Golden: A Paranormal Romance

by Ellis Marie

  “Honestly,” she says, scrunching up her face. “I kind of feel like I just watched one of those rundowns from Glee.”

  Okay, maybe not so well then.

  “Yeah, honestly, I’m surprised that you listened to all of it,” I comment. “I, for sure, thought that you’d at least tell me to shut up once during the whole thing.”

  “I thought about it,” she admits with a smile as she absentmindedly plays with her shoelaces. “But I figured that, after what I heard Cam saying and everything, there had to be an explanation as to what was going on and why everyone seems crazy. Out of everything, your explanation at least ties it all together, so there has to be some truth in it.”

  “Yeah,” I agree softly, clearing my throat. “But I’m sorry you’ve gotten dragged into it. That never should have happened.”

  Kristie tuts and waves her hand at me. “Ah, it’s fine,” she assures me with a calmness to her voice. “Honestly, for a while, I was starting to think that you were leaving me out of something or pushing me away. That’s why I accepted Cole’s offer to stay at the house so quickly.”

  She thought I was pushing her away? “K, I’d never do that on purpose, and I’m so sorry you felt like that.”

  “You don’t have to explain,” she interrupts, her warm eyes sparkling as she looks at me. “I totally get why you didn’t tell me. It wasn’t your secret to share, and frankly, I don’t think I would have believed you anyway.” She shrugs. “But it’s nice to finally find out what I was missing and feel like you’re not hiding anything from me anymore.”

  I wrap my arms around her automatically, our shirts brushing together as we hold onto one another. The little bit of light in the darkness of it all.

  She’s pretty much been that my entire life, or since I’ve met her anyway. It’s fitting that she manages to do it now.

  “I’m glad you know,” I mumble into her hair, the familiar strawberry scent comforting me the smallest bit. “Even if it is in the worst of situations.”

  “Yeah.” She laughs, pulling away and surveying the cold and damp room that we’re sitting in. “For a reveal party, this kind of sucked. I expected more glitter.”

  There’s even more comfort in her sarcastic words and humorous tone that I know I can’t find anywhere else. Kristie is the person in my life that, without even trying, can always make me feel better. She can make me feel wanted, loved, and accepted, no matter the situation. Sitting and talking to her about the new world that we’ve never seen before makes it all seem a bit more real.

  Up until this point, I’ve been in a sort of daze, focusing on Trent and the pack. In a way, it feels like a movie to me. It’s like things are put on, acted or faked, like they’re too good to be true and will eventually end. I’ve been relishing in the feelings that I felt for Trent and this new love, and I haven’t really come to terms with everything. I haven’t sat and thought about how this is going to change my life or how I’m going to navigate my dreams and reality to fit this new one that Trent has caused . . . that this world has caused.

  Having Kristie talk about it in such a plain and simple way makes me realise that I can do it, that I can have this life and still find a way to make it all work. This isn’t a dream that I’m going to wake up and forget. This is my life, and I can truly be a part of this world. I can have the life that I’ve always wanted with Trent and the new family that have accepted me. Even if I’m completely out of my depth.

  And it would help to be out of the cage I’ve been put in.

  “So you have a soulmate.” Kristie smirks, her words full of laughter but her eyes filled with longing. “What’s that like?”

  “It’s great,” I reply lightly with a grin. “It’s . . .” I pause, the words of ‘perfect’ and ‘romantic’ dying on my mouth and leaving a sour taste. It’s all those things but it’s more—so much more.

  I think of Trent. Of his pinky interlocking with mine, his eyes watching me carefully as I come out of a bad dream. Of his shaking shoulders and clenched fists as he tries to control his temper.

  “It’s terrifying,” I state bluntly after a moment’s hesitation. “It’s like being completely see-through, and having this person that is the epitome of perfection to you, staring right into your soul and seeing every flaw that you have when all you want to do is hide them.

