Chapter 6 #2
“I don’t understand,” Selene blurted. “Why would she agree to that? Everything I’m hearing about Avondale makes it seem like humans don’t belong and maybe aren’t even welcome.
How did she end up here? She told me she took Allie camping in the area one weekend and fell in love with the place. That isn’t true, is it?”
With a sympathetic smile, Natalie replied, “Humans who live in Avondale have one foot in the paranormal world. Either a partner or a relative or unforeseen circumstances brought them into contact with the supernatural. In Emma’s case, it was the latter.
A work friend of hers was a . . . client of mine.
Emma drove that friend to Avondale one weekend.
It was an emergency situation, and that’s how she met me. ”
“An emergency haircut?” Selene couldn’t help her incredulous tone.
Natalie shook her head. “I do other work that helps people who need to get out of abusive relationships. It’s a whisper network of sorts, so it’s not something I advertise openly.”
“Oh wow,” Selene said, chagrined. “So Emma’s friend . . .”
“Was in a bad situation, and I helped her,” Natalie said.
“Emma felt drawn to my work and asked how she could be a part of it. For a long time, she volunteered as a contact in the greater LA area, but over time Emma came to love Avondale and wanted to make her home here. I had to pull a few strings to get her permission, but I was able to convince the powers that be that Emma would be an asset to the paranormal community.”
Selene stared at their reflections in the mirror, processing Natalie’s words and rewriting the history of her best friend’s life.
“I don’t know if it helps,” Natalie said gently. “But Emma told me many times that she hated keeping the truth from you. It weighed heavy on her heart.”
“It helps,” Selene replied, knowing the lingering hurt she felt was selfish and not worth hanging on to. “How is it that I got permission to move here?”
“Your circumstance is exceptional,” Natalie admitted. “But with Emma’s death and Allie wanting to continue living here, decisions had to be made quickly. It was agreed that you’d be allowed to move to Avondale on a conditional basis.”
“Is anyone planning on telling me the conditions?” Selene groused.
“They’re simple,” Natalie replied. “Allie would talk to you, revealing the true nature of our community, then you’d decide to stay or go. If you stay, you’ll have to follow the same rules as other humans. Keep Avondale’s secret.”
“And if I go?” Selene frowned. “What stops me from blabbing about magic and monsters being real?”
“We have the means to ensure your silence,” Natalie said with a shrug.
Selene’s eyes widened. “Are you saying I’d be hunted down and killed?”
“Goddess, no!” Natalie gasped. “Sorry. I should have worded that differently. There are spells that would make you forget but wouldn’t otherwise harm you. Humane and effective.”
With a shudder, Selene pushed aside the vision of wolves chasing her through Topanga Canyon. “It’s a moot point anyway. We’re staying, at least for the time being.”
“I’m glad.” Natalie smiled and patted Selene’s hand. “I’d miss Allie like crazy if she moved away. Having her here is like still having a little bit of Emma. And getting to know you keeps Emma close too. She loved you so much.”
Selene was touched, but her eyes were welling up, and she needed to change the subject.
“Out of curiosity, how did Allie break the news to you?” Natalie asked.
“She told me about Josh,” Selene replied.
“Hold up a sec, there’s a Josh?” Natalie asked. “Who’s Josh?”
“Allie’s boyfriend.” Selene began to frown. “Wait, you don’t know about Josh?”
As soon as she’d asked the question, she realized it made perfect sense that Natalie hadn’t known about Josh. Emma wasn’t aware Allie had a boyfriend. Tim and Marley only discovered the relationship by accident.
“First I’ve heard of him,” Natalie told Selene.
“Josh is Allie’s boyfriend,” Selene explained. “And according to her, ‘it’s serious.’”
“Of course it is.” Natalie grinned. “She’s sixteen. First love and all that.”
“I know, right?” Selene said wryly. “Probably why Allie thought it was a good idea to introduce me to the real Avondale by telling me her boyfriend is a werewolf. Telling me and then showing me because seeing really is believing, and—”
Selene stopped talking when she noticed Natalie had gone eerily still.
