Screams and laughter rise above the excited voices of children as they play in Cheesie’s, a playground-slash-restaurant geared toward small kids. I’m with Tally and Dawn, the Veilleux clan witch. Dawn and I came up to Canada this morning for our weekly get-together. Tally usually gets a sitter so we can talk magic, but her girl had to cancel at the last minute. So here we are in child heaven. It’s not ideal for our usual playing around with spells, but at least Tally’s children are entertained for a while so we can talk. I just told the girls about my night at the Bear’s Den, and I lift up a floppy piece of pizza that tastes like salty cardboard and rip off a bite.

“You actually cheered Nate on?” asks Dawn, and Tally chuckles.

“Bella’s got a thing for men fighting over her.”

I swallow down the lump of food in my mouth. “They weren’t fighting over me.”

Dawn’s armful of silver bracelets jingles as she reaches for a piece of pizza. “Cade sounds so dreamy. It makes me want to meet him.” She quickly adds, “Since you keep saying you want nothing to do with him.”

Tally rolls her eyes. “Bella wants everything to do with him.”

“He’s not hot!” I say. “He’s a muscle-bound jerk who tried to make Nate fighting my fault.”

“And he wanted to take you home,” says Tally. “Maybe he thought Nate was fighting for you.”

I shake my head. “No. I’m pretty sure Nate and Bridget are true mates.” Tears burn in my eyes, and I blink them back. “Which means I’m out one more friend. This whole plan of mine isn’t working out so well.”

Dawn reaches her hand across the table to put it on mine. “Are you sure Cade knew they were fighting over Bridget?”

I sniff. “When Cade asked what caused the fight, Dirk pointed at Bridget.” Who was behind me. I gasp. “Oh my god. Bridget was behind me, and it could have looked like Dirk was pointing at me.” The tears I was fighting let loose. “Oh god,” I wail.

“Ma’am?” asks a concerned waitress as I sob, and Tally and Dawn both wave her off.

Tally says, “Poor Cade. You tell him you want nothing to do with him because he’s a werebear, and within days, he finds you in a clan bar with two of his kind fighting. And he believes it’s over you. He probably thinks you were out trolling for one.”

“And lying to him the whole time,” I say as I speak through tears. I hiccup as I grab a napkin and dab at my eyes. “I should call him.”

“Not yet,” says Tally. “There’s something I need to tell you first. It could change what you decide to do.” She looks at Dawn. “Listen up, because this concerns you too. Marcel told me that news of our cubs being able to shift as well as perform magic is causing a stir in your clans.”

“How so?” I ask.

“It seems your alphas realize that werebear with strong magical abilities are an asset they may want to cultivate.”

I think about how Tally’s Ouellette clan has a lot of strong magic now. Not only is Tally extremely talented, but her alpha’s wife is quite gifted too. Add all the children Tally will have, and it makes them a force to be reckoned with. The Ouellette clan is not technically part of the Northeast Kingdom, which is made up of three clans, including mine, Dawn’s, and one known as the LeRoux, but they are definitely allies. Even so, I can imagine the alphas of the Northeast Kingdom would want the same kind of strength in their own clans.

Dawn’s eyes widen. “You’re not suggesting--”

Dawn is new to her clan, and since they used to be known as ruthless, I understand her worry. But the Vellieux have been under a compassionate alpha for a few years now. I put my hand on her arm. “Tori doesn’t seem like the kind of alpha who would force a werebear on you.”

“No,” says Tally. “She’s not.”

“I’m not so sure this is a good idea,” says Dawn. “Don’t you think there was a reason werebear and magicals were never allowed to be together?” She looks at Tally. “Present company excluded of course.”

I say, “We used to think that about humans and werebear, and now you have an alpha who never knew she was half-werebear until a few years ago.”

“Good point,” says Dawn.

“More importantly...” says Tally. She gives us an evil smile. “This means that Bella could potentially have a serious relationship with Cade that her alpha would actually encourage.”

“Tally! I threw Cade against his truck so hard bones broke!”

Dawn bursts out laughing, and Tally joins her. It takes me a moment, but I smile too. Werebear healing abilities are legendary, and I suddenly see the humor in what I did to my clan’s fiercest warrior.

Tally says, “Dawn, if what Marcel said is true, you’re going to be like a kid in a candy store.” She lets out a sigh. “Imagine a whole clan at your fingertips and you get to pick the one that calls to your inner goddess.”

Dawn smiles, and I laugh with her. “Seems someone isn’t too afraid after all.”

“I--” Dawn blushes. “Well, there is something sexy about huge men with a lot of muscle. I could be tempted.”

Me too. By one hot warrior named Cade. Except that he makes me so crazy I break his bones. He has every right to still be mad at me. Especially if he hasn’t figured out that Nate wasn’t fighting over me yet. I let out a heavy sigh, because I’ve made a mess of things with him, and Cade has every right to never talk to me again.

Tally says, “Go call him, Bella. At least explain that Nate and Dirk weren’t fighting over you.”

“I’m not sure he’ll answer. He was pretty mad the last time I saw him.” I glance down to see I’ve shredded the piece of pizza in my hand into a gooey mess, and I shudder a little at the stickiness all over my fingers.

“Because he thought someone was after his mate,” says Tally. “Are you really so dense you can’t see this?”

“It’s not that, Tally. I know he’s very interested in me. It’s--” I flex my fingers and fight the compulsion to race to the bathroom to wash my hands. I grab my glass of water and dampen a napkin to clean up with instead.

“What if you’re wrong?” asks Dawn.

“Yes,” I say. “What if I’m the one who has strong feelings for him and Cade just wants to get what’s he’s been after all these years?”

“Wow,” says Tally. “You really believe you’re just a hot body, don’t you?”

“Of course not! But I’m very aware of my reputation, and that might be why Cade is trying so hard to get me. Finally bedding the witch who wouldn’t date a werebear might be a badge of honor for him.”

Dawn grabs my hand. “Honey. No. If this guy is someone you can’t stop thinking about and he’s way more than sex for you, I’m sure it’s the same for him. You are an incredible woman. Don’t sell yourself short.” She reaches for her canvas bag. “You know what? The cards are going to prove it to you.” A deck of tarot cards slaps on the table, and when I stare at it, Dawn says, “Go ahead. Pick them up and think about your question.”

My heart skips a beat, because I put a fair amount of faith in those cards too. “You know there are so many ways to interpret whatever I draw.”

“Maybe, but you know that sometimes we need to see what’s in our hearts and minds laid out on the table.” Dawn picks up the cards and puts them in my hands. “Shuffle.”

I take the cards and close my eyes as I let them slip through my fingers. I look deep within myself as I block out the noise around me. I may not have wanted to admit it before, but I’m in love with Cade, and the truth is I do want a future with him. If I can have it. I ask, “Do Cade and I belong together?” When I open my eyes again, I hand the deck over to Dawn.

She splays them out and says, “Pick one.”

I reach out and grab one, afraid to breathe. The Empress. Unconditional love and fertility.