  “It’s being afraid to have your own ambitions and wants because you don’t know if they’ll agree. You know that if they asked you to, then you’d change them, but deep down at your core, you know that they would never do that and just want you to be happy whether that’s with them or not. So it’s this never ending circle between you because neither of you would ever want to let the other down.

  “It’s not like finding the other half of you. It’s finding a completely new you that’s everything you’ve ever wanted but have been terrified to ever dream that you could be. It’s having to admit your faults and mistakes so that you can make room for a happiness that you struggle to convince yourself you deserve.

  “It’s waking up and knowing that there’s someone in the world that would die for you. You physically couldn’t go on without them, but knowing that you’d have to because you owe it to them and the life you’d planned together to continue . . . but your world would just seem grey and empty if they weren’t there.” I take in a shaking breath.

  “It’s the best feeling in the world and also the most terrifying because it makes you realise just how much you have to lose and how you’d do anything to keep it.” When I finish speaking, my mind works over the words I have just said. The truth of them slaps me in the face, and I almost can’t believe that they’ve come out of my own mouth, but they did.

  And they’re true.

  Who would have thought a musty old jail cell would turn me into a poet?

  “Wow,” Kristie whistles with her brows raised and eyes unblinking. “That’s . . . a lot.”

  “Yeah,” I breathe. “It is.”

  She studies me for a second, her lip working between her teeth as she circles her fingers around one another, her forehead creased in thought.

  “You’ve changed,” she finally states, making me look at her in confusion. “A lot.”

  “Well, I mean, learning about werewolves and witches will kind of do that to a person.”

  “No, I don’t mean that,” she cuts in with a roll of her eyes. “I mean, you have changed. Your view on life, your output, your own person—you have changed. You’ve just admitted that it scares you and it’s not all sunshine and roses. You haven’t glossed over the bad bits or lied to yourself about them. That’s something you never did with Matt.”

  Oh.

  She intertwines her hand with mine, squeezing it as she grins at me while her eyes glisten. “I’ve never seen you so strong and honest. I’m really proud of you.”

  Her words make my heart swell. The genuine happiness that she’s showing almost seems to make it all worth it. I laugh internally when I feel almost grateful for this situation bringing us together.

  “Thanks, Kristie,” I murmur, leaning into her and resting my head on her shoulder. “I maybe should have had this self-strength moment before we were trapped in a rotting cell.”

  “Yeah, that would have probably helped.” She chuckles as I feel her head lean on to mine. “Although, it did get me out of the Calculus test I had, so silver linings.”

  “Right.” I chuckle. “We’re trapped by my ex who might kill us, depending on his mood but, at least, if the teachers ask, we have a good excuse.”

  “Yeah,” she snorts. “Maybe I shouldn’t have been riling him up so much earlier now that I know he’s literally capable of killing someone.”

  Our laughter slowly drops out as the realisation seems to dawn on us - the severity of the situation that we’re in. We’ve always managed to try and stay positive. Our motto being that ‘if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry’, but now, it just seems to be beyond the point of finding the good in this.

  We could lite
rally die.

  “You know, I don’t think he could kill you,” Kristie abruptly says, making me glance up at her. “Matt, I mean. I’m not just trying to make you feel better, but I don’t think if it came down to it, he could actually kill you. I think a part of him just wants to hold onto you, and that’s totally in a terrible way, but I don’t think he’d ever actually want to kill you. I think he believes that he can’t survive without you.”

  “And I believe he’s insane,” I retort back, which makes her grin and nod.

  “Oh yeah, totally no denying that.”

  Her words do stick though. As much as he hurt me, I did always believe that there was still good in him. Now, I can’t. Not after what he’s done to Andy, but her words do provide a little bit of comfort or hope, at least, that I won’t die in the basement of this lodge. I’m not betting on it though.

  “Speaking of insane,” Kristie says, taking me away from my thoughts. “Is that why you could see Trent’s tattoo? Because you’re his mate? Because I honestly thought I was going to have to check you in somewhere when you were telling me about it.”

  Of course, she’s thinking of that.

  “I actually . . .” I pause. “I don’t know. I guess so. I never really asked him.”

