Chapter Seven
Anathea
“You need a clarity tea,” a female voice said as I rearranged the incense displays. We’d gotten a new shipment from a small producer who’d sent a sample of some of her incense cones. Immediately some of the customers wanted to know where they could get it.
Morgana placed a huge order that day.
I turned around to see a woman about my age. She spoke softly, but her words had gained my whole attention.
“A clarity tea?” I asked. My fingers were smudged with powder from the incense, and we both noticed at the same time.
“You’re swirling with emotions. I can feel it in my chest. A tea should help.”
In my experience, tea never helped other than giving you a chance to stop and breathe. Maybe that was the magic. “I’m sorry?” I said, not really knowing how to respond. “I mean, about your chest.”
“No reason to be sorry. But sometimes confusion is less about making a choice and wondering if it’s right and more about accepting everything the universe is offering you.”
Huh.
“Is there anything I can help you find?”
The woman giggled and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. “Not today. I only came in for you. I could sense you from the street. Big emotions.”
“Well, thank you for trying to help me.”
“No problem.” She shrugged one shoulder and went on her way.
I finished up the new display and set up some new pieces of furniture Morgana had ordered. Nothing big. Some celestial storage cabinets, shaped like triangles, with drawers for all kinds of things. If I didn’t live in a teeny tiny apartment, I would consider one for myself.
Morgana floated in, nodding approval at the changes I’d made. She made her rounds, whispering things I couldn’t understand or make out, even with my shifter hearing.
She also brought me a delicious apple-walnut muffin. I’d gone to her house several times and she tried to teach me to bake, but I was kind of a disaster in that area.
“You did well today,” she said, sidling up to me.
“Thanks. It looks great but I still think we need more floaty candles.”
She hummed. “I’ll consider it. Why don’t you close up early today? It looks like you could use some downtime and that hand needs some rest as well.”
Morgana always wanted to close early. Sometimes she wanted to open late, yet this place thrived, no matter the hours.
“I only have a few more hours. I need the paycheck.”
Tugging on her scarf, she sighed. “Fine. Fine. What if I pay you anyway, for the time you were supposed to be here.”
I cocked my head and gave her the look. She knew exactly what it meant. “That’s not right, Morgana. It’s like I’m stealing money. I’m fine for a few more hours then I’ll rest. I promise.”
“I don’t believe you. Not one word but have it your way.”
With the store to myself again, I put on soft, comforting music and made myself busy. Silly things that had become my rituals. Cleaning the front door. The doorknob in particular, not because of anything mystical but because of germs. There were a lot of people in and out of the store.
It made sense.
I was on my cloud of peace when my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart stopped. My body froze.
Teri had only texted me a week or so ago.
No one else had this number except Morgana who hadn’t called once, and texting was against her moral code. Her words, not mine.
My skin began to perspire. Breathing grew ragged.
With shaking hands, I pulled my phone from my pocket, and it took three times to put in the right code.
As I read the text, I could feel the blood trickling away from my face.
I held my breath and read it again.
Heads-up. Vex has stopped trying to find another omega. They came to the pack lands and are demanding your contract be upheld. They asked me where you were and Mom and Dad. They wanted the security footage from the alpha. I didn’t tell them anything.
They said their reputation is at stake and you have compromised that.
Please be safe.
The store got smaller all around me. I begged for every breath. The temperature of the air burned my skin.
This was it.
I was done. Found. Even though they didn’t spare a dime or a minute to try and find me before, now they were searching for me.
Hunting me.
“Anathea?” A voice attempted to draw me from this hell but it wasn’t enough to completely work. The chime of the door rang out but I didn’t stir. All I could do was stare at the phone.
“I…” Forcing my body and mouth to do something other than appear catatonic.
“Darlin’, look at me. Breathe. In and out.” I heard the words but didn’t heed the command until he took my hand in his. The touch breached my walls and turned the threatening heat into a warmth that I never wanted to escape.
“Carter?” I asked, looking up at those blue eyes.