The Gift: An Awakened Novella

by Amanda Carol

  Declan gets up from the ground and walks away.

  I slowly sit up, thinking that I’ll still feel some pain, but I feel nothing.

  He did it.

  I look over at him; his back muscles flex with every breath he takes. I get up and make my way over to him, and gently wrap my arms around him.

  “You have a very special gift, Declan. I believe in you. Now you have to believe in yourself,” I tell him.

  He reaches up and grips my arms. “Don’t ever do that again.” He turns, grabbing my waist and resting his forehead against mine. “That scared the shit out of me.”

  “It worked. I feel fine,” I whisper.

  “Good, because I’m not sure what I would have done if it didn’t.” He kisses me gently.

  “Ready to keep practicing?” I ask.

  “Yeah, but no more surprises, okay?” He cups both of my cheeks and kisses me softly once more. His lips linger on mine for a moment before he pulls away.

  “Okay,” I breathe against his lips.

  After my push, he’s able to call upon the power to heal, and he heals me quicker each time I prick my finger or give myself a smaller cut. His healing touch is warming my skin, but it’s also warming my heart.

  “All right, guys, grab your things. It’s time to go home!” I shout.

  The kids run and get their things from their cubbies.

  “Axton!!!” Thomas shouts as he spots him in the doorway.

  “Hey, little man!” Axton holds up his hand, and Thomas runs over and high-fives him.

  “Dude! Are you our buddy? Ms. Campbell says we need a wolf buddy to walk us home. Jasper walked with us this morning, and he’s like my mommy in the mornings. I told him he should get coffee because that helps her be happy in the morning.” Thomas shrugs.

  Axton laughs. “That’s what I always tell him, but he never listens. Maybe he’ll listen to you.” He kneels down. “But I will remind him to drink a cup before walking with you guys tomorrow morning. How’s that sound?”

  “Mm-hm,” Thomas replies smiling up at him.

  “Are you guys ready to go?” Axton stands taller, and all the kids stand up straight.

  “Yes, sir!” they all shout.

  “What was that?” Axton cups his ear. “I don’t think I heard you.”

  “Yes, sir!” they shout even louder this time, and Tucker salutes.

  Then, one by one, they form a single file line and Axton leads the way outside.

  “Ms. Campbell,” Joey says, tugging on my arm. I glance down at him and he’s still looking straight ahead. “Why is Bennett running like that?”

  I follow his line of sight and see Bennett sprinting over to us. In all my time here, I’ve only ever seen him run like this maybe a handful of times. It was usually when the kids suckered him into playing tag.

  “Ciera!” Bennett yells and I cock a brow when he reaches us. He looks down at Joey, nodding his head at him. “S’up, kid?”

  “You’re weird,” Joey says and walks over to stand next to Callie and Peyton.

  Bennett scoffs. “Yeah, well, you’re weirder.”

  “Bennett!” I slap his arm. “You can’t say things like that to kids.”

  “He said it first!” Bennett points at him.

  Now it’s my turn to scoff.

  “What do you want?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “It’s Blondie. It’s an emergency! Something is really wrong, and we need you,” Bennett says.

  I uncross my arms and look over at Axton. I’d hate to leave him alone with the kids.

  “Go. I’ll make sure they get home safely,” Axton says.

  I glance over at Maggie. Everyone knows Maggie’s situation and we try not to make a big deal of it, for her sake. Axton glances down at Maggie, then back up to me, and nods.

  “Go, Ciera.”

  “Thank you,” I say, and I take off running toward the clearing with Bennett.

  When we get there, Hunter is holding Aria in his arms.

  “Everything okay? You sounded worried, and then I got worried. So, I panicked and all I could think to do was grab Ciera and rush over here,” Bennett huffs out as we come to a halt right by Aria and Hunter.

  “I hate running,” I say, clutching my side.

  “I thought you liked it, given that boy you dated who was on the track team in school. You went running with him every Saturday morning,” Bennett teases.

  He just had to bring up Chad, the asshole I dated a few years ago.

