Briac and Natalee watched from where they stood on the sidewalk and Briac said with a soft laugh, “That’s why I like her, honey, because she is the first woman other than his sister to make him smile.”
Natalee stood next to him her eyes watching the two in front of her as Briac settled an arm across her shoulders holding her to his side.
“Let’s go inside and get your things,” Caden was saying as Briac nodded his head and pulled her forward. “We need to get on the road as soon as possible.”
“Hi Abella,” Briac said walking forward.
She nodded her head as the woman next to him said in a low voice, “Hi.”
“Abella this is Natalee,” Briac said a smile on his face as his hand tightened lightly on the woman’s shoulder. “She is my second mate.”
“Second mate,” Abella said a thoughtful look on her face and Natalee looked at her with narrowed eyes.
“We will explain later, sweetie,” Caden said as he turned her with an arm around her waist back to the hotel.
Abella nodded her head before she turned with a slight smile at the young woman at Briac’s side. “Hi,” she said tilting her head so that the bruise on the underside of her jaw was revealed.
“What happened?” Natalee asked nodding to her jaw.
Before Abella could explain, Caden stopped and turned her more fully toward him tilting her head more so he could see the bruise for himself, and Abella watched as his jaw tightened.
“I’m okay, Caden,” she told him quietly putting her hands up to rest against the ones holding her face. “I promise.”
Caden closed his eyes briefly calming his own emotions as while as calming his wolf.
I am all right her voice sounded in his head and his eyes snapped open to look into her pretty eyes.
“Okay,” she stated staring at him intensely, and Caden nodded his head realizing in astonishment that after she sent him her thoughts even his wolf relaxed.
“Let’s go get your things before going home,” he said again looking over at Briac and Natalee with a nod before heading into the hotel.
Briac put an arm around Natalee’s waist and they followed Caden inside the hotel.
“We will wait here,” Briac told Caden and Abella as they started for the elevators. He looked around before nodding to a small sitting area next to the windows. “We will be over there.”
Caden nodded his head as Abella gave them a slight smile before he turned to her tilting his head indicating that they should go.
“See you in a few,” Abella said as they walked over to the elevators just as they opened.
Briac led Natalee over to the sitting area where he helped her sit down before sitting down across from her.
“You never told me that Abella was dating him,” she said in a conversational tone as she settled back against the chair and Briac heard the underlining anger in her tone. He knew she was talking about when Caden referred to Abella as his girlfriend although he was surprised she waited until now to bring up the subject.
“When I left, they were only friends,” Briac confided looking over at her with a smile.
Natalee looked at him with suspicious eyes before she stated, “So who is she exactly?”
Briac thought about that question for a moment before he told sincerely, “More like us than anyone else.”
Natalee looked at him questioningly and Briac nodded his head as he leaned forward grabbing her hand. “With the exception of Caden, I think she may understand us more than anyone else can.”
Chapter 38
While Briac and Natalee stayed downstairs, Abella led the way to the room where she shared with Cicely. After she opened the door and invited Caden inside, he swept her into his arms letting the door slam shut behind them.
“I missed you,” he murmured burying his nose into her hair as his wolf purred at her scent.
“I missed you too,” she told him burying herself in his arms before she leaned back slightly so she could look up into his eyes. “Did everything go okay? Were you able to save the Everwood Pack?”
Caden traced a finger across the bruise on her jaw as he told her, “We lost to young wolves that went with us because the rogues were stronger than we anticipated, although the Everwood Pack really didn’t need our help as much as we thought. They were more than capable of handling the rogues themselves.”
He shook his head and gave Abella a quick kiss before walked over to the bed sitting down.
Abella began to pack the few things she had acquired during her stay noting the absentminded expression on Caden’s face and when she was done she sat down next to him.
“What is on your mind, Caden?” She asked him softly knowing he had more on his mind than the two wolves that he lost. She had a feeling that those two wolves were in the foreground of his mind but there was something else that was bothering him at the moment. She was reassured of that feeling when he looked at her thoughtfully those black eyes that she loved burning brightly with emotion before he responded to her question.
“We met a man who seemed to be the Alpha, or leader, of the pack,” Caden told her slowly. “He looked at me as if he knew me or understood something that I hadn’t grasped yet. In fact, I felt as if we were more alike than possible even though we never met.”
Abella listened to his words before she asked thoughtfully, “What was his name?”
“Oden,” Caden told her in low tone.
“Oden,” she repeated back slowly until suddenly a picture formed in her mind and she froze as it became clearer.
A man with amazing green eyes was standing in the middle of a small house and he was talking to another man who looked a little older when suddenly he stopped talking. He began looking around as if he sensed something before he muttered something that Abella couldn’t quite catch at the moment before she pulled herself away.
“What…” she began only to sway and Caden grabbed her by the arms a worried expression on his face.
“Abella, are you okay?” He asked looking at her pale face and wide eyes.
