Forever Changed (The Mystic Wolves)

by Belinda Boring

  “Now, Lynn. Men will be men. We don’t talk out our feelings like you do. Sometimes all it takes is a few hard hits to clear the air. Isn’t that right?” My father chuckled and punched Mason in the upper arm. “And I won’t lie; it did me good to see someone knock that vampire on his ass.”

  “Dad!” I exclaimed.

  “What? I love Devlin as much as you, but come on . . . a wolf against a vampire? It was impressive.”

  Mason cleared his throat and ducked his head, scratching the side of his nose. As much as he liked praising others, he hated being on the receiving end of someone else’s compliments. “We actually came to discuss something with you both.”

  “Yeah, something important,” I added. My glance darted back and forth between my parents and, again, I noticed a darkness cloud over my mother’s features before she brushed it away.

  “What do you need, kitten?” My father always thought it was funny when he called me the nickname from my childhood. “You two are okay, right?” Now he was looking worried.

  “We’re fine . . . I mean, there is something, but . . .” Now the moment had arrived and I didn’t know how to continue. Mason moved behind me and wrapped his arms securely around my waist, offering me his support and strength. He kissed the side of my ear, whispering to take a deep breath, and I obeyed. As long as I kept calm, we’d get through this conversation. If I kept relaxed, there was less chance of a power flare.

  “You’re starting to scare me, Darcy. Whatever it is, just tell us.” It was my father who spoke up again, my mother remained quiet. She began fidgeting with her fingers, the motion distracting me momentarily.

  Mason gently prodded me, jolting my focus back to the matter at hand. “Something happened this morning and Devlin came over with Vivien. They told me about a secret they’ve been keeping that involves me. They also shared that I’m in danger.”

  Just that little bit of information took the wind out of my dad’s sail and he dropped onto the bed beside my mother. “A secret? Danger?” He looked over at Mason before returning his attention to me. “Start talking.”

  The words simply fell out and once I commenced, I didn’t stop until everything was out on the table. I began from the beginning, relaying the same story Devlin had told me earlier, not holding anything back. I didn’t sugar coat the truth, even when it came time to describe Julian and his evil plans. My mother whimpered, softly crying when it came time to talk about how those plans now involved me.

  “And you knew nothing about it?” The accusation from my father was aimed directly at Mason.

  “No, sir. As you saw in the garden, that’s how I reacted to finding out. I was just as much in shock as you are.”

  “And you say this Julian now knows you’ve come into your powers?” I’d never seen my father scramble to make sense of something before. Usually, he was the rock in our family; difficult to rattle, regardless the news or situation.

  “We believe so. If he didn’t before, after this morning’s explosion, I have no doubt he’s aware.”

  “Explosion?” He reached for me and I left the security of Mason’s arms, slipping into my father’s. There was a tremble pulsing through his body—whether it was from shock, anger, or fear, I didn’t know.

  “My magic flared and I kind of destroyed our bathroom,” I admitted.

  No one spoke while my father quickly inspected me to see if there was any damage. “And you’re only just coming to talk to us?” That tremor I’d felt coming from him was anger.

  “I’m sorry, Dad. I know I should’ve come to you sooner, but everything went a little crazy and it’s been a lot to deal with.”

  “I know, I know. I don’t mean to get mad at you. It’s just so much to take in.”

  “You’re telling us. It’s been one hell of a morning for everyone.” Mason rested back against the dresser, leaning his elbows on the top. “But now that we know, we’re working on a plan to keep Darcy safe.”

  My father muttered something in reply, but I didn’t hear him. I couldn’t—I was too busy wondering why my mother still hadn’t spoken, especially since she’d always been so vocal with her opinions in the past. There wasn’t a subject about my life she didn’t have something to say about. Now, when the biggest bombshell to date had been dropped, she was strangely silent.

