Chapter Thirty-Two

Axel

As if the pack didn't have enough to worry about, now Axel had to worry about a bunch of students trying to hunt down the lycan, which put the wolves at risk too, especially since they were currently trying to track him.

Claire's nervous gaze shifted toward Axel.

Axel rolled his eyes and clutched his desk. "You need to be careful. Claire is right—it's not a good idea."

Cat sighed and flipped her pink hair over her shoulder. "You two are meant for each other."

Claire shrugged her shoulders when Axel gave her an annoyed gaze. If Cat didn't get on his nerves before, she did now.

Instead of begging her to stay out of the hunt, he thought of ways to stop it all together. He could inform the chancellor or make a call to the security office on campus. Either way, no one was hunting any animal for the sake of having parties.

Axel tried to relax for the remainder of the day. Claire seemed tense but taking the fact that a lycan wanted to make her his queen well, considering. When Claire exited her last class, Axel waited for her outside of the building.

"Hey," she said, her voice full of nerves.

Axel eyed her. "What's wrong?"

She shrugged. "I'm not looking forward to going to Aunt Demetria's house. I feel like Dad is going to lecture me about you being there."

Axel smirked. "Oh, I'm sure he will," he said, pinching her chin. "But, he'll get over it eventually when he sees we never break up."

"Until then, I'll endure countless talks about school being more important than boys and endless glares from across the dinner table."

Axel wrapped his arm around her waist and ushered her toward the parking lot. "I think he saves those glares for me. I thought I would combust into flames a few times."

Claire chuckled. "What are we going to do about the hunt?"

"I'm going to be a buzzkill and call them in."

"Who would have thought? Axel Davers, former Mr. Popular and soon to be Alpha, a snitch."

Axel dug his fingers into her hip, making her laugh. "Those kids have no idea what they're dealing with. And what's up with your friend? What has her wanting to go hunt dangerous animals anyway?"

Claire tucked her books to her chest. "I don't know. Something about a boy she met introducing her to someone hosting it. They make it sound like a freaking party."

"That's most likely what they think," he said, digging his phone from his pocket.

He glanced at a text from Kerry.

Your Dad wants me to keep guard tonight at Claire's aunt's house. I'll meet you at your truck.

Axel shoved his phone back into his pocket. "Kerry is coming to your aunt's house. Dad wants extra security for you since I'll be preoccupied."

"As long as Dad doesn't see him. I couldn’t imagine the questions he'd have about it. Aunt Demetria will be less likely to ask questions since she assumes something already."

"Do you think she knows what I am, or just has suspicions that I'm something?"

Claire shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't spoken to her since dinner. Maybe she thinks you're a vampire and my childhood fantasies have come true."

Axel halted on the sidewalk and eyed her. "Vampires? Seriously? You like blood-sucking demons?"

Claire laughed and glanced over her shoulder. "You can blame Hollywood and authors for that one. I have tons of paranormal romances tucked away for rainy days."

Burn her books, his wolf growled. Vampires are real. What if she runs into one!

"I may have to gather some werewolf ones for you," he whispered. "I'm sure they're just as fun to read."

She chuckled as Axel noticed Kerry parked next to his truck. He waved and rolled down his window. "Are we ready to go play dutiful boyfriend and creepy friend that stands guard outside of the house?" he asked.

Claire chuckled and slid into the passenger side of the truck. "Has Dad mentioned finding anything to you?"

Kerry pulled out his phone and showed Axel a text from his dad.

Found a scent that leads off campus, down a dirt road with tons of houses. I'm going to camp out tonight. Some of the guard wolves are on their way to help. Keep Axel and Claire safe.

"I'm glad," Axel said. "Hopefully he'll find something."

Kerry took his phone back.

"We need to hide you from her dad, or he'll get suspicious. He's very suspicious of everything."

Kerry chuckled. "One of those, huh?"

Axel chuckled. "Yeah, it'll be fine. Just follow us, and I'll have Claire point out where you need to park."

Kerry started his engine. "Lead the way."

Axel hopped into the driver's seat and followed Claire's instructions. The drive was thirty minutes down a twisty road that would no doubt give her a secluded area to live.

"Does she live in the woods?" he asked.

"More or less," Claire said, biting the corner of her nail. "We're getting close. Have Kerry pull into that little alcove in the woods and walk over."

Axel rolled down his window and pointed out of the window. Kerry turned his truck into the alcove, which covered his truck enough that her dad wouldn't see when he drove by.

The little cottage screamed witch to Axel. The secluded spot in the woods. The only thing missing was candy on the house to lure in innocent children.

Claire let out a sigh. "Here we are."

Axel got out, grabbed their bags, and noticed a small garden to the left where he assumed she grew witchy stuff. Along with the smoke billowing into the darkening sky from the chimney, she was a huge stereotype.

He grabbed her forearm. "And you never thought she was a witch, Claire? This is straight out of Hansel and Gretel."

She chuckled. "I told you I suspected her to be … I don't know. I just thought she was into that new age bologna."

He pursed his lips and walked up the steps and onto her porch. The door swung open, and Aunt Demetria filled the doorway. She wore a long billowy skirt and a crocheted tank top. "Hello, roomie, and her werewolf boyfriend."

Claire's mouth dropped open, and she covered it with her palm.

Axel sighed. "I guess that answers my question."

Her smile widened. "You can tell your little friend to come out of the woods. Your dad won't be here until 7."

"He's securing the area. It's the alpha's order."

"I have a spell put over the area; nothing is getting in that I won't allow inside. Tell him to come. I made appetizers."

She turned on her heel and left them standing on the porch.

"I didn't tell her, swear," Claire said.

Axel glanced over at the tree line and motioned for Kerry to come close. He jogged over, retying his ponytail and stopping on the steps. "What's going on?"

"The witch knows what we are. She has a protection spell over this place. No one is getting inside. You might as well come enjoy the food until her dad gets here."

"She knows what we are? She's a witch? Claire, why didn't you tell us?"

She shrugged. "I didn't know, obviously."

She reappeared at the doorway, opening the screen to give Kerry a once-over. "Hmm," she said. "A ranking wolf."

Kerry's brows lifted to his hairline, and Axel watched as they exchanged glances. "I'm Kerry," he said, offering her his hand.

She took it slowly, eyeing him with an expression that Axel couldn’t pinpoint.

"Are y'all going to come inside or stand out here and talk about me?"

Claire sighed and walked into the house. Axel followed her inside, noting all the plants and herbs sitting around. He glanced over his shoulder to see Kerry stepping past Demetria, and their eye contact sent shivers down her spine.

He knew that look.

Kerry just met his second chance.