CHAPTER 20 A Peculiar Scent

*Draven*

Eric Morgan was a spineless, privileged wolf who didn't understand the concept of brotherhood or comraderie.

So, it wasn't a surprise if he would stab me in the back.

However, when he saw my eyes gleam red, he began to sweat. I could smell the fear pouring out from his pores and it smelled awful.

"T-that she-wolf, Aurora, she warned me if anything happened to her, Maverick would come. Where is she, Blake?" Eric Morgan asked nervously.

"When did my uncle contact you?" I asked instead of answering his question.

"That *wolf* is your uncle?!" Eric asked, shocked.

"Why do you ask? You don't see the family resemblance?" I answered his question with two of mine.

"Blake, your uncle, he isn't the type of wolf to fuck around with. He's something dark and terrifying. I have never felt fear like I did when I looked into his purple eyes. Actually, I have never seen purple eyes. Yellow, yes, sometimes blue, but never purple. I have never seen eyes like that," Eric rambled.

"And what about me? You aren't scared?" I growled, showing him my fangs.

"I-I'm scared. So scared my ass is sweating. Draven, my man, spare a wolf," he begged, using my first name.

*Fine*. *For brotherhood*.

"So when did my uncle contact you and what evidence did the police find?" I asked. I glanced at him and saw sorrow. To my surprise, he was mourning Cheryl's death.

"To answer your questions, I met Maverick last night at Click and the police found a necklace I gave Cheryl. She was my friend," Eric said, sadly.

"You two weren't more than just friends?" I asked.

"No, it wasn't like that. I mean, you of all people, should understand. Cheryl was a friend, just like Evie is to you," he said. I patted him on the shoulder. Of course, I understood.

"I'm truly sorry. Cheryl was special to me too. So, what did my uncle want?" I asked.

"He wanted to know where you could have taken Aurora and if I knew who your mate was," Eric answered.

"And what did you tell him?"

"There's only one place I could think of where Aurora may be... the one place everyone else knows, Blake Towers. As for your mate, I was sure it was Cheryl," he answered.

"Did you tell him anything else?" I asked, using my aura to get it out of him. I needed to know Evie was safe.

"I told him about your past relationships. Veronica and that other girl... Chloe, I think her name was. That's it," Eric Morgan answered. "So where is Aurora?"

"Why is she important?"

"Damn! You are so clueless! I believe Aurora is either Maverick's mate or they have some kind of relationship. He made it very clear if something were to happen to her, he would come back and kill me for sending her to you. I told him she was the one who suggested seeing you for a job. It wasn't my fault if she's gone missing," Eric said. "I even told him he shouldn't be surprised if she and you were already sleeping with each other. He got so mad, he strangled me. I thought I was a goner. While my neck was in his hand, he howled, then in a blink of an eye, poof, he was gone and I was on the floor."

"I suggest you leave Los Angeles, Morgan, unless you want my uncle to take your spark," I said. "Luke, to the airport."

"Hold on. I can't leave. I have a business to take care of-"

"Let's be honest, Morgan. Your assistant does the work for you. Your lazy ass just parties to get laid. It's a wonder you aren't a cesspool of disease," I said with disgust. "You'll be safe with your wolf pack. My uncle, although he is strong, won't come to your territory and attack. His council members will not allow it."

"I can't leave, Blake. The police said-"

"When did you ever care about human law enforcement?" I scoffed.

"True, but if I leave, that makes me look guilty," Eric argued.

"Guilty of what? Giving a token of friendship to a lady? Please, your attorney will argue the fact," I said, noticing we were already on the freeway. "But if you want to die, I can tell Luke to drive us back to Click."

"Draven, bud, you aren't going to protect me? We're suppose to be brothers,"  he whined like a crybaby.

"What do you think I'm doing right now? I'm going to have you fly to Seattle, so you'll be safe. Remember, my uncle is after *me*. You don't want to be in the crossfire when he comes for me or do you?" I asked, with one eyebrow raised, challenging him to stay.

Eric leaned back on the seat and sighed. I already knew what was going through his mind. The party was over.

"Fine. I'll go home," he mumbled like a petulant child. Luke had already entered the airport grounds and was moving towards the front of the airport.

"Morgan, this is for your own good. But maybe you can convince your parents to send you to Singapore or Bangkok. I heard the party scene in those two places is excellent," I suggested. He nodded his head and smiled.

"Click goes to Singapore. Now that I can make happen," he said enthusiastically as Luke parked the car.

I exited the backseat of the car to assist Eric. I got him a business class plane ticket and saw him off.

