Hunting Haven
Chapter Sixteen

Gabriel

Dane entered ahead of us, searching to make sure the vampire wasn’t hiding in a dark nook of the house. When he gave the all-clear, I motioned for Haven to enter.

The home looked awful the night before, but in the light of day you could really see just how damaged it really was. She let out a sad little gasp as she walked in, eyes watering.

“Well, I’m not getting my security deposit back,” she mumbled, using sarcasm to cope as always.

I slung an arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “It’s okay to be sad, babe.”

She let out a sigh before shrugging me off and heading for the stairs. “I’ll have time for that later. I demand a tub of the chocolatiest ice cream you can replace so I can be a proper depressed little lump tonight.”

“You’re gross, but you got it,” Dane said from the top of the stairs.

“How am I gross?”

“Chocolate ice cream is nasty.”

“Your face is nasty,” she quipped back as she hip-bumped him out of the way and walked toward her bedroom.

She walked through the house like a ghost, completely silent as she gathered her things. I felt terrible watching her expression grow more and more dismal. She tried to straighten up as best she could until she had a moment where she laughed to herself.

“What’s funny?” I asked.

“Me. I’m so sad over this house, this stuff, but I’ve had to run before with nothing but the clothes on my back. Jesse beat me so bad I was literally black and blue, and could only see out of one eye. But I still managed to travel cross-country and disappear, anyway. Stuff is replaceable. I think I’ve forgotten that. Being in a stable home, a happy place, made me forget that all I really need to do is survive. I can replace stuff.”

“You’re pretty incredible, you know that, right?”

“Shut up, Macias. You don’t have to win me over anymore. You already got me.”

I chuckled softly at her words, hugging her from behind. “Good to know. I still mean it, though. You amaze me.”

She leaned back against me and we stood like that for a few minutes in silence before I let her go. “It’s getting late. We have to go.”

“Give me five more minutes and I’ll be ready to roll.”

After she brushed her teeth and shoved a couple more items into her duffle bag, she was ready to head back to panther lands.

We got back with an hour to spare before dark. Haven insisted on spending some time outside, enjoying the sun’s rays before we locked ourselves inside until morning. With the past few days she’d had, I didn’t argue it. I watched her curl up on a chair in Dane’s back yard and read from a distance as I called the chief deputy.

“Macias. What the fuck?” was how he answered. I can’t say that I was surprised.

“I’m sorry, sir. I have a family emergency. I hate to do this, but I have to resign from my position. I’ll have my gun, badge and squad car delivered to you.”

“Are you fucking with me? You can’t send someone with your gun and badge. Get your ass in here and we can talk this out.”

“Look, Pete, there is nothing to talk about. I’m moving out of state immediately. I won’t be coming back. I’m sorry.”

“You know if you quit like this, no other department will hire you.”

Staring at Haven, watching her cheeks flush red at whatever she’d just read, I smiled to myself. She was more than worth it. “Yeah, I know, but family comes first, sir. Take care.”

I hung up and turned my phone off before going to join her. She jumped guiltily when I kissed her check from behind, slamming her book face down on her lap. I frowned at her reaction, wondering what she was hiding. Between her sheepish expression and shady behavior, I had a sneaking suspicion.

Faster than she could stop me, I snatched the book off of her lap. She jumped up immediately trying to get the novel back, but I held it away from her as I started to read it aloud. “His member quivered with need as Alexander grasped Helena, holding her against him as he tasted her flesh. His fingers slid down her body, teasing her folds until he slipped a finger into her sweet, sweet honey pot.”

I laughed so hard tears filled my eyes and I had to hold my still slightly injured ribs to ease the stabbing pain my hysteria caused. “What the fuck are you reading?” Standing up straight was an impossibility, and Haven took advantage of that, ripping her book away from me.

“Mind your business and shut up or you won’t be touching my honey pot anytime soon.”

“Hey if quivering members and teasing folds is what you’re into, who am I to judge?”

