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83: MERLOT AND HONESTY
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The Mate Agreement 84: VODKA
My eyes pop out of their sockets.She did not just do that. But she did. She really did. Mila just slapped Luke Ravenstone, her mate, across the cheek. The sound bounces off the cold countertops, almost blasphemous in its echo. The short silence after is even more tensed. Her eyes widen with realization of what she has done. And then she bursts out in tears, clutches his shirt and sobs. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She repeats over and over again.I wait for it.But, no.The world doesn’t end.Luke Ravenstone doesn’t turn into a hulk and herald in the apocalypse. No, he rubs Mila’s back, soothing her in the softest voice that could come out of his vocal cords. “It’s okay, you’re just drunk, you’re okay.”I sit back down and stare; dumbfounded.So he’s capable of feeling anything other than disgust and cold rage? Huh.Mila calms enough to straighten, although she’s still tipsy on her feet. She looks at his face, takes in a sharp breath, and bursts out crying for the umpteenth tim
The Mate Agreement 85: DOWN TO THE BONE
I have no idea where to start looking for Ethan.Mila really should’ve given us a tour of the private quarters. What I do know is this; William’s room, and possible Luke and Mila’s rooms are on the third floor, and the only thing above that level is the rooftop. The guest rooms where Wilma, Lexie and I stay, are on the second floor, and I’m pretty sure the other doors on that level were more of guest rooms too. That leaves the ground floor for exploration, where I already know there’s a kitchen, a large living room, and…I look out the sliding doors of the living room and find a swimming pool out on the terrace. There’s a swimming pool. Well, of course there’s a swimming pool, this place is unbelievably huge.Abandoning my mission to seek out Ethan, I open the transparent sliding doors instead and step out into the terrace. If I’m leaving soon, I might as well explore the rest of the house.Cool wind blows through my hair, brushing against my cheek like an invisible, loving hand. The
The Mate Agreement 86: STOOL VERSUS RIFLE
Wilma doesn’t have to tell me who’s here.I know.I know it’s Lucien.It has to be.More gunshots ring out; each one louder than the last, like they’re moving closer and will be breaking down the door any second. And then stop. In the eerie silence, the monitoring machines continue to beep steadily. The electricity is still on; I realize. Only the lights have been cut off.Why?I grip my sister’s shoulders, staring at her fear-striken face bathed in infrared light. “Wilma, tell me what you know.” I demand, my voice shaking, my fear peeking through the chaos.“Ethan.” Wilma says sharply in an inhale, then screws her eyes shut for a heartbeat as if gathering her thoughts and reconciling them with her tongue. “It was Ethan, he let them in. I know you said to not play detective, but he looked so suspicious so I tailed him, and I saw-“We have to get out of here.A deafening gunshot.We have to go.Wilma is trembling now, as she clutches my arms tighter, her fingernails digging into my ski
The Mate Agreement 87: GRUNT AND GROWLS
Ethan narrows his eyes. Suspicion flashes through his gaze. I can see the choice warring behind his eyes, and then it all falls away. Nothing but conviction stays. He doesn’t believe me, but he acts like he does. I know an actor when I see one.I clutch the knife behind me tighter.“We can’t stay here.” Ethan says finally, shadows falling over his face as he shifts back and the infrared lights cuts over the hollows of his cheeks. His smile looks more wolfish than ever, and I know I’m in the presence of a predator. “I know a safe place. A panic room.” He makes a motion for me to come forward. “We don’t have time.”No, you don’t have time, because I’m going to fucking kill you.I make a show of hesitating. I must convince him I know nothing. For now. “But my sister…”His smile tightens, teeth gleaming red in the lights as if he’d gulped down blood and stained the enamel. “We’ll look for her. But I need you to stay safe first.” He wipes a splatter of blood on his cheek, and I wonder if i
The Mate Agreement 88: EMPTY CLIP
