by Renea Porter
“You passed out when your mom did what she did,” Bea tells me. “Ace had to carry you to the car. Are you sick?”
I nod.
“I’ll go make you some soup,” Ace says before leaving the room.
The only memory I have is that Mom was doing a spell and I fell to my knees. I know whatever she did, she did because I asked her and there was no other way. Bea and I don’t talk about what happened.
“Are you okay, Riley?”
I give her a weak smile. “I’m okay. Thanks for everything.” I squeeze her hand. “Bea, I’m sorry, I haven’t been a good friend.” Tears well up in my eyes.
“Things have been crazy for you. It’s okay.” She smiles.
“It’s not okay. How could I not see that you found your one?” I wipe a tear away. “I don’t deserve your friendship.”
Bea reaches over and tucks my hair away from my face. “Stop. If you say sorry again, I’ll slap you. You are my best friend no matter what. And Ace here will take good care of you, okay?” She winks, blows me a kiss, and leaves the room as Ace hands me soup.
I smile shyly at him. Even though I’m sick, I can’t help but smile at him. He is so infectious, and I see him in a completely new light. I know the truth, my truth.
“Thanks Ace. For everything. I don’t even know what to say,” I stammer.
“Just eat your soup and get to feeling better. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.”
“This soup is good. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He rests his hand on my leg.
I finish eating my soup and my belly is full. Ace and I watch mindless TV until I pass out again.
***
Morning breaks and I squint my eyes as the smell of breakfast wafts through the place. Moments later, Ace comes in with a tray. I smile and sit up, pushing my crazy bed hair away from my face.
“Good you’re awake. How are you feeling?” He sets the tray on my lap.
“Better. This looks amazing.” I smile, taking the fork and immediately digging into the pancakes. “I could definitely get used to this,” I say between mouthfuls.
“You won’t hear me complaining.”
“Do you ever have a bad day?” I ask. “You always smile, and are so easy going. You’re kind of perfect, actually.”
“Did you just say I’m perfect?” He flashes a huge grin.
“Add cocky to the list.”
“I never have a bad day whenever you’re around.” He squeezes my shoulder. “It’s good to have you back to normal.”
I still have no memory of what happened yesterday, only bits and pieces here and there. Part of me thinks it’s probably better that way. Then I wonder why I didn’t see that Bea had found her one. How could I be so blind not to see her love sick? I should have known, as much as she was hanging out with Trent.
Bea comes into the room riding on Trent’s back. When she sees I’m awake he lets her down. “How are you feeling?”
“A lot better.”
“Come find me later if you’re up to it,” she says, hoping back onto Trent’s back.
“How many people are here?” I ask Ace.
“All the guys are here.” He sits on the edge of the bed. “I haven’t told you everything. It sounds weird, but I’m the leader of us. I don’t know how I got that responsibility, but I do. So when I’m passionate about something, about protecting a certain someone, they do everything to protect them, too. Granted, they won’t stake any claim on someone if I already have. They all have their own claims but we stick together like a pack and we protect our own.”
“Did you stake claim on me?” I ask.
“Who’s the cocky one now? You’ve been through a lot, and I’m willing to wait until you’re ready.”
I swallow a hard lump. If I’m going to be honest, I’m not sure I have those kinds of feelings for Ace. Yes, he makes me laugh, makes me feel protected, and it’s so easy to be myself around him. But at the same time, I want to take things slow. I want to know for sure how I feel about him. Maybe my feelings could grow into something more. I know he would never hurt me, but the risk of handing my heart over is still a concern. I still feel fragile and want to form a solid friendship first. Nothing comes without consequences. Most of all, I don’t want to hurt him if my feelings don’t progress. I know he wants more, and I’m just not sure I can give that to him.
“Anyway, I’ll take that and you can get ready,” he tells me, taking the tray from my lap.
“I don’t have anything to wear,” I realize.
He chuckles. “Bea managed to pack you both a bag. The clothes are hanging in the closet and there’s stuff in the drawers.” He points.
I smile. Once he leaves the room, I take advantage of the private bathroom that’s in the room. Starting the shower, I move to pick out some clothes while the water heats up. Spring is right around the corner, and I pull out a pair of skinny jeans and a flowy white top. Bea did good packing for me. I undress and slip into the hot shower, letting the steam engulf me. So much has changed, yet some things have only evolved into so much more. I’m overwhelmed by Ace and how protective he is. My magic hasn’t acted up at all since he’s been around. Somehow, I feel like there is a connection there as well.
I scrub my body and wash my hair and rinse off. Stepping out, I wrap myself in a towel and move to the bedroom to change. Towel drying my hair, I let my hair hang loose and change into the clothes I picked out. After applying some makeup, I trudge downstairs where I hear the commotion in the living room. The room is huge with tall glass windows all around and a fireplace in the center of the room; it’s very rustic, yet modern.
“She’s alive!” some of the guys say in unison. I smile and wave. Ace quickly comes over to me and grabs my hand. He’s grinning as always. Outside, the fresh cool air slams against me, and I inhale the freshness.
“It’s so beautiful here,” I say as we walk hand in hand. Woods line all around the cabin.
