by C Zinnia
“It was my fault,” Mel said.
“That’s good to know, but still doesn’t explain why,” Dana said.
“I said I needed something inspiring to write about,” Mel said. “He had mentioned the fight accidentally and I sort of exploited it.”
“How did you exploit it?” Dana asked.
Mel hesitated.
“We need to know because this cannot happen again,” Dana said.
Mel bit her lip. “I sort of pushed my desire of wanting to go to the fight into his energy field. His energy field took it in and he accepted it as his own thought,” she said. As she described it, she realized just how terrible it sounded. “I’ve never done it before and I didn’t think it would actually even work, but it did. I need to apologize to Daren for that.”
Mel glanced back to see Silvia and Dana staring at her in utter disbelief.
“Is that even . . . possible?” Dana asked Silvia.
Silvia shrugged. “Eli would know better than the rest of us. I think it would be best if they met to sort that out. If that is the case, then we only have to be cautious when it comes to people like Mel,” she said. She focused on Mel. “I know you were eager to go to the fight and I suspect it had to do with Viola, but you can’t let your desires and impulses outweigh your moral obligations. Everything we do in life creates consequences, both good and bad. Every time you compromise your morals to fulfill a desire, it gets easier and easier to push your morals aside. And to what end?”
Tears filled Mel’s eyes from disappointment in herself. “You are right. It was a selfish act on my part,” she said.
Dana patted Mel’s back. “We all mess up, Mel. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she said. “And we’ll get Eli to make Daren something to wear.”
“I won’t do it again!” Mel said.
“Maybe not, but you’re not the only witch we know and she has used her abilities to intentionally cause harm. For all we know, she’s been doing that trick you were talking about on us and we’ve been none-the-wiser,” Dana said.
Mel was horrified. She didn’t want to be anything like the witch Dana was talking about. Mel was always known for acting ethically in situations.
I didn’t act ethically in my treatment of Daren. Maybe my gifts opening up is a bad thing, Mel thought darkly.
“Stop brooding. We aren’t mad at you,” Dana said. “We have to learn similar lessons as werewolves. We are stronger and faster than humans. We could easily overpower and overrun humans, but to what end? Power isn’t bad. It’s what you do with it. Power doesn’t corrupt. Your insecurities do. You and Eli will get it all sorted out. You’ll see. You did us a favor by telling us because now it’s something we know to look out for in the future.”
“Thank you, Dana. I don’t know if I would be as gracious about this as all of you have been,” Mel said. “In fact, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be.”
“It gets easier if you learn not to take things so personally,” Dana said.
“Yeah, I’m still having to work on that. What is going on with the whole Viola thing?” Mel asked.
Dana and Silvia shared a look. “Are you sure you want to know right now?” Silvia asked.
“No, but I don’t think I can wait either,” Mel said.
“Well, pull up your pants and have a seat so we can finish fixing you up,” Silvia said. Mel pulled up her pants and sat down at the table with them. “Let me tell you a story my mom told me.
“Legend says the Sun and the Moon were lovers. But there were many times during the month they were not able to be together. To strengthen their love, they created mankind together. Men, however, feared the night and tried to hide from it, so the Moon was unable to see their children.
“The Sun knew the Moon loved the wolves that howled to her so beautifully. Because of this, the Sun created mankind that would turn into wolves. That way, they did not fear the night and they could sing to the Moon.
“The Moon gave these wolves their ability to find their soulmates, so they may have the kind of love the Sun and Moon did. A werewolf meets one person who makes them feel as though they’ve found a piece of themselves they hadn’t realized they were missing.
“It’s the person you want to spend the rest of your life with and can never get enough of. It’s the person who brings out the best in you and you bring out the best in them. You are able to grow together throughout your lives. Your reaction in Viola’s room shows there is some kind of bond between the two of you. At the fight, Viola must have picked up your scent. She went to another pack today searching for you,” Silvia said. “I don’t know if it’s true, but soulmates occur with some frequency in our species, including Dana and myself.”
