Chapter 10 - Aubrey
His lips were rough against mine, and I couldn’t breathe. Klaus knew how to kiss. His hand held me there, so even if I had tried to pull away, I couldn’t. But I wasn’t.
His body was pressed against mine, and his warmth was radiating through my clothes.
We stumbled into the wall where Klaus caged me.
His lips were still not leaving mine, and I found myself wanting more.
I wanted his hands on me, his body closer than it already was. I didn’t want the fabric between us.
I knew it was wrong considering everything, but my god, this man knew what he was doing. He tasted like chocolate, and his tongue. Fuck, his tongue. The way he was sliding it over mine.
His lips pulled from mine, and I was panting for air. I stared at his lips, suddenly aching for them.
“There, do you feel anything?”
My eyes went up to his eyes, and for a split second, I didn’t understand. But it clicked. He was asking if I felt anything. The entire reason he kissed me was to see if it would stir up any magic.
He took a step back, and I leaned against the wall. But I felt no shift. I didn’t feel anything different. I just felt my heart racing and heat coursing over my entire body.
I swallowed and shook my head. He looked almost disappointed. “Well, I think that proves you were wrong.” He took another step back before turning toward the kitchen. I pulled a hand up, rubbing my finger over my lip. I could still feel him, taste his lips on mine. My heart twisted violently.
I hated how much I liked it. I’d been kissed before, but nothing like that. Not like… I’d been the one person he wanted the most.
Over the next couple of days, I couldn’t stomach being around Klaus.
So, I stayed out as much as possible. I quickly found myself feeling alone.
I needed someone to talk to. Julie was of no help, and Cal was Klaus’s Beta, so it wasn’t like I could just blab to him.
Really, I just wanted comfort in any form.
I found myself trying to branch out because I couldn’t stand not having people to talk to. I was currently standing in front of the bulletin board at the library, questioning if I was man enough to try rock climbing.
I stared at the paper, trying to get myself to put my name down.
“You look deep in thought.”
I turned as a woman paused next to me. She was short with a pixie cut. She had bright green eyes and a soft smile. “Signing up?”
“Contemplating it,” I admitted. “Not exactly my cup of tea.”
She chuckled. “I could never. I’m a chicken.”
I chuckled nervously. “Well, I need to do something. I’m going crazy at home, and nothing else is available right now to sign up.”
She tilted her head, giving me a confused look. “Are you new? I feel like I’ve seen you around here a few times.”
I could tell she had no idea who I was, but that look would shift as soon as I told her. “I’m Aubrey. Klaus’s wife.”
I waited for her smile to drop and for her expression to change entirely, but it didn’t. She just kept smiling. “I’m Cally.” She extended her hand, and I gave it a shake.
“If you want, I can join a group for weekly spiritual walks. We don’t have a sign-up sheet because we forgot to add it this month.”
“You all do love your nature, don’t you?”
She chuckled. “Well, we are mostly all shifters. It’s natural to like the outdoors.”
I nodded. “Of course. That’s nice to offer, but I don’t want to intrude.”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Would you rather rock climb?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, not really.”
“Then join me. We have people joining and leaving all the time. We don’t mind extra people. We actually are heading out in ten minutes. I can take you.”
I thought about it, but I’d be stupid not to agree. This gave me something to do other than go back to the house. I ended up going because I had nothing better to do. It turns out Cally had a close friend, Rachel, whom I liked. I started joining the walk weekly and found myself enjoying it.
“Better than rock climbing?” Cally asked as we stopped at a creek during the walk.
I nodded as I wiped at my brow. “It is, but I’m still sweating my ass off in the same way.”
Rachel laughed, fixing her hair. “I think this is more fun anyway, and the view is different every day.”
We all looked out over the creek. We were about two miles into the woods.
We walked past a large lake and up a hill into a mountain area.
The view was breathtaking, and each week I was seeing a little more of the pack.
I was starting to get to know people and learning names.
I felt like I was starting to feel normal again.
“It is beautiful,” I added, staring over the water.
“So, how are you adjusting to living in town?” Cally asked, stretching out next to me.
“I’m adjusting. It’s interesting how tightly knit everyone is. It’s different.”