  I narrow my eyes at him. “Please don’t make me punch you in the face for bringing that fucker up.”

  Bennett chuckles, which only irritates me even more. So I follow through with the threat of hitting him, in the stomach instead of the face.

  “For God’s sake, Ciera,” Bennett groans, hunching over in pain.

  I take a step forward, kneeling down in front of Aria. “What’s going on? All Bennett said was that it was Aria and it’s an emergency.”

  “I started getting a bad headache yesterday afternoon. Sometimes I’ll get this super sharp pain that lasts for a few minutes before it goes away. That’s only happened twice now. But mostly it’s just a dull ache.” Aria lifts her head off Hunter’s shoulder, but then lays it back down.

  “Have you taken anything for it?” I ask, reaching up and feeling Aria’s forehead.

  She doesn’t have a fever, but she does feel a little clammy. She asks for some ibuprofen from her backpack.

  Hunter looks over at me. “What are you thinking?”

  I chew on my bottom lip, trying not to think about what Declan told me about doing that.

  “To be honest, I’m not sure. It could be she’s just exhausted and needs a day or so to relax and rest.” I stand, brushing my shorts off with my hands. “Or it could mean that her magic is just overwhelming her. Sometimes that will happen with the younger witches. If they don’t release some of their power, it will have side effects, which vary from witch to witch. I can talk to my grandma about it. See what she thinks.”

  “Okay,” Aria agrees reluctantly from Hunter’s lap. “Just please don’t tell Declan about what happened today. Not until we know for sure.”

  The woman in me doesn’t want to keep anything from Declan, but the teacher and nurse in me is big on confidentiality. The latter takes over and I nod in agreement.

  They start to have a conversation, but my mind is busy. I’m starting to wonder if her headaches may have anything to do with her being a demigod or her relation to Artemis.

  Just then, the boys share a look and I know that someone used the link. At the same time, Aria gets a sharp pain in her head.

  “Huh. Weird,” I mutter under my breath.

  “What?” Hunter snaps.

  At any other time, I would have glared at him, but I can see that he really has feelings for this girl, and it hurts him to see her in so much pain.

  “Did you guys use your telepathic link just now?” I ask.

  Bennett and Hunter share a look, then they both nod.

  “What does that have to do with Aria’s headaches?” Bennett asks.

  “I’m not sure. Maybe nothing, maybe everything.” I shrug, taking a step closer.

  Aria turns her head slightly to look up at me.

  “You are so going to hate me for this, but humor me,” I sigh. “Try using it again.”

  “Are you joking? If using that around Aria makes her head want to explode, then no, I won’t put her in any more pain!” Hunter yells at me.

  “But if it is the reason, then I can try to help her faster!” I yell back.

  I know he wants to protect her, but I can’t help if I don’t know where to start.

  Hunter inhales sharply. “Alright.”

  He turns to his best friend and they share a look. Almost instantly, Aria whimpers.

  “Interesting. Okay, now I have somewhere to start. I’ll check in with you guys later.” I turn on my heel and take off running.

  When I get back to my cabi
n, I flop down on my bed. I hate that I have to keep this from Declan, but I also don’t want to worry him in case it’s nothing. I grab my pillow, cover my face, and scream into it.

  After a few moments, I sit up, and my eyes glance at my calendar. Tonight is the one night a month I go out to hit the town and blow off some steam. I know it’s not safe, but I need to get out for a bit. Coming to a decision, I get up from my bed, grab my phone, and text the one person I know will come with me, who is also one of the few people who makes me feel safe.

  Training today was rough. I love a good workout, but damn. Knox really knows how to take that shit to the next level, and the class was smaller because some of the wolves got called to start patrolling. Everyone is on high alert since Sloane’s attack, which is understandable.

  “The next time Knox says, ‘Just one more set,’ I’m going to kick his ass,” Jasper huffs out from next to me.

  I laugh. “Yeah, tell me about it. I thought Coach Moore was tough, but clearly I was wrong.”

