Rion walks to me and lifts me up in a huge hug. “Thank you, Ari. Thank you for uncovering the truth and making us whole again.”
I bury my face in his shoulder, pulling in his sandalwood scent. “It wasn't only me. It was Ford, too.”
Rion places me on the ground as we both turn in search of Ford, who is no longer there. I hope this isn't how it's going to be from now on. Him only joining us when he thinks we need something. I will always need my best friend.
“Give him time,” Rion says quietly and places a kiss on my forehead. “He'll come around. You gave him a lot to think about.”
“I hope you're right.”
Aries and Wake come over to us. “Ari, do you want to join us for dinner?” Aries asks. “We're going to welcome Wake back into the pack.”
“No, but thank you for the invitation. I should be getting home. I don't want my parents to see me teleport.”
“I'll go with you,” Rion says.
I place my hand on his chest. “You stay here and have dinner with the pack. I'll be okay at home. You need this time with your family.”
“Are you sure? I don't like the idea of leaving you alone.”
“I can teleport, I’m super strong, and I can only die if I lose my head. I think I'm good.” I smile.
Rion places a kiss on my lips. “I'll see you tonight. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
He turns to Aries and Wake. They're all grinning like crazy, joyfulness pouring off of them in waves.
“Race you home!” Rion calls, before shifting into his brilliant, black wolf.
Wake and Aries follow suit, and before I know it, the three of them are tearing through the forest at a rapid pace. I can't help but smile. Today turned out better than I had hoped. Wake is back with the pack. It was all a huge misunderstanding, thanks to one hateful alpha and his vampire. I hope the Avynwood Pack lays a world of hate on Travis and his wolves. This is one more reason to find all the paranormals we can to be on our side.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and notice I still have an hour until my parents get home. I'm going to stop in at Ford's house and thank him for everything today. I don't plan on staying long and am not doing it so I can talk to him without Rion around. It's a simple drop in to say thanks before going home.
I appear in the middle of Ford's living room where I find no Ford, but I do see someone else. A man with a vicious smile on his face.
“Who might you be?” he asks, stepping toward me.
“I might be the girl who's going to lay you out on your butt if you get any closer.”
“I like you.”
“Now I can rest easy tonight. Where's Ford?”
“He's... out.”
I narrow my eyes. “Out where?”
He waves his hand dismissively. “That's none of your concern.” I’m not sure who this guy is, but if he doesn’t start talking, we’re going to have problems.
“If you don't tell me where he is and who you are, I'm going to rip your arms from your body.”
He ignores my threat. “I can't believe you haven't figured it out yet. I don't remind you of anyone?”
I look him over. Jeans, black long-sleeve shirt tucked in. Black boots. Light blond hair and grey eyes. Grey eyes... “Are you related to Ford?”
“Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner.”
“This was fun and all, but do you know when he'll be back?”
The vampire walks around the couch and drops down on it, right in front of me. “No, but if you'd like me to keep you company until then, I'm all yours.” He pats the leather cushion beside him.
I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. “While that is appealing, I think I'll go home. Can you tell him I stopped by?”
Faster than I can blink, he sweeps out his leg, effectively knocking me on my butt in front of him. “What was that for?” I yell.
“You're not going anywhere. I'm bored, and you're quite entertaining.”
I stand, rubbing my now sore behind. “I don't care what you are. I’m not staying here with you.”
He rises to his feet and reaches out to grip my throat. My air is being cut off, but I can't die from it, so two can play at this game. I shoot my arm out and grip him the same, cocking an eyebrow.
Spots dance in my vision, causing me to squeeze him tighter, hoping he'll pass out before me.
A door slams, but it sounds far off in the distance. Darkness begins to encompass my vision. Something hits the ground. Then I'm stumbling back, landing hard, gasping for breath while rubbing my neck. Slowly, the pain on my throat begins to ebb as the room comes back into focus.
