Old Habits

Conor: hunter consequences

Conor

The rest of pack was curious about Stefa, but were good about giving her space. She found the additional people claustrophobic and spent most of the day at the edge of camp, watching the trees.

Victor was still not completely healed; Casey said to be mindful of his many, many stiches. But he was alive, and I wondered if he was joining the pack after all this. I knew that Ralph would probably not mind having a doctor around.

I agreed with Tish that Sasha was trouble, but I didn't voice these concerns. Ralph and Mel were worried that allowing the hunters to lock up even one turned hunter meant the hunters got used to it, and ultimately, would probably come for us next.

"I'm glad you're home," Susie Lynn said, coming to stand next to me. She took my hand. "I missed you guys, even if it meant I got to win at dominos without you."

"You played without me?" I mock complained.

She grinned. "We came out here for no reason it seems. We could have taken Helen, yes?"

"I don't think so," I told her. "It took Jackson and Stefa to kill her. If there had been werewolves around, we couldn't have caught her unawares. I don't exactly know; I wasn't in the room. But I saw the blood afterward."

She wrinkled her nose. Mel called for Susie Lynn to pack her clothes back up. I walked over to Lacy and Jackson, who were deep in discussion. I wanted to know when they were leaving our pack.

"I don't want to go back by myself," Jackson complained as I approached. "Lacy I didn't mean for you to like these people enough to stay."

"Stay?" I echoed.

Lacy smiled. "Mel and I have talked. Sasha can't be near humans, she's too...Sasha. Grant needs someone to talk with, to train with. Mike needs a place and since apparently, he's been in the area for months now he'd be a perfect addition. The goal is to get some land a bit down the road, but for now, we could stay at the cabins without problem."

"The clan will miss you," Jackson told her.

"The clan can come here then," Lacy countered. "Jack, I like the country. I think you should go back to New York and be happy there, but I'm not the only one who liked roaming Canada over getting shoved on the subway in New York. And I don't think it would be the worst thing to have some land to call ours, have a place. The next time crisis strikes and you have to flee your city."

"I'm staying," came a soft voice.

I turned to let Stefa step forward. Jackson's frown deepened.

"What?"

"I can't deal with people, Jack," Stefa said. "No way I can handle New York; Aidan kicked over the kettle and I started crying. I'm in no condition to be anywhere near anything at all."

"But now I'm going back alone," he huffed.

"But New York should be safe again and you have the clan," Lacy told him. "I don't know what to tell you, Jackson. But you'll have to order me to leave, and you'll regret doing that. Ask Mike to ride with you if you're going to be a baby about it."

Jackson huffed again and stomped off. I put my arm around Stefa's shoulders.

"You sure?" I said. "You might like Canada. I hear most of it looks a lot like here."

She nodded. "The idea of New York is enough to make me melt down. But if I was with Jack, I'm going to have to deal with vampire politics and I'm out of that game, probably for good."

I wasn't sure how Tish would feel about my ex-girlfriend living nearby, but she knew that I wasn't getting back together with Stefa. So I nodded at Lacy and Stefa with a smile and went to find my girlfriend, who had been pulled into Susie Lynn telling her version of events. Tish always seemed calmer around Susie Lynn and I was glad that we were back home.