“I had another premonition, and I found Wake there, so we left to go to Ford's house where I could talk to him.”
“Wake, huh?” She stands and pulls her hair into a high ponytail. “Let's go.”
“I'm not taking you with me.”
“Oh, yes you are. I'm not staying here alone while you get to have a midnight rendezvous with two smoking hot men. Nuh uh. Teleport me away, bestie.”
She steps up to me and entwines her fingers with mine. Looking at us together right now, we’re complete opposites. Even in the middle of the night, she’s stunning, whereas I appear to have crawled out of a cave. She has on a tight tank, no bra, and boy shorts, while I'm wearing an oversized T-shirt and yoga pants. At least I remembered to put pants on before bed this time. I have to stay comfortable if I'm going to run through the woods every night. My feet! I glance down and notice I'm bleeding on the hardwood in my room.
“Shoot!” I walk on my heels to my dresser, where I pull out some gauze and bandages I stashed here after my first jaunt in the wilderness. Then I hobble to the bathroom to wash my feet quick before I bandage them up.
Paige is waiting for me when I emerge. “You really should start wearing sneakers to bed. Your feet are all torn up.”
“I know. But really, who wants to wear sneakers to bed?”
“The girl who runs through the woods while she’s asleep. I bet you move faster with sneakers on, too.”
“Probably,” I mumble. I wipe up the blood on the floor and take Paige's hand in mine. We're about to leave when Kiara appears.
“Don't mind me,” she says while yawning. “Just filling in for you.” She takes my hand in hers and something passes between us. Her body transforms in a flash to be my twin.
“What was that? Ari, there are two of you,” Paige says, looking back and forth between us.
“Sorry. Paige, this is Kiara. Kiara, Paige.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kiara says as she climbs into my bed. “It's a good thing you've got a comfortable bed, Ari.” Her eyes flutter closed.
“If my mom comes in, tell her Paige is in the bathroom not feeling well.” Kiara doesn't reply but gives me a thumbs-up. I quickly turn the light on in the bathroom and shut the door. Then I flip the light off on my desk.
“Let's get this show on the road,” I say to Paige. With her hand in mine again, we teleport to Ford's house.
“What took you so long?” he asks. “I'm bored over here. Wake is tired and not very entertaining. Nothing I say is irritating him.”
“Poor baby,” I reply to him. You'd think I took away his toy.
“You did. You left.”
“Get out of my head, vampire! I’m not your toy!” I yell. At least here I can raise my voice all I want and not have to worry about waking my parents up. “He can read your thoughts, Paige. Keep things locked down the best you can.” I don't know what I'm talking about. If I did, I'd be able to block his spying butt.
“Paige, your mind might be more interesting than Ari's.” He smirks.
“I have nothing to hide, sexy. Feel free to take a spin inside my brain.” Her eyes are on Wake as Ford trains his on her.
“You dirty minx,” Ford states. “I like you.”
“I knew you would.” She winks. For the love of…
“Can we please get on with this?” I ask.
I take a seat on the couch and look out the front windows into the darkness. Wake sits down beside me. “You should be wearing shoes to bed,” he notes as he takes in my bandaged feet.
“I've figured that much out. Thanks.”
“Ari, I'm not the enemy.” I give him a hard glare. “Okay, so my pack is, but I don't want to be part of fighting beside them. I've learned a lot since I've joined the Diaminsey Pack, and part of that is they don't show mercy, ever. They know it was Rion who hurt me and left me knocked out. They knew it was over you. They’re more enticed than ever to capture you.”
“Hold on. They want to capture me?”
He nods. “They think if they can sway you to their side, you'll make a powerful ally.”
“I have an Avynwood mate.”
“Not yet you don't. Until you two are fully mated, you're free game for any wolf out there.” This again? I still have the vision in my head of wolves circling me, each trying to pee on me to claim me as theirs.
26
“I'm eighteen! What is with you wolves? I’m too young for this.”
Wake takes my hand in his, turning it so my palm faces up. I let him, curious to see what he’s going to do. He traces his finger over the inside of my left wrist. “Once the two of you are mated, you'll have a tattoo here. It's the final step in the mating process.” Each mate in Lealla’s series gets a tattoo when they’re finally a joined pair. But it's not a tattoo artist that puts it there. It's pure magic.
“The print of the mate,” I mutter.
Wake nods. “It’ll be Orion's paw print on the inside of your wrist. It marks you as taken to any wolf around. Not only that, but your scent changes. Yours and Orion's will join as one to our sensitive noses. Females will know he's taken, as will males.” Does that mean I’ll have his sandalwood smell on me all the time? The thought of it causes me to shiver in a good way. I love how he smells.
“And the males get their mate's paw print, if they’re a shifter, on their chest over their heart,” I say. “If their mate isn’t a shifter, it's their name.” I remember this from the books. It’s a good thing Rion got on me about reading them again. All the information does come in handy.
“Yes, exactly.”
“So until then, I'm fair game to every male out there?” He nods. “Rion told me the same, but I just thought it was him being overprotective.”
