Chapter 12: Erick

 

 

 

Later that evening, I was picked up by Josh. Aiden squeezed my hand before I was escorted out the door and led down to the waiting car, the same one with River County Sheriff's Department printed on the side.

With the sun no longer visible, the sky was the exact color of a bruise, and there was a light drizzle that permeated the air with the smell of rain. Every two minutes or so, Josh flicked a lever that made wiper blades pass back and forth across the windshield as he drove.

He cleared his throat, forcing me to tear my eyes away from the window.

"So," he began, "is there something going on between you and Aiden?"

Alarmed, I stared at him. He was still gazing straight ahead, although the corner of his mouth was turned up mischievously.

There was a hollow thudding in my chest and a ringing in my ears. "Why?" I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "Did Rowan say something?"

Josh laughed gently. "No. It's just kind of obvious. The way you look at him, it reminds me of the way Kaden looks at me."

I fingered the end of my hair, absently rubbing it between my index finger and thumb. It was the smoothest that I've ever had it, thanks to Aiden's diligent combing after our shower. I remembered that Josh and Kaden were fated mates.

Just like me and Aiden.

"I do care for him, but there's no way we can realistically be together. I don't belong in this realm," I said faintly. My mind was still fixated on what we'd done in the shower together.

"You don't? Where do you belong then?" Josh asked.

At once, I realized that I'd already said too much and raced to think of a way to distract him. "You're a bitten shifter, correct?"

"That's right. I was attacked by Caleb. It's a long story," he said grimly. The smile faded from his face. "It wasn't pleasant, but now I'm proud to be a shifter. I never felt like I belonged anywhere until I found my pack."

I nodded. "Me, too. I'm also glad to be a shifter. But Aiden's encounter was…" How do I say this delicately? I wondered. I finally settled on, "horrifically traumatic."

"That's unfortunate. I guess I can see why he wanted to be cured, though."

We were now driving through downtown Riverrun, arriving just in time to watch the streetlamps pop on one by one.

"I never imagined that it was possible to be cured," I said.

"Us, too. That's why we need to figure out what Eliza's doing with it. If the cure actually exists, then the coven is in possession of some powerful, dark magic," Josh said.

"Is it so bad that he was cured, though? If he hated being a shifter…" I trailed off.

Josh shrugged as he took a right turn. The buildings around us began to look a little shabbier.

"Everybody's free to live their own life how they see fit. For most people, though, life's problems don't just disappear if you run from them. You have to face them head on. Like slaying the dragon that keeps coming back to your village year after year," he said.

I turned my smile towards the window. "That's true, too."

By the time we reached Lucy's Bar and Grill, the sky was completely black. After parking, Josh and I plunged ahead into the woods and walked into the clubhouse. On this dark night, illumination came from tiny bulbs on a string, hanging overhead from the beams like moss on trees. The barn smelled damper tonight than it did earlier in the day, and it made me feel constantly on the verge of sneezing.

Kaden, Caleb, and three of their betas—Sam, Logan, and Jimmy—were already there, along with a small, dark-haired omega. Caleb introduced him as Liam.

"My mate," he added, and they shared a warm, intimate look that made me ache faintly for Aiden.

Just as I was settling down into a seated position on the floor, a scruffy wolf trotted into the barn and shifted into a naked Mickey.

"They're out there looking for him. I picked up their scent. Smells like there's three of 'em," he said gruffly.

Kaden nodded. "Good work, Mick. Is everybody ready?"

His betas responded with a scattered, "Yes, alpha." When his focus landed on me, I stood up.

"Go ahead and I'll catch up with you. I need a moment alone to meditate," I said.

Kaden frowned. Behind him, Caleb and Sam exchanged looks of bemusement.

"Sure, whatever you need to do," Kaden finally said dismissively.

Quietly, I exhaled in relief.

"Let's go," Caleb said.

I watched everybody else in the room stripping off their clothes and beginning to shift. Kaden and Caleb turned into identical twin wolves. After one last glance at me, they ran out the barn doors. Their four betas and two omega mates spilled out after them and melted into the night.

I gave them five minutes to put some distance between us. Then, I started taking off the hooded sweatshirt and jeans I'd borrowed from Aiden.

I held the sweatshirt to my nose, inhaling our intermingled scents. After this, I thought to myself, I'm going back. Just before Aiden drove me to his apartment, Rowan had told me she'd found a spell that might send me back to the Wood. It wouldn't be long before I could return to my eternal slumber. I'd be at peace in the Wood, and Aiden would return to normal life.

I tried to ignore the way my stomach was turning and tossed the sweatshirt aside.

"Time to shift," I muttered aloud, and I called forth my dragon.

A ball of heat formed in my chest, and I coughed out a puff of smoke. Scales burst out of my skin, and wing buds erupted out of my back. I kept my dragon small this time, no larger than an eagle, so I wouldn't be so conspicuous.

Still, it felt good to be a reptile again.

Grinning with both rows of teeth, I crawled across the floor to the barn doors, spread my wings, and took flight.