Ariella
I wake suddenly and stare wide-eyed at the ceiling.
Oh, no…
It's started already, and it’s only been three days since Aura warned me.
I feel my eyes swirling as I filter through everything I've just seen.
My parents ain't gonna be happy... And I can't even tell them yet, because they'll leave as soon as I do, and I can't risk them getting there too early.
I look beside me at Davonyé momentarily. He's going to Alaska, but he’s going without me.
Cuz I'm not allowed to leave yet either...
I cover my face with my hands. I don't want him to go there when I'm not with him…
I feel a hand on my hip. “Bae, what’s wrong?”
I roll onto my side. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you.”
“Fuck that. What's wrong?”
“You're gonna be going to Alaska. But I'm not gonna be leaving with you.”
His feeling of horror hits me as if it were a physical blow. “What?”
I shake my head. “I know. And I have to keep Mom here, too.”
He frowns. “But don't they need your Mom?”
I nod. “But only at the right time.”
“And when’s that gonna be?”
My stomach turns. “I don't know yet... But when I know, you'll know.” I sigh. “I can't even tell my Mom till tomorrow.”
“Bae...” He holds my hand, torment etched on his face. “…I don't wanna go without you.”
“I don't either, but everything has an order, and it's my job to make sure things happen the way they're supposed to.”
He pulls me closer to him and I close my eyes to breathe in his scent. It’s the most calming thing to me when I'm stressed.
He rests his head against mine. “Don't worry, Ari. I won't get myself into trouble.”
I hold him tight. “But if you do, I'll be there. Don't even worry about that.”
***
School drags, but it’s even worse cuz I ain’t got Davonyé’s thoughts to keep me entertained either. I thought it would be best to block him out during the day so I didn’t distract him while he’s training with dad. I ain’t forgotten Aura telling me not to let him rush his training, so I’ve asked Dad to go all intensive on him.
So far so good.
I been avoiding Davonyé's boys like they got werewolf flu. Which ain’t actually a thing; Werewolves don't get sick. I hear their thoughts about why Davonyé ain't here, but that's because Davonyé's been ignoring their messages.
He just needs to reply.
I see Harmony in the cafeteria and start walking over to her, but she sees me and shakes her head, guiding my gaze to the left of the room with her eyes.
Carisse.
Ugh...
She's all talking to Niro who’s sitting with the rest of Davonyé’s boys, but she must feel my eyes on her cuz she turns to glare at me.
“I’ll give you his new digits,” Niro says, and I internally roll my eyes at that.
Why the fuck is he getting involved for? He’s meant to be Davonyé’s boy and knows how much he wants to forget her, so why the fuck he startin’ trouble for?
Then it dawns on me. It’s cuz he wants me for himself.
I ignore their conversation and find an empty table. They're starting to piss me off now, and I wish we didn’t keep shit secret.
I tap into Harmony’s thoughts, but I keep my eyes down on my steak salad. ‘Girl?’
‘Ariella? What the fuck?’
‘Don't be bait, alright? I should’ve told you, but I've got magic.’
‘What?’ I hear her cough but don't look at her.
‘Yeah. Surprise, I'm an Elder.’
‘What the fuck, Ella? And you never told me?’
‘Mom and dad swore everyone to secrecy, so don't let on that you know until I've told them that I've told you.’
‘Fucking hell...’ I feel her hurt and guilt ripples through me. ‘You lucky I got my own shit goin’ on, otherwise I’d be fuckin’ fuming with you right now, bitch.’
‘I know…’
‘So does that mean you got magic and shit?’
‘Yeah, we’ll talk, alright?’
‘We fuckin’ better.’
‘We will. I see Carisse is back?’
‘Ugh, that girl has been milkin’ everyone for information on Davonyé. Shit is sad.’
‘Niro’s giving her Davonyé’s new number, but I've changed the digits.’
‘You can do that?’
‘Yeah. How you feeling today?’
‘The blood worked. Thank you.’
‘If you need anything else, let me know.’
‘Alright. Carisse is coming back now. Talk later.’
I exit Harmony’s thoughts and pick at my cold steak, switching my attention to Carisse’s thoughts instead. She's texting Davonyé, but that shit ain't gonna go through. I've switched the threes to nines.
Good luck with that.
“I got his new number,” she tells Harmony. “He thinks he can avoid me, but he's got another thought coming.”
“Wow, I can’t believe he’d sell out his boy like that.”
I feel Carisse’s anger. “He ain’t. He’s actually worried about him. They said he ain’t been in school either.”
“He’s a grown man, Carisse.”