“Of course, there have been times where all of us have felt a bond with a person for another reason,” Dana pointed out. “With all of the men I dated, I thought each one was potentially ‘the one’ but each one was a stepping stone that made me appreciate Lee more than I would have if I hadn’t dated them. And I was a stepping stone for them on their paths to find their mates.”
“I agree. Before we moved to this pack, there was a boy who I was convinced was my mate,” Silvia said with a laugh. “Sometimes, we think it’s ‘the one’ and it’s really a lesson.”
“So, you find your mate through pheromones?” Mel asked.
“Yes, that seems to be the pattern,” Silvia said.
“That can’t be the only way,” Mel said matter-of-factly.
“Why not? Do you have any other theories?” Dana asked.
“Not an actual theory, but I’ve had a pull towards Viola long before I smelled her. The first time I was aware of her presence, I felt . . . something. I was too far away to smell her, but I could feel her energy,” Mel said.
“You mentioned being pulled to her energy earlier. What does energy mean in this context?” Silvia asked.
Mel wasn’t sure how to explain it. “You know, her qi or life force,” she said.
“Like her aura?” Dana asked, intrigued.
“Yes. She and Daren were outside. I couldn’t see Viola, but I could see Daren. Even then, I felt a pull towards her that I couldn’t explain because I had never felt it before with anyone,” Mel said. “And I didn’t see anything suspicious other than the fighting. I saw the wolves, but in my mind, I thought they were all just big dogs.”
“No one turned while you were there?” Dana asked.
“No, I got there during the dance and I left immediately after Viola’s fight,” Mel said. “I didn’t notice anything paranormal.”
“This is all intriguing. Eli, our pack healer, may have an opinion regarding you being pulled to Viola’s energy,” Silvia said. “He’s more knowledgeable in those sorts of things than we are.”
“So, Viola and I are soulmates?” Mel asked. “How is that possible when I’m not a werewolf?”
“You may have ancestors who were werewolves,” Silvia said. “Whatever the case, you’ve seemed to bond with our Viola. The good news is it’ll make it easier for Bruce to trust you.”
Mel sat there, stunned. She realized the conversation had not fully sunk in yet, but she was too tired and overwhelmed to continue. “On that note, I think I’ll go to bed,” she said. “Good-” -she glanced out the window- “-afternoon, I guess.”
“Good afternoon,” Dana said.
Mel was embarrassed. She really didn’t want to walk upstairs by herself, but she didn’t want to admit her fear either.
Dana saw Mel hesitating. “You know, I think I need to use the bathroom,” Dana said. “I’ll be right back, Silvia. Do you mind if I walk up with you, Mel?”
Mel was relieved. “That would be great,” she said.
Dana walked upstairs with her. They were quiet as they went through the hallway. Mel stopped at Viola’s bedroom door.
“I’m sorry about your house,” Mel said. “I’m sorry I was ugly to you and I’m sorry I overreacted when it all happened. It was very selfish of me.”
Dana hugged her. “Tha
nk you and I do understand where you were coming from, sweetie,” she said. “Sometimes, in high stress situations we don’t react in the best ways and it shows that there are still things about ourselves we need to work on. All any of us can do is try to always improve.”
Mel smiled. “I like that,” she said. “You are so wise.”
Dana laughed. “I do my best. I can’t begin to imagine what you went through today. It was a lot to take in. Besides, at the end of the day, we only lost material things. Thank God none of us were killed,” she said.
“Except Trixie,” Mel said softly.
“Yes, except Trixie,” Dana agreed.
“Dana,” Mel said. “I accept you as you are, werewolf and all. I know you’re a great person either way.”
Dana smiled. “Thanks, Mel. Sleep well,” she said.
“Thanks, Dana,” Mel said. Mel went into Viola’s room. She closed the door and immediately got into bed. She groaned in pain. Laying down created an unpleasant wave of nausea and dizziness. When the sensations passed, she burrowed under the covers. She buried her face in the pillows. She deeply inhaled Viola’s scent. The smell comforted Mel and she was lulled to sleep.