“Nat? Are you okay?”
“Allie is dating a wolf?” Natalie asked after a lengthy pause.
Selene nodded. “Emma didn’t know. Allie was planning to tell her, but Emma died before that could happen. To be honest, it’s strange Allie kept Josh a secret. She and Emma were very close.”
“She kept it a secret because she knew Emma wouldn’t be happy.” Nat was shaking her head, brow furrowed. “Tell me more about this guy.”
Emma wouldn’t be happy. Natalie’s words dropped like stones in Selene’s stomach.
“I don’t know much,” Selene replied, “other than that Josh goes to school with Allie.”
With an uneasy laugh, she added, “Suddenly I’m dealing with a real-life Teen Wolf.”
“He’s no teen,” Natalie said quietly as she began to razor layers into Selene’s hair.
“What?”
“None of the wolves in Fenris Hall’s pack are that young,” Natalie continued. “He’s got strict rules about bringing new wolves in. He hasn’t approved the turning of a human as long as I’ve been here.”
“Turning?” Selene’s heart skipped a beat.
“From human into a werewolf,” Natalie said. “I’m surprised Fenris has allowed one of his pack to consort with a human. That’s not like him. He keeps his wolves away from outsiders.”
“I’m not sure how much he’s allowing it.” Selene met Natalie’s gaze in the mirror. “Josh said he and Allie are petitioning the pack to accept their relationship. I don’t know exactly what that means.”
“It means Fenris hasn’t forbidden Josh from dating Allie, but he hasn’t decided if he’ll allow it to continue.
” Natalie didn’t meet Selene’s eyes, making Selene more uneasy with every heartbeat.
“Nothing happens with the wolves unless he okays it. He’s got the last word on everything, and not only for his pack. For all of Avondale.”
“Tim and Marley said the same thing,” Selene said. “And that I’m probably still under review as far as Fenris Hall is concerned. I’ve been invited to have dinner with him on Saturday. I’m guessing it’s some kind of test.”
“Fenris doesn’t play games.” Natalie pumped styling crème from a glass bottle on the rolling caddy filled with her supplies.
“If he wants to know something about you, he’ll ask.
You’re charged with caring for Allie. And Josh is Fenris’s responsibility.
The two of you are in a similar position.
Maybe you’ll find common ground and it will make you feel better about this whole situation. ”
“Common ground?” Selene scoffed. “Me and the wolf tyrant?”
“I wouldn’t call him a tyrant.” Natalie rubbed the styling crème on her palms and ran her fingers through Selene’s hair. “You’ll like him. Fenris Hall could charm the skin off a snake.”
“But do you like him?” Selene asked. Charm wasn’t always a good thing. Emma’s ex-husband, Daniel, proved that over and over.
“Actually, I do,” Natalie said without hesitation.
“Quite a lot. He’s a good pack leader, and he keeps Avondale in great shape.
I’ve heard horror stories about towns controlled by vamp covens.
I can’t imagine living anywhere else, and my life wouldn’t be as good without Fenris’s oversight of this place. ”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Natalie thought for a moment, then sighed.
“There really isn’t a problem, Selene. And I’m sorry to make you worry.
I love Allie, and I’m hoping you’ll be happy in Avondale.
Dating a wolf will be complicated. I don’t want your lives to get complicated when you’re already dealing with so much change. ”
“Too late.” Selene smiled thinly. “I’m guessing dinner with Fenris Hall won’t make things any less complicated.”
Natalie’s expression became sly.
“What?” Selene frowned as Natalie smirked at her.
“I’ll be very curious to hear what you think of our dear Fenris. He’s . . . well, I won’t give any spoilers,” Natalie said with a laugh. “Especially since this is all brand new to you.”
“If I don’t faint, I’ll consider it a win,” Selene groused.
“Faint?”
