Enola did her best to get through breakfast without arguing with her family. She didn’t need to be a mind reader to know that they were upset. The weight of their disappointment was weighing heavily on her.

In Enola’s defense, she hadn’t asked for such enlightenment. She was perfectly content with believing that monsters didn’t exist. However unfortunate for Enola, in less than twenty-four hours, she not only found out about the existence of monsters, but she found out that she was one of them.

Enola was going home, back to her small condo in Bronzeville, and back to her job as a dispatcher for the Chicago Police Department. She wanted to return to her normal routine. Yes, she would miss her family, but she was accustomed to living away from them.

“You can try, but you can’t cheat fate. You’re only gonna get stronger,” Ruby mumbled, breaking the silence. “You say that Mamma is fine, but you’re wrong. The stronger you get, the weaker she gets.”

“What? Why?” Enola questioned.

“It's just the way things are. Your strength is growing because it's your turn, Nola.”

“My turn to what?” Enola bellowed. “To be eaten by vampires!”

“Enola, you blew up a fucking vampire! Do you have any idea what that means?”

“Nope, and I don’t care. Y’all can have this Voodoo shit. I’m outta here.”

“Ughh!” Ruby grunted, but it sounded more like a growl. She leaped out of her chair and kicked it across the floor.

Enola wrinkled her brow at her aunt’s reaction. “Why, are you so emotional? I mean…what’s wrong with you?”

“She’s an empath,” Marie offered.

“A what?”

“She absorbs, feels, and reacts to the feelings of others.”

Enola was ready to go, but she really wasn’t that angry. Margo seemed to be okay. So, Enola turned to her grandmother. It had to be her anger that was emanating from Ruby.

“Gran, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you mad. I just want to have a normal life.”

Marie’s eyes turned sad. “Oh, bebe, I know. But…” When she paused, Enola knew that she was going to say something she didn’t want to hear. “Your life will never be normal again. I’m so sorry, chér, but this is your life now.”

Enola closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. How could her gran expect her to just forget the life she’d built for herself? As if she could just uproot her entire life, even if she wanted to. She had a job, a home, and a few friends.

“Gran, I don’t choose this.”

“None of us chose this, chér. This is our destiny.”

Feeling the onset of a migraine, Enola massaged her temple.

“What about her?” she asked, turning to Margo.

“Margo has yet to display her gifts. But know this, Nola, we have been waiting for “the promise” for generations. You, my dear, are the promise.”

“No. I’m the curse. That’s what you meant, right?” Nola scoffed.

Marie roughly ran her fingers through her hair and let out a frustrated groan. “Nola, sweetheart, just do what you feel is best. Unfortunately, you will learn the hard way that you cannot run from who you are.”

 

* * * *

 

Gideon walked through the rose-filled courtyard of the home he shared with his brother and inhaled a deep breath, something he did every time he entered. Since roses were Auriette’s favorite, Gabriel insisted that the courtyard be covered with the thorny flowers.

“Welcome home, brother,” Gabriel shouted from the balcony.

Gideon looked up at his grinning brother. Since they were twins, they were connected on a deeper level mentally.

“Gabriel,” Gideon acknowledged, not ready for the conversation they were sure to have.

Gideon walked up the stairs and entered the lounge. In need of a stiff one, he headed straight to the bar. He was pouring a good amount of cognac when his brother entered.

“I missed you at the budget meeting this morning. It’s not like you to miss work.”

“I had a breakfast.”

“A breakfast?”

“Yeah. That’s that meal right before lunch,” Gideon quipped.

“Ha-ha, brother. You’re a comedian now, huh? Okay, funny man, what happened to you last night?”

Gideon turned his back and gulped most of the brown liquor from his glass. “What are you ta—”

“Don’t do that brother,” Gabriel interrupted. “I felt something. Was it pain? What happened?”

“I ran into my mate,” Gideon said softly without turning around.

“Mate? Seriously? Good shit, brother! Congratulations!”

Gideon took another swig and turned to face his brother. Gabriel’s brow wrinkled, and Gideon could see the question in his eyes.

“What is it?” Gabriel asked. “What’s wrong?”

“She’s a Roux,” Gideon blurted before he could lose his nerve.

Gabriel paled instantly. Gideon could feel his brother’s sadness.

Gabriel sighed. “It’s forbidden.”

“By whom?”

“This was a rule that you made!”

“Aaand, I’m gonna be the one to break it.”

“It was a mutual agreement between the pack and the Moreau line.”

Gideon slammed his glass on the bar a little harder than he intended. He poured himself another shot and knocked it back.

“Gideon, the consequences of getting involved with the Roux will—”

“Gabriel!” Gideon roared. “I’m a fucking wolf! Why are you speaking to me as if I have any control over this mating shit?”

Gideon slid the glass across the bar and left the room before Gabriel responded with something that would surely piss him off. Why his brother was behaving as if he didn’t understand his situation, Gideon didn’t know. But the one thing he did know was that, rules be damned, he was going to have Enola Roux.