Amelie and Faith rummage through my closet and pick out a plum-colored sweater and a pair of jeans for me to wear while I finish curling my hair into loose waves down my back. Amelie stares at me through the reflection in the mirror, and I can see the concern on her face. She wants me to tell Cedric the truth. I still haven't told her that I could lose all of my fae magic if I complete the bond. It's my biggest fear. I don't want to lose the part of my mother that's inside me.
Faith notices the exchange and glances at us both. "What's going on? I feel like there's a conversation going on between you two that I'm not privy to."
After I finish curling the last strand of my hair, I turn to face them both. I look to Amelie, and she nods. "Tell her. I have a feeling she'll be on my side though."
Cedric is supposed to pick me up in less than twenty minutes, so I quickly start from the beginning, telling her everything Beck said to me about how I'll be safe in the Land of the Fae and how Dorian is on the hunt for fae like me. I also tell them both about the possibility of me losing my magic if Cedric and I complete the bond. When I'm done, Faith leans against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Well? What do you think I should do?" I ask her.
She glances at Amelie but then stays focused on me. "For starters, you can't go with Beck to the Land of the Fae. Your family is here."
Tears burn my eyes. "You're right. My family is here. But if Dorian finds me, I won't have a family left. I can't sacrifice you all."
Faith comes over and takes my hands. "That's for the pack to decide, not you. We work as one." She's right, but if it comes down to losing them, I'll leave in a heartbeat. "The part about losing your magic breaks my heart," she says, her voice quivering. "I know it's a huge part of your life."
She pulls me up and hugs me. Gripping onto her tight, I let the tears fall. "It's all I have of my mother."
"Are you going to tell Cedric this?"
I shake my head. "I can't. He'll feel guilty."
She nods in agreement. "Yes, he will. I know him. He might even refuse to complete the bond." The thought of that makes a sudden burst of anger flash through my veins. Amelie and Faith both pick up on it and stand back.
"Whoa," Amelie calls out, holding up her hands. "That was pretty intense."
Grabbing my chest, I suck in a breath. I've been angry plenty of times before, but this was different. "I don't know what came over me."
Amelie blows out a sigh. "It's obvious. Your wolf wants her mate. The idea of him walking away from you doesn't settle well with her."
It's like my wolf is a separate entity in my body. I'm not fully connected to her, but yet, she's inside me, blocked behind a wall of sorts. I've never figured out how to get her out. "It's so strange," I murmur, rubbing my chest as the anger dies down.
Faith steps toward me. "I know your magic is important to you, but sometimes, we have to sacrifice things to get what we want. Are you willing to give up your magic to be with Cedric?"
That's the million-dollar question that I don't have the answer to. My magic is who I am. I don't know myself without it. Losing it will be like losing a part of my soul. The same goes for Cedric. If we don't complete the bond, it'll be the same way. Faith and Amelie can see the struggle on my face.
Faith places her hands on my shoulders. "Whatever you decide, you at least need to tell Cedric the gist of what's going on. In time, I think you'll know what to do."
Amelie walks over and drapes an arm around me. "I agree with Faith. You'll make the right choice."
I can feel Cedric getting closer, and I still have to put on my clothes. Amelie and Faith rush out so I can finish getting ready. A few minutes later, Cedric's voice echoes downstairs. He laughs about something with Faith, and it makes me smile. When I get to the bottom of the stairs and turn the corner, I feel at ease the second I see him in the living room, like a warm blanket has wrapped around me. I feel safe. At home.
"Hey," he says, sticking his hands in his jeans pockets. "Ready to go?"
I take him in, at the way his dark blond hair is neatly fixed. The scruff on his face has been trimmed, and his flannel shirt is tucked into his jeans. Very sexy and down to earth.
"I'm ready."
Faith clutches my arm and side hugs me so she can whisper in my ear. "Have fun."
Cedric opens the door and follows me out to his truck. Amelie and Faith both stand on the front porch and wave. "We'll see you later," Amelie calls out.
Cedric opens the passenger's side door for me, and I hop into his truck. "Where are we going?" I ask.
His grin broadens. "You'll see." He shuts the door, and when he gets in the truck, we head on our way. Once we get onto the main road, we drive toward downtown Jackson Hole. I've been living in Jackson for a month but haven't seen much of the city. I'm curious to see where Cedric takes me.
