Chapter 2 - Elize
“Elize, could you please think about this prospectively?”
“I have,” I grumbled back at my uncle as I turned from my kitchen. “You are the one who told me to think about my witch lineage and connected me with the convent to begin with. And now you want me to go back to the pack? I think you need to have your head checked.”
Martin grumbled. “I didn’t say go back. I said join me for a trip. You haven’t been back in the pack for a couple of months now. It’s just a quick day trip in.”
I crossed my arms as he sat so calmly in the chair across from me. We were in my apartment just above the small healing center. The convent was small, consisting of only ten buildings and a scattering of houses.
I’d been happily living here for several years, and I had no intention of visiting the pack unless it was absolutely necessary.
“Why would I go back, Martin? I have everything I need.”
He gave me a look and tilted his head. “You’re not even interested? Don’t want to see what it looks like?”
I rolled my eyes. “I was there for Christmas. I know what it looks like.”
That and I didn’t need to take in any changes. The pain from my past was enough to keep my mind from thinking about it. I didn’t need to see where everyone ended up or where he might have landed.
I shook my head, stopping myself from thinking about it. I didn’t want to think about him or anyone from there.
He sighed. “Elize, I am grateful that you feel at home here. I’m happy you found a plate you belong to.”
I crossed my arms. “I feel like there is a but coming.”
He smirked. “That’s because there is. You are young, and I want you to branch out. I don’t want the convent to be your only life. I want you to have a big, bright future.”
I tapped my fingers on the table. I looked around my apartment.
It was more of a loft. There was a bed pressed against the left side with a curtain hung up to give me privacy.
There was a small kitchen that was in need of fresh paint.
I was gifted this table and the couch that was just across from us. It wasn’t a lot, but it was mine.
“Some people need a lot of things in their life to make it sound like it was great, but I enjoy the simpler things.” It was true. I’d grown to love coming home to this little space. I enjoyed what I did, and I didn’t feel the need to do anything else.
Martin gave me a soft smile. “I know you enjoy the simple things, but you’re also telling me you don’t miss having a burger joint down the road or going to the movies? You don’t miss branching out and trying new things? There isn’t a lot here, Elize.”
I chewed on my cheek, and Martin knew he had me. “I’ll grab you tomorrow morning.” He pulled himself up, and I frowned.
“I didn’t say I was going.”
Martin waved a finger. “We can go to the movies. We can get some ice cream and take in the nice weather.”
I scowled at him. “Martin, you aren’t playing fair.”
He turned to my front door and pulled it open. He frowned when the door stuck halfway. I tried not to cringe as he looked at me.
I smiled. “Character.”
He shook his head and stepped out. I watched him shut the door, and I groaned. I leaned onto my table and rested my head down.
And my mind wandered.
Growing up, I tried to hide my witch side. I was always warned that members who didn’t shift were never welcomed into the pack. Things weren’t as terrible as they could have been, considering Martin was a council member, but they weren’t easy.
I was always avoiding anything that would bring me attention. I didn’t go to parties or join sports. I went to school and went home. I felt like I was just floating through life, but things weren’t as terrible as they could be.
I saw how other witches were treated, and I didn’t want that to happen to me. So, I kept my head down and just survived.
Everything changed when I met Troy. He was well-liked and athletic. He was on the school council, and everyone knew who he was. He wasn’t like other jocks, and he was polite.
We met in the auditorium. I was sitting in the back, reading a book, trying to avoid lunch.
I was just ending a chapter when I heard the doors open in the front.
I sank into my chair, watching as a group of people entered.
They were laughing and joking as they walked inside.
Their voices echoed around the empty space, and I swallowed, suddenly nervous.
I watched as they walked across the front of the stage, heading toward another door. But one of them stopped. “You guys go ahead. I forgot my backpack.”
I stared at him, knowing I knew his name, but my mind seemed to glitch. I chewed on my cheek and watched as he turned. But he froze as his eyes landed on me.
He tilted his head and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “What are you doing in here?”
