Chapter 2 #2
She ruined a beautiful cream-colored dress my mom had sewn for me, a dress I’d watched her make.
Sherry was jealous that I had a bra when her chest was still pancake-flat.
She has always gone out of her way to be nasty to any of the shy, quiet, or bookish girls, but has made spectacular efforts to tease and belittle me, and not just because I was crushing on her brother.
She’s always harassed me for being a half-breed who can’t shift, suggesting maybe I’m not a wolf shifter, instead a cow-shifter – a dig about my bra size.
Whenever Jase stood up for me, it made her even nastier, going out of her way to drive the point home that Jase sees me as nothing more than a pest. And although I felt like I was floating in the best dream ever while he danced with me at the dance, five minutes later he was dancing with another girl.
An eighteen-year-old girl he drove home.
So, the bubble got popped. And it got popped in a devastating way because gossip was that she gave Jase her virginity that night.
And that was a cautionary tale to me that made me sure I wanted to save mine for when it counted.
There was also that time when I was eighteen, walking home from that bush party and Sherry and two of her friends were shifted to wolves. They cornered me and snapped their jaws at me, making me fall, looming over me like they were going to eat me.
Jase happened to show up just in time with Linc and Mase. They shifted and roared at those girls, scaring them off with their much larger wolf forms. I was crying, and my knees and palms were skinned and bloody after having fallen on the gravel.
Jase reminded me of the last time he carried me with skinned knees and this time he gave me a piggyback all the way home, telling silly jokes to cheer me up.
Jase didn’t just treat me well. He treats everyone that way. He does nice things for people. He looks after everyone. He cares.
The Jason Creed I’ve been around lately has been very different, going out of his way to make the message clear – he doesn’t want my attention.
I saw Jase’s mom yesterday at Cicely’s store and asked her how Sherry was doing.
“Despondent,” Valerie Creed croaked, looking broken.
“At least she won’t have to deal with him anymore,” Cicely put in.
Val shook her fair head of hair and whispered brokenly, “But that’s part of the problem.
As much as he was a monster, and believe me, he was…
that was supposed to be her soulmate. She hated him, but the mate connection dictates her soul will mourn him for the rest of her life.
What does she have to look forward to now?
She feels like her life is ruined. She’s mourning him despite loathing him. ”
Cicely’s eyes met mine as I winced. And after Val was gone, my bestie gave me a pointed look, one requiring no explanation.
Sherry Creed got served up some karma cake with bitter frosting.
And no, neither of us like her. She’s a mean-spirited, shitty person who thrives on others’ misery.
She doesn’t ever go head-to-head with Cicely because Sis would eviscerate her.
Sherry targets the more docile females where she can do the maximum damage with minimum repercussions.
But despite Sherry’s ugly track record, this fate for her sounds horrible.
Yes, she’s my one and only enemy in the world, but I wouldn’t wish what happened to her on even her.
Anyway, my feelings for Jase are in the past. I’m done wasting time on him.
Malachi Carswell from Silver Hills asked me out and I told him I’d think about it.
He’s cute. He’s nice. He loves books. Stacy said he’s a good guy.
Anything with him can’t be more than casual.
Brody needs him as beta for the new pack and it’s not like I’d ever consider moving away from Arcana Falls.
I’d rather be the stereotypical librarian spinster than leave this place and everyone I love.
But I figure it’ll be good practice to go on a date or two.
Put myself out there a little. Move forward with my life.
Maybe get myself my first kiss, finally, so if I meet a guy where there’s an actual possibility with him, I won’t be a crappy kisser.
And maybe it’s time I begin thinking of a life that doesn’t include being mated to a council alpha.
After lunch with the girls yesterday, Stacy threw me with, “What if it’s not Jase, but… maybe it’s Lincoln or Joel?”
I can’t see that happening. It’d shock the heck out of me if it did. And it’d be awful if it did happen because after Jase’s outburst at Erica’s birthday party it’s obvious that Jase has had enough of me trying to manifest being his mate.
And that could mean he’s complained about me to his closest friends other than my brother. Because Grey wouldn’t let anyone complain about me. I can fathom Jase bitching about me to the others when Grey isn’t around. But what else can he do? The irritating Bailey just won’t take a hint.
Yep, he spelled things out for me with startling clarity at Erica’s party, then further cemented where he stands when I answered the phone at Grey’s and he irately accused me of being selfish, reaming me out for making him look like an asshole. He made himself look that way all by himself.
My face and chest burn with emotion as I regard my reflection. The nerdy pest has finally taken the hint.
But before I move on with my life, I’ll equip him with some magic stuff that could help him protect himself, so he’s free to mate with whichever girl Fate wants him with, and then I’ll go home and move on with my life knowing I helped our council, our pack.
And if it turns out he doesn’t need a magic suppression necklace or something to put him in a protective bubble after all, well… I tried.
And maybe my new life will start after my mini Italy holiday with a trip to Alaska.
Dr. Blakely’s text offer today could save me from having to experience the heartache up close, from having to breathe Jase’s mating scent when it releases.
From having to war with myself over how to keep myself at arm’s length from whoever he mates with.
There’s a six-to-nine-month data-driven position that Dr. Blakely thinks I’d be well suited for after a conversation he had about me with Catrina Savage.
He said the SCC isn’t posting that position for a few weeks, that I should think about whether or not I want to apply.