Ford drops to the ground in front of where I sit on the coffee table. “Ari, are you okay?” he asks frantically.
“Fine,” I rasp.
Reaching up, he brushes my hand aside so he can lightly stroke down my throat. His eyes blaze with murder. Standing, he spins and lunges for the other guy, catching him off guard. Ford picks him up and throws him across the room. He crashes into the dining table, splintering it into pieces. That’s the second time his dining table has been broken. He’s going to become a regular at the furniture store.
Ford’s thoughts float to me. This isn’t just any relative he’s fighting with. This is his brother.
“You dare touch her?” Ford seethes. “You dare lay a hand on Ariane? I'm going to kill you!”
Ford's on top of him, strangling him in earnest. I'm breathing fine again and stand to get my bearings. Once I'm solid on my feet, I run across the open space to try and pull Ford off his brother.
“All right! I think he gets the point. Let him go.” Ford ignores me. “Let him go before I make you!”
“He shouldn't have lain a hand on you!” Ford yells. “And for that, he will pay!”
“For the love of...” I lean forward and grip Ford by the shoulder, pulling him back with all of my strength, but it's no use. I can't move him. His brother’s skin is becoming a sickly pale color. He'll heal and live, but this has to stop.
22
It takes me a minute to think of a way to pry them apart. Then something comes to me. I step backward and pretend to trip, falling onto the floor. Ford's head snaps up and then he's in front of me, helping me stand. Quick as I can, I wrap my arms around his waist to keep him in place.
“Don't move,” I tell him.
He doesn't do anything more than protectively hold me to him as his brother struggles to sit up. Keeping myself rooted to the spot, I make sure not to let go of Ford. I'm not in the mood to do this a second time.
Finally, his brother stands. “That was uncalled for.”
“No, that was warranted,” Ford hisses. “I can't believe you were strangling Ari.”
“She was doing the same to me,” he retorts.
“You started it!” I shout.
“You're not good enough for my brother.” Is he serious right now? When did Ford and I being an item come into play? We never were. But the fact that he thinks we’re together isn’t what’s bothering me. It’s that he said I’m not good enough. Who does he think he is?
“Thanks, but last time I checked, I don't care what you think. I don't even know you. How can you make such a judgment about me?”
“You should. I could be your family soon.”
“Excuse me?” I screech. “How is that happening?”
“He's in love with you and wants to make you his. I don't agree with the pairing.”
That's it. I release Ford and shake his arm off as he tries to keep me by his side. Stalking over to his brother, I point at his chest while looking up into his eyes. Why is everyone taller than me? This is ridiculous. Stupid paranormals and their crazy height.
“I'm not going to marry, mate, or whatever you vampires call it, with your brother. I have a mate—a wolf shifter. Ford is my best friend.”
He visibly calms. “Interesting.” Rubbing his chin, he focuses on me. “I'm Solomon, by the way.”
“Great. I know y
our name. My life is complete.” Turning, I face Ford. “I just came by to thank you for today. Aries, Wake, and Rion are grateful as well. They would have told you as much, but you left before they could.” He nods once.
Then a hand touches my shoulder. I'm going to kill this vampire. Reaching up, I grip his hand in mine, crushing every bone in it, then I twist around and kick him between the legs. He hunches over, groaning. “In what world do you think it's okay to put a hand on me after what we just went through?” Idiot vampire.
He rocks back to sit on the ground. “Did you have to kick me?” he grates out as the bones in his hand heal before my eyes.
“Did you have to touch me?”
“Maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe you are good enough for my brother.”
Bending down, I get in his face. “I don't care what you think. He's my best friend. We're not getting married, but I'm also not going anywhere. He and I are a package deal. Well, and my wolf. I can get him, if you'd like. I'm sure he'd have a few choice words to say to you after I tell him what you did.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket, right on cue. Pulling it out, I glance at the screen. “Would you look at that? There's my wolf now, and he wants me to come get him so he can kill you for laying a hand on me.”
