Chapter One
One of the Pack
Artemis has moved me several times since then: San Francisco, New Orleans, Atlanta, and recently Las Vegas, but now I'm back in New Orleans and I strongly believe that Acheron has no idea. It's been almost twenty-three years since I became a hunter and I've avoided Acheron and his family like the plague. So far, Artemis has been gracious enough to keep me away from them, but I think my time my time is running out. My phone rang in my pocket and I groaned.
"Yes, Rina here, speak," I growled into the phone and the voice on the other end laughed. It seemed so familiar and it was definitely female, but I couldn't seem to place it.
"Rin, Its Sam. Rumor has it you've been transferred to New Orleans. You need to stop by and see The quads like you promised," Samia's voice echoed over the phone as I stepped onto Ursuline st. Samia had been my anchor in the dark-hunter world until she mated with Dev Peltier, a were hunter and had his Quadruplets: Aubert, Nicolette, Requiem, and Mephistopheles. The quads were almost three and she was pregnant again, but I hadn't visited since she mated.
"You must be psychic, Sam. I'm on Ursuline now. I'll be there soon, if no demons or daimons are lurking about," I purred back looking both ways, but I didn't hear anything on the other end of the phone for a minute. I stepped onto the sidewalk and started for the bar before she answered me.
"You're not funny Aikaterina," she mock laughed then there was static as I laughed and headed towards Sanctuary, my home away from home. My phone rang again and I was ready to through it in the Mississippi. /Ugh! why do I even have this?/
"This better be important," I growled and someone cleared there throat on the other end
"Of course it is Rina. Would your best bud, Nick, call to chat- static passes- Never mind, don't answer that," he joked as I smiled. He was always calling just to chat even if Artemis was having him call he always chatted with me. I let my smile fade as a thought came to me. /What if Artemis had changed her mind?/
"Nick, I'm about to see Samia, so if you called to chat hang up, 'cause unless it's life or death you are about to be Hades problem," I threatened looking at Sanctuary as I walked up the cobblestone street. There was a long pause before he sighed.
"Artemis wanted you to know that Acheron would like to see you," he let out in one breath. I went to hang up, but I took a deep breath and slowly counted to ten instead. I took another breath before I put the phone back to my ear.
"What does Mister high and mighty god want now?" I retorted feeling a demonic presence. I quickly turned to see Styxx behind me and I calmed almost immediately.
"He says he wants to - I hear papers rustling- apologize for some things… -the paper flies- Hell, how am I suppose to know Rina?" Nick's voice finally answers as Styxx leans up against the nearest building. In his leather outfit, he looked exactly like Acheron except for that blonde mop of hair he had and refused to cut even though Bethany had asked him to.
"Why can't he just call me like a normal person?" I asked frustrated at Acheron's antics. Styxx pushed off the building and sauntered over to me. He set a hand on my shoulder and I smiled up at him. I was not a fan of My older brother and even though Styxx was his twin I didn't mind him. They'd both been through Hell and I watched it all go down. I wasn't allowed to interfere and I hated that the most.
"You don't answer your phone for him, Rina. Go see Sam, get her out of that house. She needs it. Bye, Aikaterina don't stress over Acheron," Nick hung up with that sentiment and I shut the phone shoving it in my pocket before someone else had a chance to call.
"Okay, Love. What is that face for?" he asked wrapping me into a hug. It was a welcome sensation since I hadn't seen him in almost two years. He'd been the one to teach me to street fight and everything else I needed to know when I was a supposed human so long ago.
"It's good to see you Styxx. Will you come with me to see Sam and Dev's kids?" I asked already knowing he couldn't come with me.
"You know I can't. She'd kill me on sight. You and Bethany are the only ones who know this side of me Cher and You're avoiding my question," he reminded me while letting me go. I took a step back towards Sanctuary and wished he'd come.
"Acheron wants to 'talk'," I cringed and Styxx chuckled shaking his head. The brothers had worked through their differences, but Ash and I had more to deal with than he and Styxx had.
"He's not as bad as you think, Rin. Let him prove how sorry he is. He didn't mean to be so harsh on you the day you left. He still loves you like a daughter. It's why you have so much," he painfully reminded me. I nodded knowing he was right, but how could I go back to the god who said he didn't want me.
"Sure, Styxx, maybe for you he's this great guy who forgave you of everything like you told me," I paused taking another step back and his shoulders dropped, because he could sense the "but" coming. I squared my shoulders and continued, "but for me he's the older brother who was going to turn me out the same way my... Aribella did. She didn't want me and all I did was remind her of a mistake." I ground my teeth at the mention of her shook his head and chuckled to himself.
"Rin, He didn't mean what he thought. He was on a rant. Artie wouldn't help him and now he realizes how much he was acting like our father," He explained taking a step to me, but I stepped back again. He sighed, "He just wants to ask your forgiveness, Katrina. That's all." The way his voice sounded as he begged almost convinced me and I nodded even though I didn't agree with him.
