Chapter fifteen
We spend the rest of the afternoon messing about in the pool and before I know it, it’s suddenly time to get ready to go to Mr. S’s house to have everything explained.
Jax never came back and I really missed him.
As soon as I remember what’s about to happen my anxiety, that over the course of the afternoon had almost completely dissipated, thanks to the fun with the guys, returns with a vengeance.
"Hey Sweetheart, it's ok. No matter what happens we are all here for you.” Hunter says gently, picking up on the differing emotions, that I am sure are flickering rapidly across my face.
"Too fucking right, we are." Kai agrees and I roll my eyes, I've learnt it's far more uncommon for him to utter a sentence with no cursing than it is for him to curse.
I find it strangely charming. Maybe that makes me weird?
I internally shrug, it is what it is. Simply knowing that the guys are being sincere and having their support manages to settle my nerves somewhat and I send them each a grateful smile.
After we’ve all gotten changed out of our swimming things, Jax meets us at the door freshly showered, but won’t look my way as we all bundle back into the same SUV we used earlier.
The conversation is intentionally only about light topics as we leave the driveway.
My guys always seem to know what I need without me needing to voice it.
It isn't long or maybe it is and because I'm nervous time is just going far too quickly but we soon pull up to a house that is even more impressive in size than the guys home.
I once again get a flash of familiarity that causes me to wonder if maybe this is the same house I was raised in as a young child.
I step out of the car and look around nervously.
I'm about to meet my mother, who I didn't even know existed until very recently.
What if she thinks I'm useless and a waste of space like the woman who was supposedly my mother did?
What if I disappoint her?
What if I'm not enough?
The questions circle my mind like vultures and my anxiety immediately spikes.
The guys seem to feel my spike in anxiety as they all take one step closer to me, but before any of them can reach out to comfort me, a beautiful woman with piercing blue eyes and long dark brown hair is suddenly in front of me appearing, out of nowhere.
Before me or my guys can react, she gathers me into her arms holding me tightly.
"My Daughter, my sweet Sagely-Wren, you've grown into a beautiful young woman. I'm so sorry I was not there to witness it." I can hear true anguish in her tone.
I can almost feel it coming off of her in waves, underneath that though I can also sense her joy and happiness at having me back in her arms. I know this woman, her soul calls to mine. Her hug is what I always imagined a mother’s hug should feel like.
"Mom?"
"Yes.” Her voice cracks.
With that one uttered word we both sink to the floor clinging to each other as we both let out years of pain, sorrow and hurt, taking comfort from one another.
"Willow!" a male voice yells sounding slightly panicked.
"Busted!" my mom chuckles and pulls away from me, wiping her eyes and then mine.
Her gesture is so mom like and so unlike anything I remember experiencing that it almost brings on another wave of tears.
"There you are. Sorry guys I tried to warn her to take it slow. You probably have even more questions now.” He chuckles.
The newcomer is around six-foot-tall with ashy blond hair and dark brown eyes, he's more-well-built than Thomas and Micha, with wide shoulders and a stocky build.
I get a flash of him tucking me into bed before lightly kissing me on the forehead.
"Night night, Baby Bear.” He whispers.
"Papa Bear?" I question as the small snippet of memory fades and I pick myself up off the floor.
I'm gathered into giant tree trunk arms. This man is built like a freaking bear, I can see why as a child I nicknamed him Papa Bear.
"Hello, my little Baby Bear."
"Whoa, hang on a minute. Did you literally just appear out of thin air or did I imagine it?" I ask as the thought suddenly occurs to me.
I step out of Papa Bears arms. I'm going to have find out his name, it's odd to call him that. I turn to face my mom my eyes wide, however before she can give an answer, I catch sight of Jax with his hand wrapped tightly over Kai's mouth and I can't help the giggle that escapes.
"What?" Jax shrugs, "he was trying really hard to give you and your mom time together but desperately wanted to ask how she popped up out of nowhere, so he asked me to help.” His explanation causes all of us to start chuckling.
"Come on, I'll explain over dinner." My mom says, leading us all into the house.