  “You knew, didn’t you?” I whispered, stunned at the only conclusion I could think of. “You knew Devlin was my uncle and you knew that Vivien suppressed my witch nature.” I stared at her, willing her to deny it. Everyone else turned to watch her, the air in the room suddenly still with anticipation.

  “Darcy . . .”

  “Just be honest. Did you know?”

  “Yes.”

  “How long?”

  “From the beginning. I knew something was different about you the moment I held you in my arms—even without the strange signs that occurred. Devlin and Vivien tried to convince me that sometimes these things happen, and that maybe it was a blessing from the Fates because your father and I had tried to conceive for so long. It sounded like the perfect explanation; but in my heart, I just knew there was something they were hiding. So, I confronted them both and forced them to tell me. I refused to let them near you until they confessed.” Tears streamed down her face as she finally gave voice to the secret I knew must’ve weighed her down all these years. “I asked for the truth and I swear, the moment I knew, I wished I could go back in time and unhear it. It has been agony holding this inside, never being able to confide in those I loved and trusted.” My mother now turned to my father, cupping the side of his cheek. “You have no idea how much I wanted to share this burden with you, my heart.”

  “Lynn.” My father sounded strangled, his emotions heavy. “Why?”

  “They swore me to an oath. The fewer people who knew, the better. They were worried even my knowing would unravel their carefully executed plans. Under no circumstances could Darcy know the truth until the time was right. Everything hinged on that secrecy. All it took was one look at her precious smile and I agreed. I wanted her safe; but I also wanted her to live without fear. At least for a little while.”

  “You should’ve told me. I’m your husband.”

  “Dean, I wanted to. So many times I almost did, despite my promise. I can only hope you’ll forgive me.”

  I watched as something passed between my parents—a need for understanding and faith. I’d seen Mason struggle with his feeling of betrayal and I could only imagine that same emotion ran even deeper within my father toward my mother. Being lied to by a friend was one thing; it was another when it came from the one person you trusted completely.

  There was a momentary pause before my father moved. He released me, allowing Mason to step in and take over, as he gathered my sobbing mother and held her tightly. “Shush, my love. We’ll be okay. No secrets.”

  Mason softly murmured that we needed to go and see Vivien and that we would fill them in on what was happening when we returned. Nodding, my father began whispering softly to the woman he adored, trying to calm her as the years of guilt came crashing down over her. It was impossible to be mad knowing this had been slowly eating away at her for years.

  “Love you,” I quietly spoke, giving one last look at my parents.

  But they didn’t hear. They needed some time alone, and we needed to go.

  “They’ll be okay,” Mason said, as we walked back up the hallway, heading toward the front door.

  “I hope so.”

  I hoped we’d all be okay by the time this was over.

  Chapter 7

  We followed behind Devlin, who was on his motorcycle, carefully driving over to Vivien’s home. Daniel sat in the back seat, mulling over his thoughts while Mason’s focus never strayed from staring in front of him. His fingers tightly gripped the steering wheel, to the point where I was worried he’d snap it into pieces. There was no denying we were all worried and preoccupied. With every mile we travelled, the mood between us darkened. The silence was overwhelmin
g.

  “Is this how it’s going to be from now on? Everyone caught up in their own thoughts and no one talking?” I asked, when we finally approached the beautiful house. Cars were neatly parked outside, signaling coven members were here, and it gave me hope. It looked like during the time we were sorting things out, Vivien was doing her own organizing.

  “Sorry, hun,” Mason answered, taking my hand and kissing the back of it. We walked up the front stairs, Devlin and Daniel behind us, the image of a moving thundercloud above us making me laugh out loud. Mason must’ve caught it in my mind because he chuckled, too. “We’re not that bad.”

  “Wanna bet? If this keeps up, I’m going to go crazy. Just because things are a little up in the air at the moment, doesn’t mean we have to give into the doom and gloom.” I stopped and turned around to face the others. “Got it? I know we’re worried, but this isn’t helping. All it does is make me dwell on the worst that can happen. That’s not what I want.”

