelia
and I were the best of friends.” A sadness comes over her.

“You knew my
mother?” I feel like I'm six years old and want to beg her to
tell me stories of my mother.

“Yes, I did. I
heard what happened to her, and I'm so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”
I feel compelled to hug her, to tell her I'm sorry for the loss of
her babies, but I think better of it. What must this woman have gone
through? Obviously, she's still in contact with Cole. I'm not
surprised that he lied to me about her. But to say something so awful
as my father being the one to kill his mother is over the top.

“That Pike is a
real son of a bitch, huh?” she says, looking to Vivian. “Be
a love and get me something to wet my whistle.”

I can't help the tiny
laugh that escapes. “Yes, he is.”

“So tell me, how
is my little boy all grown up? I haven't seen a picture of him in a
few years,” she says excitedly.

“You don't see
him?” I ask.

Vivian hands Coretta
her drink, and I think it might be bourbon. She looks down at me.
“Pike told him that his mother is dead.”

Coretta’s head
tilts to the side as the glimmer in her eyes dims. “It's really
for the better.”

“How do you know
about me?” she asks.

“We still get
word from back home.” Vivian stiffens.

“That and Ray –”
Vivian cuts her off.

“That's enough,
Cor.”

“She should
know.” Coretta turns to face me. “Rayel told me about
you. He really thinks a lot of you.”

“Rayel.” A
smile blooms as I think of him. “I think a lot of him, too.”
I search my memory. I don't recall mentioning Cole when I spoke with
him.

“He helped me
escape when...” She drifts off, not wanting to finish.

I shake my head. “I'm
having trouble keeping track of all the reasons I want to kill Pike.”

“Oh, sweetheart,
if you could kill him, that'd be wonderful.” It's odd hearing
her say the words in her sweet tone.

“I'm going to.
Especially now. How could anyone separate a mother and child?”
I'm sickened.

“He has done so
much worse.” Vivian gets up and goes to the refrigerator. “Did
you want something to drink, since apparently you're staying?”

“No thank you.”
I'm still in shock that she's Cole's mother.

“Well, do you
have any pictures?” she asks expectantly.

“Oh, yes, I do.”
I pull out my phone and bring up all of the pictures I still have of
us on it. I know I should delete them, but I'm not there yet. “Here,
you can swipe left to go to the next picture.”

She takes the phone in
her frail hands and stares at the first picture. “Oh, honey,
he's looking at you in this picture.”

“He was.”
Sadness invades my tone, even though I try not to let it.

“Look at those
bright and happy eyes. I don't think I've seen a genuine smile in
those eyes since he was three years old.” Her joy from seeing
the pictures is one of the best things I've felt in a long time.

She swipes to the next
photo. “Oh, you two are so adorable.” She studies me for
a moment. “I really can see why he's so happy.”

Vivian flashes me a
look that tells me to lie. “He has given me a great deal of
happiness.”

Vivian approves with a
nod. Coretta continues with the pictures in my phone and inhales a
sharp breath.

“Are you okay?”
I lean over to see what made her react.

“Lawrence.”
It comes out on an astonished whisper. It's a picture of Locke.

“That's Locke.
He's my best friend,” I correct her.

“Locke.”
She laughs out.

“How do you know
him?” Now she has me curious.

“He's my son.”
She nods her head. “Pike didn't know I was pregnant when he
tried to kill me. He left me for dead. But I survived.” She
tilts her head up with pride.

“Oh my God.”
My head is spinning. “You are Locke's mother, too? Does he
know?”

“Yes, he does.”
Vivian's tone is clearly irritated.

Aside from all of this
being a shock, I can't believe that Locke has been lying to me all
this time. He only ever told me that his parents were killed.

Coretta puts her hand
on my knee. “Sweetheart, what's wrong?”

“Locke was my
best friend in the entire world. I can't believe he never told me
that Pike is his father.” I want to cry and scream.

“That's because
Pike isn't.” She gets a sly smile across her lips.

“Yeah, Coretta
was quite the vixen in her younger days,” Vivian adds.

I can feel the heat in
my cheeks from blushing. “Oh.”

“I wouldn't say
that.” She swats in Vivian's direction. “Pike had
murdered two of my children and has taken away another. I knew he
wasn't going to let me raise Cole. That's why I ran away and that's
why he tried to kill me.”

“So who is
Locke's father?” I wonder if I even know him.

“There are some
secrets that should never be told.” I can see her imagining him
in her mind. “He of course never knew about Lawrence.”

I giggle at the fact
that Locke's real name is Lawrence. “Why didn't you tell him?”

“I wanted
Lawrence to have a fighting chance. He wouldn't have a chance here
with me in hiding or if anyone knew who his father was. But if he
went to the Red Top pack, he'd have a chance.” She looks at the
picture again. “He's so handsome.”

“He smells like
candy, too.” I can't help the soft spot that will always live
in my heart for him. I'm so incredibly shocked that Cole and Locke
are brothers and they don't even know it.

A breath gets caught in
my throat. “He's a hybrid, too.”

Coretta nods. “That's
right.” She nudges me with her elbow and winks. “I see
the way you're looking at my Cole in the pictures. You know what it's
like trying to resist the draw of a handsome wolf.”

Oh. My. God. I love her
and I might throw up all at once. “Yes, I do.” I have to
look away, hoping that my blush doesn't light the entire room on
fire.

Vivian stands from her
chair. “Well, I think it's about time for you to get going. Do
you have all of the information you need?”

I nod, not really
wanting to leave Coretta.

“Oh, won't you
come back and see us?” Coretta asks, standing up.

“Yes, ma'am, I
would love to.” I go to her and hug her tightly. “Thank
you.”

“For what?”
she asks.

“For giving me
two wonderful gifts.” The smile on my face is about to fade to
tears. I turn quickly toward the door.

“You are so
welcome. I can't wait to see you again.” She sits back down.

Vivian walks me out,
closing the door behind her. “You listen to me. No one, and I
mean
no one
,
can know about her.”