by Cara Wylde
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Trust me, it does.” Kassandra was vaguely aware that she was losing her. She leaned over the table and grabbed her wrist, making Liv jump slightly at the unexpected gesture. “She doesn’t like to be touched,” the empath thought. She squeezed her wrist, nonetheless. “Please, Olivia. For the sake of your child, trust me. It’s only a name, nothing more.”
Liv curled her fingers into a fist, but resisted the urge to pull her hand away. She didn’t want to be rude. Her long, dark pink nails were digging into her palm, but the sharp pain did nothing to quieten her instinct. “It’s only a name,” the words echoed inside her head. A name, she felt, that could start something she didn’t want to deal with right now.
“Olivia?”
Her nails dug deeper into her flesh. “Tristan Ward,” she whispered. “His name is Tristan Ward.”
***
Kassandra fought the urge to release Olivia’s wrist. The young woman’s smooth skin burned her palm. She took a deep breath and tried to focus, tried to make sense of what was happening, of the jumble of emotions Liv’s energy spilled into the air. The deeper the empath looked into her soul, the bigger her apprehension grew. Gently, she pried Olivia’s fingers open so she could look at the lines in her palm.
Liv relaxed and allowed Kassandra to do her thing. Now that his name had left her lips, she felt relieved. She hadn’t spoken it in a long, long time. She couldn’t even remember how long it had been. Everyone had asked her about Liam’s father, of course, and her answer had always been that she had no idea who he was. At the risk of her family and friends thinking she was a careless, easy woman, stupid even, she had gained a bit of peace for herself. Now that his name was still floating between her and the empath, she felt as if that peace would soon be gone. Tristan Ward. The sound of a bad omen.
Oddly enough, Kassandra was thinking along the same lines, but for entirely different reasons. She had met Tristan Ward recently. Had it been a month since the proud Alpha lion-shifter had joined and left the Order of the Severins in the span of 24 hours? It could have been less. She hadn’t heard from him ever since, and neither had the remaining members of the secret order. Without Tristan, Emil Severin and Tyler Atwood couldn’t do much about the Arte di Calimala, the Assassins’ Guild which hunted, captured, and tortured supernatural people. Shape-shifters were their specialty. An unfortunate misunderstanding had caused the Order of the Severins to lose Tristan’s trust, his cooperation, and the access to his powerful witch. The Alpha had gone back into hiding, determined to protect his people. No one knew where his pride was. Apparently, not even Olivia, who clearly was Tristan’s fated mate. Staring at Liv’s palm and seeing pretty much nothing, one thought rang in Kassandra’s head over and over again: “You have to find him. I don’t know how, but you have to find him.” Was she talking about herself, or about Olivia? She didn’t know. It didn’t matter. Someone had to find him before it was too late. Too late for Liam, who was struggling with his young inner beast, not knowing how to let it out, how to control it, how to live with it. The lion cub needed his father and his pride. He needed to be amongst those of his kind.
“What do you see?” asked Olivia. She had grown tired of waiting for the old woman to actually interpret the lines in her palm.
Kassandra let go of her hand and leaned back in her chair.
“You truly don’t know how to find the father of your child.”
Liv rolled her eyes. “Already told you that.”
“No. You don’t know… as in, your soul doesn’t know.”
Liv chuckled. “How would my soul know something my mind doesn’t?”
Kassandra shook her head. She wasn’t going to have this argument with the cynical Olivia. She knew she wouldn’t be able to convince her of anything. It was a miracle that a realistic, non-spiritual woman such as her had actually considered seeking the help of an empath. Of course, when everything else failed, a desperate mother was willing to try anything, think of the most unlikely solutions. Despite her cold, uninvolved perspective on things, Olivia had a native intuition that had led her to Shift Your Fate. This intuition might yet save her, her son, and Tristan Ward. Because they all needed saving. Kassandra couldn’t quite point out why she felt that way, but she did.