  Devlin nodded, a soft smile curling the ends of his mouth. “Spoken like a true Lockhart. My sister would be so proud of you.” My heart fluttered at the sound of his ancestral name—my heritage—not used to hearing him mention it. For the longest time, he had simply been Devlin to me. I remember thinking how romantic he sounded when he revealed his full name was Devlin John Lockhart. “Whatever you need, it’s yours.”

  “Thanks, Devlin. I just can’t handle all this solemnness.” I pointed at Daniel. “And especially from you. It’s freaking me out!”

  His cocky grin erupted and he offered me a grandiose bow, his hand waving before him. “Your wish is my command, dearest.” His rapid change in attitude cracked me up, breaking the seriousness of the moment.

  “That’s much better. I appreciate the extra respect.” Winking at him, I let out a short breath and faced the door again. “Now we’re ready to deal with whatever’s coming.” Raising my fist to knock on the wooden side frame, Vivien beat me to it, swinging open the door.

  “I thought I heard you all approach. Come in, come in. There’s a lot to do in a short period of time.” She ushered us inside, the energy around her crackling with nervous electricity. Vivien looked frazzled, with tendrils of hair escaping the loose bun she’d secured at the back of her head. Usually she appeared more composed than this, but I couldn’t fault her. I felt the same way. “I’ve been busy since we last spoke. I called an emergency coven meeting and delegated tasks to everyone. I have a few ideas about what we can do, so they’re gathering the essentials.”

  She abruptly stopped when she realized no one was following her. I’d meant to, but for a brief second it felt as if all the wind had been knocked out of me. My mind was swirling with the new information, threatening to go into overload. It stirred at something deep inside me; something I’d only just realized dwelled there. My power was responding to the magic surrounding me and wanted to be released. The instant I acknowledged it, there was an almighty rush that forced me to stagger forward.

  “Watch out!” Mason shouted, knowing what was occurring because of our connection. He felt it a few seconds before it blasted outward, but not in time to help me control it.

  The sensation left me dazed—not only from its strength, but also from the rawness it left behind. My insides screamed as power scraped its way through me before bursting out through the pores in my skin. I shrieked from the pain, my awareness shattering in that moment from the intensity. It was a hundred times worse than when it surfaced in the bathroom. This surge left me shaking and barely standing. Once I was able to focus, I realized it was because Mason had caught my body and was keeping me from crumpling to the floor.

  “Darcy, can you hear me? Answer me if you can.” Devlin stood before me, his face swimming in my vision. Vivien hovered by his shoulder; her distraught look matching Devlin’s.

  “How many times has this happened today?” she asked, staring at me while she waited for an answer.

  “This is the third time and by far the worst. There was once in the bathroom and the second when the ceiling fan crashed to the ground,” Mason answered for me. “She almost lost control when we were cleaning up, but it didn’t manifest.” He guided me over to the staircase and gently lowered me so I could sit.

  “Darcy, you need to talk to me, sweetheart.” Devlin crouched down and took my hand. “Darcy?”

  “What the heck was that?” I stammered, every part of me trembling in the aftermath. I glanced at everyone gathered around me and frowned. “Where’s Daniel?” There was a groan from over by the front door. My stomach sunk.

  “I need some kind of warning, guys,” Daniel moaned. Somehow he’d been flung across the foyer and slammed against the wall. Sitting up, he gingerly rubbed the back of his head, wincing as his fingers hit a sensitive spot. “If I didn’t know you loved me, Darcy, I’d think you were out to get me. That’s twice today.”

  I carefully scrambled to my feet, ignoring Mason and Devlin, who tried to keep me sitting. My magic might be out of control, but I wasn’t an invalid; and my dear friend was hurting because of me. “I am so sorry, Daniel. I didn’t mean to, I swear!” Frustrated tears threatened to fall. I was becoming a major liability and I hated it. Even though he was now standing, I couldn’t shake the dread that something inside me had lashed out.

