Crossroads

by Jennifer Ann Reed

  “I’m Jake and I’ll be taking care of you guys tonight. What can I get you to drink this evening?” His higher than average voice squeaked at the end of the sentence and his notepad shook. Poor guy.

  “I’ll have a Coke.” I gave him a sweet smile hoping to ease his anxiety. Caden ordered the same with a menacing growl. Jake turned as white as a ghost with eyes as large as saucers and rushed off to retrieve our sodas almost in full convulsions.

  “What was that about?” Caden didn’t have to terrify our waiter. He was scared enough when he first came to our table.

  “I didn’t like the way he was looking at you.” Caden’s gaze hardened. “Why did you have to smile at him like that?”

  “What are you talking about?” I was so confused. What was wrong with smiling at the waiter?

  “It was flirtatious.” His wolf brightened his irises to a paler blue.

  “Caden, I wasn’t flirting. I was trying to ease the poor guy’s nerves. Couldn’t you smell how nervous he was? I was only being polite. Maybe you should try it sometime.” I stood quickly. “I would never do that to anyone.” He was being ridiculous. “You know what? Maybe dating you was a bad idea. We shouldn’t even try this if you think so little of me.”

  “Wait! Please don’t leave.” Caden’s eyes widened with his plea. “That was stupid. I know you’re a better person than that. It’s just...sometimes I feel so territorial and overbearing around you. I know I shouldn’t, but my inner beast takes over. It won’t happen again, Kitra. I’m sorry. Please sit back down. I don’t want to lose you when I barely have you.” His shoulders slumped as he stared at the table.

  I was ready to walk out of the restaurant, but seeing his shame held me back. I sat, but didn’t meet his gaze. I wanted him to stew a little bit. Instead, I took in the decor of Bella Regazza. It was quite charming and the perfect place for a first date. Several circular tables were draped in white linens with small arrangements of multi-colored wildflowers placed in the center. The walls were the most incredible part of the restaurant. They were covered in murals of the Italian countryside, showing the rolling hills and vineyards. If you concentrated hard enough, you could pretend you were strolling past the ripened grapes. The lighting above us was low and romantic in crystal chandeliers. If only the surly wolf in front of me hadn’t ruined the mood.

  “Thank you for staying, Kitra.” Caden entwined our fingers again. I almost pulled back, but decided to give him one more chance. Earlier, I had gotten jealous over the hostess who ogled him, so I couldn’t hold it against him. “You don’t know how happy you’ve made me.”

  On one hand, this was really weird, but on the other, it felt right. Jake sped back over with our drinks in hand appearing a little less shaken. “Me too.” I didn’t know what else to say. All I could do was start over with him and see how this evening played out.

  “So, are you two ready to order?” Jake held his pen and pad steady this time. Caden looked to me first.

  “I’ll have the lasagna.” It was my favorite Italian food.

  “I want the chicken alfredo.” Caden closed his menu and picked mine up before passing them to Jake. His grinned at our waiter, but Jake paled again. At least he tried this time.

  Once our food was delivered, the first bite of the cheesy goodness sent my taste buds into a frenzy and I danced in my chair.

  “That good, huh?” Caden covered his mouth capturing the laugh which was about to escape at my expense.

  “Yes.” I pointed my fork at him. “Good food calls for celebration. I just happen to wiggle.”

  He roared grabbing his stomach. It wasn’t that funny. Caden wiped tears away with his napkin earning him an eye roll. “That was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  Dinner passed with Caden asking me many questions and me trying to get past the awkwardness of going out on a date with my old best friend. Once I loosened up, we were both laughing and sharing stories about the times we were together and apart. He couldn’t believe that I once tried to Nair Uncle Kalen’s hair. It was in retaliation of one of Uncle Kalen’s scare pranks. I’d felt so horrible for putting the hair removal product in his shampoo that I told him about it before I let him use it. I remembered the horrified expression he tried to laugh off. I never let a prank go as far since then.

