Page 116 of Scorned

Winnie’s body language spoke volumes as he leaned forward in his seat, his elbows planted firmly on his knees. “Umm, we weren’t going to say anything yet, but you smell weird.”

“I literally showered before you got here.” I raised my arm and sniffed my pit. “Smells fine to me.”

“It’s not that.” Lane shook his head, his nostrils widening as he sniffed again. “I don’t know what it is. It’s earthy, like old soil mixed with a pungent rotten fruit smell.”

My brows lifted. “Are you sure? I can’t smell anything.”

“We’re sure,” Winnie said, yanking his beer up. “Every wolven and vampire in this camp has smelled it, yet none of us can pinpoint what it is.”

“And when you growled it became stronger for a minute,” Lane added, his nostrils flaring once more. “It’s a lot calmer now, but it’s still there.”

Winnie took a sip of beer, then leaned back into the couch. “Perhaps that doctor loaded you up with steroids or some other unknown substance, bro.”

Lane picked his phone back up, his head shaking as he eyed it. “Shit. Based on your description of Ben’s scent they might have injected him with something too.”

A wave of coldness washed over me, causing my back to immediately tense up and sending a prickling sensation across my entire body, as if warning me of some impending danger.

The three of us locked eyes and the tension in the room became palpable, our expressions silently acknowledging the unspoken truth.

It’s possible the Vampire Research Center had altered my ‌nature.

Winnie cleared his throat, finally breaking the silence in the room. “Do you think they turned you into a freak hybrid?”

“No,” I quickly replied, my hands trembling with fear of what the truth might reveal. “You said you’d detected the scent of the multiple species on Ben, but mine doesn’t smell like that, right?”

Winnie ran a hand through his dark, shaggy hair, the shaved sides contrasting against the longer top. “No, but they definitely did something to you.”

“Let’s ‌stay on topic. Back to Sage’s uncle and the meeting he had with Finneas.”

Winnie’s intense glare clarified we’d be continuing this conversation in private, whether or not I wanted to. He finally broke eye contact, tipping his head toward Lane. “If they’re working together, you’re not safe. I think you should pull back from meetings.”

“I agree with Winnie.”

“Will do.” With a nod, Lane reached for his beer, finishing it off in one swift gulp before he rose from his seat. “Well, this has been eye-opening, but I gotta get back. If you guys need anything, let me know.”

The cabin door flung open and Sage and Lyric giggled their way through the door. Annie came back out, barking again, before happily wagging his tail.

“Oh, hey, Lane, how is umm,” Sage side-eyed me and Winnie, “that thing we were talking about?”

A wide smile spread across Lane’s face. “Beyond amazing. Once I get time, we can sit down and I’ll tell you the entire story.”

“That would be great.”

Before Lane even got out the door, Drag poked his head in. “Has anyone seen Laren? I need more torch oil. Oh, hey, Lane.”

“She went to the store for Ollie again,” Lyric said, her brows tightening. “He needed limes and something else for the bar. I can’t remember.”

“My dad is a pain in the ass.” Drag sighed, his eyes landing on Lane. “Hope all is going well at your place.”

“Thanks. I’m settling in nicely.”

Drag nodded, his face filled with urgency. “Good. I can’t stay and talk because I have to finish this project. See you guys later.”

He shut the door and Lane turned back toward us.

“What’s wrong with Drag? I’ve never seen him so energetic.”

Winnie snickered. “Ever since he rejected that chick from Ironclad, he’s been running around putting up tiki torches, solar lights, and hammering on shit. I think he’s nesting or something.”

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