* * *
FOR THE SECOND time that day, I woke up with a pounding headache. I closed my eyes against the offensive lighting. “This is getting old.”
“Afternoon, sunshine.”
“Ouch!” I looked up to see the most gorgeous eyes staring into mine. I closed my eyes and pulled myself into a sitting position as shards of glass pounded into my brain. Well, that’s what it felt like. Truth be told, I was a bit hung over.
“Easy there, Kitten.”
“Oh Keith, it’s just you.”
“Yeah just me. Here, take these and drink this.”
We were in his office and I was grateful for the privacy. I took a long swallow of the water he offered and then took the ibuprofen he handed to me.
“Thank you.” I found I was full of shame as I remembered my fabulous bawl-baby outbreak and couldn’t look at him again. So when he tipped my chin up with his fingers, my lip quivered and tears burned my eyes, threatening to pour out, I shrugged away. “I feel ridiculous for being such a blubbering fool. I’m um….just gonna’ go now. Thank you for being so kind and I’m sorry I bothered you. It was a mistake to come here.”
“No Selena. You’re staying. It’s my turn to talk and by the sound of things, you need to listen to all of it whether you want to or not.”
His piercing blue eyes sent shivers of desire through me and I chastised my body for betraying my overwrought mind. I wasn’t in the mood to be told what to do. Even if I needed the help and even if this handsome Cowboy Casanova was doing the telling. I was known to be obstinate to the end, but I knew I had no choice. I gave in, however I wasn’t happy about it.
“Fine, talk. But know this, nothing you will say is going to shock me.” I crossed my arms, jutting my chin as I stared at him with indifference. What about this man made my hackles rise so often and why couldn’t I just appreciate his kindness when it was offered?
Chapter 11
HE SLID A leather chair across the floor and placed it in front of me. We were eye-to-eye as Keith leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees.
“I know you’re upset, but you have to remain calm and listen, okay? There are so many things I’m about to say that will sound crazy, but trust me, if you need to hear them.”
His serious tone shocked and unnerved me. Though I’d just had a glass of water, my mouth was dry and my throat felt tight. “I’ll try but I don’t think I can handle many more surprises.”
“Too bad, kitten. What I’m about to say will shock you but it may just save your life. So, toughen up and get ready.”
“What could you possibly know? Up until yesterday, I had no idea if you were alive or dead.” I huffed. How did Keith think he knew anything about me?
“While you were asleep, Sterling filled us in on what happened.”
Keith was nuts. Yep, that’s why I never ended up with him. He was certifiable. Did he honestly expect me to believe that my cat had spoken to him? I shook my head, a bubble of laughter threatened to escape as I stared at the crazy-talking guy across from me.
“What do you mean, he filled us in and who is us?”
My already raw emotions were teetering on the edge of another bout of panic and I swore I must be dreaming. I felt like Alice in wonderland, but I didn’t remember passing any rabbit holes on my way to the Tooth & Nail. Hysteria threatened to overtake what bit of sanity I still had as realization, acceptance and the truth began to dawn on me.
“There’s no way you could have heard him unless you’re a…” the words died in my throat as Keith nodded his head, confirming everything Roberta had told me without saying a word.
“A lot of what Roberta said to you was true. I’m a shifter. A werewolf to be exact and so is my entire family. What’s left of it.”
I jumped up and backed away from him, swaying with shock. “Shit! How? I mean, when? What?”
“Please sit down before you fall down.”
“I think I will stay over here, thank you.” He couldn’t possibly think I’d believe him, could he? I pinched myself and even tried pulling a handful of my hair, assuring myself I was indeed wide awake.
“Fine, stand. Just stop hurting yourself. Believe me, you’re awake.” Keith held his arm out, offering his hand, but I remained a few feet away with my arms crossed over my middle. With a sigh, he continued; “Remember when Dad sent me to Tennessee?”
