Hunting Tess by Kathryn Summers (best novels to read in english .TXT) 📗

Bulgarian vampires are on the hunt for power and have an interest in Tess. What exactly are they looking for?

CHAPTER 5

HER

“Everyone this is Lorelai,” Caleb introduces, holding the hand of a pretty brunette with a wide grin. Her thick curly hair frames her heart shaped face and I don’t miss the shy glances thrown Caleb’s way.

Cutting up avocadoes for the salad, I offer the girl a friendly smile. Parker often forgets that people need reassurance with pleasantness instead of surly grimaces and Leo can be a little overexuberant. Not the best impression for Caleb’s girlfriend.

“Mom and Dad send their regards,” Caleb tells his brothers as he slips his hands around Lorelai’s waist. She blushes profusely before offering to help make dinner. Parker has the two lovebirds set the table while he makes a pesto.

“Went to visit your parents and comes home with a girlfriend,” I whisper loud enough for Parker to hear, moving on to the lettuce. “Guess that means he had a good trip.”

He replies noncommittally so I wait for him to notice my look of exasperation. “Huh? Yeah, he got more than he bargained for.”

“That’s an odd way to put it,” I comment. “Finding someone you like and have a connection with is a good thing.”

“You’re right. It is. She seems very nice.”

Not buying the nonchalance act I shoo him away to finish the pasta. I watch Caleb and Lorelai’s relationship, her quiet giggles and his dry chuckles accompanied by a touch, a caress, here and there. Well I’m happy for Caleb, no matter what his moody brother thinks.

“Thanks for making dinner,” Lorelai says once we’re all seated at the table. The aromatic scent of basil pesto and garlic bread mingles in the air teasing my appetite.

“I’m glad you came back,” Leo says to Caleb. “So where are you guys planning on living? With the rest of the pack?”

“That’s up to Lorelai,” Caleb states, taking her hand on the table. “We definitely want to be near the pack but haven’t decided if we want to live there or on some land outside of town.”

My eyes must be the size of saucers. They’re planning on living together? But they just met!

Leo notices my growing alarm because he says nonplussed, “Caleb and Lorelai bonded.” At my open confusion he continues, “It’s a wolf thing.”

“Basically, it’s when you find your mate,” Caleb explains. Kudos to this bond thing or whatever. No way would I have ever expected Caleb, the hard no-nonsense don’t have time for your ignorance Caleb, to take the time to clarify something.

“Your mate?”

“The person you would be most compatible with. Or one option anyway. You can only discover your mate while in wolf form, and from what I’m told, when you see the right person everything else melts away.” Leo’s description almost makes it sound like he’s yearning to bond with someone.

“What do you mean one option anyway?” I question.

“Everything is about a choice,” Parker states, taking a generous helping of linguini. “If you don’t like a potential mate then you can move on.”

I take a moment to consider this. “What about the other person? Do they have a say?”

“Of course they do!” Lorelai laughs, squeezing Caleb’s hand. “There still has to be some element of courting, even if that courting is brief.” They share a secret smile and I wonder just how brief their “courting” was.

“Is it common? What if two people are happily married but then years later he finds his mate?”

“Again, choice,” Caleb says. “Many try to find their mate before marrying to avoid that scenario. And since there are multiple potential mates it is pretty common to find at least one.”

I wonder if many wolves return to the main pack to find a mate, or how often it happens by accident. It must not be too common an accident since they have to be in their wolf form. A smile goes to my lips when I think of someone like Ashley facing down Parker when he’s shifted. No way that girl would stick around for long after such an experience.

“Find something amusing?” Parker asks. When I tell him what I had been thinking about a shifter scaring the daylights out of a girl, without using names of course, Lorelai laughs but the other three look surly.

“However rare, it has happened,” Parker grits. “And causes serious heartache to the one who bonded, and therefore the whole neighboring pack. When shifted we can feel each other’s emotions. So yes, it is better that the woman is more interested in running into his arms than the opposite direction.”

“Well whatever happens I’m sure it would all work out in the end,” I pacify after a bite of bread. “How else would the pack still be functioning without the serious effects of inbreeding?”

Leo sprays the table from the drink of water he had just taken and I can’t tell whether Parker’s purple face is from him about to explode or severe embarrassment.

Lorelai’s small grin and wink lets me know at least someone appreciates my concern for the wolf pack, since, after all, it was a legitimate inquiry.

After sputtering on the last of the water, Leo pats a towel over the worst of the table before abruptly changing the topic.

***

“I saw someone outside, if you know what I mean.” Nathan shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other, this being the first thing he has said to me since our disastrous date. I look up from fastening my shoes. Dark circles sit under his eyes and I wonder how he’s sleeping; and whether his nightmares are because of me. Nodding his head like he delivered the message he escapes quickly down the aisle, back toward his group of friends.

Curious about the cryptic message, I finish putting on my dancing shoes. The scuffed and worn toe highlight the hours upon hours I’ve spent wearing them, a trophy of my dedication. Adjusting my bra strap beneath the leotard, I bring my foot up to stretch the back of my