Luke and Ethan had taken the fight outside. And although Ethan had transformed into his wolf form, I know Luke is strong enough to defeat him. Or at the very least, I hope.There is silence in the wrecked living room.Then two armed men step out from a corner.They are different. Mercenaries, yes, but they wore no masks, and their expressions are that of pure cruelty.In the florescent glow of the living room, the tension hangs heavy in the air like an impending storm. The scent of leather and old books mingles with the acrid tang of fear, blood, and dust. My heart thunders in my chest, each beat a reminder of the stakes at hand. They had come for me, but I’m not going down without a fight.I’m not going down at all.The two men stand before me, their faces tainted with arrogance of the victory to come. The glint of gunmetal catches the florescent light, their weapons poised with deadly intent. My palms are slick with sweat, and I can feel the weight of the silver knife hidden in my w
The Mate Agreement 89: BLOODHOUND
I freeze.I know that laugh. It has haunted my nightmares. It’s the sole reason for all of this destruction. All of this madness. I look up towards the main entrance of the house, just as Lucien and about seven of his men enter through the splintered doorway.“Well, well, If it isn’t Isabel and her prince charming.” Lucien chuckles, smoothing down his beard. The military shirt and black slacks he’s clad in are crisp and clean, like someone ready for the runway.I shield William with my body, turning completely to face Lucien. “I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.” I spat, seething.He grins, the lit cigarette in the corner of his lips glowing with red embers. He takes a puff, then flicks it away and stubs it with the heel of his Italian loafers. “You should have.” He agrees, nodding his head. “Cause now, I’m going to kill, you.”Seven men.Lucien himself.There’s no way I can take them.But we have to try. We have to try. A voice in my head snarls; we have to try. Suddenly, I
The Mate Agreement 90: WOMAN AND WOLF
Bingo!The lights go out.I kick out my legs, jamming my foot into Lucien’s knee. He goes down with a grunt. The gun skitters out of his hand and I lunge for it, the darkness ebbing at my vision.I hear the ring of a thin blade drawn as fast as lightning, the sound of bodies dropping, and then the lights come back on, flooding the room.I gasp.Mom.Still in the hospital gown, mom is standing with a drawn katana that drips blood on the floor. The rest of Lucien’s men are bleeding out on the floor. Her braids have come undone, sweat making her short brown hair stick to her forehead. She grins at me, panting. “Surprise.”I’m too stunned to even speak.Exhilaration and relief and shock floods my system all at once, and I can only stare at her in disbelief, my mouth agape. I’d seen and felt Wilma’s presence creeping towards the light switches, but I thought she turned off the lights to give me the advantage.But no. She’d turned them off for mom.Mom, who’s awake, standing before me with
The Mate Agreement 91: NOTHING BUT DARKNESS
Luke Ravenstone looks to me, and a silent agreement transpires between us. I understood what is about to happen; the price Ethan and Lucien have to pay. I’ve already crossed a line. I give him an imperceptible nod. His gaze falls to William, in a deep, unnatural sleep on the floor, and a heavy sadness settles underneath the stone cold expression etched into his face. And then he glances towards Mom, attempts a polite smile that comes out as a grimace. “I’m pleased to see you’ve awoken, Mrs. Caillou.” He states, sighing.Mom nods back at him, a little bewildered. Normally, she’s more chatty than this, but I’m sure the events of the night have taken a toll on her. It has taken a toll on all of us. She’s clutching my arm, and I keep a reassuring hand around her shoulders although I’m so tired it feels as if I might slip out of consciousness.Luke clears his throat. “I need two chairs, Wilhelmina.” He requests, crossing his arms. “From the kitchen. And a bottle of vodka.”Wilma jumps at t
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The Mate Agreement 111: EPILOGUE
The Mate Agreement 110: THE END
The Mate Agreement 109: PREMONITIONS OF CHAOS
The Mate Agreement 108: MOTORBIKE
The Mate Agreement 107: SPEEDBOAT DINNER
The Mate Agreement 106: LUCKY GIRL
The Mate Agreement 105: YOU’RE KINDA HOT WHEN YOU NAG
The Mate Agreement 104: LOST TO WHIMSY
The Mate Agreement 103: IMMERSED