"Sure, Styxx, I'll see you later. I have a date with a hormonal pregnant woman and I don't want her angry at me," I joked as he kissed my forehead in a brotherly way.
"Don't forget what I taught you, Cher," he mentioned before vanishing into the darkness. I smiled at that and look into the spot where he had vanished.
"How can I... When it saves my life everyday?" I breathed into the wind before I walked into the bright lamp light in front of Sanctuary. I saw Dev acting like he was sleeping and I masked my presence so he didn't feel anything. I walked up behind him and pinched the back of his arm leaving a nice bruise on his taunt skin.
"Son of a Bitch," he yelled before turning to see me. His eyes lit up when he saw it was me and he wrapped me in a bear hug that cracked my back. "Katrina, you've stayed away far too long," he greeted before he set me down again. I delightedly moan as my back settled back into place and I rubbed my neck.
"Thanks, Dev, I needed my back cracked. Man, do I miss your hugs," I greeted him as laughed. He hit the com on his head set and I grinned.
"Hey, Katrina's here get her a beer and treat her right or I'll rough you up," he informed the rest of them. I heard Aimee's voice over the set and it made me smile brighter.
"Tell her to get that skinny ass of hers in here, so I don't have to waddle outside," she complained with an all to cheery note. I walked inside where I was practically run over by still petite pregnant honey blonde were-bear.
"Rina, how long has it been?" Aimee asked hugging me over her bump. I looked down at it and back at her smiling eyes that matched the color of her hair.
"Two years. I was here when the quads were born. When did this happen? Where's Fang? I need to congratulate him on being a dad again," I tried to say. I started to look for Fang, but Samia was right there to hug me over her own little "baby bump".
"Rin, Damn girl! Did you get taller or something?" She greeted as I nodded looking the taller tanner blonde up and down. That comment made me grin wider as I stepped back taking in the two of them.
"Yeah, I'm a whopping 6'2" now, but I think there's an epidemic. Sanctuary has become a baby making factory. I better leave while I still can," I joked starting out the door again, but I was grabbed by two strong arms that lifted me up off the floor.
"You are not leaving until you say hello to me. You aren't getting away that easy," I heard as my back is cracked again. I moaned in delight and laughed.
"I have got to get Artemis to let me stay in New Orleans. You Peltier boys give the best hugs," I stated as he set me down. I turned around to see Remi, who was the last one of the quads I expected to see.
"What? Do I have something on my face? Don't look so surprised short stuff you're the only one who can best me at sarcasm," he commented as I just stood there staring at him while Aimee and Samia laughed. Remi and I hadn't been the best of buds and he usually ignored me all together. This had to be a dream.
"Remi, I think you scared her to death," Fang sarcastically called from behind him. Fang smiled when Remi moved and I snapped out of it.
"Fang, Congratulations again," I finally breathed again while we shook hands. I turned to Remi and tried to continue, "Sorry Remi, that was…" I lost my words and my cheeks burned with blush. I looked up into his deep blue eyes before I recovered, "I wasn't expecting such a warm welcome." he smiled as Kyle came up to our group and clapped him of the back.
"Remi, dude, you made Killer blush," Kyle teased as Remi punched him in the arm. \Killer\ had become my nickname when we were fighting a hoard of Daimon and I singlehandedly took down more than anyone else. Now the nickname seemed strange.
"I'd have you meet the twins, but I just got them to settle down and go to sleep," Fang broke the silence. I stopped smiling and look at all of them as a group. Sanctuary had come a long way and this little group was the driving force that made it possible.
"Well that's why I'm here actually. I was kind of hoping you could put me up for a couple days," I asked not wanting to impose. I was met by warm approvals all around and it warmed my heart.
"Why not day walker. We always have room for a few more strays," came a chilling voice that sent shivers up my spine. I turned to find Etienne, my former crew mate, standing in the doorway across the bar. He and I never got along after I became a Dark-hunter. It was due the fact that when I was human I'd attack anything that so much as breathed a threat to my team and when things went south I was blamed because I "died".
"Etienne, behave or I'll take you into the ally and whop you," Aimee threatened as he walked up to me with his chest out trying to prove how big he was and I met him halfway. At my six two he was still a bit taller then me, but we stood chest to chest. Fang had to separate us.
"Calm down, this is no time for a cock fight. Katrina is staying for a few days and you, Etienne, will live with it or you can sulk in your room or the kitchen. Got it," Fang ordered and Etienne went back upstairs without commenting. Cherif gave Remi a beer which he tried to give to me, but I shook my head crossing my arms over my well endowed chest because I was suddenly cold.
"Maybe I shouldn't stay here," I began, but Griffe walked over and lifted my chin so he could look into my unnaturally purple eyes that were the only thing that didn't match Acheron's.
"Just because Etienne doesn't want you here, doesn't mean the rest of us don't. One vote to fifteen outnumbers him. You are staying Rin and nothing you say will change that," he corrected as fourteen other loud agreements sounded all around. I smiled not letting them see how it unnerved me.
"Thanks guys. So where am I bunking," I asked and a debate ensued of who's giving up there room.