It sounds like it’s mine if I want it. I’d be in Alaska for most of it but there could be some additional travel involved as well.
I’d be reporting to Dr. Blakely directly, but I don’t know a whole lot about what it’d entail.
Six months could be enough time to come to terms with life after Jase mates. Maybe. Hopefully. Though I’d probably miss out on Lincoln and Joel’s matings.
I also don’t want to miss the birth of my twin nephews either. Arcana Falls is home and I can’t imagine living anywhere else, but a short time away could be good for my soul.
It’s time to move forward. Do this, go home, go on a date with Malachi, and then maybe spend a few months up in Alaska.
Greyson will be irritated by me running off to Jason’s rescue like this without talking to anyone first, and yep, maybe my kneejerk reaction was reckless, but as much as I’m done with pining for someone who doesn’t want me, as soon as I overheard he might be in danger and could tell the witches weren’t going to do anything about it, Erica likely being told to sit this one out so Fate could handle things, every cell in my being urged me to do something. To help.
What if Fate means for Jase to get hurt? I can’t bear it. No matter he isn’t mine, no matter he doesn’t want me, he’s pack. He’s always been the kind of guy who goes out of his way to help others. Always.
It sounded like Erica wanted to do something and her sister stopped her. So, I’m doing something.
My thoughts flit back to what Stacy said.
No, it’d be awful to be paired with Lincoln or Joel when everyone knows I’ve been crushing on Jase for years.
I’d hate to be mated with someone carrying an obvious torch for someone else.
If I do wind up with anyone, it has to be someone who would never want me to move away from my home.
Someone who wants me. Who respects me at a fundamental level, and that includes respecting how important Arcana Falls is to me.
Effective the moment I return home, I’ll be doing everything I can to not only show I’m over Jase but to truly be over him. It’s time to move on. And maybe a break from home is the best way to reboot my life. Even if it means I don’t get to be around for Lincoln and Joel’s matings.
The idea of missing any of it makes me sad, though. It’s silly, but I feel like I’m supposed to be there for all of it, to welcome each girl to the pack. To the inner circle of the council alphas. Even though I’m not truly a member of that circle, just the sister of one.
When I get back to my seat, the lady beside me drops something, so I bend and retrieve it. The baby bootie. I hold it out for her. It’s super-soft and a pretty shade of yellow with the most adorable Ugg-like shape I can imagine for a tiny little foot. There’s even a sweet little button on the side.
“Here you go,” I say.
She sets it on her knee and makes small talk with me about things to do in Italy, occupying the rest of the flight while she works on the other one.
As we get ready to deplane, she hands them to me. “For you.”
“Oh, I couldn’t… I’m sure you must have been knitting them for someone special.”
“I did knit them for someone special. Your future daughter.”
“Oh,” I shake my head, “I don’t know that I’ll have any kids. I might be destined to be single. And I’m trying to be okay with that.”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” she whispers. “Sometimes when I touch someone… or they touch me, as you did when you fell asleep… I see things.” She taps her temple.
“I see visions about them. I know it sounds kooky, but I’ve seen those things come true many times.
I see you with a family. With a tiny bundle in your arms and that little bundle is wearing these booties. ”
“My sister-in-law is expecting twins. Maybe I’m holding one of them in your vision.”
She smiles while looking me up and down before saying, “So, you’re a believer in the extraordinary, the occult?”
“I am,” I confirm.
“Believe this, then, young lady, when I say regardless of nephews or nieces, you’ll be holding your own daughter in less than a year.”
I stare blankly at her.
“I think that you’ll also be getting a puppy.” She shrugs. “Enjoy your vacation.”
“Th-thank you,” I say, staring at the soft little booties in my hand.
***
When I get into the terminal, I phone Jason. It rings twice and goes to voicemail.
Rejected call?
Irritation rises in me. I aggressively tap out a message.
Please call me ASAP. Important.
Thirty minutes later, still at the airport, ignoring my other messages and missed calls, I message Danica Young.
Hi Dani. I need to speak to Jase. Is he with you?
Just typing it makes my belly swoop in a very unpleasant way. I know they’re not together like that. Erica told me that now that her sister knows how I feel about Jase, she wouldn’t ever go there with him. Not that it’s any of my business if she did.
She phones me almost immediately and I shakily answer.
“Hello?”
“Hi Bailey. Jase is at a bed and breakfast a few minutes away from the airport. It’s called… La Casa di something… I’ll get it from his text and send it to you.”
“Thanks. He’s not answering me and it’s kinda urgent that I talk to him.”
“I’ve just landed and gotten my luggage,” she says. “So, I’ll be seeing him shortly.”
“Oh. Um… you’re at the airport still?”
“Yes.”
“I’m here, too.”
“You’re here, too?” she queries. “In Italy?”
Shit. Now I feel stupid.
“I… need to talk to him. It’s important.”
My face is flaming hot with mortification. This was a mistake. I’m a dummy. Maybe I’ll just go to the hotel I booked, skip seeing Jase altogether.
“I’m on my way to the Avis counter. Meet me and I’ll drive you to him,” she offers.
“Oh, it’s okay. Maybe I’ll just talk to him later.”
“No, girl. Do what you came here to do,” she says.
I frown.
“Avis counter,” she repeats.
“Um… okay,” I say, ending the call and wiping my sweaty palms on my pantlegs while fixing the strap to my carry-on so I can rush to meet her.