“Nonetheless,” the empath said, “you need to find him and tell him about his son. Not only because he has a right to know, and Liam has even more of a right to meet his father, but because Tristan Ward is the only one who knows what your son is going through. He can help him.”
Olivia sighed, opened her mouth to say something, then changed her mind and stood up. She started pacing the small room. From time to time, her eyes would fall on the painting that had fascinated Liam an hour before. The lion was, indeed, mighty and beautiful. She wouldn’t mind having suck a painting in her own house.
“So… it’s something genetic, or…?” Liv asked.
“Yes, you could say that.”
“And only his father knows how to deal with it…”
“Yes.”
Liv nodded. “All right. All right. It makes sense, I guess.” What else could she say at this point? As much as she hated the situation, Kassandra was the first who was actually giving her a lead. She would never forgive herself if she didn’t follow it out of sheer stubbornness. “But I don’t know where to find him, and you don’t know either. We’re stuck.”
Kassandra nodded. “I might be able to find out,” she said. “I know someone who’s pretty good at finding things. And people.”
Olivia stopped pacing and fixed her gaze on the empath. A flicker of hope, mixed with fear and uncertainty, danced in her eyes.
“Who is this person?”
“A private detective.”
Initially, Kassandra had thought about Emil Severin, the wolf-shifter who was, indeed, a private detective by day, then she remembered she had someone better: Tyler Atwood, the bear-shifter who was a hacker by night. In fact, if the two friends and allies joined forces, they might be able to find the location of Tristan Ward’s pride. Would this put the lion-shifter’s people in danger, she wondered? Tristan was very protective of his pride, and Kassandra would never forgive herself if her actions brought any kind of harm to the small community of lion-shifters, especially as shape-shifters were becoming extinct. On the other hand, Liv and Liam needed him, and her unique gift had always told her she could trust the Order of the Severins. She had contributed to its creation, after all.
“I can’t promise you anything.” Liv’s voice was barely a whisper. She was looking at her hands, her fingers still playing with the hair she had roughly pulled over her right shoulder. The brown waves reached her waist, but they would soon need a trim if she kept this up. “If this private detective you’re talking about does find his address, I can’t promise you I’ll go there.”
Kassandra stood up as well, and took a couple of steps towards her. This woman was so moody, she was driving her insane.
“Your son’s life is at stake…”
“I know, I just…”
“What? Olivia, you have to understand: this is not something you can run away from. I know it makes you uncomfortable, I know you’re not ready… but for your son’s sake, you have to be.”
Liv shook her head gently. She didn’t know how to express what she felt. She hoped the empath could feel it in her energy.
“Listen to me,” Kassandra insisted. “If you don’t do this, Liam is going to suffer. You have no idea… In fact, I have no idea. What will happen to him depends on the decision you’re making now.”
“What will happen to him if I decide I don’t want to see Tristan?”
Why was she even asking such a question? It was wrong, so wrong of her, to try to assess the damage she could do to her own son, try to figure out the possible consequences, and whether she could deal with them or not. What kind of person was she? What kind of mother was she? Olivia bit the inside of her lip and decided that she hated herself.
/> Kassandra saw her struggle. She fought the impulse to reassure her and tell her she wasn’t a bad mother, that she was only scared and confused, and it was normal. But this wasn’t the time to make Olivia feel better about herself. On the contrary, this was the perfect moment to make use of her dark thoughts and scare her into seeking Tristan. She didn’t like doing it, but it seemed to be the only way.
“I don’t know, Olivia. I can’t read the future, but I can sense the darkness…”
“Darkness?” A feeling of dread started in her stomach and crawled up to her heart.
Kassandra nodded. “And Liam is not the only one who will be affected…”
“Tristan and I…”
“Yes, but not only the three of you. This… this darkness will make its way into the lives of so many people… people who depend on…” But she couldn’t go on. She couldn’t tell her that Tristan was a lion-shifter, the Alpha of his pride, and the union between him and his fated mate would affect all the people under his leadership. She couldn’t tell her how important it was for Tristan to have an heir.