Rolling her eyes, Selene explained. “I fainted when Josh turned into a werewolf. Then I fainted again when Marley took off his . . . I don’t remember the word, but he showed me he has wings and green skin.”
“He removed his glamour,” Natalie said.
Selene nodded. “I wasn’t ready for it. He looked so normal and then Wings.”
“Hold that thought.” Natalie got out a blow-dryer.
Selene watched Natalie in the mirror, mulling over their conversation. She couldn’t imagine ever being so at ease with a world full of magic as Natalie was. Had she ever been as stupefied as Selene felt? Then a terrible suspicion dawned as Natalie put away the blow-dryer.
“Natalie, are you human?” Selene blurted, then gasped. “Oh god. Is it horribly rude to ask that?”
Shaking her head, Natalie laughed again. “It’s not rude, but I wouldn’t recommend going door-to-door asking everyone in Avondale what they are. It’s best to let paranormals reveal themselves as they choose.”
When Selene continued to watch her expectantly, Natalie grinned and spun the chair around so they were facing each other.
“I’m human, for the most part.”
“What does that mean?” Selene hadn’t thought “human for the most part” was a possible answer.
“I’m a witch,” Natalie answered. “And I come from a long line of witches. Very powerful witches. Forgoing any disasters, I’ll live a lot longer than your average human would, and I’ll look like I do now until I choose to enter my crone phase.”
“Crone phase?” Selene repeated.
“That’s witch speak for old lady,” Natalie replied. She regarded Selene for several beats, pursing her lips.
“You’re making me nervous.” Selene twisted her fingers together. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m trying to decide how much you can handle.”
“Is there a lot more to handle than magic and monsters being real?” Selene groaned. “Because that’s plenty.”
Natalie reached out to fuss with Selene’s dried hair. “It might be more than you want to know, but I believe it’s important that you understand you belong here, Selene.”
“I’m not following.”
“And I can’t give you much,” Natalie confessed with a sigh. “Only that you, like me, are human . . . for the most part.”
Selene scoffed. “I’m not anything but human, Nat. I’m pretty sure I would have noticed if I had magical powers.”
“All I can tell you at the moment is that beings with supernatural power resonate at a different frequency than mundane humans,” Natalie said firmly. “Those of us attuned to the paranormal always sense one another. You resonate like one of us.”
“Is that something you see in my aura?” she teased, but Natalie nodded in all seriousness.
Selene tried to cover the spike of fear in her gut with a smile. “I hate to tell you this, but your paranormal radar is malfunctioning. There’s nothing magic about me.”
Natalie looked like she wanted to argue, but she pursed her lips, then said, “When you’re ready, we’ll talk.”
Selene made a noncommittal noise, ignoring the electrical storm coursing through her veins.
A weighty silence fell as Natalie continued to style Selene’s hair.
“There you go,” Natalie said after a few minutes and turned the chair to face the mirror again. “What do you think?”
Selene couldn’t answer because her jaw was hanging open. Was that even her gaping back at herself in the mirror?
“I could pretend to be afraid you’re speechless because you hate it, but that’s not my style.” Natalie pulled the cape off Selene and shook it out. “I am damn good at what I do.”
“I didn’t think my hair could do this,” Selene exclaimed when she found her voice again. “Do you know how much money you could make in LA?”
Natalie winked. “Not interested. Avondale is where I belong.”
When Selene opened her purse, Natalie clucked her tongue. “No charge.”
“But—”
“It’s my welcome-home gift to you,” Natalie said. “I’m really happy you’re here, Selene.”
A business card appeared in her hand, seemingly from nowhere.
She dropped it into Selene’s open purse.
“I feel it’s only fair to tell you that if you don’t call me immediately after your dinner tomorrow night, I’ll be devastated.
That’s the kind of gossip that could be the foundation of our friendship. ”
“Guess I’d better call,” Selene attempted to deadpan, but she couldn’t stop a smile from overtaking her face.