“Apologize to Orion for me.”
I bark out a laugh. “I will do no such thing. And if you try and read my mind again, I'm going to crush something other than your hand.” He smirks. The cocky vampire actually smirks at me. “That's it. I'm done. I'm going home. I've had enough of you paranormals today. I want to eat and go to bed with my wolf. I need sleep.” I send Rion a message that I’m fine and headed home. He’s happy I’m all right but still ready to murder Solomon.
I make my way over to Ford and step on my tiptoes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you again.”
“Anything for you, princess. And thank you for beating up my brother. I'm not sure a girl has ever done so in all his fifteen hundred years.”
“There's a first time for everything.”
With a parting wink, I teleport to the woods behind my house. None of the lights are on inside. I creep around the front, but their cars aren’t in the driveway, though they could be in the garage. Patting my pockets, I realize I don't have my bag. Son of a… With a quick jump, I’m beside the Benz near the clearing. I grab my bag fast and get back home. With all the quiet I can muster, I slowly unlock the front door and slip inside, pausing for a moment for any sound. Luckily, I don't hear anything and let out a sigh of relief, dropping down onto the couch. I beat them home.
That sigh is short-lived. My mom throws open the front door less than five minutes later, causing it to bounce off the wall behind it. Her face is a blotchy red; her eyes are puffy. She shuts the door behind her and leans heavily on it for a second, then turns to me.
“Ari, go upstairs and pack everything you'll need for the next week.” I sit unmoving. Why would I pack everything?
“Mom, what are you talking about?”
“Now!” she shouts. I've never heard her yell like that. While my mom has a fiery attitude like me, she never yells. I still don't move. “Ari, I'm serious!”
“I think you need to sit down for a minute and calm yourself.”
She closes the distance between us in four long strides and bends down to look into my eyes. “Get your stuff and message Orion. We. Are. Leaving.” She grabs my hand and starts pulling me toward the stairs.
“Why would I tell Rion?”
“You need to find that vampire of yours as well. We need him here, too.”
“Say what now?” How does she know about him? Or that he's a vampire? What is going on in my world right now?
Mom stops and spins. Her dark hair, the color that matches my own, sways with her movement. It's cropped right above her shoulders. “Orion is a wolf. Ford is a vampire. I know all about them! Trust me and pack!”
I stay rooted to the spot. “Were you drinking at work?” I can't wrap my head around how she knows about them and is only saying something to me now.
“Your dad is dead, Ari. This wasn’t how I wanted to tell you, but we have to go.”
“What? No.” I stumble back. “No, you're wrong.”
“He was in a car accident on the way home from work tonight. It was no accident, though. I drove past the scene.” Tears begin to spill down her cheeks. “Please, Ari. We have to go. Travis was behind this. Your father told me he was being followed the past two days. It was one of Travis' men. He remembered him. I can't let him take you from me, too.”
“Dad's... No. It can't be true. You must have seen something else. He’ll be home any minute.” My hands are shaking as my heart races in my chest. This can’t be happening.
“It was his car, Ari. I saw it.” She sucks in a breath, trying to steady herself. “He was on the ground. They were covering his body when I drove past. We have to go.”
I crumple to the ground in a heap and sob. How could this happen? Not my dad. Burying my head in my hands, I cry harder. This is all a bad dream. Any minute now I’m going to wake up and none of this will have happened.
Pinching my skin over and over, I silently send up a prayer to whomever is listening to make this stop. To have my dad walk through the door like this is all some cruel joke. I need him.
“Ari?” Ford calls beside me. He drops to the ground as his arms wrap around me, pulling me onto his lap. “I'm so sorry.” He read my mind and knows everything my mom told me. Gently, he strokes his hand down my hair as I continue to cry and clutch his shirt for dear life.
“I'm glad you're here,” my mom states, her voice steadier than before. “We have to get Ari out of here.”
“You know about me?” Ford asks.