  Kristie stares at me with a dumbfounded frown. “You’ve never asked him? Are you serious?”

  It’s definitely something I should have remembered to ask.

  “I just forgot,” I defend, my voice going up an octave. “I had other stuff going on. Nearly dying, witches, soulmates, werewolves. The magical tattoo was pretty far down on the list.”

  With disappointed mumbles under her breath, she moves away from me and lies onto the ground, her chin pointed to the ceiling as she continues to ramble her dissatisfaction for me and my answers.

  “Just forgets . . . after I’ve been worrying . . . of course, you forget.”

  I can’t help but grin at her scolding as I lean back onto the brick wall, letting my legs splay out as I try to get comfortable. We have been here for hours, or at least it feels like it. I hate to think how long we are actually going to be stuck here. It could be hours, could be days.

  Cam hadn’t said how long they were going to be gone for either.

  As far as I know, no one has any idea where we are. Without someone coming to find us or at least getting shown the way, it’s most likely impossible that we’ll ever be discovered. Not until my father wants us to be.

  “Hey, Elle?” Kristie calls softly, her words almost hesitant.

  “Yeah?” I ask, looking over to her and taking in the way her hands are linked together and resting on her stomach. It’s not often Kristie looks pensive.

  “Do you think I have a mate?”

  I’m lost for words. So far, Kristie had found the humour in everything. She had taken it all well and not once freaked out or told me I was insane. She’s acted like everything is fine, but now . . .

  She’s watched me get hurt, be broken down, and invalidated so frequently that I believed it myself. She’s the one who picked me up when I was at my worst and always looked out for me. I don’t know what I would have done without her.

  Now, I am more. I’ve started to become the person that Matt never let me be. I’ve gotten stronger, healthier, happier. I’ve found the person I’m meant to be with, and they have changed my life for the better.

  She’s been so hurt in the past—by her ex, by Tracey, by life. She’s experienced heartbreak and the pains that go along with it. She’s had her fair share of disappointment and betrayal.

  And now, she’s wondering if she’ll get the same fortune. If out there, there’s someone that’s made for her perfectly, the person in her life who will never do anything but love her unconditionally.

  Like I had found.

  “I don’t know,” I answer honestly, not knowing what else to tell her. “I really don’t know. Some werewolves never meet their mates, so it’s even less common for humans, I suppose.”

  She seems to chew over my answer for a moment, her nose scrunched up as she goes over it while staring at the brick wall across from us. Finally, she seems to come to terms with it. A sigh leaves her as her shoulders shimmy into the floor, getting rid of the disappointment.

  “You know what? Even if I don’t have a supernatural one that can tell me as soon as I touch them, I think I’ll still have one,” she replies with a small smile on her lips. “I mean, look at my parents. I’ve never seen anyone more in love than them and that’s got nothing to do with werewolves or witches. That’s just hard work and true love.”

  There she is—the positive outlook in everything.

  “You’re right.” I smile, fondly thinking of her parents and their gushing words. “They’re definitely soulmates.”

  “Exactly.” She nods. “Although, if there are any werewolves lurking about and looking for me, then don’t be afraid to give them my address. I’d definitely be interested in having a hot werewolf boyfriend.”

  “Or girlfriend,” I chime in. She responds by clicking her fingers and pointing at me.

  “Exactly, or girlfriend.”

  Suddenly, from outside, there’s the sound of banging car doors and muffled shouting that seems to run into the house, interrupting our soft chatter.

  “Can you hear that?” I gasp, scrambling to my feet. “Someone’s back.”

  “Do you think it’s Cam?” Kristie asks, getting up and following me to the bars where we both try to listen to what’s happening. “Or someone else?”

  “I think it’s someone else,” I whisper, trying to make out what’s being said in amongst the raised voices and angry tones. “It doesn’t sound like Cam or my father.”

  Above us, something smashes to the ground. The sound of it shattering seems to shake the whole ceiling and then heavy footsteps follow.