Before I left the airport, I browsed through the small shops. I was waiting for the cup of coffee I had purchased when I caught a peculiar scent. It wasn't bad, but it was odd. It was a mixture of two scents I loved. The first scent was Evie's scent, the smell of flowers in the rain. The second scent was faint, but it was there. It was the scent of leg of lamb garnished with rosemary, thyme and garlic... roasted to perfection. It sounds cliché because I'm wolf, but I love roasted leg of lamb.

"Sir, your coffee," the barista said. I thanked him, took the cup, and began my search for the perfect roasted leg of lamb.

I found myself at the dining section of the airport. I laughed. I must be hungry. Might as well get a bite to eat.

I glanced at the menu of a restaurant. Just my luck... they had lamb.

_________________

*Evie*

Mama Agnes and I drove quietly to the airport. I was afraid to ask questions knowing I may not like the answers.

We parked at airport parking and waited for Zuri to show up. After about half an hour, one of the back doors opened and in came Zuri.

"Ah, it's nice to see you out of bed, Evie, although if you weren't in bed, you would have been in the precinct. And if you were at the precinct, Maverick would have figured out that you are the one person he's looking for. So, everything worked well, I guess," Zuri said, looking through the windows. "They can't see us in here right?"

"They can't," Mama Agnes assured Zuri. I don't think Zuri was convinced, because she took out a scarf and covered her beautiful braids.

"Okay, that's better," Zuri said. "First of all, Evie, I'm so sorry if I've kept certain things from you. I'm wolf, Mama Agnes is wolf and you, well, you are Draven's mate, despite the fact that he has continuously denied it. I was hired to shadow you in college, but because we became good friends, it didn't seem like work at all. It felt more like I had a scholarship thanks to you. Those four years with you were the best years of my life. If it weren't for that opportunity, I wouldn't be who I am today. I know you're going to hate me for hiding all of this from you, but I had to. I hope you can forgive me, Evie."

"Is that all?" I asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" She asked.

"I thought you were going to tell me you never liked me, but had to be there for me because of Draven," I said. "But I kind of knew you were wolf, I just didn't know you knew Mama Agnes. Trust me, there's actually nothing to forgive, Zuri. Just no more secrets. So, can anyone tell me why we're at the airport?"

"We have to leave," Zuri said. "Well, you have to leave."

"Won't it be obvious if I leave? Then this Maverick person will know I'm the one he's looking for, then no place is safe for me. What I need to do is resign and leave on my own terms, so everyone will think I'm not her... uhm, Draven's mate."

*Mate*? *What in the world was a mate*?

"You're right," Mama Agnes said, agreeing with me. "I'm starving. Let's buy a cheap ticket to somewhere and eat here. At least the numerous humans will mask our scent. We can enjoy a steak and a glass of wine while we plan."

After buying cheap tickets to Vegas, we ate at a trendy restaurant. I ordered roasted lamb with baked potatoes with all the herbs and spices. This was usually Draven's dish of choice, but I just had this... craving.

"You know what?" Zuri said as she finished the bottle of wine. "We should use these tickets and go to Vegas."

"I don't have any clothes with me," I said.

"Do you see me lugging around luggage?" Zuri asked. "We can buy clothes there, then we'll be free to plan. Oh, by the way, I got your mail before I came here." Zuri rummaged through her bag and gave me my mail.

I flipped through the envelopes one by one until I found one from New York University.

"Oh my God!" I shrieked. "I have a letter from NYU Grossman School of Medicine!"

Zuri gasped.

I crossed my fingers. I hope it was good news.

"Come on! Open it!"  Zuri said, grasping Mama Agnes' hands. Just like Draven, Mama Agnes treated Zuri like a daughter of hers. They were so close, it was a shame they kept their relationship hidden from me. We would have had lots of fun together.

I opened it and quickly read its contents. "I have been invited for an interview!"

We suddenly heard the announcement for boarding.

"Let's celebrate in Vegas! And when you come back, Evie, I promise you'll be able to face Draven... since you guys slept with each other," Zuri said.

"What did you say?"

We both turned our heads and were surprised to see Mama Agnes' face was red with fury. I guess she didn't expect to hear that.

"I know, I know, but look at Evie. She's kinda doing okay. We'll tell you while we drink in business class," Zuri said.

"And I also want to hear how Mama Agnes faked her death." I paused and scanned my letter from NYU again. "How about we go to New York instead?" I suggested. "It says here all I need to do is call them a day in advance."

Zuri's face lit up. "I have never been to New York. Sure, let's go!"

We left the restaurant in good spirits until Zuri stopped in the middle of the walkway.

"We gotta hurry. I smell Draven coming this way."