Chapter 15

The next morning, I still felt the shadows of last night's events with Dash on my skin. I smiled as I drank my coffee and searched Google Maps for the street address Mr Dean gave me yesterday.

"What's so funny?" Dash asked, entering the kitchen.

I smirked. "Nothing."

He stopped and kissed me. It felt natural like we were a couple. I mentally pictured Cassidy eyeballing for being with Dash. She was there during that lonely summer.

"What are you looking at?" Dash poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Mr Dean gave me an address to a house he says has a ton of information on the Pandora."

Dash paused. "Pandora? The old man told you about it?"

"I heard it from the suspicious man who intimidated him. You know what it is?"

"I know it's dangerous and I don't want you to have anything to do with it."

"You can't order me around, Dash. I'm already involved."

"You don't have to be, Zora. You're not a wolf. One scratch could do serious damage or kill you."

I grumbled, "Nothing's going to happen."

"You don't know that!"

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Despite his rage, he kissed me back. He held me securely and tenderly.

"You're stubborn Zora. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Everything will be fine, okay? Mr Dean was fine yesterday, Dash. He remembered everything. We can't get him to remember his last meal most days or talk."

"You think something suspicious is going on?"

"Yeah, no one visits him and he's barely lucid. What if someone at the old folk's home is deliberately doping him up?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself Zora. Let me see that address."

He took my phone and frowned a second later.

"I'm not sure your man was lucid after all. No one uses these addresses anymore. Thirty years ago maybe."

My jaw dropped. I snatched my phone and checked the format. No wonder I couldn't find anything.

"How do I find the house now?"

He kissed me again. "Simple, you don't. I sleep soundly knowing you're safe."

***

"Are you seriously considering another job, Zora?" Cassidy asked.

She worked part-time at a café in town central. She preferred the café because a bar would be too tempting.

"I need it. I can't sell anything at home and I need to keep it alive. Maybe when I fix it I can turn it into a bed and breakfast or something."

"What about school, Zora? You had one year left."

"I can't think about school right now, Cass. I need money Keegan will be back."

"The guys said they'd take care of it."

"It's a legitimate debt even though he's a vampire. Maybe Keegan will tell me what job he did for my Dad."

"Yeah, I wonder what it is."

Cass served a customer a foaming coffee and then turned back to me.

"You've got a lot on your plate, Zora. All that including three handsome men. Some girls have all the fun."

Heat rushed to my cheeks and Cassidy laughed.

"Don't be modest. This is the most action you've had in a long time. Comes with seeing your ex again huh?"

"He's not my ex, Cass technically the relationship hadn't started yet when he left. Apparently, he was forced to leave, I just wish he hadn't made promises."

"Promises?" Cass straightened from behind the counter. "Any mention of a moon goddess anywhere?"

I sipped my latte and shrugged. "I don't remember. It was something about us being together and being one… now that I think about it was king of corny."

"Zora!" Cass whined.

"What. It was teenage stuff, holding hands and hickeys."

Cass ran her hand down her face and groaned. She leaned closer and glanced over my shoulder.

"Dash claimed you. It means he made you two mates," she said through gritted teeth.

"What? What the hell does that mean?"

"Promises are serious in the werewolf community. I knew you two slept together but I didn't know about this. Did he leave a mark on your body anywhere?"

My heart started racing. What does this mean? Mates were like lifelong partners, but how could Dash and I be mates? He couldn't do that without telling me.

"I don't think so… how could he do that?"

"It's different with humans you can put a claim on a human and they wouldn't know. That explains why you didn't know but it now makes sense why you never really got with any other guys."

"Cass! He didn't tell me," I panted.

"Okay relax. I could be wrong good thing he's here now and you two can talk. Where is he now?"

"Uh… he said he was meeting Gunner."

"I'll have my phone on. We might be burying someone tonight."

***

I called Dash on my drive home but he didn't answer. Thunder rambled in the distance and lightning flashed overhead. I left the tar road behind and drove onto the bumpy road. My car struggled to drive forward. I looked behind me and saw the black cloud of smoke.

"No," I gasped.

I killed the struggling engine and jumped out of my car. Not now, I thought. The mansion was a mile away. Lightning flashed in the sky and I jumped. Droplets of water hit my shoulder.

I pulled out my phone but I couldn't think of anyone to call. Cassidy was at work and Dash wasn't answering. I needed more friends. It would take a while for a tow truck to get out here. As the rain began to pour I scurried to the driver's door. I yanked but it didn't budge.

"No, no." I yanked again but the door didn't open.

I tried the others but the car was locked and the keys were inside! Including my house keys.

"No! Damn it!"

Thunder laughed in response. I trekked in the subtle rain, abandoning my car. My sandals got ruined in the mud. I'd have to bust a window to get into my house. I shivered as the rain intensified and trembled from the storm conjuring around me. Why did my car choose today to die on me? I still had a long way to go. I saw the forest behind my house but any homes were miles away.

A car engine sounded behind me. I turned around and saw headlights poke through the rain. I walked to the side and slipped into the mud.

"Come on!"

The black truck slowed beside me. Thank goodness a well-wisher. Or a murderer. My limbs froze. The window came down.

"Zora, what are you doing?" Dash blasted.

"Playing tennis! What do you think?"

I was damp, covered in mud and trembling from the fear of walking in a storm

"Get inside," he growled.

I felt sorry for his car seats but I was thankful to be out of the storm. Dash turned on the heater.

"Why didn't you stay in your car, Zora?"

I didn't want to say I locked myself out. It sounded stupid.

"It's been a hectic day, Dash."

"I'm sorry I missed your calls. We had to raid a house in an old neighbourhood."

"I need to ask you something."

"What?" He grumbled.

"Are we mates? How could you not tell me?"

He slammed on the brakes and stared at me.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Don't play dumb the night we had sex. What did you do? We made a promise to be together. Did you claim me?"

He tightened his hold on the wheel and ground his teeth. "No."

"What?"

"I tried to claim you but it didn't work. Someone else already did."