"How was training this morning?" he asks.
My muscles still have a slight ache to them. I stretch out my arms and laugh. "Well … Sebastian refused to let me use my magic, so I had to do everything with just my strength alone. I'm surprised I can even move."
Cedric chuckles. "Yeah, I heard about the hole incident with Micah. I would've liked to have seen that."
He looks over at me, and I smile. "It was pretty funny. I'll have to come up with different ways to get him next time."
"Remind me never to get on your bad side." Still grinning, he focuses back on the road. "How are you liking Wyoming? I know it's a lot different from North Carolina."
"Very different," I reply. "North Carolina is a beautiful state. I would've been happy there apart from the Sierra pack."
The expression on his face shifts, the anger evident on his face. "I know all about it." We come to a stop sign, and he peers over at me, his alluring gray eyes on mine. "I'm sorry you had to live like that for so long."
Towards the end, it felt like an eternity, a prison. It makes me wonder what I would've done if I'd known earlier that Vincent, the man I thought to be my father, killed my mother. I was little when he died, and that's when Jaret took over. In all honesty, I could've killed Jaret myself and escaped on my own, but I didn't know where else to go. The Sierra pack was all I knew at the time.
"Things happen for a reason, Cedric. I was safe with my pack, but really, I was a prisoner. They were corrupt and vile. I don't know how or why they became that way."
Cedric looks away and continues down the road. "The world is full of evil fucks, Laila. I've seen my fair share of them."
Faith told me a little bit about him and that he lost his parents at a young age. We both had a rough start in life. "Where were you before you became part of the Teton pack?" I ask.
His jaw clenches. "Montana. I lived there with my parents and my old pack. Everything was fine until our alpha started to go through the rage. One day, he killed two hikers in the woods, a young woman and a man. My father and some of the other men rose and put him down before he could hurt anyone else. After that, everyone went their separate ways. My parents and I stayed in Montana, but rogues killed them a couple of years after that. I ran away, and that's when Seraphina found me and took me in."
His pain feels like my pain, an unbearable ache in my chest. I know it all too well. It's how I feel when I think of my mother. I reach over and place a hand on his arm. Almost instantly, the anger inside him dissipates slowly, and the pain I feel in my chest lessens. Cedric looks down at my hand and sighs. "I've been told mates can do that."
Feeling the heat rise to my cheeks, I quickly remove my hand. Shifters love to touch, and I feel that urge more so than I ever have. It's not something I'm used to. Cedric doesn't say anything, but I can sense his disappointment about my hesitance.
"Did you ever find out who killed your parents?" I ask, hoping to change the subject back to something other than mate magic.
He nods, and his grip on the steering wheel tightens. "I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I haven't talked about it in years."
"It's okay," I murmur, hating myself for even bringing it up in the first place. "We don't have to talk about it."
We finally arrive in town, and he finds a parking spot right on the main road in front of all the shops. Cedric takes a deep breath and looks over at me. There's a sadness on his face that breaks my heart. "I try not to let the past get to me. We've all suffered one way or another. We just have to stay strong and live the life we were given."
"Very wise," I say with a smile. "From what I've heard about you, I didn't think there'd be a serious bone in your body."
His lips pull up slightly. "People change, Laila. Other than the recent pack wars, I never had a reason to be serious. Now I do." The air in the truck turns electric. Cedric glances down at my lips but then looks away quickly. "All right, we're here." We open our doors at the same time. Cedric gets out, rushing to my side to close the door after I climb out. Very gentlemanlike. I'm not used to men like that. My entire life, all that surrounded me were cruel, murderous men, who loved nothing more than to use the women around them for their pleasure. In the end, they got what they deserved. They're all dead. I never have to worry or think of them again. That brings me comfort.
Cedric motions a hand toward the buildings, which reminds me of how an old western town would look. There are tons of shops and restaurants, all decorated for Christmas with their twinkling lights. What catches my attention is the town square right across the street. The entrance is an archway made from thousands of antlers, and every single tree inside the park glitters with shiny ornaments and lights. It's beautiful.
"So what do you think? I figured we could walk around and go to some of the shops? I didn't know if you liked Christmas or not."
