Relentless by Suzanne Cox Read Free Book Online

the back of my neck stand up. Did that make the person who cleaned my room a spy for the Fenryrians? I wasn’t so sure about that. A part of me felt like I should report it, but I knew I wouldn’t because whoever had left the envelope was a link to Eric and, other than this phone number, the only link I had.
    I showered so I’d be ready for dinner then grabbed my phone and went outside. I’d entered Eric’s number in my phone with no name just the letters SE, his last initial then his first. I couldn’t take the chance that Myles or Aunt Louise or even Brynna would borrow my phone and see I had a number for Eric. We’d all been friends this past summer, but that was before we’d found out Eric was a Fenryrian werewolf, a very important Fenryrian werewolf. In the beginning, he’d been lying to us to get information about the Lycernian pack, but then something had happened between the two of us, something I couldn’t explain. We were connected, were meant to be together. But all relationships and friendships had had to end when we’d found out who Eric was. I understood that he’d only been doing what his pack demanded when he’d hidden who he was in the beginning. Myles and Brynna weren’t so forgiving. I think the betrayal stung Myles most of all because he and Eric had been such good friends. Eric seemed to understand Myles’ anger better than I did. He didn’t hold it against Myles or Brynna that they wouldn’t have anything else to do with him. But then that’s how they’d all been brought up, to hate each other. That wasn’t something that just went away. I walked along the path toward where we’d gotten off the boat yesterday. It seemed like a week ago. I dialed the number and heard ringing on the other end.
    “Hello.”
    I couldn’t speak. All the things I’d imagined I’d say when I spoke to Eric again hung in my chest.
    “Eric.” I whispered his name as though someone might overhear me, even though I was nearly surrounded by a jungle.
    “Alexis, is that you?”
    “Yes.”
    He expelled a breath that was audible over the phone. “I’m glad you decided to call.”
    “Did you think I wouldn’t?”
    “I wasn’t sure how you felt after I left that night. I know you didn’t understand why I couldn’t take you with me.”
    “I understand now.”
    “It’s my father, both parents, really. I’m not allowed to do some things that others in my pack might be able to, simply because of who my father is and what he expects of me.”
    I nodded as if he could see me. “Louise told me your father is Brodin, the leader of the Fenryrian pack. But Eric, I’m at school now, and I’m going to learn to be a strong werewolf, a fighter, a warrior.”
    “For the Lycernians.”
    I took a deep breath before answering then let the words out in rush. “Not necessarily.”
    For a few beats, neither of us spoke.
    “What are you saying?” Eric asked, breaking the silence.
    “I’m saying if I can convince the Fenryrians that I’m valuable, they might want me as a member of their pack.” There. I’d said the words out loud. The main reason I’d joined Louise at the project was to get to Eric, but I’d never told anyone.
    “Alexis, I have no doubt my father would want you to leave the Lycernians and join the Fenryrian pack, even with no training. Why do you think Channing was so determined to have you run with her friends and be like them, join them?  It was because my father had told her to.”
    The summer before, I’d made friends with Channing, who had been promised to be mated to Eric in the future. But Eric had refused the match. When he and I had fallen in love, Channing had come after me and was killed by the head of the Lycernian council when she attacked and tried to kill me. I’d once overheard her say she’d been told to get me to join “their” side.  I hadn’t realized Eric’s dad had made the request.
    “Why would he do that?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    I almost smiled with