“Depend on what? On whom?” Liv was growing a bit tired of all this cryptic talk.
Kassandra shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t tell you more. My sight is limited.”
Liv finally pulled her hair back and let it fall over both her shoulders. She rubbed her temples, then reached for the bag she had left on the chair.
“I’ll think about it,” she said while looking for her wallet. “Will you contact the private detective today? Do you know his fee? I can pay upfront.”
“No, no. Please, I haven’t done anything for you yet.”
Olivia smiled. “You’ve done more than others have. How much do I owe you for this… meeting?” She pulled a couple of bills, unsure of what to do with them.
Kassandra stopped her. “You don’t owe me anything. Let me find Tristan Ward’s address first. Let’s see where this leads to.”
Olivia sighed and stuffed the bills back into her wallet.
“Okay. Okay.” She hesitated. “You need my number…”
“Yes. I’ll text you when I have something.”
“Right. Thank you.”
After they exchanged phone numbers, Olivia left Shift Your Fate with a heavy heart. She took a cab and decided she didn’t need to think about it right now, she didn’t have to make a decision just yet. Maybe Kassandra’s detective wouldn’t even be able to find Tristan. And then what?
CHAPTER TWO
Olivia watched Liam sleep, tucked at her side, his little hands clutching the teddy bear his aunt, Miranda, had given him when they arrived in NYC. In his sleep, his brows were furrowed, as if he was trying to solve a mystery. His mother ran her fingers through his golden hair, and the boy sighed happily, his face relaxing and his breathing becoming deeper, calmer. Olivia smiled down at him and wished she could fall asleep just as easily. But there would be no sleep for her tonight.
She stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering to that night, two years before. She was 24 again, wild and beautiful, free and determined to live her life her own way. Except that was the night she had screwed everything up.
Olivia had always been the favorite daughter of the Jensen family. Stubborn and spoiled, she was ambitions, the first in her class, and never took “no” for an answer. Whatever Olivia wanted, Olivia would eventually get. That had pissed Miranda off one too many times. Her elder sister was calm and calculated, but not as bright and beautiful as Olivia, and she knew it. She envied her, too, and Liv liked the attention. That was until Miranda met Logan, and her little sister didn’t matter anymore, because Logan only had eyes for her. He seemed to be the only one who wasn’t impressed by Liv’s natural charm, killer curves, and wicked smile. And when Miranda noticed her little sister was trying to get under her boyfriend’s skin, she wasn’t mad. For the first time in her life, probably, she felt good about herself. She finally had something… someone Liv couldn’t have. When Logan proposed to her and they established the wedding date, Miranda felt like she had won the absurd competition that had been stressing her out since the day Olivia was born. Or… so she thought.
Olivia closed her eyes and sighed. Miranda would never know she had let her win. That night, two years ago, Olivia had let her sister win. And now she was in this room, in her sister’s apartment, at this late hour of the night, unable to shift her attention to something else, to some other memories that didn’t involve guilt. At the end of the corridor, Miranda slept peacefully next to her husband, Logan, and in another bedroom, their two children, a son and a daughter, were probably dreaming of the games they had played all day. Thinking about Miranda’s family, Olivia couldn’t help but feel out of place. Yes, she felt like an intruder. She shouldn’t have come here. But where else could she have gone? She looked at Liam’s form again, enjoying the warmth of his body pressed to her side. For him, she could make it through a few more days. She could spend time with Miranda, play with her niece and nephew, and keep avoiding Logan like the plague. It wasn’t that hard, as Logan was doing his best to avoid her, too. He worked late and didn’t make it for dinner most days.
“It’s gonna be fine,” she whispered to herself. “I can do this.”
She was thinking of being nice to Miranda, staying out of Logan’s way, and… finding Tristan Ward, the father of her child. And when all of it was over, she’d pack her bags and take Liam back to London, back to their peaceful life there. She missed her job, her colleagues, the rainy days, and even her aunt, Cecilia. She promised to herself that she and Liam would visit Cecilia more often. The old woman was absolutely mad about the boy.
