Chapter Fourteen
“Would you like to go to dinner tonight?” Asher asked.
Juni glanced over at Clover, who sat at the small kitchen table for school. She had earphones on and watched as Ms. Circe taught, scribbling notes on a piece of paper.
“I’m not supposed to go out anywhere,” she told him.
“But I’m not anywhere,” he added. “It’s just The Unicorn.”
She smiled, even though she knew he couldn’t see her. “Other than there, of course. Besides, Clover is doing homeschooling.”
“School should be over this evening. How about dinner at my house? I can pick you and Clover up and we can have a nice evening together.”
“You wouldn’t mind having Clover in your house?”
“Juniper,” he said in a soft voice. “I would love for you and Clover to come over. And ... stay.”
His words stunned her. Her mind went blank and yet sped up fast forward at the same time. “W-what?”
“Look, I know it’s only been a handful of days but there’s something between us. Something I’d like to explore, but only if you want to explore it as well.”
She thought for a moment. Heart pounding and pulse racing. The secret burning in her soul was that she wanted him for her mate. Wanted to go to bed with him every night and wake up with him every morning. She even wanted to bite him to mark him as hers.
“Juniper?”
“I’m here,” she said. “Sorry. I... I want that, too.”
Suddenly she heard a loud bang through the connection, then hollering. So many voices it was hard to decipher what was being said.
“Asher?” she asked. Nothing. “Asher? Can you hear me?”
An abrupt clatter sounded and the call immediately dropped. Juni knew something happened. Or was happening. Her wolf pushed hard, wanting out to find their mate. Save him. Protect him. Panicked, she jumped off the couch.
“Clover, stay here!”
Her sister pulled off her headphones. “What’s wrong?”
Hand on the doorknob, she looked back at her sister. “It’s Asher. Please. Stay here so I don’t have to worry about you, too.”
Clover nodded, agreeing, and Juni rushed out.
She ran all the way to the bar and when she got there, she saw a mob of people in front of The Unicorn.
Pushing people out of the way, she made her way inside, noticing two men holding Asher’s arms while he tried to calmly talk to the crowd of angry people.
Patrons had moved back, mostly humans by their scent, and watched what was going on with confusion.
The humans who lived in Sheridan were aware of the shifters and all had taken a vow to never discuss what they see.
In exchange, Jericho promised them protection.
“Stop!” she yelled at the top of her voice.
Those closest to her jerked around, giving her enough room to push past them and up to Asher. The yelling stopped as she glared at the two men.
“Let him go,” she growled, letting her wolf through just enough to show she meant business. The men obeyed. Conscious of watchful eyes, she jutted her chin to the door. “Everyone out!”
At first, no one moved, so she growled again and one by one they filed out. There were about a dozen people, all shifters, glaring at Asher. She stepped in front of him, intending to keep him safe, but he gently drew her back to his side.
“What is going on?” she demanded from them. “The alpha told us to stay home.”
“Wayne is dead!” someone yelled.
She didn’t know Wayne, but that didn’t matter. Another victim. Another life gone.
One man pointed at Asher. “He’s the unicorn.”
“He needs to give us the antidote!”
“Force him to grow his horn!”
“Stop!” Juni screamed. They all paused, surprised by her. “It’s terrible about your friend, but Asher is not the unicorn.”
“How do you know?” a woman demanded.
She moved to stand next to him, looking up at him with a small smile, and slid her hand into his. Holding tight. “Because he’s my mate.”
His gaze searched her face, clearly remembering their conversation right before the mob had stormed into the bar.
“Is that true?” he asked.
“Yes,” she told him. Then she looked at the people watching them. “He’s human, so all of you need to get back to your homes and shelter in place, like Alpha Jericho has instructed. Go!”
Slowly, with frowns on their faces, the people turned and walked away. When they were alone, Asher faced her and wrapped his arms around her.
“Mates, huh? I guess that’s why I’ve been so drawn to you,” he murmured.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Not because I’m not happy that you’re my mate, but because I didn’t want to go from the situation with my father into another controlling situation.
I didn’t want to lose the freedom I’d just found.
Then, it was because I didn’t want you to feel any pressure.
I still don’t. I know you like women. Especially tourists.
I promise I’m not standing in your way of that, but I hope we can be friends—”
“Friends?” he interrupted, shaking his head. “No, that’s not going to work for me.”
Her heart sunk to her feet, and she had to look down so he wouldn’t see the hurt that was no doubt on her face. “Oh. Okay.”