“My parents own the place. It’s secluded and just a place to get away from it all. Naturally, we can be ourselves here.”
“Tell me more about you shifting.”
He smiles. “Well, all we have to do is go into the woods and something just happens that we change. No one can really explain it, except that it’s like a natural habitat for bears. And it’s mostly so we can protect the ones we love, our scent masks your and Bea’s magic. It’s hard for people to detect it when we are around. And if an attack would ever happen, we can transform and deter the situation. A transformation can happen if we are fueled with anger, as well. It will happen in a second.”
“That’s all so interesting,” I confess. “About what you said earlier, about waiting for me when I’m ready. I really appreciate that. I want to take things slow, get to know each other. I know there is no rush at the moment.”
“I understand.” He gives my hand a squeeze and flashes a wink.
At this moment, holding hands is perfect and I can feel his protectiveness. The serene scene calms me, settling my nervousness that I normally feel around Ace. Walking hand and hand around the property as I take in everything.
“You’re safe here. I’ll always keep you safe,” he says.
“I know.”
“Should we go back inside and join the others?” Ace asks.
“You go on ahead and I’ll be in, in a moment,” I tell him.
I take everything in that’s happened so far this year. Some memories are more blurry than others, but the two constants I know are Bea and Ace. I wonder what the rest of the year will bring.
Chapter Fifteen
RILEY
I enter the house and warmth surrounds me, comforting me. Bea comes over and puts an arm around my shoulders.
“I need a few minutes with my BFF,” she tells the others as we walk back outside. Once we are away from the others, she tells me she has something to tell me.
“Are you going to tell me or just let me guess?”
She starts to pace i
n the grassy lawn. “I honestly don’t know what to say. But there is something wrong about all of this. I can’t put my finger on it just yet, but maybe we need to hole ourselves in a room later to practice some magic, see if we see something. Something just feels wrong about all of this.”
“Are you saying we shouldn’t be here with the guys?”
“Of course not. Ace is very protective of you, and me, too. I know we are safe here. I say we just hang here for a few days, for spring break, and let things cool down. We’ll figure this out. No matter what, I’m right by your side.”
I let out a deep sigh. “Thanks, Bea.” I hug her tight.
Trent peeks his head out of the door. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything is fine,” Bea says, shrugging it off.
I’m so glad Bea came to me and explained her concerns. However, the news doesn’t put me at ease, at least not until we can do some magic together later. Right now, I just need to make the best of the situation and let things be. There are still so many questions that need answered, but right now those have to wait. I especially don’t want Ace and the guys to be aware of Bea’s concern, which will put them on high alert.
“How about we go for a hike? There’s so much to see around here,” Ace says.
Figuring it will put my mind on something else, I agree by smiling and nodding my head. Bea shrugs her shoulders in agreement. Her version of what the heck, why not.
I change into better shoes for hiking. I walk next to Ace with Bea and Trent in front of us, and some of the guys ahead of them.
“Are you sure you are feeling okay to hike?” Ace asks.
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“You just seem like you are far away,” he admits.
“I have a lot on my mind. Just some things I’m trying to sort out in my head. Nothing for concern, though.” I smile.
“Okay, well maybe getting out and about will put your mind at ease,” he tells me.
“Maybe. Does your family own the property around here as well?” I try to divert the attention away from me.
“Yes, we are going to the edge of the property. Wait until you see it. It’s beautiful and one of my favorite places to go and just be.”
“I’m excited to see it.”
With Bea and Trent in front of me, I can see clearly how happy she is with him. Her blonde curls bounce off her shoulders as she tilts her head back, laughing at something Trent says. My heart swells at the love they have for each other. It’s beautiful, actually. In that moment, I know that I don’t feel that way for Ace and my heart tugs at the thought.
Who knows if I will find the one? All I do know is that I have less than six months to figure it out. Six months might seem like a lifetime to some, but for me, my fate depends on it. I can feel the clock just ticking at me, mocking me.
Ace and I don’t talk much on the way to wherever he is leading us. Sometimes silence is enough. We don’t need to talk every second we are together. I envy Ace for his dedication in protecting Bea and me. He deserves so much more than I could ever give him.
We approach our destination and a strong arm tugs around my neck from behind. Ace and the guys immediately grow angry as my captor backs up away from the crowd, while everyone watches. My body relaxes when I realize who has me. His grip isn’t tight, but just enough to make an impression. Right before my eyes, Ace and the guys transform into bears, viciously roaring. Nathan talks into my ear and I hold my hand up to Ace, hoping he understands I’m not being harmed.
“I’m okay,” I say calmly.
Nathan whispers in my ear. “Don’t believe anything you’ve heard about me. It’s not true. We had a thing and it was goddamn beautiful, at least it almost was. I apologize for being a jerk. I love you, Riley. Don’t you ever forget that. I’ll explain the rest another day, but please don’t do anything stupid.”
With that, he releases me and quickly disappears as quickly as he appeared. His words confuse me even more because he said he loved me and not to do anything stupid. Well, I can guess he doesn’t want me doing anything with Ace. Ace and the boys transform back into humans and he rushes over to me.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He places his hands on my shoulders and looks me over.