Rachel nodded. “Oh yeah. I’m sure it takes time to adjust.”
“Have you guys lived here your entire life?”
Cally nodded. “I am. My brother and I have a long line of family living here. We’re part of the first settlers.”
“My family moved here a few years ago,” Rachel added. “I joined these walks to get to know the pack.”
I glanced over toward the group that was sitting a few yards away from us. Some people were snapping photos while others just took in the view. I couldn’t help but smile.
I’d gotten some weird looks when I first joined, but I ignored them now. I mean, no matter where you go in life, someone is going to look at you anyway.
I enjoyed my time with Cally and Rachel. Cally was a kindergarten teacher who lived in a small apartment with her boyfriend. She was eager to get married and start having kids. Rachel was already married with a son.
“Looks like the group is starting to turn back,” Rachel said as she pulled herself up. “You want to join us for lunch, Aubrey? We’re going to the Chinese place on the corner of Birch. They have the most amazing wontons.”
“Sure.”
As we made our way back, I couldn’t help but feel giddy. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spent time like this with friends. I lost all of mine when I started dating Mike and couldn’t make any new ones while I was with him.
“You’re falling behind,” Cally chirped over her shoulder.
“Coming!”
The hike back was forty minutes, and every muscle in my body was screaming by the time we got back to the parking lot. I threw myself onto a bench, panting for air.
“You good?” Cally asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, just out of shape.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, which reminds me. We were going to ask what you were doing before this.”
Rachel moved in closer. “Word is you were a sex worker.”
I rolled my eyes. “Jesus, am I ever going to live that down? I am not a sex worker. How did that even get started?”
Rachel scrunched up her nose. “Someone overheard Cal on the phone about Klaus’s call back to him. Words likely got mixed up.”
“I was in between jobs at the moment. I wasn’t exactly in a healthy relationship.”
Cally’s face dropped. “Shit, really?”
I nodded. “But before my ex, I was an interior designer.”
Both of their eyes widened. “Seriously!?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I was decent at it. I loved going into people’s houses and helping them put together a place they loved. I was at the top of my field and had lines of clients.”
And Mike happened. I remembered the weird list that followed. One client couldn’t find the $10,000 crystal ball on her mantel. Another called, explaining that her husband’s family heirloom watch had disappeared. And soon, the client started canceling because word got around.
I’d been so pissed at Mike, but he swore it hadn’t been him. He instead turned the conversation around, making me look like I was insane. I’d believed him until I saw the watch he was wearing. By then, I was in too deep to get myself out.
I shook my head, not wanting to think about that. The life before Mike was long gone, but the wounds he’d left me with were still fresh. I’d given up so much, and I often felt like a hollow shell.
“Why don’t you start doing that again?”
I shrugged. “I’ve been out of it for a while. It’s hard to get back into it after you’ve been out for as long as I have. So many things have changed.”
“I’m sure you could do it. And I would love it if you would start with my place.” Cally begged. “I can’t decorate to save my life.”
My eyebrows went up. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to think I’m some big hotshot when I’m not. Everything I was doing is likely out of style. I wouldn’t even know what looks good.”
She nodded. “Yes, I need the help. And even if it doesn’t work out, we tried.”
We headed down the road, deciding to walk rather than drive to lunch. Cally explained what she wanted changed and what she liked.
We stopped at a light, and Cally beamed. “Oh, look! It’s my brother, Tom.” She pulled her hand up to wave. A block ahead of us on the corner were two guys, but it didn’t look like the conversation was going well.
“He doesn’t look like he’s in a good mood,” Rachel stated, her eyebrows scrunching together. “He kind of looks pissed.”
Cally shrugged. “He probably just had a long day so far. He’s a firefighter.”
I could see the happiness in Cally’s eyes. I never understood the relationship between siblings, but being an only child would do that.
She continued to wave, but he didn’t look our way. Instead, he grabbed the guy by his shirt and shoved him back. Cally’s arm dropped, and she frowned. “What is he doing?”
“Oh, my god.” Rachel’s eyes widened. “Is he going to fight that guy? Cally, it looks like he’s going to fight him.”
