“That boy is very responsible for his age as well,” Henry says.
I feel Seth pick up on this conversation, too.
“Both of them act older than they are, Lil. You have to trust at least Jasmine,” Leland says.
“I just don’t want her getting pregnant before she graduates! Imagine what Curt would say to that!”
Someone sighs heavily.
“Mom, no one knows what Dad would truly feel about any of this,” Henry snaps. “I highly doubt Jazzy will let that happen. And even still, heightened senses remember? I’m like a walking, talking, chastity belt. But they aren’t intimate that way anyway, they both stop before it gets too far.” Henry nearly growls.
I put my pencil down soundlessly and stare at the door with wide eyes.
‘He heard us!’ I practically scream to Seth at the same time my cheeks heat.
“What if she’s snuck him in? Or snuck out? Even tonight! Right now!” I hear her stamp her foot in exclamation.
I can’t listen to this anymore. I walk to my door and open it.
“Hey. What’s up?” I look each one in the face. Mom blushes and looks down. Henry shifts on his feet, knowing that I heard them. Leland just stares at me.
“We were just talking about you,” Leland says.
“Want to do a bed check while I finish up this last math problem?” I open my door wider and walk back to my desk.
“No,” Henry says harshly. “You get back to work. I’ll be back in a few minutes, Jazzy,” Henry says and closes the door.
‘That was… Um, informative.’
‘No kidding.’ I can’t believe this. ‘Did he really just call himself a walking, talking chastity belt?’ I groan.
Seth laughs. ‘That was a good one on his part. But I thought your mom trusted us.’
‘Maybe we should spend some more time here, around her. Maybe she hasn’t seen us together as a couple enough.’
I feel him agree as he brushes my mind with a calming balm again. ‘I love you.’
‘I love you, too.’ I sigh.
This is normal.
This is what I wanted.
Seth is my forever. I have no doubts about that. I know it won’t be normal forever. I just have to enjoy it while it lasts. My forever is mine to control and I will do that with Seth’s help, always.
One day my wounded heart will heal and I will claim the “happiest girl alive” title.
‘I’ll fix you.’ His husky voice fills my mind. I’ll never grow tired of hearing it.
Henry…
Running always helps me calm down.
Right now, I’m going to run off the weird-ass conversation I had with my mom and uncle.
Did I really just refer to myself as a walking, talking chastity belt? I wish I had some freaky ability to know when they were going to bring up unpleasant conversations, such as my sister’s virginity status.
I shrug out of my clothes behind the trees near the lake, grateful for mostly elderly neighbors. Not many people will be able to notice my wolf in the dark.
I take a deep breath and let my wolf take over. Barry was right. The pain does ease with time, though it never fully goes away.
I set off on my usual path, sticking close to the lake where the trees are the thickest. This route brings me through Skeeter’s back yard. My wolf rumbles with the thought of seeing her. I sigh, as much as she pleases me and my wolf, she won’t even talk to me. I can’t pinpoint when that happened really, probably after my wolf showed up. Everything is just a big confusing mess.
I sigh and ease into my surroundings.
Running will clear my head.
Rustling to my left halts me in my tracks. A brown owl lands on my back the minute I stop. I shake my coat, but he doesn’t depart.
Tristan.
I growl and drop to my left side. The movement launches him from his perch on my back. His bird makes a strange noise that my wolf ears recognize as a laugh. He isn’t supposed to be this far out from the flock at night. I hope there isn’t a problem. Knowing Tristan, he’s just messin’ around and being a rule breaker. As always, he’ll get away with it. The perks of being the Phoenix’s son.
I reach the farm where I can run full speed without worries.
A hoot-screech above makes me look up. ‘Hey man, I’m just doin’ some flyin’ tonight. You can dodge air-bombs another time.’ Tristan says in my head. It’s weird how the firebirds do that. Tristan said they have to really focus or be touching someone else to receive a response, unless it’s a flock-mate. All members of the flock communicate telepathically, no matter what. That has to be annoying.
After a twenty minute run, I head back to the house and retrieve my clothes.
Barry said that our wolves know when we find our mates. If she was my mate, I would’ve known by now, right? But if she’s not, why do I have this desire, need, and want? It’s all for her.