  “Coach Moore?” Jasper questions as he pulls his dreads back and ties a hair tie around them.

  “My football coach. Smart man, taught me everything I needed to know and then some about the game, but he was a total dick,” I reply, pulling out my phone and seeing that I have a text from Ciera.

  “That would be why you were kicking ass before you got hurt.” Jasper uses air quotes when he says, “got hurt”.

  “I plead the fifth.” I stand, unlocking my phone to read the message.

  Ciera: I’m canceling our training tonight. But meet me at my cabin at our normal time. xx

  “Ahh, the reason for the injury has just texted you,” Jasper laughs, clapping a hand down on my shoulder. “Don’t mess with Texas, man.”

  And with that, he walks away. Why does everyone keep saying that?

  Me: Getting into trouble tonight, are we?

  Ciera: Maaaayyybeeeee.

  I smile. This girl is something else. Every time I think I have her figured out, she does something like this and throws me off balance.

  Me: I’m in. See you soon, sunshine. *kissing face emoji*

  I slip my phone down in the pocket of my gym bag and walk with Jasper back to my cabin. It doesn’t take me long to shower and get ready, and before I know it, I’m walking with Knox to Ciera’s cabin.

  I knock on the door, and when it opens, Ciera grabs a fistful of my shirt and pulls me inside, slamming the door shut behind us. Her eyes grow wide, and she spins, reopening the door.

  “Sorry, Knox! Bye!” she yells, slamming the door again.

  She turns back around, a huge smile on her face, and she runs and leaps into my arms, wrapping her legs around me. She crashes her lips onto mine, and when she pulls back, my eyes drop down to the hoop nose ring.

  “I like it.” I admit, looking into her deep blue eyes. “It’s sexy. Also, if you want to greet me like this every day, I wouldn’t mind.”

  She chuckles. “I don’t wear it every day. Usually only when I go out. Kids like to pull.”

  When she shrugs her shoulders, her hips roll, and my dick starts to pay attention to the movement. I’ve never had a girl wrap her legs around my waist when her clothes were still on. She pecks my lips again and unwraps her legs, and I gently set her down.

  “I’m almost ready. Give me ten minutes,” she tells me.

  I watch her walk away. She’s wearing leggings and a t-shirt, and it’s leaving so much to my imagination. I sit down on the couch and wait for her. When she comes back down ten minutes later, my fucking jaw hits the floor.

  Her long blonde hair is down, and there’s a small braid pulling one side of her hair away from her face, but the rest is flowing as she walks toward me. A black lacy bra peeks through top of her white tank top, drawing my eyes down to her tits. She’s wearing several necklaces at different lengths. And damn, those shorts. I follow her toned legs down to ankle boots.

  “Do we have to go out?” I ask as she grabs her purse and wraps it around her body.

  She laughs. “Yes. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

  “I can think of something else that’s fun.” I wink at her, grabbing her arm and pulling her to me.

  I slip one hand in her back pocket, and the other cups her cheek. I bring my lips to hers, and I gently push her head back so I can deepen the kiss. I don’t think I could ever get enough of kissing her, but I want more. I drop that hand that was on her cheek down to her waist, letting my fingers brush the skin on her side, and slowly bring it down to the hem of her shorts. The tips of my fingers just slip into her shorts, and she sighs into my mouth, pulling away.

  What is this girl doing to me?

  “We should go,” Ciera says, grabbing my hand and lacing her fingers with mine.

  “Where are we going?” I ask.

  I’m curious as to why she’s wearing this sexy little number, but I’m also feeling that pesky emotion of jealousy again. I don’t want anyone else to see her like this. Only me.

  I let her lead me out to the parking lot, and we run into Axton, who is leaning up against her Jeep.

  “I had a feeling you’d be heading out into town tonight.” Axton pushes himself off of her Jeep and walks over to us. “You know the rule. No one leaves the Compound without a shifter present.”