Cally shook her head. “God no, Tom is sweet. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding.”
I frowned, watching as her brother shoved the guy down. Whatever was happening didn’t look good either way.
“Oh shit.” My jaw dropped.
But before we could respond or even understand what was going on, Klaus appeared there. He pulled the two apart and placed his hands up, stepping between them.
My eyes looked him over, unable to stop my head from thinking about the kiss. I clenched my legs together, feeling heat forming below.
I watched the way his arms moved, and his shadow covered the two guys. Klaus was tall, but having him standing next to another tall guy really put his height into perspective.
I suddenly couldn’t breathe as I watched him lean toward Tom. I could see his stern expression and how firm he was. It stirred something inside me.
“Looks like Klaus has it under control,” Rachel added.
Cally sighed. “Strange. Tom has never acted like that before. But I’m glad Klaus is here.”
We started across the street and headed into the restaurant. We took a seat in the booth in the back. Cally glanced out the window a few times, her eyes looking across the street.
“Klaus has it under control,” Rachel offered. “I’m sure it’s fine.”
Cally nodded. “I know. It’s just been weird lately. I’ve heard that people have been having anger issues lately.”
I perked up at this. “Oh?”
Cally nodded. “Yeah. Word is that a few people were even put in a coma because the witches haven’t been able to calm them.”
“I’m sure it’s just gossip.”
Cally chewed on her cheek, and I tilted my head. “Are you worried your brother might be having that issue?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know that it’s weird.” She scowled. “I don’t think I’m hungry anymore. I would honestly rather go check on him if you guys don’t mind.”
“Of course not. We can have lunch another time.”
We slipped out of the booth and back outside. I expected to find the street empty, but it wasn’t. Klaus had his back turned from Tom, who was sitting on the edge of the street now. His eyes were glued to the other guy, who was walking away now.
We all froze for a split second. Just then, Tom popped up and went racing across the street. He tackled the guy to the ground, and my jaw dropped open.
“Holy shit!” Rachel gasped.
Cally’s face fell, and she started running toward them. We followed, watching as Tom pulled a hand up and punched the guy. He growled loudly, and even we could hear it, but it wasn’t human. He said something, but I couldn’t make out what he said.
As we hurried down the block, other people started to move closer, and I spotted Klaus.
He moved through the space like lightning and grabbed Tom off the guy.
He did it with ease and shoved Tom back.
He stepped into Tom’s space, talking right into his face.
Tom looked confused and angry. He didn’t look like he was right in the head. His eyes wouldn’t focus.
Cally came to a halt, and she looked afraid. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
“Looks like Tom started a fight,” Rachel stated.
Cally shook her head. “No, Tom isn’t like that.
You guys don’t understand. Tom doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.
I know my brother, and he doesn’t act like that.
He’s more of a hugger than a fighter. My parents always said that if anyone were going to come home bloody and bruised, it would be me. This isn’t like him.”
Her eyes were filled with worry as we continued down the sidewalk toward the crowd. The guy on the ground was yelling, and Cal was there trying to calm him.
“He just fucking punched me!”
“Wipe your nose,” Cal offered, handing the guy a tissue.
I watched Klaus closely as he continued to speak with Tom. They were talking in a lower register, but Tom didn’t look all right. He looked like he was fighting everything in his body not to hit Klaus.
But like a switch was flipped, Tom shoved at Klaus and tried to move past him. Klaus was faster and caught Tom. He pulled his arms behind his back as Tom bit at the air like a rabid beast.
We all came to a halt, and I felt all the hair on my body rise.
“He needs to go to the infirmary,” Klaus snapped while two other guys hurried over to give him a hand. They shoved Tom to the ground, but he thrashed around, trying to break free.
“I’ll kill him! He deserves it! I’ll kill him!” Tom screamed into the air, and Cally’s eyes were wide now. She looked ready to cry. Rachel reached for her, pulling her to her side.
They pulled Tom away, and Klaus turned. His eyes quickly landed on me, and I felt my stomach dip. Suddenly, I felt like the pressure was on. We couldn’t ignore what was going on. His pack needed us to get my magic out.