My smile is so broad it hurts my cheeks. "Cedric, this is amazing. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, even though I never got to celebrate it like I wanted."
"Now, you can."
I like seeing him happy. A warm, fuzzy feeling wraps around my heart, and it comforts me. It's the strangest thing, but I like it. Cedric walks beside me, his arm brushing mine as we slowly make our way down the sidewalk. There are people everywhere, walking down the snow-lined streets, carrying bags of what I assume are Christmas presents for their loved ones. We walk past couples holding hands, and I can't help but watch the way they look at each other with such admiration in their eyes. Cedric looks at me like that. We don't know much about each other, but my body aches to be closer to him. I can't bring myself to make the first move though. It's like I can feel the wolf inside me, desperate to get out to her mate, but the other part of me holds her back.
Cedric points at something further down the road. "A new shop opened up about a month ago, just around that corner. I thought you might like to see it."
"Can't wait." I'm curious to see what it is. As soon as we turn the corner and get a good look at the different stores, I already know which one I'm drawn to.
The place is called Blue Stone, and through the glass windows, I can see inside. From what I can tell, there are thousands of various stones and gems. Their magical properties call to me. It's one of the things I love about earth magic.
Cedric nods toward the store. "Everyone told me how much you like stones, that you can put your magic in them. I was wondering if you could tell me more about it."
I stop and look up at him curiously. "Really? That's something you're interested in?"
He steps closer, and I can tell he's fighting the urge to touch me. At least, I'm not the only one who's feeling it. "I want to know everything about you, Laila. I'm hoping one day you'll show me what you can do."
"Happy to. I never turn down a chance to use my magic."
When we get inside the store, it's a magical heaven. There are stones and gems from all over the world, even rare ones I've never actually seen before. If only they had a black carmine. The girl behind the counter comes over and greets us with a smile. She has long, black hair and pale skin with almond-shaped, bright green eyes. "Hi. My name's Meredith. If you need help finding anything, let me know."
I smile. "Thank you. We will."
She turns away, and I walk over to the first glass case. Cedric and I circle the room, and he listens to me as I tell him about all the different stones. I half expect to bore him, but he surprises me by asking questions about every single stone. I'm impressed.
It takes about an hour to get through the store, and when we get to the last case, I stand there amazed. It's full of rare gemstones, ones I've never actually seen in person. I hate I can't touch them, but I don't blame the owners for wanting to keep them locked up. They all come with pretty hefty price tags too. Cedric points at a stone with a rich, solid blue color and a few reflective pieces of gold pyrite mixed in. Lapis Lazuli. I've only seen it in books.
"What magical properties does that one have?"
"It's called Lapis Lazuli. It's known for its abilities of celestial energy and psychic vision."
Cedric nods and smiles at me. "I like it. It reminds me of your eyes."
Of course, I can't help but smile back. I stare at all the stones, and an idea pops into my head. I look at Cedric and then back to the rocks, curious to see if he'll play along. The earth always has a way of sending us signals.
"Want to play a game?"
Cedric's eyes narrow curiously. "What kind of game?"
I point at the stones. "Pick one you think reminds you of me, and I'll do the same for you."
He crosses his arms over his chest. "Is this a test?"
"No," I laugh, "just curious to see what you pick."
With pursed lips, he scans all the rocks. "Are you sure there are no wrong answers here?"
I giggle. "Not at all."
His gaze roams across all the stones, and I watch to see if he hovers over a specific one. The way he studies them makes me smile. I already know which one I'd choose for him and which one I'd choose for myself. Mates can hear each other's thoughts when they share blood, but I'm curious to see what all our bond can do. Closing my eyes, I picture my favorite stone in my head. A few seconds later, Cedric taps the glass case.
"I got it." When I open my eyes and follow his line of sight, it's directly on the rose quartz. It was my mother's favorite and mine. He looks at me and grins. "How did I do?"
My heart thumps wildly in my chest. Out of all the hundreds of stones, I honestly didn't think he'd pick the one. "How did you do that?" I ask in awe.
His brows furrow. "What do you mean?"
I point at the rose quartz. "Why did you decide on that one? What did you feel?"
Averting his gaze, he concentrates on the stone, almost as if he's in a trance. "Love," he murmurs. That's precisely what he was supposed to feel. He blinks quickly and turns to me. "It's the first stone I felt a connection to. I looked at all the others, but I kept going back to that one."
