A witch doctor? Perhaps. Some sort of spiritual yoga-practicing healer? Totally. Hell, he could even be a voodoo magic doctor, guessing by the unique crystal around his neck. I really hoped he wasn't. Even though I never believed in anything that didn't have a logical explanation, I knew you shouldn't mess with voodoo. The mere thought of it gave me chills. My nana lived in Orleans before she moved back to Jamaica. I'd heard stories.
"In other words, calm down and be patient." Harlan rolled his eyes at the last statement. Callum then turned around and placed a hand on the doorknob of the room that was all the way down the hall.
"Don't. Let her be." Harlan's words cut through the air with command and a twinge of worry. Callum turned around again and sighed.
"I know," was all he said as Callum gave him a knowing look.
"You know, when the alpha brought her here all those years ago, I knew he had truly found his match," Callum smiled nostalgically. "Selene built herself back up from the ashes of her past and rose stronger than ever, a match to our alpha in every way."
I had no idea who the alpha was. My best guess was that this was what they called the head of the family. I had never really stopped to think about him. His money and influence made me believe he was an older man. Someone who sought out a younger, much more beautiful wife. I knew it seemed unfair to jump to conclusions, but I was only human after all.
"But that, unfortunately, means she blames herself just as much as he does," Callum continued. "I assume that is what our Luna fears. But isolating herself won't make her wounds heal any faster," he said that last part slightly louder, as if knowing she was listening.
"As for you, I advise you not to be here when he arrives. He will not appreciate the presence of another male near his wounded mate, not even his dearest brother," Callum said as he walked past him. I thought I was about to be caught when he walked by my door, but he did not even turn to look. I had no idea how he hadn't noticed me. I wasn't doing a great job at hiding.
Harlan rolled his eyes again. I wondered if that was the only thing he knew how to do.
He waited for a while, maybe making sure Callum had left, before entering Selene's room and closing the door.
I quickly exited my room and decided to eavesdrop a little. Was it wrong? Of course, but something was happening in this house. And I wanted to know exactly what.
I leaned in to listen, but before I knew it, I fell on my face. Oh good, they must have opened the door and I looked back to see it was closed, and before I could start freaking out about the fact I had just gone through the closed door, Selene spoke.
"What are you doing here?" she had her back to me. Her hair was loose and had more white on it than I remembered.
"I'm sorry," I meant to say, but nothing came out. Okay, seriously, what the fuck?
"Wanted to make sure you're okay," Harlan responded, and I understood she wasn't talking to me. They couldn't see me. Was I dead?
"I'm fine. Leave me alone," she answered, her voice slightly cracking.
"I can smell the blood from here." Now that he mentioned it, it did smell like blood. I found that really strange considering blood never smelled like anything before.
"I can also smell your pain. So will he. Do you want to talk about it?"
Smell pain? What?
"You are risking your life by being here, Harlan," Selene said, hiding her face from him with her hands. It wasn't until I got up and walked closer that I saw the wound in her arm. It looked like someone had tried to rip it in two.
Harlan crouched in between her legs in what seemed like an intimate and caring gesture that deeply bothered me for some reason.
"I don't care," he said, gently removing her hands from her face. "Besides, I'll leave soon. Don't worry."
Harlan seemed gentle and caring, the complete opposite of what he was to me. It was clear at that moment he loved her. I had no idea if in a romantic way or just like a friend, but he loved her.
"I just wanted to make sure you knew it wasn't your fault. The lives that were lost are not your fault," he said, gently stroking her two-toned hair.
"Damien was away," she finally said, tears welling in her eyes. "It was my duty to protect our people... and I failed."
She collapsed into his arms as Harlan held her.
"It was my duty as well. We both failed," he said as he caressed her back, rising to sit next to her on the bed. "We were scattered and distracted. They took advantage of that."
"Distracted?" she asked, her tears reigning in. But the salty smell never dissipated from the air.
"I think that is why they attacked that girl and dumped her here. To keep us occupied. To send the alpha away to hunt for her attacker."
"I'm afraid for her too," she confessed. "What's coming isn't easy..." she admitted.
What the hell is coming? Do they have plans for me? Oh god, I have to get out of here...
Harlan looked into her eyes like he was about to tell her something. His hands were still on her back as he opened her mouth.
But the door busted open and heavy breathing filled the room.
I turned my head to see one of the most devastatingly beautiful men I had ever seen in my life, but there was something wrong with him. His eyes were glowing red.