Chapter 23

CLEMENTINE

I’ve decided. I’ve decided I’m going to tell Ivan the truth about me being a witch after we save Barbara.

It’s good that his family already went home because I’m sure they all hate witches after what happened to their parents. But I wonder, ~Why does the entire race have to suffer because of one bad witch?~

~“Did you forget why Malcolm hates witches too?”~ Helia asks.

~No, but still…~

Right now, Ivan, Carl, and I are walking around the vampire’s house, trying to find a clue about who kidnapped Barbara. Carl has even done a once-over using his superspeed, but we’ve found nothing.

“I don’t even smell anything out of the ordinary,” the vampire grunts.

Ivan rolls his eyes as he sniffs around. “That’s because you’re not a werewolf,” he says.

It’s true. Vampires can hear well and maybe even read minds, but they can’t smell things like werewolves can. No way in hell.

Ivan suddenly stops, kneels on the ground, and picks something up. Carl and I come closer. It’s a piece of fabric.

“She must’ve fought them before they took her,” Carl mumbles sadly.

Earlier, Carl got a piece of Barbara’s clothing from their home for Ivan to smell, so now he has my mate smell the scrap. Ivan confirms that it’s Barbara’s.

We spend the next half an hour looking for more clues, but we don’t find any.

“Well,” Ivan says, “there are only two packs that are close to this area: the Blue Moon Pack and the Red Wood pack.”

“Red Wood? What kind of name is that?” Carl asks.

“I know, right?”

I’m shocked. That’s the first time Ivan has agreed with Carl about anything.

Stumped, the three of us walk back to the Black Pearl pack, where Alex gave Carl permission to stay. Alex wasn’t fond of the idea, since he doesn’t like or trust vampires, and I’m sure the pack members are not pleased. I mean, a few guards already bit the shit out of Carl when he first came. But it’s convenient.

“What are we going to do?” the vampire asks on our walk.

“I will arrange a meeting with both packs and ask about your sister,” Ivan says.

Carl stops walking and glances at us, making us halt. “What?” I ask.

“I just want to say thank you. I never in a million years thought a werewolf would help me—or that I would accept their help,” he admits, making my heart warm.

“The thought’s mutual,” Ivan mutters. I slap his arm, and rolling his eyes, he adds, “Me too, and you’re welcome. Hopefully, we will find your sister.”

Carl nods, and we continue our walk.

***

“So, how’s everything with Ivan?” Erika asks as we work around the infirmary.

I haven’t worked in a while, and I miss it here. Ever since I became a true phoenix, my life has changed drastically. I don’t hate the way it is now, but I feel more responsible.

Hell, I still have to talk to my father, who magically talked to me when I turned. He hasn’t left his house since I killed Sofia, but not because he’s mourning; I can feel that he’s scared of facing me, for some reason.

“It’s amazing,” I reply shyly. “He’s very kind and loving. Maybe a little too possessive, but I kinda like it. Actually, I love it.” I giggle.

“So happy to hear that.” She smiles and hugs me. “Ah…Clem? Chloe kinda wants to meet Helia…like right now.”

“Okay, let’s go outside,” I say, smiling and taking her hand. Thank God, Dr. Klaus is here to take care of the few patients that are in the infirmary.

We walk outside, and surprisingly, no one dares to insult me. I’m still not used to everyone being afraid of me, even though I can now wipe them out with a finger.

Plus, I’m sure Ivan would eat them alive if they disrespected me.

~“Ivan…”~ Helia hums, making me roll my eyes.

I try to block her thoughts and feelings, but her horniness affects me anyway, and I suddenly feel the need to see and touch Ivan. I decide I’ll do that when I finish with Erika.

Once we reach the woods, Erika goes behind a tree and turns. As Chloe’s paws hit the ground and come toward me, I let Helia take over. People gasp at the sight of my huge wings and the flames that cover my whole body.

Helia kneels to Chloe’s level, and they start to communicate. Helia can communicate through mind-link only if she accepts the connection from a wolf—and they have to be close to each other to do so.

~“Hello, Chloe. I am Helia,”~ Helia mind-links, smiling.

~“Hey, Helia! I am so happy to meet you. I am Chloe, Erika’s wolf,”~ Chloe replies.

~“I am so happy to meet you as well. You are very beautiful.”~

~“Thank you so much, but not as beautiful as you are.”~

Helia is about to reply when Leonid interrupts, saying, ~“Stop flirting with my mate.”~

We roll our eyes as Ivan walks over, his eyes bright yellow. Erika goes behind the tree again, turning back into her human form and putting on the clothes that she left there, and I take over my body once more.

“Ivan, what are you doing here?” I ask.

He smirks. “I sensed that you needed me.”

I blush, then stutter, “I-I was going to come to you after I finished here.” I wonder, not for the first time, if he can read my thoughts.

Ivan takes hold of my waist and starts leaning in, but Erika ruins the moment. “Hello, Alpha,” she says cheerily.

He groans and just nods, but I nudge him so that he’ll be politer. “Hello,” he forces out.

Laughing, Erika says, “I’ll see you later, Clem,” and leaves.

Ivan’s smirk returns. “Shall we continue this inside?”

I nod and follow him to our room. Once the door is closed, I smash my lips on his, unable to take it anymore. I moan, and he groans, and all I can hear is the sound of us kissing.

We are so immersed that I don’t notice Carl sitting on the couch, looking amused at the scene in front of him. I only look that way when Helia tells me that the vampire is here.

But Ivan knew. He was facing the couch and kept kissing me anyway, wanting to let Carl know that I am his.

~He’s jealous. I fucking love it.~

“Carl!” I say, making a show of being shocked. “What are you doing here? We gave you a room!”

“I know, but I like it here more,” he replies, making Ivan growl and hold me tighter.

I roll my eyes and try to break away from his hold. When he doesn’t release me, I whisper in his ear, “If you let me go, I will let you shower with me again tonight.”

He immediately releases his grip and clears his throat.

“Now, Carl,” I say, “what is it?”

“I was in Alpha Alex’s room, and a letter came from the Blue Moon Pack. They’re inviting us to their home for a meeting.”

I clap. “Oh, that’s great!”

“Yeah, but…”

I frown. “What?”

“I’ve had a bad encounter with this pack.”

“So, you’re saying that they might have kidnapped your sister because of you?” Ivan asks.

“Maybe, I don’t know, but if that’s the case, then I fear they killed my sister a long time ago.”

“What the fuck did you do?” I ask.

“I killed their gamma.”

~Fuck.~

I fake-smile. “Good job.”

“Let’s just hope they don’t have her,” Ivan says, “and tomorrow, you will not come with us.”

Carl nods, then warns, “But I’m telling you now, if they killed her, I will go to war with them—and I will bring all the vampire families with me.”

“Oh, I will come too,” I say, flashing my orange eyes.