I swallowed and shrugged.
He started up the stairs, and I felt my heart skip a beat as he got closer to me. And then it hit me. Troy.
His brown eyes softened as he took me in. His light blond hair was combed back, but it was already starting to fall free. He was wearing his football jersey and a pair of nice jeans. He stood relaxed. “Do you always come in here during lunch?”
I nodded. “It’s quiet.”
“That it is.” He looked around the space, then back at me. I couldn’t help but take in his firm jaw and the way his shoulders sat. Troy was handsome, I had to give him that. “Elize, right? I think you’re in my science class.”
I nodded, and he moved closer. He sat down in a chair next to me, and I stiffened. He leaned back in his chair, and the silence wrapped around us.
“It is peaceful.”
I looked at him, taking in his face. Troy had a charming face. Troy had sharp cheekbones but soft lips. I could see he had long eyelashes and a small nose. He had a face that women swooned over.
“What are you reading?” He looked into my lap right at my book. I showed him the title, a new author I was falling in love with. “He’s a great writer. Very funny.”
He gave me another charming smile. “I’ve read him. You’re in for a treat.” He pulled himself up. “Well, I’ll let you enjoy the rest of your quiet time. It was nice chatting with you, Elize.”
I thought that was the end of whatever conversation we’d have. Troy and I would likely never talk again, but it was just the beginning. Troy showed up to sit in the silence with me every day. He brought books and snacks. We listened to music sometimes; at others, we sat in silence.
Our time together was great, and the more we shared, the more it grew. I went to his games and watched him play. He offered to walk me home after school.
I found myself looking forward to lunchtime. It was easy to talk with him. He didn’t judge, and I think I liked that best about him.
Soon, the year came to an end, and summer started, but the friendship stayed. Once a week, we met up at the park and caught up. He talked about camp, while I talked about helping at the city hall. Martin had set me up to help with the other council members.
I remembered sitting under a big willow tree and how we laughed. He leaned closer, whispering that he couldn’t wait for school to start. I rolled my eyes, knowing he was lying. And he cupped my face and kissed me.
He promised me that he didn’t care what others would say. He wanted me. He knew everything about me, and he knew about my witch abilities. He accepted me, and when school started, he was going to make others see the beauty.
I was giddy for the first time in my life. I couldn’t picture anything else. Our alone time shifted into something deeper, and I knew I was falling in love. He made it so easy.
And when school started, I was excited. I put on my favorite yellow dress and waited for him in the parking lot. But I could see the shift in his face as he got out of his car and started walking toward me. He was nervous and rubbed the back of his head. “Hey… so, can we talk?”
I felt my heart sink, and I knew something was wrong. “About?”
He frowned. “I was wrong to think that this could work between us.” He waved a hand between us.
I didn’t understand. I just stood there in shock. Just a few days ago, he was talking about seeing a future with me, how he felt like I knew him better than anyone else. And now, it was just over?
“I don’t…” I stammered. “You need to explain. Just last week, you were saying you saw a future that…” I couldn’t repeat his words, but they had meant so much. He could see a future. He could see marriage and kids. God, I had opened up my mind and my body to him.
It was two weeks ago when we had the house to ourselves. I hadn’t planned it. I doubted he had. It just happened. But it felt so right.
“I was wrong, Elise.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I want a better explanation than that.”
He dropped his voice, and I knew others were probably listening. “Just let it go.”
He tried to move past me, but I grabbed his arm, yanking him back. My body was shaking hard now, my mind going so many places. Was it all fake? Had it been a joke? Did any of it matter?
Or had he done all of this just to sleep with me? Had it all been fake? I couldn’t stomach that idea.
“We aren’t done talking, Troy. I deserve an explanation. You can’t just tell me that this isn’t working. I don’t understand.”
“It won’t work.” He snapped at me, yanking his arm free. “You’re a witch. It’s not going to work. I can’t explain it better than that.”
I felt like I’d been slapped, and I could feel tears building up now. I couldn’t breathe as I tried hard not to allow myself to cry.