Chapter 22
Earlier that day . . .
Viola and Daren sat in Susan’s kitchen, eating breakfast, as they waited for Mason. Susan, his mate, had been at their house when the two arrived. She was a short, plump woman with short grey hair and large dimples when she smiled. Her skin was tan and her hands were coarse from working so much in their garden. “Mason and Alura are off investigating something or another,” she had said. “They ought to be back in a little bit.” Daren noticed the strain on Susan’s face and in her voice as she spoke. Mason’s illness had been taking a toll on her. “Are you two hungry?”
Daren’s stomach had rumbled in response.
Susan had laughed and immediately guided them into the kitchen. They made small talk as Susan cooked them a large Southern breakfast. Both offered to help, but Susan waved them off. “I enjoy cooking,” she said simply. “And it’s been a while since I’ve had an excuse to cook a large meal. I’m sure Alura will be hungry by the time they get back.”
The love in Susan’s voice when she said Alura’s name was evident. Susan and Mason hadn’t been able to conceive which created a lot of heartache for both of them. When Alura was orphaned at ten, they immediately took her into their home.
Viola begrudgingly ate her meal. She felt bad that she didn’t feel more gratitude for Susan’s hospitality. The truth was Viola didn’t want to eat. She was eager to comb through the village for her mate. She also knew it would have been rude to ask without both Susan’s and Mason’s permission.
While Mason treated Susan as an alpha, some of the pack members did not recognize her as an authority. Viola had expected that sort of response from some of the men of the pack, but she was disappointed in the women who also treated Susan so menially. Susan had won the respect of the majority of the pack over time, showing even the kindest of women had a quiet sort of power that should be respected as much as a man’s aggressive power, but there were still some who had archaic views about a woman’s place in the world.
And if you were to ask them what actually made a man a man and what made a woman a woman, you’d find they wouldn’t be able to come up with much of a distinction, Viola thought. Trying to tell someone who they can and cannot be or what they can and cannot like based on something as obscure as gender is ridiculous.
By the time Mason and Alura returned, Viola and Daren had finished their meal.
Viola was surprised by how much Mason had changed in the last six months.
“Welcome, Viola and Daren,” Mason said. Instead of his normally booming voice, it was filled with fatigue. He had lost a lot of weight and there were bags under his sunken blue eyes. Viola saw and felt a slight tremor in Mason’s hands as they shook hands. His grasp was weak. He wasn’t able to maintain eye contact with her. Viola had known Mason was ill, but not the level. Mason’s health was deteriorating rapidly. It smelled like cancer, but Viola knew better than to ask.
Alura whistled. “Looks like you two got the works,” she said.
Viola glanced at her and was momentarily distracted by the scars on her face and neck. She knew there were scars on Alura’s chest, arms, abdomen, and pelvis, but they were covered with her clothes. Viola witnessed the day Alura was betrayed by Tish. It was another reason Viola respected Alura so much. Alura should have died from the injuries, but she survived. It was also another reason witches made Viola nervous. Alura’s ex had spelled a werewolf to attack Alura in wolf form during their match.
To Viola, Alura should have been broken from being disfigured, but Alura remained unphased. In fact, Alura supported Mason’s decision to ban Tish from the pack and tell all packs what she did instead of executing her. Viola didn’t necessarily agree with her decision. What’s to stop that witch from trying again? Viola thought. Viola wanted to speak to Alura about the matter but could never figure out the right way to bring the conversation up. What Alura’s ex did to her was enough to break anyone, yet Alura overcame it. Alura is definitely an unbreakable warrior .
Alura winked at Susan. “Mama, how could you feed the woman responsible for beating our best beta?” she asked.
“Oh, you!” Susan exclaimed with a laugh as she hugged her daughter. She handed Alura a large plate of food. “You go eat and stop your picking.”
Alura grinned as she happily sat down beside Daren. With the scars on her face, she looked almost menacing when she smiled.
“Would you like some food, darling?” Susan asked Mason.