The day my mom and cousin were taken, my wolf kept telling me to protect Skeeter. Me and my human brain, kept saying “Jazzy needs me.” I couldn’t do anything for Skeeter, except keep her in the house, and even that wasn’t needed. She said she wasn’t going anywhere until Jazzy was home. She seemed relieved when I left to help the guys get Jazzy back.
That was a scary thought, not knowing what I would find when I arrived, or if we could even get her.
“Jazzy, I need your help,” I say as I walk through her bedroom door without knocking.
“I know, but you need to trust me on this. Just give her time.” She knows exactly what I need to talk about. I don’t know how, but she always does that.
Having just relived the night I almost lost her, I pull her into a much needed hug. Smelling her peach shampoo that’s been somewhat of a security blanket for me since that night, my chest doesn’t feel as tight. I can still smell the spicy, wooded musk that I know is Seth. Her scent is more of a warm cinnamon, and with her shampoo, she’s like a walking peach cobbler.
I smirk at my thought. I’ll never tell her that. She would freak. I’m surprised Tristan or Barry hasn’t mentioned it yet. They love messin’ with her.
“Everything will work out, Henry. I promise.” She smiles up to me, then covers her mouth and yawns.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting. Get some sleep, Beautiful.”
“Goodnight Stud, er, my walking chastity belt,” she sniggers to herself.
I groan. I’m not going to hear the end of that one.
I ruffle her hair a bit, and head to my room, preparing myself for another long night of arguing with myself. One day my head, heart, and wolf, will all be on the same page. Maybe then I’ll be able to sleep.
As I fight sleep, my wolf stirs but I push him away. Whispering fills my room. Something huge is coming. This is the calm before the storm.
Soul Promise
Book two of The Soul Mate Series
Coming Soon
About the Author
Rachel lives in Central Pennsylvania, is a stay at home mom, has a wonderful husband, total of 4 kids, 3 of which are step kids. She’s a true Pittsburgh Penguins and Steelers fan. She’s an insomniac that loves coffee, Johnny Depp movies and bonfires, dislikes driving on the interstate, bugs of any kind, and a too quiet house. When she’s not playing with the people inside her head, making her family think she belongs in the loony bin or writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, finding new music, new books, helping someone or plotting something equally crazy with her Critique Partners.
Connect-
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RachelWalterAuthor
Twitter: @rachelw_auth
Blog: http://rachelwalterauthor.blogspot.com
Email: [email protected]
Coming Soon:
YA Paranormal
Soul Promise (Book Two) The Soul Mates Series
Release Date TBA
NA Contemporary Romance
A Message Of Flowers
Releasing Fall 2013
Play List
Anthe
m Of Angels - Breaking Benjamin (During the wraith that Seth dies)
Bleed It Out - Linkin Park (training with Caine)
Copperhead Road - Steve Earle (Caused Jazzy’s emotional breakdown)
Electrify - Mutemath (Jazzy and Skeeter dancing)
Face To The Floor - Chevelle (Jazzy telling Henry about the rumor Derik has started, in
the car at lunch)
The Fight In You - Garrett Fallon
(F)lannigan’s Ball - Dropkick Murphys
Garden of Zen-Jean - Pierre Garattoni (While Caine warms up to train Jazzy in the field)
I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick (Dancing in the kitchen)
I’m Not Alright - Shinedown (Jazzy & Seth at the lake)
Lost - Within Temptation (Jazzy reliving the attacks in the kitchen)
Not Alone - Red (Jazzy & Barry after the 4th dream attack)
Only Prettier – Miranda Lambert
The Only One In Color - Trapt (Seth & Jazzy)
Safe and Sound – Matthew West
Sister - Dave Matthews Band
Step Right Up - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Those Nights - Skillet
Through My Prayers – The Avett Brothers (reliving the night of the accident)
Where We Left Off - Hunter Hayes (drawing the soldier)
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd (visiting her old house)
Your Love - The Dirty Heads (feat. Kymani Marley) (Seth and Jazzy cuddling)
True Connection (The Soul Mate Series) Page 33