“So, you’re just done? You’re throwing in the towel? After everything?” I wanted to add that I’d given him everything. I’d given my virginity.
He shrugged, and I felt vomit forming in the back of my throat. I hated how this was killing me, and he just looked like it was nothing.
I watched as he turned and headed inside. I could hear people whispering around me, and I swallowed.
I stared at the school, my legs refusing to let me go inside. I couldn’t. And then I thought of my uncle’s words all summer.
“You should think about your witch lineage, Elise. You could do great things.” I left the school, and I never looked back.
He’d gotten me in contact with a convent outside of the pack that was always welcoming people. I moved out that night, hardly explaining anything to my parents. We didn’t have a great relationship anyway, so I figured it didn’t matter.
I frowned, thinking about how it all happened. I still didn’t understand what I’d done wrong. I chalked it up to him being an asshole, and that was how it stayed.
I spent the entire day dreading what tomorrow would bring.
The next morning, Martin arrived early and honked his horn at me. I looked outside the window and groaned.
I headed down and hopped into his car. He offered me a smile. “Morning, Elize.”
I grunted as I buckled up, and he pulled the car out of the dirt road.
“Why am I going again?” I asked, glancing at Martin as he drove.
“Because you haven’t been back in a while. You want real ice cream. Maybe a burger.”
I rolled my eyes. “I can have that in the convent.”
His face softened. “I know. I just want to make sure you know there is more out there than just the convent.”
I shrugged. “You know you are the one who told me to join them. You set it all up. Why do you suddenly want me to branch out?”
“You were a high schooler, and you wanted space. I could see how much you wanted out. But you’re an adult now, and things are different.”
I chewed on my cheek as he drove, unsure. But I wasn’t going to argue. Martin always wanted the best for me.
The music played softly, and as we pulled into the pack. I took the buildings without really looking carefully. I never did. Whenever I came into Riverville, I headed for my destination and then headed home. I came for the holidays, and that was it.
“I have to make a stop,” Martin said as he took a left turn.
We pulled up in front of the city hall, where Martin cut the engine. “Can you come in with me?”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Into the city hall?”
He nodded. “Yeah, it will just be quick. Besides, you know all of the council members. Just come in and say hi.”
I grunted, not really in the mood to visit with anyone, but unbuckled and pulled myself out.
I followed him inside. City hall was the same.
Pictures of past members hung on the wall, and the windows bathed the marble floor with light.
Everyone told me that they thought the city hall was cold, but I’d always enjoyed being there.
I had my fondest memories inside this building.
I couldn’t help but smile as we headed up the stairs and down the hallway. “What are we doing here exactly?”
“I have to ask the others a quick question, and then we will head out for lunch.”
He paused at the double doors and pushed them open. I was doing another look around the hallway as I stepped inside. I brought my eyes front and center, my body frozen.
Troy stood just in front of me. He looked over his shoulder, and his eyes widened as he spotted me. My entire body froze up, and I felt like the world came to a halt.
“Troy, meet your mate, Elize.”
I felt my heart stop beating as I stared at Troy. Anger quickly built up, mixed with sorrow and hurt. But I knew better than to allow my emotions to get the better of me.
I looked toward Martin and frowned. “What the hell is this?”
Martin looked at the others. “I thought we were going to wait until later to do that.”
The others simply shrugged, and I looked at Martin with anger now. I tried to form words, but nothing came to mind. I looked back at Troy, feeling all those emotions that I had shoved down were coming to the surface.
“What is this?” I asked.
Martin sighed. “We were going to do this formally, but I guess that went out the window.”
“He came by surprisingly. We weren’t planning on doing it this way, but might as well rip the band-aid off.”
“What is this?” I snapped louder, turning to my uncle. “Why did you bring me here?”
Martin frowned. “Because you’re his mate and we need your help.”
I swallowed, my fingers tightening around my middle as I hugged myself. I chewed on my cheek, feeling like my world was being flipped upside down for the second time.