“Here I’d pegged you as a nice guy but, no. In reality, you’re a douche canoe.”

“What was that about pegging? Sorry, babe, I’m not vanilla, but I’m not that adventurous either.”

“Gabe,” she screeched my name and swatted at my arm. “I legitimately hate you right now!”

Her face was flaming red as she turned to storm back into the house. I caught her from behind, pulling her against me. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“You’re still laughing!”

Her outrage made me laugh harder. I tried to get it together, but it was just so damn funny.

“Okay, okay. But seriously… honey pot?”

“GABRIEL,” her shout echoed across the open acres of the panther farm. I continued to chuckle, but released her. She stepped inside immediately, clutching her book to her chest.

***

Six hours later, she sat freshly showered in bed, still ignoring me. She pointedly avoided looking in my direction when I entered the room, towel drying my hair.

“Haven, come on. Are you still mad at me? It was funny.” Apparently, those were the wrong words if the daggers her eyes threw at me were any indication.

Thankfully, I had a secret weapon. I left the room, and when I returned she was much nicer. It was probably because of the giant bowl of chocolate ice cream I carried.

“Is that for me?” she asked.

“Are you still mad at me?” I repeated.

She narrowed her eyes at me, tilting her head to the side as she looked me over. “I suppose I could be persuaded by ice cream.”

“Score. I thought I’d have to fill you up with waffles tomorrow to truly earn your forgiveness.”

“I want to be offended by the fact that you think food equals exoneration, but also I want ice cream and waffles, so I guess I can pardon your crimes this time. I still want breakfast tomorrow though.”

I grinned and leaned over to give her a quick kiss before handing over the ice cream. “Deal.”

She gave me a once over as she took her first bite, lingering on the sweatpants that hung low on my hips. Her eyes flicked over my torso before returning to my face. “Your bruises look better.”

“Told you, witch charms work quick. By tomorrow night, I’ll be back to normal.”

She patted the spot next to her, “Tell me about that.”

I reclined beside her, holding myself up on my elbow. “About what?”

“You hate vampires, you don’t seem too fond of any shifter outside of your bromance with Dane, but you work with witches. Are there like certain supernaturals you’re cool with or something?”

“Bromance?”

“Don’t deflect.”

I heaved a sigh and gave a lazy shrug. “Fine. First of all, witches are genetically human. They just have power. The association was actually founded by witches in order to protect regular people.”

I paused and propped a pillow under my head before answering the rest of her question.

“As for the others, Hunters are told about the creatures of the night from the beginning. I knew how to kill a vampire, in theory, before I started kindergarten. We’re raised to hate bloodsuckers, rightfully so, and shifters. I’ve learned over the years that the shifters aren’t as bad. Some packs are, but Dane is a good leader. I’m… still uncomfortable, but I’m trying.”

“What do you mean some packs are bad?”

“Well, a lot of female shifters have a hard time carrying to term because they have to shift at least once a month. Each shift puts a strain on the fetus. There are packs, all different animals, who will take human women against their will and breed with them. It’s disgusting. Dane outlawed it in his pack because… well, that’s his story to tell. Suffice it to say, Dane isn’t one of those shifters. Still, it’s hard to get over decades of hatred. I’m working on it.”

“That’s awful. Those poor women.”

I murmured my agreement, nudging her bowl to remind her of the ice cream.

She ate another spoonful before speaking again. “Also, kinda stupid that you hate all shifters for that. I feel like you should reserve judgement on their actions and not be a speciest? Is that a word? Point being, you shouldn’t hate people based on what they are. You should hate them based on who they are.”

I smiled softly, leaning forward to kiss her cool lips. “How did you just sum up why generations of hunter ideology is bullshit in less than a minute?”

She shrugged a shoulder, answering around a giant bite of chocolate. “What can I say? When you’re good, you’re good.”

“And so humble.”

“Don’t you forget it.”