She nodded her head slowly before she looked up at him and said in a rush, “The man, Oden, was he…”
She began to describe what she had just seen and Caden started at her in astonishment his black eyes slightly narrowed as his wolf howled inside him, how did she know?
“Abella,” he began only to stop as she shook her head and closed her eyes.
“I’m okay,” she said slowly taking in a deep breath before releasing then she opened her eyes. “I was only thinking about his name when suddenly a picture of him talking with an older gentleman flashed through my mind.”
“It’s getting stronger,” she muttered a few seconds later.
Caden sighed as he drew her close to him and held her to his chest. “You never really explained what your gift is, Abella.”
She chuckled softly before she answered. “Unfortunately, I am still learning how to use it myself, Caden so I can’t really explain it all to you.”
Caden was silent for a few minutes before he asked rubbing his hands over her back, “Is what happened a few minutes ago a part of it?”
“More than part, Caden,” she uttered in his chest closing her eyes as her mind wondered and thought about the man she saw suddenly. She began to frown as her eyes flashed open and she remembered the man muttering after he stilled as if he sensed her.
Caden looked down at her noticing expression and asked her, “What’s with the frown, sweetheart?”
She spoke absently her grey eyes thoughtful, “The man spoke something almost as if he knew I was observing the scene.”
Caden felt a frown cross his own face at the news before he shook his head and told her, “Honey, you are probably just over thinking it.”
Abella laughed at that as she tilted her head back and said, “It is possible, Caden, it is possible.”
They sat there a few minutes longer until Caden said, “Although I am enjoying this, we should get going as we have some indi
viduals waiting for us.”
Abella sighed heavily but nodded her head as she pulled out of his arms giving him a kiss on the cheek before she moved off the bed to gather her things. She heard the double meaning in his voice telling her that he wasn’t just referring to the two downstairs, but the two wolves that he lost. They were waiting for them back at the pack house and although she didn’t know much about werewolf society, she knew that something would be held in honor of them.
Caden took her things from her as he stood up before sliding an arm around her waist. “Be careful around Natalee, Abella,” he told her as they walked out of the room.
“Why?” She asked giving him a quizzically look.
“From what I understand, Briac talked about you often while he was there so she seems to resent you because of it,” he told her as they stepped in the elevator as the doors opened up.
“Why would Briac talk about me?” She asked in a stunned voice.
Caden chuckled although his hold on her waist tightened slightly. “I guess you made an impression on him before he left.”
Abella tilted her head slightly and looked him with a slight smile on her face. “Why do I get the feeling you are jealous?”
“I am,” Caden told her bluntly as the elevator reached the hotel lobby and as the doors opened, Abella was laughing as Caden grinned down at her with black eyes flashing with humor although she could see the hint of sadness in that flickered through them letting her know what she already had discovered; he was a thoughtful and caring Alpha who cared deeply about the members in his pack.
Briac watched them approach and he smiled as he nodded his head once. He truly believed that although Abella was never in the same situation as them, she understood about pain and heartache just as Alpha Caden did. It was a shame that they weren’t second mates and with that thought, he turned his eyes to Natalee who was flipping through a magazine. He flinched slightly as he recalled Caden telling him to finish with Jenna before he left but he had put it off and now he had to deal with Jenna when he returned. Natalee had been through enough and even though she felt the bond just as strong as he did, she was wary and knowing that he had another mate although he hadn’t marked her as his, she wasn’t willing to take a chance until he decided which one he truly wanted. Briac already knew the answer to that question only now he had to deal with it when he returned back. He also had one other thing he needed to do as his eyes shifted to Caden and Abella again as they reached them.
Caden caught the look and nodded his head reading accurately the look in Briac’s eyes as he asked, “Are we ready to go home? We have two members waiting for us.”
Briac nodded his head in understanding as he stood up and helped Natalee to her feet. “Yes, we do. Then afterwards there are a few things that I need to do too.”
He smiled at Caden and Abella before turning a warmer smile on Natalee who answered with a smile of her own although it wasn’t as opening but a light shown in her eyes of hope.
They walked out of the hotel as Cicely and Janie looked from across the street with smiles on their faces. Abella looked over as she got into the car and she paused for a second before she smiled waving at them. As the others climbed inside behind her, she turned slightly in her seat her eyes on Natalee although the way she turned it seemed that she was focused on Briac.
“So explain to me about the concept of second mates,” she said in a conversational tone although she remembered what she read before she left the pack house and her eyes shifted for a second to Caden who felt her gaze and sent her a wink as Briac chuckled before starting to explain the concept of second mates.
“Smart ass,” Cicely murmured as Janie laughed watching her slide into the car before Caden closed the door for her.
“Do you think they will be okay?” She asked a slight frown crossing her face.
Cicely sighed deeply her eyes narrowed as the car drove away and she admitted in a light voice, “I don’t know, but things are already in motion. All we can do now is sit back and watch what happens.” She murmured more softly under her breath, “Hopefully this time someone will make the right decision.”