  I mean I get the rule, and I understand the rule, but I’m a demigod, for fuck’s sake. And I’ve been out on my own with no powers for the last three years. But what the fuck do I know? I guess what the Alpha says really goes.

  Ciera sighs. “I know. I’m sorry. I take it you’ll be our escort tonight?”

  Axton looks between the both of us and nods. “Yeah, but don’t worry. I won’t ruin your date. I’ll keep my distance.” He turns and heads to a black SUV. “I’m driving.”

  Date? Is this a date? I can’t even remember the last time I went on an actual date. It was probably back in high school, and we more than likely went to see a movie. Which I probably didn’t watch because I was too busy making out with my “date.”

  Ciera and I exchange glances and follow him. I open the door to the backseat for her, jump in the front seat next to Axton, and pull my phone out from my pocket.

  Me: This is awkward. I wanted to be alone with you.

  Ciera: Same, but it’s to keep us safe.

  Me: I can keep us safe. I have my dagger with me.

  Ciera: I have one too.

  That makes me smile. With all the other girls, I had to hide what I was. With Ciera, I don’t have to. It’s refreshing being able to be myself around her, and to be honest, around everyone else at the Compound too. After my parents were killed, I felt lost and like the world had abandoned me. Now I’m starting to feel whole again.

  Me: Good. So, how long till we get there?

  Ciera: Not long. Usually thirty minutes.

  “I thought you two were supposed to be training?” Axton asks, pulling us out of our little world.

  “Everyone needs a break every once in a while. Why do you think I give the kids an extra day off?” Ciera chimes in from the backseat.

  “Touché.” Axton laughs. “All right, you two can go back to pretending I’m not here.”

  “Will do!” I say.

  Ciera giggles from the backseat.

  We start to play twenty questions, starting with simple questions.

  I find out that she loves ice cream and French fries, and I tell her about the kind of music that I like. She laughs out loud when I tell her that I listen to rap in the car with my sister just to annoy her. I don’t really have a favorite type of music because I appreciate all forms of music.

  I tell her my middle name is Tristan and she tells me hers is Paige.

  But then we start to dig deeper, asking the tough questions and really getting to know each other.

  Me: What’s one thing that not many people know about you?

  I see the three bubbles pop up that let me know she’s typing. Then it disappears, then reappears.

  Me: You don’t have
to tell me if you don’t want to.

  Ciera: No. I want to tell you, but I just don’t know how.

  Me: Just say it. Whatever it is.

  Ciera: Okay.

  Ciera: I’m a virgin.

  I’m taken aback. Well, that would explain her pulling away from me earlier.

  But does she really think I care about something like that? I mean, yeah, I wouldn’t hook up with some random virgin I met at a bar. But Ciera is anything but random to me. I’d happily wait for her.

  Ciera: I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier.

  Ciera: We can tell Axton to turn around.

  Ciera: This was a stupid idea.

  Just then, we pull into a parking lot of a night club, but everyone is dressed like they are going to a rodeo or something.

  “We’re here. I’ll be around. Just text me when you guys are ready to leave,” Axton says, putting the car in park.

  Ciera inhales sharply, quickly gets out of the car, and immediately walks around the car and goes inside without so much as a glance in my direction.

  “She told you, didn’t she?” Axton asks.

  I look over at him.

  “Look, I know being a virgin is a big deal to guys, but don’t be that douchebag who stops talking to her just because she is,” he says.

  “How did you know?” I ask, getting a little irritated.

  “Kai. He got piss-ass drunk a few nights ago and let it slip. He has it bad for her, but she never felt the same. I can see it in her eyes. She really likes you. So don’t be that douchebag.”

  “Her being a virgin doesn’t bother me. The fact that she thinks it does is what bothers me,” I say, getting out of the car and walking into the building.

  My eyes search the place, and I finally spot her on the dance floor, moving her feet and swaying her hips to “Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt, along with many others. They are doing some choreography to the song, and I realize she brought me to line dancing night. She tosses her head back in laughter as she dances with the people around her. She waves to people she knows, and they all walk up and hug her.