“No thank you, dear,” Mason said. He gave her a kiss on the cheek before he sat beside Viola. “I’m not hungry.”
Susan tried to mask her concern as she refilled Viola and Daren’s empty mugs with coffee.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of y’alls company?” Mason asked.
Viola quickly recovered. She knew Mason was a proud man and she didn’t want to disrespect him by asking him the state of his health. “Well, I’ve come here because I caught a scent of my mate at the match. I wanted to find out if she was from your pack,” Viola said.
“Oh! That’s why y’all ended up here on empty stomachs,” Susan said.
“Yep, I wanted to eat breakfast, but Viola wanted me to starve,” Daren said dramatically.
“You poor dear,” Susan said as she patted his shoulder. “Would you like some more bacon and eggs?”
“Yes, please,” Daren said. “You’re the best, Alpha Susan.”
Susan smiled at Daren. “You’re a sweetheart,” she said.
Alura rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re working over my mama,” she said. “That’s messed up.”
“Wouldn’t you do the same to my mom?” Daren said.
“In a heartbeat,” Alura said, smiling.
Mason chuckled at their teasing before turning back to Viola. “Many congrats, Viola,” he said. “You are welcome to meet everyone in the pack. I hope she’s here. We could use you in this pack, no offense to Bruce’s pack.”
“Let’s find her first and then we’ll go from there,” Viola said politely.
“I can show you around,” Alura said. “Is that okay, Pop?”
“Yes, but be sure to be careful,” Mason said. “While I don’t believe anyone will try anything, there are hot-headed people in every pack. No one is too happy that you defeated our strongest male.” His eyes twinkled at the statement. He apparently was more than happy Viola had beaten Chris.
Viola was perplexed by his demeanor. “Thank you, Alpha Mason,” she said slowly.
“There is a time and a place to have loyalty to individuals in your pack, Viola,” Mason said. “You want to cheer for those who make your pack better both individually and overall. You don’t want to empower those who bring out the worst in your pack.
“Most people confuse loyalty for your pack with obedience and they are two different things. With
loyalty, there is the option to question what is best for everyone as a whole, and there is room for debate and arguments. There is the ability to respect and welcome people who are vastly different. There is the ability to find a way for everyone to live together peacefully and treat everyone as equals.
“On the other hand, with obedience, there is no room for question. There is only compliance or punishment. There is the tendency for there to only be one ‘right’ way to live and no room for differences. It quickly creates an ‘us’ vs ‘them’ environment. What type of leader do you think he would be?”
“I fear he would be the latter,” Viola said.
“And so do I. I’m not as spry as I used to be and soon my bones will be too worn to hold me up, let alone this pack. I’m sure you already noticed that I’m dying. Lung cancer. Never smoked a cigarette my entire life, but I was exposed to a lot of second-hand smoke growing up and into my early thirties. When I first had symptoms, I foolishly ignored them and pretended they’d go away. By the time I went to the doctors, it had already metastasized,” Mason said.
Susan’s eyes teared up as she slowly sat beside Mason and took his hand. He affectionately squeezed it and kissed her palm.
Viola was stunned he was sharing such personal information.
“We’re so sorry, Alpha Mason,” Daren said.
Mason waved off his words. “I’ve had a long, good life, Daren. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful mate and a great daughter.” Tears pressed against Alura’s eyes, but she quickly blinked them back. “And I’ve already lived a month longer than the doctors predicted,” Mason said. “I just wished the pack was in a better state than it is now. I would have already named Alura Alpha, but I know I’m not strong enough to fight an uprising. I don’t think the members in our pack who support Alura are strong enough to push back against those who support Chris.”
Viola was floored by his statement.
“It’s true,” Alura said. “Unfortunately, Chris picked a good group of people to support his antics. They blindly follow their designated leader, even if it leads to their own destruction and ours. Fanatics and bigots tend to be better at fighting because they don’t think critically about what they’re doing. They don’t look at me or those who support me as actual people. They view us as subhuman, so it’s easier for them to attack and harm us.