“Tristan Ward,” she whispered, then immediately touched her lips with the tips of her fingers. His name still tasted weird on her tongue. She remembered how weird it had sounded to her when he had introduced himself that night. Weird and interesting. It wasn’t a common name, by any means.
Olivia had already had a couple of drinks before going to the club. Her make-up was a bit smeared, and her hair was messy in a sexy way. She had no red lipstick left on her lips, as she had walked out on the man she had eventually refused to sleep with in too much of a hurry to re-apply it. She felt horny and wild and capable of anything. The alcohol had gone to her head, her temples pulsed with adrenaline, and her heart pumped with… that feeling she didn’t like, that feeling that made her feel stupid and embarrassed. That feeling she needed to drown in more alcohol and more kisses. But it had to be a different man this time. A man she didn’t know, a man who could make her forget the one she had refused and the guilt that she hadn’t run far, far away from him earlier. She should have run. She would run. She couldn’t live in this city anymore. But before she made her escape, she still had this one night.
She noticed him as she was drinking her second gin and scanning the room. He noticed her and immediately stood up, as if someone had just lit a fire under him. He strolled towards her, and she let her eyes wander all over his body as he walked confidently, the people around him making way for him as he passed. It was as if they felt his power and bowed under his authority, even if he never graced them with a glance. He was tall and handsome, built like a rock. Olivia licked her lips as she took in his tight abs, strong chest, bulky arms, and wide shoulders. Yes, this man could make her forget everything. And he would, she had no doubt. He was walking straight towards her, he had no intention to stop. When he took the bar stool next to her, bought her a drink, and told her his name, Olivia’s knees shook a little, goosebumps rose on her skin, and her nipples hardened under the soft fabric of her yellow dress.
They didn’t talk much. Actually, she didn’t talk much. Tristan asked her a lot of questions, showed interest in her hobbies, wanted to know what she did for a living and, most importantly, how come a gorgeous woman such as herself was alone at a club. Olivia drank her third gin, smiled mysteriously from behind her glass, and gave him the vaguest answers. She never asked any questions in turn. She wasn’t interested in this handsome str
anger’s life, career, or hobbies. She was, however, very curious to find out what was hiding inside his ridiculously tight jeans.
Then they danced, and danced, and danced. Her full curves pressed up against his chiseled muscles, their faces inches apart, their lips almost touching, green eyes boring into intense blue orbs. Tristan had the most amazing blue eyes Olivia had ever seen. And oh, how she loved his long, blond hair. She had never dated a long-haired guy before, so she couldn’t wait to run her fingers through that soft, golden mane. When he kissed her, hard and deep, his tongue seeking her relentlessly, Olivia loved the way his neatly trimmed beard scratched the delicate skin around her mouth. And he smelled so good! It wasn’t the cologne he was wearing; it was his own personal scent. It drove Liv mad with lust, made her drunk with desire. And she was already quite drunk thanks to the numerous glasses of gin she had failed to refuse when she knew she probably should have. In her state, it would have been the sensible thing to do. On the other hand, Olivia had stopped being sensible the moment she had thought it wouldn’t be such a big deal to sleep with the man she had just run away from. What had saved her had been a split second of lucidity, when she had realized her actions would hurt everyone she cared about, and ruin her forever.
She had been sensible enough for one night. Storming out of the man’s apartment at the last moment… Olivia was proud of herself. The guilt was still there, burning steadily in the pit of her stomach, but Liv was doing her best to ignore it and focus on the thought that, eventually, she had done the right thing. She wasn’t such a horrible person, after all. The strong arms enveloping her gently, the unique scent of the tall, drop-dead-gorgeous stranger who called himself Tristan Ward… all these helped, too. If she was lucky, his body would make her forget about her guilt forever. The next day, when she’d leave New York for good, she would take this one last memory with her, a memory powerful enough to wipe away everything else that had happened before coming to the club.
