Stella

Everybody filed into the living room to listen to Grandma’s story. Stella felt like she was wasting time, but the age-old saying, “knowledge is power,” came to mind so she followed suit. Austin and Jasper seemed distant and hesitant to believe that they didn’t already know all there was to know about Rick.

“Rick is an old shifter. He doesn’t look much more than late forties, but he’s actually as old as I am. There’s another that’s as old as I am, too. Her name is Arriell.” Stella perked up at the name, but stayed silent.

“Arriell is a shifter, but she was cursed in her young age. She wouldn’t ever be able to find her mate. That story is one for another time, and day. She deserved to be cursed. Arriell had sought out the dark magic without fully understanding the consequences. In time, she found a man that she thought would surely have been her mate had she not been cursed. She went to him one night in his hotel room and found him with another woman. Arriell was furious that her mate would take another. So she sought the dark magic again. Things took a turn then for Arriell. The one who performed the dark magic told Arriell to bring the other woman to him, and he would take care of her. Arriell didn’t care what the price was. If she couldn’t have her mate, she didn’t want anyone to. So, she brought the woman, Rachel, to him. He fell in love with Rachel instantly. Knowing the other man had touched his beloved, he cursed him. In time, when Rick would find his true mate, the dark magic would descend and he would go feral. Rick would never have the chance to love his true mate.”

“Does Rick know any of this?” Stella asked.

“No, he doesn’t. He thought Rachel was his true mate the night that he slept with her. Rachel was a chameleon. She manipulated Rick into believing she was his mate. Once they had been together he realized she wasn’t his true mate,” Grandma answered.

“It makes no sense to curse Rick. So, I am his true mate,” Stella said, standing up to pace.

“Yes, my baby, you are his true mate. I knew his mate would need to be strong to be able to break through the dark magic. I have kept you close to me, feeding you bits of my magic, preparing you for this day. Arriell believes Rick is her true mate, and she’s trying to use dark magic to make it so. As long as you are alive and fighting for Rick, she can’t have him.”

“How did you know I would be Rick’s mate?”

“You know a lot when you are a healer. You’ll come to find that out. I knew when my boy brought you to me that you were special. The reason you suffered and struggled through that period of your life was to prepare you for this. Emma was always to be. She was always to find Jasper. You were to be with me, so that I could prepare you. You were always to be with Rick.”

“How do you know all of this?” Austin asked.

“Rachel, the young woman, did not want to be with the keeper of the dark magic. She escaped one night and came to me, having heard of an old healer. I could not help her, though. He caught up to her soon after she escaped and was taken back. I’m not sure what has become of her. I would say he uses her to do his bidding in the human world. She’s very beautiful. A chameleon that can blend in to any situation. His dark magic would cloak her.”

Everybody sat in silence. Anticipation trickled through them all as a pack. Stella could feel her new attachment to her pack. Even though she had watched and helped Grandma heal shifters for years, she was nervous to do it alone. Stella looked at the faces of those around her; they were all preparing themselves. All of them would gladly fight the dark magic alongside of her to get to Rick.

“So, what happens now?”

“Stella’s a healer now, and the magic will help her find Rick. We will know what to do when the time comes.”

“Ugh, I wish everything wasn’t so vague and mysterious. Can’t we do anything to help us figure out where he is now?” Emma asked, throwing herself back against the couch.

“Stella, how have you been able to get through to Rick before?”

“I just went where I would be surrounded by his things and his scent. I was the closest to him when I was in his room, lying on his bed.”

“What if you did that again?” Austin asked with hope gleaming in his eyes.

Stella nodded and got up. She hugged Grandma and left to go back to Rick’s house. She had a newfound sense of strength and confidence. Stella was positive that this time she would find out where Rick was.