A finger lifted her chin. “It’s not going to work because you’re all I see. All I think about. You’re the person I want to be around all the time. I wanted you and Clover to come to my house because I want you in my space. And now, it makes complete sense.”
Her mouth dropped open in shock. “You... Really?”
Tenderly, he placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “Really. So, I’ll ask again. Would you and Clover come over tonight for dinner?”
She smiled and nodded. He caressed her face, running the back of his fingers down her cheeks. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He headed back inside and she decided to walk home, smiling as her thoughts of him tumbled through her head. As she leisurely strolled down the sidewalk, she saw Keegan up ahead.
“Keegan!” she called out. “Why are you out here?”
As she approached, a weird feeling came over Juni. She slowed as she cocked her head.
“Keegan?”
Suddenly, her friend and boss collapsed. Worried, Juni rushed over to her and knelt, turning her over. Keegan blinked and then her head rolled to the side, eyes staring blankly. Her chest didn’t move. Tears sprang into eyes.
“Keegan?” she whispered, shaking her a little. “Wake up.”
Then, just like Mrs. Smyth, a red mist left through her lips, rising to land on Juni. Quickly, she wiped it off her face, but it was too late. Horror rolled through her as she realized what had just happened. Keegan was dead, and now she would be next. Two more casualties of the red death.
Clover would be all alone.
Carefully laying Keegan down, she sat next to her and stared at the red smearing her hand.
Part of her wanted to make sure no one else came near and got infected, the other part wrestled with her fate.
Asher flashed through her head. Now, as tears rolled down her cheeks, she finally admitted to herself how much he actually meant to her.
Love? She didn’t know what being in love felt like, but she couldn’t imagine feeling so much and not call it love.
She dug her phone out and called Asher. He immediately picked up.
“Missing me already?” he teased.
She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out except a sob.
“Juniper?” he demanded.
“I-I need you,” she managed to whisper.
“Where are you?”
She looked around. “On the sidewalk two blocks away on Brooke Street.”
A sob left her.
“I’m coming! Stay on the phone with me.”
She heard footsteps running on the sidewalk. “I need you to take care of Clover for me. If you think you can’t...” her voice broke and she had to clear her throat. “If you can’t, um, Kinleigh and Daire can take her. Raise her as a w-wolf.”
Juni looked up as Asher skidded to a halt about ten feet away.
“Juniper,” he said, panting slightly.
“You don’t have to stay away. You can’t catch the red death.”
“No,” he whispered. He walked closer and then knelt, cupping her face. His gaze went from her to Keegan and back. “She’s dead.”
“She was infected. Probably from Mrs. Smyth.” She could no longer keep from crying. “I’m going to die, Asher.”
“No,” he said. “No, you’re not.”
Juni gripped his shirt. “I love you. I-I think I just realized it. Why did I realize that now that I’m dying?”
“Don’t say that. I’m not going to lose you.”
He pulled her into his arms and held her while the storm rolled through her. She heard his phone connect through a call.
“Jericho, it’s Asher.” He rattled off where they were located. “You need to get here quickly.”
Disconnecting the call, Asher rocked her in his arms as they waited. Time passed. A few people gathered, but maintained a wide berth. Her tears seemed never-ending. Ledger Klayman appeared, keeping his distance and stared in horror at the scene.
“Oh, my God!” Ledger muttered. “Keegan?”
“Dead,” Asher said.
“Juniper?”
Asher didn’t respond, so she did. “Infected.”
Ledger ran a hand down his face. At that moment, Jericho’s truck came to a screeching stop, and he jumped from the cab.
“Stay back,” Asher told them.
“I’ll call the doctor,” Ledger said and turned away to place the call.
“Juniper,” Jericho addressed. “What happened?”
“There was a mob trying to force Asher to shift into a unicorn, but he’s not one,” Juni replied, wiping her cheeks. “He’s my mate, Alpha.”
Jericho nodded his understanding.
“When they left, I decided to walk home and s-saw Keegan. I don’t know why she was out here, on the sidewalk. I approached and she died in my arms. Then I ... I ... inhaled the red death.” More tears flowed. “I’m going to die, Alpha.”
“Don’t say that!” Asher snapped. “I won’t let you die.”
Jericho looked at him. “Are you or are you not the unicorn?”
Asher shook his head. “I’m not.”
“Fuck,” Jericho muttered.
“But I know who is.”
Jericho’s brows rose. “We don’t need the horn. Only some of his or her blood for a cure spell.”
Asher stood and lifted her high in his arms. “I’ll call you in ten minutes when I get it.”
“Wait!” Jericho growled. “Who’s the unicorn?”
Asher didn’t respond, he only walked away.