  “They’re coming down here,” I whisper, pushing Kristie behind me as we stumble while my heart slams in my chest. “Keep back.”

  She curls her fingers around my elbow as my arm stretches out in front of her, my knees locking as I hold my breath, preparing for whoever is about to appear.

  Are they here to rescue us? To kill us? To take us?

  When the footsteps stop and the figure walks in as they swing the door open, the fear in my stomach unwinds. I roll my eyes.

  “Luke,” I groan, my muscles relaxing as he smirks at us. “Cannot say I’ve missed seeing you.”

  Just like Matt, he doesn’t seem to take the comment very well. His face turns into a scowl as he spits on the floor in front of us, grunting his only verbal response.

  “Careful,” Kristie mumbles. “Don’t know what you could catch off that, f*ckboy.”

  I stifle the laugh. A cough breaks my lips as I try to hide my amusement, but Luke sees it, his rage only growing as he marches towards us and grabs onto our arms.

  “Please don’t touch me,” I whine, winking at Kristie. “I’d rather not die from a disease.”

  “Shut the f*ck up.”

  As always, Luke is a man of few words. The words he did usually say are saved for charming women and making up excuses as to why he can’t be with them. Other than that, they are used for insulting and swearing.

  Much like right now.

  “You know what?” Kristie chimes in, stumbling up the steps after him, wincing as her shin hits the concrete slab. “I think you’re the most boring out of Matt’s little posse, I always forget about you.”

  “Like the fifth member of The Beatles!” I add. Both of us snap our fingers at each other with a nod as we make it to the top of the stairs. His growing agitation with us is obvious by his barely audible sounds of annoyance and the grumbling under his breath.

  “Exactly like a fifth Beatle.” Kristie grins before giving Luke a once over and then grimacing. “Maybe it’s the hair? I mean, you have had the same style for like three—”

  Violently, Kristie and I are shoved through the now open doorway with a growl. We stumble into the room, our bodies
hitting the furniture as we try to stay on our feet.

  “I said, shut the f*ck up,” Luke hisses from behind us with a finality to it that warns us not to argue.

  I rub the sore spot on my arm as I rest against the side of the table that I’ve been thrown into, leaning onto my elbows as I rise to my feet.

  “Yeesh,” Kristie mumbles from beside me, throwing a wide-eyed look. “Whatever you do, don’t insult his hair. He might repeat his catchphrase at us again.”

  “A big mouth as always, Kennedy,” Matt comments, bringing our attention to him and away from each other. “I really should have taped it shut earlier.”

  “But then we would have missed out on our fun game of me trying to bite you,” Kristie pouts, brushing off her legs. I can’t help but find the smallest bit of satisfaction in imagining her trying to nip him like a dog. “You always spoil the fun, Daley.”

  Matt responds by lifting his middle finger, turning back to the window he was looking out of before as he types furiously on his mobile. His thumb is in his mouth and his teeth bite at the nail, tapping his foot anxiously on the wood below him.

  “So what’s got you so freaked out?” I ask innocently, taking in the way his eyes keep darting to whatever is in front of him.

  He doesn’t reply to me, his focus staying on the device in his hands and his view of the outdoors that he seems to be glued to as if it’s his only escape.

  “Apparently, little Tracey had a change of heart, and it’s caused a couple of issues for us,” a vomit-inducing voice says, entering from a doorway behind us with a large bag in his hand. “I’d say I don’t know why, but we all know that you can be pretty convincing with that body of yours.”

  With his signature wink, I watch his eyes rake over my figure. I want to throw up. As his tongue darts out to wet his lips, I want nothing more than to cut it off.

  “Always a pleasure, Carter,” I say snidely, pushing down the disgust I feel to focus instead on what he said in the hopes he stops watching me like a starving man would a piece of bread. “What exactly has Tracey done?”

  Carter’s jaw clenches at my words as he shoves past me, throwing the duffle bag he’s carrying onto the table and it clunks as it hits the table. I step back from him automatically, not wanting to be any closer to him than I’m forced to be.