“He might need me.”
Ugh… You’re the last thing he needs, or wants.
“What else they say?”
“Just that he's acting different, and get this, Niro said he warned him off your cousin. I knew they was fuckin’ around.”
Harmony immediately becomes defensive. “Carisse, how many times I gotta tell you that I don't wanna get involved with that shit?”
“I ain't involving you, but if your cousin took my man, I ain't gonna be happy. So if you know something, just tell me now.”
“I don't know shit about nothin’ and I'm fuckin’ done talking about it.” I can tell Har is seriously stressed by her mate situation, cuz she’s even snappier than usual.
“Shit, alright. Calm the fuck down. What's wrong with everyone? You're moody as fuck, my brother’s barely speaking to me. I swear everyone’s got a fuckin’ problem.”
I zone out.
You're the problem...
***
I drive towards home and feel both annoyed and nervous. I gotta tell my parents about what Aura said, tonight, and the plan of action goin’ forward. I know they ain’t gonna like it, but they gotta trust me, and Aura.
I pull up outside the house but Davonyé ain't here. He's at the main house with Tinashe. I can hear the conversation that's happening right now and realise that they're making plans to leave for Alaska first thing.
I feel my eyes swirling.
The rest of them can leave, but mom, Aunt Asha, and myself have all gotta stay behind…
I rush to the house where I find everyone in the kitchen. Dad's got Amarey in his arms, and Mom's already started expressing milk.
They look at me when I walk in, but after I unblock Davonyé’s thoughts and give him a look, I turn my attention to mom.
“You won't need to do that, Mom.”
She frowns. “Do what?”
“Express milk for Amarey. You're not going.” I look at Aunt Asha. “And neither are you. Not yet, anyway.”
“Sorry?” Mom says, not understanding.
I sense everyone's unease at what I've said, but I can't change it.
“You have to travel without me, all of you. You'll need to take your men the usual way, Dad.”
I feel Dad’s confusion. “I thought you said you'd be taking us?”
I shake my head. “I can't. Mom is to stay behind with me and Aunt Asha for now. I don't know what's gonna happen yet, but I can't let her go with you.”
Mom begins to panic. “But sweetheart, I need to make them submit, otherwise wares will die.”
What she said weighs heavily on my shoulders. “I know that, and that's exactly why I can't let you go. There are wares on both sides that cannot be allowed to make it through this alive.”
“Oh, God...” Mom gushes. “Are you serious?”
I nod. “I'm sorry. I saw Aura yesterday. I've been well and truly warned that messing with what needs to be done will have severe consequences for not just us, but for all.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Dad asks.
“It means that it isn't just wares that will be affected if we don't allow things to happen like they should. Remember, Aura doesn't just guide us, she protects all life that needs it.”
“So what do we do?”
“You leave tomorrow. Your men will lead you to the area that Maximus is, on foot. The rest… I don't know yet.”
“This ain't good, Baby Girl.”
“I know that, but I have to make sure things happen the way they should. I don't wanna upset any of you, but this is serious. I won't allow you to try change things, not when it has bigger implications that any of you can see. You have to trust me.”
“We do trust you, Sweetheart,” Mom says, straight away.
I sense a but, but she don’t voice it out loud. I hear her thoughts, though, and I know she's worried.
I look back at dad. “Prepare everything for tomorrow. Then you can go.”
***
Tinashe, Davonyé, and me, all go back to mine and sit at the table in silence. I know they're eager to get Clarisha back, as am I. Tinashe’s also nervous about her mate, although I'm starting to wonder about that situation. I know what her and Davonyé talked about the other day, and to be honest, what Davonyé thought was right. I feel like she does love him, but mates?
I ain’t so sure.
“How you feeling about going back to Alaska? I ask her.
She gives me a nervous look. “Nervous, but I'm eager to find Clarisha, and Marron.”
Hmm... I love my brother, but Davonyé would still come first... “I'll stay in contact with Davonyé, alright? But be careful and stay together. Don't go running off on your own. Can you fight?”
“Yeah. Clarisha and me both did taekwondo after moving to Alaska. Kenyay and Marron made us.”
Hmmm, they don’t sound like new wares… “How old are they?”
“Eighty-five and ninety-three.”
I nod thoughtfully. “Okay. Stay close to my parents. They'll protect you if things get too hectic. Maximus has a lot of wares. That shit ain't to be taken lightly.”
“We will,” she replies, giving a quick look to her brother.
I look at Davonyé and I see something in his eyes. ‘Don’t worry, alright?’
‘I ain’t.’