  I’d just taken a bite of my breadstick when I saw the blonde hostess peeking her head around the corner of the wall. A shiny black object appeared in her hand as her face contorted into disgust. What was going on with this girl? Swallowing, I noticed the object was a cell phone and she stabbed at the screen, texting rapidly. I wanted to voice her behavior to Caden, but I didn’t want to dampen the mood again, so I let it go and brought my focus back to my date. I attempted to deepen the conversation, but I kept pondering on why our hostess was treating me like I was the scum of the Earth?

  After I appeased my appetite, Caden asked me to go on a walk with him in the park across the street. We sprinted across the sporadic traffic and I saw the hostess standing in the door with the phone to her ear before she went back inside. I forgot all about her when I noticed where Caden was leading me.

  Large oak trees surrounded a gravel path which wound through the foliage. Ducks quacked to one another and paddled in the oval pond sitting to the left of the path. My wolf was ready to emerge and explore this place that seemed so familiar to my heart.

  After walking down the path, it opened up to a large clearing. In the center, a wooden jungle gym and several swings were the main attraction. A slide and sandbox sat as sentries off to the right with benches on the left so parents could sit and watch their children play. Memories of this park came flooding back. I remembered coming here with Caden countless times when we were younger and I pulled him across the playground to a tall oak with a knot on its side.

  “Is it still there?” I couldn’t wait to see if it was.

  “Still in the same spot as we had carved it.” Caden’s ice blue eyes sparkled at my memory. It was one of the last things we did together before my parents were killed.

  On the back side of the tree, CG + KF was carved near the bottom.

  “We promised to be best friends forever. I’m glad we found each other again.” I squatted to get a better look at our initials and hated the time we lost away from one another. Caden had been one of the most important people in my life and I was thankful we were together again.

  Standing, I noticed our initials were carved near the middle of the tree and also a couple of feet above that. Who carved them?

  I traced the new sets of initials. “How?”

  “I did it.” Caden turned me towards him. The heated look from earlier was back. “Kitra, we carved the first set when we were five years old. When you left, I couldn’t just forget about you. So, when I was ten, I came back and carved them into the tree again. The last set I did two years ago.” He stepped closer bending his head. “It was as if a part of my life was missing, so I carved these to never forget and hoped one day you would come back into my life.” As his lips came closer, a branch snapped nearby and raised the hair on the back of my neck. All the sounds of insects and birds stopped, putting my wolf on high alert. Something wasn’t right. I whipped my head to side and his kiss landed on my check.

  “Did you just cheek me?” Caden leaned back with astonishment etched into his features.

  “No. Listen.” Nothing besides Caden moved.

  “I don’t hear anything. If you didn’t want me to kiss you, you could have just said so.” He jerked away from me and began to stalk off.

  “No, wait. I wanted the kiss, but listen.” He stopped and tilted his head. “See, nothing. Not even bugs. I heard a snap before they stopped. Isn’t that weird?”

  Caden lifted his nose in the air and inhaled deeply. I did the same. What was that smell? I was sickened by the scent I eventually picked up. My wolf’s hackles raised as she growled. I knew that odor. Only one person smelled of rotten meat: Aelfric, but he couldn’t be here. Could he?

&n
bsp; “We need to go. Now!” Caden grabbed my arm and dragged me across the playground.

  We broke into a run, but my heels were slowing us down. Stupid shoes. I kicked them off on the path and intended to race to the Hummer, but mercurial Caden was back as he picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder with my butt in the air and sprinted to the vehicle. He flipped me into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind me. Once inside, Caden punched the gas and the tires squealed as they found purchase against the asphalt. I clutched the arm rest as I was pressed into the seat and held the handle above my head.

  “Caden, slow down.” He was driving like a maniac and I wanted us to make it back to Frost Manor in one piece.

  “Sorry.” Our speed slowed only by a fraction. “I have to keep you safe.”

  “Do you really think it was him?” My entire body shivered reliving the nightmare of being chained to a stone altar.

  “Don’t know.” The leather of the steering wheel protested Caden’s grip. “Dad will call for a search of our territory.” He hit a button on his cell phone and held it to his ear. “Aelfric’s scent was in the park. We’re on our way back. Coming down the driveway now.”