  “I know, honey, I know. No harm, no foul. See?” He twirled about on his heels with his hands extended. He looked fine, but that didn’t change the fact that a minute ago he’d been knocked on his butt.

  “I can’t do this, guys. I can’t be around anyone if this is what happens.” A panicked feeling started closing off my throat and causing my chest to tighten.

  “Take a deep breath. That’s why we’re here. We’ll fix this, okay?” It was Vivien who now took control. “Come on, dear. Let me take you down to my study and we’ll see what we can do.”

  Nodding, I let her wrap her arm around my shoulder and we headed toward the back of the house. Her study was in the basement, expanding across the entire width of the building. Years ago, I’d curiously asked her why she chose downstairs for the place she spent most of her time.

  Vivien had always been patient, answering my countless questions, teaching me as she went. Now, as we descended the sturdy steps, I recalled her words. She said that as a witch, her strength could be drawn from the different elements found in nature—earth, air, fire, and water. And even though she was a master of all four, she had a natural affinity to the earth and felt closest to her magic when she was connected to her source of her power.

  As we entered the room, surrounded by the tools of her craft, I prayed the answer lay somewhere in the books, potion bottles, and various paraphernalia filling the cavern. When my eyes settled on her Book of Shadows that lay opened on her stained oak desk, I crossed my fingers, as well.

  It couldn’t hurt to ask for extra help.

  ****

  I felt wrapped up in the heady, familiar scents that filled the air. Inhaling deeply, I could pick out the fragrant lavender and rose oil Vivien loved, as well as the sage she used when she practiced her spells. Another lesson flowed easily from my memory trove of her explaining the importance of cleansing the air of negativity and harm. Burning the plant, it balanced the energy of the room and instilled harmony to the practitioner’s intent. Sure enough, she already had her smudge stick lit, the embers a bright orange as strands of smoke swirled above it. It was intoxicating.

  I’d forgotten how much I loved visiting her and spending time down here.

  There was no doubt this was Vivien’s sanctuary and her power thrived under her own nurturing. I could feel a thrumming building inside me and it caused me to take a step back. But this time it felt different, less volatile and more like a simple greeting between friends. My magic was, for want of a better word, happy.

  “Do you need to leave?” Mason asked, sensing the brief disturbance.

  “No, it just feels weird. Different.”

  “You’ll eventually learn how to recognize the various m
oods of your witch nature. Just like your wolf, it responds to different situations, always providing that part of what you need. You’ll learn to temper it, control the numerous layers, and know what triggers your outbursts. But for now, we want to bind your powers until we’re certain you’re safe. It’s always an unpredictable time when a witch first comes into her abilities. But they usually have years to master themselves. You don’t have that. I’d hoped we could’ve explored your new talents and abilities together, but . . .” Vivien became distracted by something on her desk. She frowned, studying the small jar’s label and unscrewing the lid, to slightly sniff at the contents. Shaking her head, she muttered under her breath and replaced it amongst the other items on one of the many shelves.

  All the while we watched her, waiting. Devlin and I had been here countless times, which was evident by the fact we weren’t fazed by the overwhelming amount of magic paraphernalia that made up the basement. Mason and Daniel were relatively new to all this and, even though they’d visited Vivien before, something told me they had never been invited here. I could sense Mason wanted to walk around and check everything out, curious as to what secrets he could uncover. He was just like me—inquisitive—and I could sense his need to be learning about his surroundings through our mental link.

  Devlin rested against the desk, garnering a swat from Vivien because he was in her way. It was difficult to imagine they’d been like this for centuries, their friendship first beginning before he’d become a vampire. She’d known him as a human, when his strength came solely from the measure of his heart and character. They’d supported each other all this time, watching and waiting, constantly vigilant through the years. It explained the easiness I always witnessed when they were together, that comfortable air about them.

  “Are you ready?” he asked his trusted friend, moving so she could reach for a small bowl containing crushed leaves. “Are we trying the original spell?”