I nodded. “How could I forget? I was heartbroken.” Oops I said that out loud. I sank into a chair as cursed my filter between my brain and my mouth for again taking a leave of absence.
“Heart-broken, really? Well, well, well.” His eyes danced with amusement as he grinned and I swore he blushed a bit. “Never mind that, back to what I was saying, for now.”
It was my turn to blush and I sat back down. Inside I was a mess and my emotions were going in a million different directions. He found it amusing I’d had a crush on him and all I wanted was to run like a scared rabbit. I didn’t need his condescending smiles, placating me like some silly school-girl.
“The truth is I was going to be sent to Tennessee anyways. It was planned even before my mom and brothers were killed. Going to Tennessee was the way to ensure that the people I loved could be kept safe, safe from me and whoever might be gunning for my family. And it gave my dad time to clear his head, handle pack business and investigate what was happening.
He continued as I sat there silently, afraid to move. Keith was serious. How had I missed this? Why had no one told me?
“Breathe Selena. Kelly completed her transition with the help of my aunt. She came into town during Kelly’s senior year of high school. That’s why she stopped hanging out with you. She was a mess. Imagine PMS only a million times worse with an appetite for blood and destruction. She was such a bitch. Literally.” He laughed.
A hint of a smile escaped my lips, but confusion kept me silent. How could I have never known Keith was from a family, a pack of werewolves? I swore the room was spinning. Don’t get me wrong, I know Salem Ridge has a mixture of humans and paranormals, but it’s often hard to distinguish them from each other unless they tell you or if you’ve known each other your entire lives. Even then, apparently that wasn’t a guarantee you could really know someone. It’s not like everyone roamed the streets in the form of wolves, vampires and demons. Our town was a haven, but most people still enjoyed their privacy and anonymity.
Our townspeople held their heritage close to their hearts. That’s why so many hated me for abandoning mine. None of the others were ashamed or afraid of what they truly were. To them, the relinquishing of my powers was like a slap in the face. I was beginning to understand why Kelly hated me so much. She had been going through a life-changing ordeal and I’d only been thinking of myself. No wonder, we’d drifted apart. I was just as much to blame as she was, if not more.
“She doesn’t hate you. Maybe she doesn’t understand why you stopped practicing your craft, but she does not hate you.”
“What?” How did he know what I’d been thinking? The grin on his face cleared up that issue. Great, he could read my mind too. “Aren’t a woman’s thoughts supposed to be sacred or something? Hello? Invasion of privacy? And why didn’t you tell me? We grew up together, Keith! What the hell?”
“I wouldn’t be able to read your thoughts if we weren’t destined to be soul-mates. But that’s another subject for later.” He smiled as my jaw dropped wide open almost hitting the floor. “And even though we live in Salem Ridge, it isn’t exactly normal to walk around shouting that we’re werewolves. We needed to keep it quiet. My family was safe for a very long time because no one knew what we were.”
“Stop. Stop it right now, Keith Jacobs! You’re talking in riddles. First you hear my cat, and then you inform me I’m in danger. Now we’re soul-mates? You just told me you’re a werewolf! And how can we be soul-mates? Wouldn’t that be like bestiality or something? What the hell is going on? Is this a joke?”
I could feel a wave of energy pulse through me as my emotio
nal state grew out of control. It was too much to handle. My instincts were screaming for me to lash out. So many lies and betrayals, and all of them were from the people I loved most in the world. I didn’t want to hurt Keith, but I wasn’t sure if I could stop it.
“Selena, breathe and just listen to my voice. Let it ground you. Take a deep breath. I’m not going to hurt you. Look at me.”
He sounded so far away, as if he were in a tunnel. When I looked at him, I could see my glowing eyes reflected in his. Oh no! Not again!
His hands were suddenly on my upper arms with his fingers digging in and the pain was delicious, and only caused my energy to expand, filling me. “Selena, listen and breathe. It’s okay.”