  We skidded over the loose rocks but Caden kept us from fishtailing. We’d barely stopped before someone was pulling me from the Hummer, tossing me over their shoulder. I almost went into a full blown panic attack thinking it was Aelfric then I noticed the dark chocolate scent of Linc. That was when I almost had a different type of meltdown. Didn’t these Neanderthals understand I could walk? Did they have to constantly manhandle me just because they were my Guardians? Linc sat me down in the foyer and I promptly kicked him in the shin with my bare foot.

  “Ow! What was that for?” He hopped around trying to be dramatic. I didn’t kick him too hard and I wasn’t wearing shoes.

  “Next time, I can walk by myself. Got it?” My eyes narrowed at each of my Guardians and Austin as they fanned out around him.

  “I was just trying to help! I wanted to get you inside as fast as possible.” A small part of me felt bad for kicking him as he looked at my feet. “Why don’t you have shoes on?”

  “I had to get rid of those death traps when we were running.” They’d never understand how difficult it was to run in heels without twisting an ankle.

  “We are bound to keep you safe at all times and if that includes lugging you around sometimes then so be it,” Zander nearly growled. Sheesh, someone was a tad bit touchy over the subject, but I didn’t care.

  “If Aelfric is back in town, Kitra will need a full-time detail.” Curtis scratched at his chin studying the current coursing over my body.

  “I don’t need a babysitter again.” I warned and purple electricity crackled over my skin. I was completely ignored.

  “We can do shifts during classes. Lucian and Kalen can take over during football practice. Lilly could be of help too,” Zander threw in.

  “I said I don’t need a babysitter.” Ignored once again. Nothing new there.

  “Alright, I’ll run it by Dad.” Caden relaxed since they had a plan.

  “DON’T YOU ALL LISTEN?” That got their attentions. “I. Don’t. Need. A. Babysitter!” My hair billowed out around me as the purple currents became even more erratic.

  “Tone down the theatrics,” Lucian’s command doused my outburst immediately. Stupid Alpha authority. “I agree with the boys. We’ll figure out what to do while she sleeps. Right now, I need you all out searching for Aelfric.” The boys moved to the door and Lilly and Gwen followed. I moved with them but was shut down. “Not you, Kitra. You’re staying here.” Well you can’t say I didn’t try.

  “You’re staying too, Gwen.” Lilly’s hands were on her hips.

  “What? Mom? That’s not fair! This isn’t any different from any other hunt.” Gwen’s eyes were as wide as saucers. Guess she’d never been told no before now. Must be nice.

  “I said no and that’s final!” Lilly, without another word, left with the rest of the Guardians and Lucian. Uncle Kalen, Allie, Gwen and I were still standing in the foyer.

  “What just happened? Did she really just do that?” Gwen’s arms crossed and she stamped her foot. “This is ridiculous.”

  “Tell me about it.” I rolled my eyes. “Get used to it. Believe me, I have.” I marched to my room raiding my secret stash of truffles. Since I was on house arrest, I may as well indulge in something they couldn’t keep from me.

  Chapter 6

  F OR THE NEXT TWO days my Guardians and the others continued their search for Aelfric and they kept a constant vigil over me. Aelfric continued to elude them, but I wasn’t surprised since the lunatic only showed up when he wanted to be seen. The only thing they discovered in the park was one of my red heels lying on the path. The other was nowhere to be found. Caden and the rest of my protectors thought he might have taken it as some sort of twisted trophy. I couldn’t help but agree. I knew Aelfric’s purpose was to cause fear, but thinking he had something of mine was disgusting. Violating. He was toying with us; letting us know he’d never give up on his plan to unleash the most dangerous beings in existence. If there was one thing I had learned since returning to Serenade Falls and having faced off with this madman once already, it was his type of crazy refused to change. Nothing deterred him. All any of us could do was keep moving forward and hope the Council would send word for us to leave for Faerie soon.