On the way all of the guys, except Jax, find small ways to touch me, each touch helps to dislodge a bit more of my anxiety, helping to reassure me and calm my nerves.
The obvious lack of Jax’s touch causes my heart to clench and I’m worried about the distance he’s suddenly putting between us.
My mom leads us through the large but cosy home towards a large dining room, the massive mahogany table already set with multiple dishes of delicious looking food.
Jax chooses a seat as far away from me as possible confirming that I'm not imagining the space he's put between us. The other guys all shoot him curious looks, which he avoids by resolutely staring anywhere but at any of us. He jumps suddenly and glares at Kai, who I’m assuming just kicked him under the table.
I watch as he shakes his head infinitesimally darting his eyes my way before he once again avoids looking at any of us.
Just as Kai opens his mouth, we are joined by Thomas and Micha who both send me a warm smile.
"I'll just give you a very brief explanation about what happened outside because I think everyone needs to know more about our link to Sage first.” Says Papa Bear.
Who apparently is called Joey, thank god I found out his name it was getting super awkward calling a man I don’t remember, Papa Bear even if it was just in my head.
“Then I can explain more thoroughly about the Soulmate Bond once everyone knows the story behind how Sage was separated from us.”
Levi looks around at all of us to make sure we are all in agreement, after all the Soulmate Bond involves us all. We all nod.
"That seems fair." Levi agrees.
We dig into the selection of cold cuts, bread, olives and cheeses that are spread out in front of us.
“Well, as you have probably guessed by now, we are part of a Soulmate Bond. What you won’t know is that because of that bond we each have a gift.
” Joey looks around at all of us, giving us time for the information to sink in.
“Willows gift, or power, is teleportation, she can teleport herself and a small number of others to any location so long as she has either been there before, can see it or has an extremely detailed and up to date picture of it.” Joey explains, although that’s all he explains as he sits back and starts eating, letting us absorb the crazy ass information he’s just dropped on us.
“Really?” I narrow my eyes; I know I witnessed her do it outside, but powers?
I’ve never heard anything like it ever existing in real life before.
Admittedly, Imprint Tattoos appearing out of nowhere could be considered magical, but actual powers seem too unbelievable to believe.
I watch my mom, waiting for her to tell me that it’s a joke, when suddenly she just isn’t there anymore and I’m left staring at her empty chair.
I feel a kiss pressed to my cheek and gape up in shock at my mom who is now standing behind me grinning.
“Yes, really.” Her smile widens at my obvious shock.
“No fucking way!” Kai blurts.
“I have one more question before we learn more about Sage.” Levi asks, flicking his eyes towards me to ask if I’m ok with it.
I nod, curious about what he’s going to ask.
“Go ahead.” Thomas says.
“How did you know I would need that book about Soulmates?”
“Ah that was me,” Willow answers Levi, walking back around to her chair. “I have a weak secondary gift of premonition. I didn’t see who, I just knew that you would need the book because there was a possibility, not a certainty, that you’d meet your Soulmate.” Willow says.
“It’s rare to have more than one gift even as a Centre, which is what we call the person who the Soulmate Bond is centred around. For us it’s Willow. For you boys it’s Sagely-Wren.” Micha explains.
“Is everyone finished?” Willow asks.
Like with my dad’s, I can’t quite get used to calling her mom, so for now I’m going to just stick to calling her by her first name.
We all nod that we’ve finished and after thanking Willow for the meal, we get up to help clear the table.
Once that’s done Thomas shoos us all into the large but cosy living room.
“Go sit and get comfortable, I’ll make some coffees and then we’ll explain the history that we have with Sage.”
In the brief moment that Thomas’ eyes connect with mine, I can see the shadows that haunt them and like Willow, the pain that’s hidden in them.
The connection is broken as he asks us how we take our coffee and then turns towards the kitchen.
We all find seats in the large living room and I once again notice that Jax sits as far away from me as he can get.
It sends a stab of hurt through my heart.
I honestly don’t know what I’ve done wrong.
Before I can dwell on it, Thomas brings in the coffees, handing them to each of us and waiting for us to be settled before he starts to speak.
I glance around at the others noticing that Willow has a white knuckled grip on the hands of Micha and Joey.