“Of course I do. I'm not blind or deaf. You've been teleporting in and out of my house for weeks. Now carry my daughter upstairs, pull the suitcase out of her closet, and stuff as many of her clothes into it as you can. We. Have. To. Leave.”
Ford pauses for a moment, stiffens around me, then he's on his feet, carrying me up the stairs as if I weigh nothing. He gently places me on the bed and begins doing as my mom asks.
“Why are you doing that? She's not thinking clearly,” I say, wiping the tears from my face.
He stops next to the bed. “You have no idea how sorry I am about the loss of your father, but I read your mother's thoughts. Travis is behind this, and if we don't move, he'll get her next. She's worried about you. But your dad wasn't the only one being followed. If you want your mom safe, then we need to get out of here.”
“Teleport her out of here, then.”
He shakes his head. “She wants to grab the things that mean the most to her—the things that remind her of your father. Ari, she's afraid neither of you will ever come back here and wants to pack as much as she can. But she can't do that when she's worried about you. Now help me pack. I have no clue what you wear and what you don't. Or what you need. You have to hurry if you want any of your stuff. We're leaving with your mom.”
I stare at him, letting everything he said sink in. However, I still can't move. I want to lie on my bed and cry. I want to bury my head under my pillow and pretend none of this is happening. My dad is gone.
“He is,” Ford states solemnly. “I'm sorry, Ari.”
Then Rion's frantic voice enters my head. “Ari!” I don’t respond right away, still trying to grasp what’s going on around me. “Answer me!”
“I'm sorry. I was... My dad's dead, Rion.”
“I heard it clearly through your thoughts. It’s like you were sending them to me.” I must have been doing so unconsciously when Mom asked me to contact him. “I'm sorry for your loss, but I can't risk losing you, too. You have to come here. I already spoke to Aries. You and your mom are going to stay in the mansion. Teleport here as soon as you can. I'll be out front waiting for you.”
“I'm packing now.”
“Good. Hurry.”
Ford quirks an eyebrow at me. “Orion?”
“That's smart,” Ford says as he grabs stuff from all around my room. I have no idea what. “That's better than Aries' cabin. At least at the mansion you'll have a bunch of wolves around you. Plus, that place is built like a fortress. I'd bring you to my house, but there's no security there outside of me and currently Solomon.”
My mind is spinning. I have to leave my home. The only place I've ever lived. And by leaving here, things of my dad’s will stay behind. The chair he used to sit in every night while he watched television. The mug he drank coffee from every morning before work. The hutch he built to hold my mom’s china.
Ford takes my hand in his, pulling me from the bed. “I'm sorry to push you, but you have to pack. We need to get you both out of here.”
I nod, trying to snap myself out of my haze. Then my mom comes into the room like a tornado.
“So help me, child, if that suitcase isn't packed in the next two minutes, you're leaving with only the clothes on your back.” She drops a large, black suitcase on the floor that is stuffed to the brim. “I have one more to pack. Move it!”
I turn, finally realizing what I need to do, and that it's not so much my life in jeopardy but my mom's. She can't heal like I can. She could die if we stay.
Taking the suitcase from Ford, I toss it on the bed. One by one, I open my dresser drawers and throw handfuls of clothes into the luggage. Then I move to my closet and do the same there. On the floor, tucked in the back of the closet, I find a black duffle bag. I grab it and fill it with all my other things like my laptop, tablet, etcetera. Then I quickly teleport downstairs to grab my bag from school and pop back into my room. If Mom knows about Ford and Rion, then she might know what I can do, too.
Zipping everything up, I turn around and move to the bathroom, grabbing every last thing I think I'll need and stuff it into the side pockets of the duffel bag. By the time I'm done, I'm out of breath. I think I have everything. Thankfully, I’m pretty low-maintenance. I’d hate to see the amount of stuff I’d have to pack if I wasn’t.
The Somber Call (The Ariane Trilogy Book 2) Page 16