"So, love is what you felt?"
He stares back at it. "Yeah, but it was different. I don't know how to explain it. It wasn't my feelings, but something else."
What amazes me is that he didn't even have to touch the stone to experience my thoughts. Unconditional love, compassion, and healing are the magical properties of the rose quartz. It's what I had in my mind when I told him to choose. If our connection starts this strong, it makes me wonder what it'll be like tomorrow or even next week. It all seems so quick, but standing next to Cedric, it's like I've known him my whole life. The thought terrifies me. As long as I withhold the truth from him, I'm putting him in danger. But yet, the inner war within myself keeps me from going to the Land of the Fae. Both my shifter side and fae side are substantial. Neither one is more powerful than the other. I can't seem to make the choice.
"I understand what you're saying," I whisper.
"It's your turn now. Although I have a feeling, I know which one you'd choose."
I stare up into his eyes. "Which one?"
He points at the black tourmaline, my exact choice. "That one. I don't exactly see myself in any of the other girly colored stones in this case."
A laugh escapes my lips. He's right. Cedric is strong and powerful, an alpha wolf in his own right. "You picked correct. The black tourmaline is a stone of strength, protection, and security." If only I could use it to protect me from Dorian. It's not used for protection against magical creatures. The black carmine is.
"And why did you pick that one for me?" he asks, his eyes searching mine.
Every time I look into his eyes, I find myself getting lost in them like I could stare into them for hours. "I feel safe with you," I confess truthfully.
He takes my hand and pulls me closer. "I'm glad. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
The breath hitches in my lungs. "Looks like we're off to a good start then."
"Seems so," he murmurs. He nods toward the door. "Want to grab something to eat? We can talk more if you want."
My stomach growls, and we both laugh. "Sounds good to me," I say. "We spent the past hour talking about me. It's time I learn more about you."
The way he smiles is genuine, but I can tell there's a sadness to it. "Hopefully, you won't be disappointed."
Holding his hand, I squeeze it reassuringly. "I don't think that's possible."
We walk out the door, and Meredith waves, wishing for us to have a good night. I take one step away from the store, but something tells me to go back inside—Cedric's brows furrow with concern. "You okay?" he asks.
Letting his hand go, I glance back into the shop. "Do you mind giving me a minute? There's a stone I'm looking for. It won't take long." Explaining to him why I'm looking for it is the problem. It's a good thing we haven't shared blood yet, or he'd be able to read my mind.
Cedric nods and opens the door for me. "I'll wait for you out here."
Breathing a sigh of relief, I hurry up to the counter, and Meredith smiles. "Back already?"
"I'm curious," I say as I look around at all the different cases filled with stones. "I noticed you had some rare stones here. You wouldn't, by any chance, have a black carmine, would you?"
Her eyes widen. "I do. No one has ever asked for it."
My mouth drops, and I suck in a breath. "Did I just hear you, right?"
Meredith giggles. "Yes. I keep it in the safe. It's costly."
"Last I heard, no one has come across it in centuries. How did you get it?"
She beams. "My dad dug it up years ago in Thailand. He couldn't believe his eyes." Her gaze turns sad. "Now that he's gone, I opened up this shop to make some money. Don't get me wrong, I love these stones, and they remind me of my dad, but I don't have a use for them."
Heart racing, I grab my checkbook out of my purse, and Meredith stares at me as if I've lost my mind. I said I would never use the Sierra pack's money, but this is an exception. It's being used for something good.
"I want to buy it," I say, ready to write the check.
Meredith clears her throat. "It's three hundred thousand dollars."
A slow smile spreads across my face. "Done." I scribble everything out on the check and hand it to her. "I'll be more than happy to wait while you verify the funds."
She picks up the phone and dials the number for the bank. By the look on her face, she's skeptical. Then again, I would be too if someone handed me a three hundred-thousand-dollar check. A few seconds later, she gets the approval and smiles at me before disappearing into a back room. When she comes back, she hands me a small, black velvet bag. I open it and let the stone fall into my hand. The beauty of it takes my breath away. It's smooth and black with red swirls, almost like a fire is coursing through it. I can already feel its power protecting me.
"Thank you," I breathe. "This is exactly what I need."