Janie looked at her in confusion before she asked, “Did you same something, Cicely?”
Cicely smiled and shook her head before picking up the menu. “Let’s eat,” she said with a small grin. “I’m hungry.”
Janie looked at her narrowly before she nodded her head picking up the menu her mind thinking about what she thought she heard from her best friend.
Caden and his group arrived at the pack house almost two hours later to the amusement of Briac who knew that it wouldn’t have taken that long if Caden hadn’t made so many stops. He glanced over at Natalee who was frowning slightly her eyes focused on the back of Abella’s head and he wondered what happened when Abella and she went to the restroom at the last stop Caden had made.
“Natalee,” he muttered as Abella and Caden started to get out of the car. He noticed Timothy and Jesse walking toward them but he missed the looks on their face as he turned back to Natalee. “What happened between you and Abella?”
Natalee looked at him with wide eyes as she thought back to that moment when she followed Abella into the bathroom.
Flashback:
As they entered the restroom and the door shut behind them, Natalee grabbed Abella by the arm and swung her around.
“What in the hell are you up to?” She had snarled getting a stunned look from Abella. “Don’t play all innocent with me. I see the way you look at Briac when you think no one is looking.”
“You are strong even with that lame leg,” Abella had responded back without any sarcasm or mocking Natalee had noticed. Then she continued, “I wasn’t looking at Briac. I was looking at you and wondering why Caden told me to be careful around you?”
Natalee’s eyes had widened at her candid response before she shook her head and growled as her hand rose to hit her when suddenly she found herself staring at the wall where Abella had stood.
“Maybe we should talk before you take my head off,” Abella said wryly as Natalee swung around her eyes huge in her face.
“Who are you?” She whispered, and she watched as Abella sighed heavily before she walked back over to her.
“To be honest, I am a witch,” Abella told her bluntly and Natalee had felt her eyes widen even further in her face at the answer. Witches and werewolves dating were uncommon and frowned upon in their society although she never understood why, and it was never really explained either she thought suddenly.
“It is a long story,” Abella said quietly. “And it will take some time, but for now just believe me that I have no designs on Briac although I think he is a very good looking man and probably a gorgeous wolf, but I have someone else who occupies my heart so you don’t have to worry about me, at least.”
Natalee had looked at her in confusion as her words sunk in and then she understood as she murmured, “I know and it scares me.”
Abella hadn’t said a word but put an arm around her shoulders for a few minutes before she nodded her head to the door indicating it was time for them to go.
End of Flashback
Her thoughts were interrupted when she realized that the members who had met the car were starting to speak with Caden and Abella, and Briac gave her a concerned look as they slid out together.
“You took your sweet time,” Timothy said with a strained smile as he and Jesse walked toward them from the pack house.
“I know,” Caden replied not going to explain that the closer they got to the pack house the more anxious and unsettled his wolf became as if he knew something that he wasn’t going to share with Caden. Caden’s uneasiness grew as his wolf became suddenly quiet and he noticed the strain look on Timothy’s face as if he had something to tell him but didn’t know how to do it.
He looked over as he heard another set of footsteps and he frowned when he realized Jenna followed them out with a smirking smile before she walked over to Briac and said, “I
am so glad that you are home.”
Briac looked at her in confusion as Natalee turned to him with a closed expression although her mind was still on what she learned in that restroom as she shifted her gaze to Abella noticing how Abella’s grey eyes had become watchful. Briac didn’t notice Natalee’s reaction as he was focused on Jenna his look of confusion changing into one of suspicion wondering what she was up to now if he read that smirk on her face accurately.
“What did you do, Jenna?” He muttered very low that only she heard it and she turned to him with lifted eyebrows before she smiled cunningly as she shifted her gaze to Caden.
Briac swung his attention toward Caden and the others as Natalee walked over to him and whispered, “There is a tension in the air. Something isn’t right.”
Briac nodded his head slowly feeling it too as he noticed the looks on Timothy and Jessa’s faces as Jenna said next to him, “Who the hell is this?”
“My mate,” he said without hesitation as he and Natalee stepped closer to the others ignoring Jenna’s indrawn breathe at his response.
“Any problems while we were away?” Caden asked his voice rough as Abella stepped close to him hearing the roughness in his voice, and he slid his arm around her waist. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed that Briac and Natalee were heading in their direction with a stunned Jenna watching them with wide eyes.
She isn’t happy, he heard Abella say in his head and he chuckled quietly although he still felt uneasy, an uneasiness that had increased the closer they were to the pack house.
“No, not really,” Timothy uttered his eyes fixed on the arm around Abella’s waist before he lifted a sadden look to meet Abella’s eyes.
Abella froze at the look before she shifted her gaze slowly to Jessa who immediately lowered her eyes.
“Caden,” Timothy began only to be drowned out by another voice.
“Caden!”
Abella felt Caden stiffen next to her and she didn’t look at him as everyone turned to the woman who called his name.
The Witch Prophecy Page 37
