Stella

Rage like she had never felt raced through her body. A barrier of some kind blocked Stella’s attack on Rachel. Stella advanced on the woman. Rick’s bear moved in front of her. He was a brave man to try and get in between her and the woman who had dared to take him from Stella. Stella motioned for him to move aside, but he refused.

His eyes were pools of emotions. Her own emotions were wrecked from having lost Grandma. She was tired of the fight. She dropped to her knees in front of Rick’s bear. Her fingers sunk into his silky fur and she cried. Rick nuzzled against her face. When Stella finally pulled herself back she looked around them. The shifters had changed back into their human forms. The women’s eyes were red and swollen from tears. Stella realized she wasn’t the only one hurt by the loss of Grandma. She also wasn’t the only one angry.

She stood up and waited for Rick to shift. Rick left the room to shift, and came back in shirtless but with sweat pants on. Stella took a minute to appreciate the perfection of his body. Then she turned back to Rachel who was still cowering in the corner.

“If you are not helpful to me, to us, I will kill you,” Stella warned.

Rick lifted her into his arms and sat them down on a chair. His hand stroked her back. Stella could feel some of the pain and anger starting to dissipate with his touch.

“She’s right. Speak now, and it had better be the truth,” Rick confirmed.

Rachel walked a bit further into the room and looked around. Emma refused to meet her eyes, but Jasper glared at her. The woman must have thought better of getting any closer. She stopped and turned to Stella.

“I need a protection spell cast around this room,” she whispered.

Stella had to think. She had seen Grandma cast one before. Pain ripped through her heart as she thought back to the elderly woman and the words she had spoken to cast the protection spell. Stella lifted her arms just as she pictured Grandma doing in her mind. Then she spoke the words softly. Grandma had told her it was important to speak them softly. Once she was finished she could feel the magic working in the room. She nodded to Rachel.

“I’m not sure where to start,” the woman said, licking her lips and taking a deep breath. “My name is Rachel. Or at least it has been for so long, I don’t remember my real name. I’m a chameleon. He’s used magic on me for so long that I’m not sure how old I even am.”

“If you’re looking for sympathy, this probably isn’t the group of people to go to,” Emma sneered.

“That’s not what I’m after. I’ve done more bad than good. I don’t deserve for any of you to feel sorry for me. If it means anything at all, Emma, I am truly sorry I had to lie to you. You were the first person in a long time that was nice to me.”

“It means nothing. For the record, I regret it now,” Emma said, finally turning her hateful gaze on Rachel.

Stella couldn’t say she blamed her daughter.

Rachel took another deep breath and continued. “The night that I first met Rick was the night I found out I was a chameleon. I remember being out with friends and a woman approaching us. She was beautiful, and nice. We danced and partied with her for a while. The next thing I remember, I woke up in an apartment with her beside the bed. She told me I had done well for my first night, and that our master would be pleased. I started freaking out because I had no idea what she was talking about. The next thing I knew she transported us to a room with a man there. I’ve been stuck with that man ever since. Somedays I remember the person I am, and who I use to be. Other days I’m just Rachel, his chameleon that does his dirty work.”

“What’s his name?” Austin asked.

“He says he loves me, and that I’m his chosen one. Some days he’s loving and kind. Most days he’s not,” Rachel sobbed.

Stella watched Rachel. If Rachel had been with the man as long as she said she had been, then she knew the power of a name. Anyone messing with dark magic would know the danger of speaking a name. Rachel chewed on her lip, confirming Stella’s thoughts.

Stella stood and walked over to Rachel. Rachel took a nervous step back, but Stella grabbed her hand.

“It’s okay, Rachel. I don’t know if we can actually help you, but if we’re going to find out, I need his name. If you allow me to connect with you, I can find it in your memories, then that way you won’t be the one to speak it.”

“You know then?” Rachel asked.

“Yes, I know the power of speaking a name. He would know it was you, even with my protection spell. This man, he and I have unfinished business anyways. I will speak it, after you have left.”

“I’m going to leave?” Tears welled in the young woman’s eyes. Now that her chameleon cloak was set aside, Stella just saw a young woman who was scared and lost. Her heart went out to Rachel, and she was determined to help her if possible.

“Yes, you’ll have to go back to him. If you stay, he’ll kill you. If we’re going to free you from him for good, we will need to be smarter than him.”

Rachel nodded, and then Stella felt Rachel free her thoughts. Stella picked through Rachel’s memories and tried not to cringe at some of the more horrific ones. The woman hadn’t been exaggerating when she said she had done terrible things. Stella could feel Rachel’s true self still alive and well, even though she was hidden under the chameleon Rachel. Then the man came into view, and his name rang clear in Stella’s mind. She pulled back from Rachel’s hands and looked at her with horror.

“You know now,” Rachel said as the tears that had brimmed in her eyes finally started to fall.

“Is it all a lie?” Stella questioned.

“I don’t know,” Rachel said, shaking her head.

Stella looked over at Rick and his pack, her pack now, too. The name would change more than she thought they were prepared for. She squeezed Rachel’s hand.

“Go now,” Stella said, releasing the protection spell.

Rachel was gone instantly. Stella turned and saw all eyes on her. She took a deep breath and tried to think of the best way to avoid their question.