His lips weren’t moving! He was in my head! Oh my Goddess! I jumped up and away from him again. As soon as I broke our contact, all of the light bulbs in the room exploded, sprays of glass rained down upon us. There were so many fragments littering the floor it looked like it was made of diamonds.
“Shit! Are you okay Selena?” He yanked me into his arms and crushed me to his solid chest.
“Sure.” I mumbled into his chest. I pushed myself away from him a bit and asked “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. If I had been injured, I would heal at a faster rate anyways. It’s you that I’m worried about.” He brushed shards and slivers off of my head and arms as I grabbed the ends of my shirt, flinging the remaining bits of glass to the floor.
“Lately I seem to heal quickly, too. Except for these damn headaches and the ability to blow shit up, I’m just fabulous.”
In his eyes I saw kindness and in my mind, I heard him say “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it and stay out of my head!”
“If you could hear me, then why didn’t you calm down?”
“Seriously? You scared the shit out of me! Warn a girl next time, Keith! You don’t just pop into someone’s mind and think it will have a soothing effect.”
“Okay, you got it. Next time I’ll just say; Hey, Selena I’m gonna’ hop on in now. Do you mind?” Rolling his eyes to the ceiling, he continued, “That should come in real handy if we’re ever in danger. I’ll just ask before I tell you how to save your ass.”
“Just full of sarcasm aren’t you, wolf boy?”
“You asked for it. So, you believe me?”
“How could I not? We live in Salem Ridge. I’m still pissed, though. And what makes you think you’ll have to save my ass? I’m not exactly a weakling, ya’ know?”
I glared at him, as I prepared to launch another verbal attack.
He raised his hands in surrender. “Okay. You’re right. But it was the only way I could think of to make you understand.”
“Understand what exactly? I already know I can blow shit up. That’s one thing I don’t need assistance with, believe me.” Sighing, I shook my head and looked around at yet another mess I had created.
“We’re meant to be together, Selena. We always have been.”
Chapter 12
“I THINK I need another drink, a big one.”
“No more drinking until we’re done talking.”
“You’re not my boss, Keith. Werewolf or not, you will not tell me what to do.” We both stood there, arms crossed, and at a stalemate. He wasn’t going to budge. No drink for me.
“Fine, would you please have your sister bring my cat in here? I don’t really feel comfortable leaving him alone with her.”
“Sterling is perfectly safe. You have my word.”
What he failed to understand about me was that no one came between Sterling and I. He was and always would be my first concern. Regardless of the fact that I’d not picked up on Shawn’s demon mojo, if I felt Sterling was in danger, I wanted him by my side. I would move the earth to keep him safe and there wasn’t a dog alive that would stop me. His words failed to reassure me and I wasn’t about to back down.
“Well, excuse me if I don’t exactly trust your word. Seeing as how your family has lied to me for years, I’m not really ready to trust any of you right now.” Glaring at him, I raised my chin in defiance, showing him I was not going to be deterred so easily.
He laughed. “You’ve always been so damn cute when you’re angry, kitten. But one of these days, that stubbornness will get you into trouble.”
“I’m not your kitten.”
“You are,” he smirked. “And you’re a hot, little kitten when you’re all fired up and glowing.”
“No. I’m. Not.” Full of petulance, I stomped my foot on the floor. Yeah, I know real mature. Why couldn’t I get my shit together around this guy? One minute I’d been an evil sorceress who made things explode, the next I acted like a spoiled three-year-old.
“Okay, okay. Ha-ha-ha. I believe you. Now please stop pouting and sit back down.”
“And if I don’t want to?” Again like a child? It was so infuriating!
He stood where he was not budging. “Then, no Sterling.”
“Two can play this game. I want my familiar now, Keith or I will walk out of here and we’ll never speak again.”
“Fine.” He relented, clearly not happy about being beaten by a girl. Did I just think that? A girl? God!
“But I warn you, Kelly won’t be happy about it. She’s been enjoying the last few hours as a cat-sitter. Stay here. I’ll go get some new light bulbs and grab Sterling for you.”