  Even though Aelfric was on all of our brains, a different type of energy vibrated over the student body at school today. Everyone was amped up for tonight’s major football game and Danny Blevins’ annual after party. If it were up to me, I’d be going home directly after the final bell, but I’d promised Caden I would watch him play. I wouldn’t commit to the party and evaded Allie all morning. I knew she’d corner and pester me until I consented.

  As the bell signaled the end of Calculus, Jessie Danvers bounced up to my desk.

  “Are you going to the game tonight?” She reminded me of an excited Chihuahua.

  “Yep. She’s watching me and her boy toy play. Right, Kitra?” Austin elbowed me with a grin. I was not calling Caden my “boy toy.”

  “I’ll be there.” I shoved the last of my books into my messenger bag and unwrapped the foil surrounding the piece of chocolate I tossed into my mouth.

  “I can’t wait. The team at my old school was horrible. They had problems catching the ball.” Jessie’s laugh turned flirtatious as she grasped Austin’s bicep. I hated to inform her Austin had a crush on someone else.

  Austin guided her to the cafeteria and promised to save me a seat as I made a pit stop to drop off my things at my locker. When I reached up to spin the combination, I noticed my locker door was cracked open. Maybe I hadn’t shut it earlier. I shoved a notebook into my messenger bag as I pulled the locker door open. A shrill shriek bubbled up my throat and echoed in the empty hallway. My hand pressed against my galloping heart and my bag thumped against the floor.

  Kitra? Are you okay? Austin’s worried voiced filled my head. Was I okay? I peered back into the recesses of the metal box containing my belongings. No, definitely not okay, but I didn’t want the others to know. Every time something like this happened, I was put on house arrest and I didn’t want to be locked up again. The boys also had a big game tonight. They didn’t need to worry about something that was probably a prank.

  I’m fine. Just startled myself. I thought I saw a cockroach in my locker. Be there in a minute. I shut myself off to Austin and my shaking hand reached for the nylon rope looped around a hook at the back of my locker.

  The noose was wrapped around the delicate neck of a doll. I turned her over and clamped my hand over my mouth. She was almost a perfect replica of me. Same button nose, red lips, and emerald green eyes. The only difference was the red words across her chest that read You’re next. I snatched up my messenger bag and shoved my mini doppelganger into its depths as I hurried to the cafeteria.

  I took an open seat next to Allie dropping my head to the table, while Austi
n sat across from us next to Gwen. His eyebrow raised and I knew he didn’t believe I was fine. I gave him a weak smile and pulled out my lunchbox. The delicious aromas Lilly had packed for us had been taunting me all day. Last night she cooked beef teriyaki and fried rice and promised there would be enough for all of us to eat for lunch today, but now I couldn’t stomach to even look at it.

  Caden plopped down next to me and gave me a quick peck on my cheek as Jessie joined our table. Her eyes lingered on my flaming cheek and she gave me the brightest smile. I sat up pretending to be fine before Caden caught on to my emotions. If he thought I was upset he wouldn’t let it go until he found out what bothered me. I was overreacting. It wasn’t Aelfric. He tucked his tail and ran since the playground. The doll was just a stupid prank. Nothing more. Just someone trying to mess with me. Act like nothing happened I commanded my body and let the incident fade to the back of my mind.

  The rest of my friends sat down at our table and began making kissy noises and faces at Caden and me.

  “Alright, enough of that.” Caden’s own smile was beaming.

  “I’m glad he finally got the courage to ask Kitra out.” Curtis shoveled rice onto his tongue.

  “I know. I don’t think I could take any more of his whining.” Zander eyed Caden pointedly. “It was enough to make a person go mad.”

  “If he didn’t hurry up and ask her, I was going to try my luck again.” Linc whispered to Jessie. “She turned me down flat the last time.” Caden’s growl rumbled in his chest. “Joking.” Linc winked at his leader with mischief dancing in his eyes.

  “I think it’s cute.” Jessie laughed. “They’re perfect together.” I wouldn’t say perfect since I wasn’t sure he was my destined mate, not that I was going to tell her that.