After that, we spent the rest of the night swapping stories. She shared a lot with me, but the ice cream wasn’t one of those things.

The next morning, we woke up to a loud banging on the door. I looked over at Haven to make sure the blanket covered her bare legs before calling out. “Come in.”

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to wake up still. Angel pushed the door open, his bleach blonde hair disheveled as if he’d just been pulled out of bed, too. “Dane wants you downstairs in five, Gabe. It’s urgent.”

He didn’t wait for a reply, slamming the door behind him.

“What the hell was that about?” Haven asked through a yawn. I shrugged, climbing out of bed.

“Whatever it was, it seemed important,” I answered as I yanked a t-shirt over my head. She crawled out of bed, pulling on a pair of pajama pants. She hadn’t been a part of the summons, but she clearly planned to come, anyway.

“It better be, or I’m going to kick Dane’s ass,” she snarked.

I snorted out a laugh as I opened the door. “Honestly, I’d pay to see that. I’d even bet on you.”

She blew me a kiss before leading the way downstairs.

Dane, Angel, and a few more panthers that I didn’t recognize stood around the kitchen table in their human forms. Their expressions ranged from pinched with anxiety to full-on outrage.

I reached out and grabbed Haven’s arm, halting her progression.

“A gift from the vamp,” Dane grunted. “You might not want to see this.” The latter directed at Haven. Unease filled me as I pulled her back a step. Dane wasn’t one to treat people with kid gloves. If he didn’t think she should look, it was probably for a good reason.

She glared at him, shaking off my grasp. “It’s obviously about me if it’s from the vampire. I want to see.”

Dane looked at me, the absence of any playfulness speaking volumes. My mind raced as I tried to figure out what it could be, but I came up empty. No matter what it was, his message was clear as we communicated with our eyes. We needed to keep Haven from seeing the gift as he’d called it.

“Oh, screw this,” she snapped, pushing between Dane and Angel. Her eyes widened as all the color drained from her face. I rushed to her side, wrapping a supportive arm around her waist as I looked for myself.

A severed hand sat atop a red satin pillow in a gift box. I frowned as guilt warred with confusion. This appendage meant that yet another person had been hurt. It meant that I had failed again. Beyond that, this package didn’t make sense. What did the hand mean? “The donuts and the rose… those gifts made sense, but this one? I don’t get it.”

“I do,” Haven whispered. Her face was still ashen as she took a deep breath. “That’s my ex-husband’s hand. That scar on top… it’s Jesse. When we were in high school, he used to play chicken with his friends.”

“Chicken?” Angel asked.

“You know, the game where you stab between your finger gaps in order. You’re supposed to go faster and faster without messing up. Jesse and his friends played with a pocket knife. His friend messed up and stabbed him. The blade went all the way through his palm.” Her voice was hollow as she explained, as if she didn’t even realize she was actually speaking.

I pulled her into my side, hugging her close as I addressed Dane. “Where was the… package… left?”

“On my front porch,” he hissed.

“What?!” I snapped. “I thought you had patrols running every night.”

“I fucking do,” he snapped. He slammed his fist against the table in anger, the noise causing Haven to jump. I stroked her back, soothing her as I shot him a glare.

He looked contrite. I understood his anger. Hell, I was just as pissed, but I didn’t want to scare Haven more.

“When was it found?” I asked.

“This morning. I have a few trackers out trying to follow the trail now. Hopefully, they can replace his daylight hideout,” Dane replied.

I nodded as I mentally began to plot our next course of action. It was no longer safe here. It was time to move on to the next place.“We have to-”

“I know,” Dane cut me off, raking his hand through his hair anxiously. “I’ll have a car gassed up and ready for you. Cash and a burner, too. Do you have a place to go?”

“I have someone I can call.”

He nodded, not asking. That was the moment I realized we were on the same page. How could the vampire sneak a hand on to pack lands without being noticed? The only logical explanation was that a panther helped him. It was no longer safe for us with Dane’s pack.