Chapter 94
Vera was staring at me as though I had three heads, but she was having trouble saying what she wanted to. She started to say something, then changed her mind as we left the pack house and made our way to the automobile Derrick had ready for us. Subsequently, when one of the pack warriors drove us about, she parted her lips to say something but shut them again.
I'd had enough when we entered the bakery.
Vera, you're really getting on my nerves. Say what you want to say, or I'll say it for you. "His smell is so strong on you. I can't help it." Have you finally given in and allowed him to completely humiliate you? She never really did have much of a filter, which is why I was horrified and now understood why she had been questioning everything she said.
"Vera!"
"Don't give me that; I'm horny, and I can't do the hanky-panky with my own mate because he fucking disappeared."
"Vera, you can't be serious!" I let out another cry, dragging my hands across my face as my cheeks turned red.
"Right, sh*t—I forgot he's your brother." She groaned, clearly frustrated in her own way, and for a split second, I regretted having to part with her in this state.
We had hardly had time to work through our jumbled feelings as a couple, but how could I find time when my murdering mother was pursuing me and everyone I cared about?
Vera appeared to have had a restless night; despite her attempts to conceal the bags under her eyes with makeup, her skin remained pale. She brought to mind the first time I had broken up with Derrick; up until I had returned, he had been a complete mess of annoyance and insomnia.
When he returned to her, Kyle was going to have a grudge.
"I need you to cover for me for a little while," I hurriedly said, nervously retying my coat's belt.
She turned to face me with a new-found eagerness, and the tiredness seemed to melt from her face.
"If you're having a secret meeting with Kyle, then I'm coming with you." With my heart thumping in my chest, I shook my head.
The last thing I should have done was encourage the hope that was blossoming in her heart.
"I'm going to see a demon." I took a moment to think before I hastily added. "About my powers." This time, I had already made up my mind, so I didn't need her opinion on my choices.
"Oh."
With the silence extending between us, she turned her back on me.
"Do you need me to come with you, maybe for moral support?" Her words were encouraging, and I felt my heart quicken in response. Even though she was still upset with me, she would still assist me with anything I asked of her.
When I noticed she wasn't looking at me, I shook my head once more, expressing my disapproval in words. I approached her and put my hands on her shoulders, and she gave me a brief moment of stunned observation.
"But I promise you that if I ever see my brother again, I will drag him back to you, okay?" She gave me a grateful nod and briefly put her forehead against mine.
"I'll always have your back, Kylie—now go and do your magic voodoo shit so that I can have my mate back." Her words gave me a sense of relief I wasn't aware I needed, so I grinned at her.
It was more difficult than I had anticipated to get to the demon's home. As soon as I got out of the taxi, my instincts started to surface, causing my wolf to become tense. As I studied my surroundings, the unpleasant feeling sank into my bones and adhered to my skin. I had the impression that someone was keeping an eye on me and waiting for me to move so they could block it.
The demon's home was nestled next to the edge of the forest, at the end of a long street. For the most part, it appeared normal, but I could sense the gloomy atmosphere surrounding it.
I strolled slowly up the cobblestone path, keeping my eyes open as I rapped on the painted door. A howl that sounded too close for comfort sent a shiver down my spine and raised the hairs on the back of my neck. I pivoted and scanned the tree line with my eyes. I now regretted not being more cautious because I hadn't considered that one of the warriors in Derrick's pack might be pursuing me.
Even if he was aware that the resident woman was a demon, why would the wolf cry out if they had the pack link?
I turned around and looked at the woman who had saved my life ten years ago as the door opened behind me. Her features had aged since I'd last seen her, and she was staring at me, horrified. Her skin sagged against her hollow cheeks, her hair was nearly as white as snow, and her face was etched with deep-set wrinkles.
"No, not at all! I'm not going to deal with people like you again, so you should go." She said that with conviction before slamming the door in my face.
For a brief moment, I was completely stunned, but I hadn't come this far to have my wishes ignored.
"Please, I need your help—I don't know what else to do." In the hopes that she was still waiting behind the door, I begged her.
"You almost got me killed the last time I helped you." Tears were welling up in my eyes as she spoke with annoyance.
Although I was unaware of what had transpired after she cast her spell all those years ago, taking away my powers and sending me hurtling across the globe, I figured something horrible had happened because Kyle failed to escape in time.
"This is nothing like last time; I just need a potion."
She opened the door again, but this time it was on its latch, and there was silence before that.
"Kyle sent me—he said that you knew how to break a mate bond." The mention of my brother's name caused her eyes to widen, and she opened the door by swinging it open.