Raising my eyebrows, I remained ramrod straight until he left in a shroud of silence.
“This is just what I need. An entire barking family of cocky-assed, crazy werewolves.” I whispered when I was thought he was far enough out of ear and mind-intruding distance. I twirled my long, brown hair through my fingers while details of the past twenty-four hours flew through my mind like pissed-off bumble bees.
What the hell? Witches and werewolves could not be soul mates. It wasn’t possible. Was it? I knew I needed more answers and wished my mother were there. She’d know what to do. My head felt like it was about to implode and all I wanted to do was sleep. “Please let all of this is a very bad dream or just some insanely messed up universal joke.”
I sat down on the desk chair and stared out the windows for what felt like an eternity. “Goddess, I’m so confused.” Sure, I’d always been attracted to Keith. Hell, when I was ten years old, I’d even planned our wedding. In fact, I still had the book full of ideas and details packed away somewhere. Check that. I’d had the book until it was burned to a crisp that morning along with everything else I owned.
The realization that Roberta was right pissed me off! What did that bitch really hope to gain? She had powers of her own, so why did she need mine? So many questions and I needed answers. “It’s time that I calm down and listen for once.” My life and many others apparently depended on it.
* * *
KEITH OPENED THE door with one hand and carried a very defiant, very pissed off Sterling with the other. Neither of them looked very happy about being together.
“You know, just because I played fetch with your sister and let her rub dog scent all over me, it doesn’t mean you can put your paws all over me, Fido!” Sterling squirmed and wiggled trying to escape Keith’s strong arms.
That was my Sterling, always good for a giggle. Seeing him filled me with warmth. Some things never changed and in that moment I was so grateful for that small miracle.
“Hi Buddy.” Sterling launched himself out of Keith’s arms, landing on the leather sofa. He climbed up on the back cushions and began to bathe.
“Yuck! I taste like mutt! This smell better come off or I will take it out of your hide, Wolf Man.”
I walked over and rubbed Sterling’s chin. “Sterling, be nice. Kelly and Keith have been very hospitable and I think it’s time we both show a little appreciation. Okay?”
“Whatever.” He grumbled and turned his back to me.
“You wanted me to bring us here. What’s changed?”
“What’s changed? I’ll tell you what’s changed! Kelly broug
ht dog toys outside for me. Dog toys! Do I look like a dog? I thought these people, these animals were supposed to be smart? Let me just say that I would never recommend them to work as service dogs. These nincompoops would bring pogo sticks to people who are in wheelchairs!” He yelled in high-pitched, hysterical tones and I’d never seen him this way. Not once had Sterling ever been so mean, at least not to anyone’s face. Clearly, the stress of our situation had been getting to him, too.
“Sterling! Stop it! You apologize right now!”
“They should apologize to me!”
“Fine, we will all apologize and make nice. We don’t have time for any of us to have attitudes. Time is now considered a luxury and we can’t afford that right now.”
After a round of mumbled apologies, I let out a huge breath. The day had been so exhausting and it’d only just begun. What would it be like living in the same house as these two, us three completely different people? What? Same house? What was I thinking? Oh goddess, please stop my wandering mind!
“Keith? If you’re still willing to talk to me, I’m ready to listen.”
He smiled with perfectly even, white teeth and I held back the ‘My, what big teeth you have!’ comment that floated through my mind. Yay me! I guessed the filter was at least half-assed working for now anyways.
Keith just shook his head and smiled even more. Apparently, my filter didn’t keep him from hearing my joke. Giving him a mock glare, I flopped down on the sofa beside Sterling.
“Alright, I told Kelly to run home and get something. We’re all out of light bulbs, so for now we will use candles. We’ve closed the bar for tonight, so we shouldn’t be interrupted.”
“Closed? Because of me? But you can’t. Everyone will be upset and in this economy you can’t afford to lose their business. Besides, where will all of them go? For most of them, this place is their nightly ritual.”
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