“I’m fine.” I’m just utterly confused.
“Are you sure?” he checks.
“Yes, I promise. So what are we doing here?”
I try to deflect the attention to something else other than me. I’ll definitely have to talk to Bea later about this whole confusing situation. Maybe she can help me out.
Ace pulls on my hand and excitedly shows me. “We are cliff diving!”
Taking a step forward, I look down into the water. “I’m not jumping from here. You’re even crazier than I thought.”
“Yeah, I’m good with my feet planted right here. Solid ground and all,” Bea confirms, shaking her head.
“I just can’t imagine this going well,” I tell him.
He smiles that ever loving smile of his. “Fine, I’m going to do it to show it’s perfectly safe and then I’ll come get you.”
I nod. “It’s your funeral.”
The boys take their shirts off, along with their shoes. Ace laughs before taking the plunge into the blue water. I hear the splash all the way up to where I am. The rest of the guys soon follow, leaving me and Bea up on the cliff.
“We definitely should talk later,” she says, nudging my shoulder.
“Yes, I have some questions I’m hoping you’ll be able to help me figure out.”
“I’ll do my best. You know we could totally make this work.” She nods toward the water. “We could do a spell and have a bubble wrapped around us to ease the landing, no one would even notice.”
“These guys are nuts,” I say, hearing them come up the rocks.
“You ladies get the courage yet?” Ace asks, as the water drips off him. Even I’m not blind to the fact that water and Ace mix very well. I might not think of him the way he’d like, but damn, his tanned and toned body is definitely working for him. He could have any girl he wants. He shakes his hair to the side.
Bea winks at me. “We got this,” I say to him. We strip out of our clothes and, thankfully, I have on a bra and cotton panties, so it’s really no different than a bikini. We leave our clothes in a puddle. Bea and I hold hands, side by side, and close our eyes for a brief moment before we free fall. A knot in my stomach forms, even though we are protected by an invisible bubble.
The splash of the water breaks us out of the bubble and immediately shocks my skin causing goosebumps to form on my skin and then the guys dive down, splashing us even more and causing me and Bea to giggle.
After a day of hiking and swimming, we head back to the house. On the way back to the house, the boys are talking about cooking us dinner.
Inside, the kitchen is just as grand as the rest of the house, with a huge dark wood table with a lot of chairs, and a few stools lining the counter. The appliances are all stainless steel and there’s a lot of counter space. The boys spread out to get sorted to cook while Bea and I settle on the stools so we can watch. There are about five muscular guys in the kitchen cooking. It isn’t a sight most are privy to see, so this is very interesting. Ace catches my eyes and flashes me a wink while he chops veggies.
Bea and I manage to get the table set and the guys place the food on the table. I think there is a little bit of everything from pasta, to bread, to burgers and fries, to meat on a stick, and lastly, a few veggies.
“Looks like carb overload,” I say, smiling.
We all sit and enjoy the meal, along with light conversation accompanied with a glass of red wine.
Once dinner is over and the dishes are cleaned and put away, Bea and I gather candles from all over and excuse ourselves to a spare room.
***
Bea sets up the candles around the room and lights them. I sit on the carpet, crossed legged and Bea meets me and sits across from me. We have a candle in the center of us. The s
liding glass door to the room is open, and the light breeze is causing the candles to flicker. Bea and I join hands, creating a circle around the candle.
“Okay, I know you have some questions for me about what happened. But I think it’s better if you see for yourself. You should get at least a glimpse of what happened, and then I can help fill in the blanks. Whatever you see, I will see as well.”
I sigh heavily, as the nervousness sets in. I nod when I’m ready. Closing my eyes, Bea starts a chant and I join in. A few moments pass as I get a flash of a heart beating, then me kissing Nathan and then a scene of me crying in bed. I look like a wreck. The scenes being played in my head make no sense and cause my body to jolt.
Pulling my hands away from Bea’s, I ask, “What the hell was that?”
“From what I gather, you and Nathan had a thing, like a real love kind of thing. I wasn’t aware of it. You kept it a secret and never told me. You had your reasons for doing so and I get it. Your mom erased your memories of him, that’s why you can’t remember.”
“Why did she do that?”
“She told you he was bad, and after your magic. But I have a theory, if you are willing to hear me out and don’t judge.”
Chapter Sixteen
RILEY
Panic washes over me. My pulse is racing and sweat is forming on my forehead. “Okay.”
“So, we were in your room when she told you all this. Then at one time, she turned to me and said my mom would be proud that I found the one in Trent. Which makes me believe your mom was watching us for a while, to know this. However, Trent is not my one.”
“What do you mean? I thought he was.”
Bea cocks her head. “I was just doing that, just wasting time with one person and it threw her off. I’ve been having visions of a man, like a real strong man that is meant for me. I don’t know where he is or what his name is even, I just get his face in my visions. Anyway, we are getting off track. Your mom is a dark witch; she is no longer the mom you remember her to be as a child. I’m sorry, Riley.”
“So my mom is a dark magic witch and you are having visions. Shit just got a lot weirder. When did you start getting the visions?”