“He is overprotective. Every mate is. That's their job, though. It’s ingrained in them. Their one true role is to be there for their mate at all times. To protect them and keep them safe. To ensure they’re fed and never want for anything. The job in the pack, any outside careers, it's all secondary to their mate and children. They will always come first.” Each word Wake speaks is done so in a somber tone. He lost someone he thought was his. Every day he must think of her.
“He does,” Ford says quietly.
“What?” Paige inquires.
“I was talking to Ari.” I turn to find Ford behind me and Paige standing next to him.
“Do you two have a thing going on?” she asks, motioning between Ford and me. “I thought she has a mate. Are you into her, too?” Why, oh why, can't Paige stay quiet?
“I don't have any romantic feelings toward Ariane. We have a connection. She's becoming one of my best friends.” Something about Ford's words warms me inside. I like having him in my life. It’s been a short amount of time, but the longer I spend with him, the more I like him. Even if he does drive me up a wall with all his joking and teasing. There’s more to him than that, though. It’s a matter of him opening himself up to our friendship now.
I wonder how many actual close friends he has. He’s known Rion and the pack for a while, but I haven’t heard him talk about other friends except for Kiara. They seem close, however.
Paige doesn’t miss a beat. “She already has a best friend. Move on, vampire.”
I bust out laughing. “I can have more than one, Paige. What about Bray?”
She waves me off. “He doesn't count.” I laugh again. Paige has always tried to keep me to herself, saying Bray is a backup bestie in case she’s not around.
In my head, I formulate a message to send to Ford—a deliberate one. Not one where's he spying on my thoughts.
“I don't spy.”
I’ve never done this with anyone but Rion, so I hope it works. “I'm sighing in my head. I hope you can hear that.” He chuckles, letting me know he can hear me. “Anyway, I wanted to say I like the idea of being your best friend. I've never had a vampire for a friend. The only other guy friend I have is Brayden, and I swear he's only there because of Paige. If you're going to be my friend, Ford, I need to
know we can talk and keep things between us. Like tonight. I don't want Rion to know I was here. I also would love to be able to talk to you and ask you questions, without you being a jerk and picking on me or constantly making jokes.”
His eyes meet mine, all humor gone. “I'd like that.”
“Have you two been talking?” Paige asks.
“Yup,” I reply. “Just working some things out between us.”
“Uh huh.” She is always so skeptical of people. I’m sure she’ll ask me when we get back home what we were saying.
“Ariane?” Wake brings my attention back to him. “Whatever happens, I'm doing this for Orion, the whole pack, and you, of course. I've had a lot of time to think. I didn't handle things as I should have. This is my way of proving I'm not as horrible as they think I am. I was caught in what I thought was love. Now, I’m not sure what to think about my feelings back then.” He stares out the window as the sun starts to light the ocean. I wonder if there’s someone new in his life.
“I tried to talk to Rion about you,” I tell him honestly. “I told him he needed to see your side.”
“How did that go?”
“Meh.”
He laughs. “I miss him. He was much more than my cousin. We did everything together.”
“Maybe you two can patch things up.”
“That's wishful thinking.”
“You never know.”
“True.” I watch him as his eyes stay trained out the window in front of us. It couldn’t have been easy leaving his family behind. No matter how angry someone is, family will always be a part of you.
“Is there anything else you wanted to tell me? I should get back. I have school tomorrow.” No time for reading. I do need to keep reading the series, though. In my free time. When I'm not being chased in my dreams or getting visited by wolves or vampires.
“No fae yet. Or mages,” Ford chimes in.
“One paranormal race at a time,” I reply. “There's only so much I can wrap my head around at once.”
Wake and I stand from the couch. He walks to Ford. “I need a lift home. Into my room in Diaminsey, if possible.” Ford’s lucky, he can easily peer inside Wake’s head to find out what his room looks like. Then it’s simple for him to teleport there. Vampire gifts.
“Fine, but next time, the one who brings you here can take you home.” Ford gives me a pointed look.
“You'd seriously want me to teleport to a place I've never been, where there is a pack of wolves that wants me to join their little club of darkness so that I can go against Rion and everyone else?”
“Good point. Let's go. You first, princess. I'm going to follow you to your room to make sure you get there safely, then take Wake home.”
I smile. Ford isn't so bad after all. He returns my smile, but it's wicked and full of mischief. I roll my eyes before grabbing Paige’s hand.
With one snap, we’re back in my room, standing in front of my duplicate, and my mom.
“Ari?” Mom stammers. “Why are there...? Who is...? What’s going on?” Oh, no. How do I handle this? My mom is seeing two of me. Two of her only daughter!
Ford and Wake pop up beside us. A slow smile appears on Ford’s face. “Well, this certainly made things interesting.”
Kiara steps forward and instantly changes back into her normal, gorgeous self. She then steps up to my mom and places her finger on Mom’s temple for a moment. “Everyone out who shouldn't be here,” she says quickly. “Ari, I erased the last two minutes of her memory.”
Ford, Wake, and Kiara all teleport away. I tug on Paige, pulling her into my bed. I have no idea what Mom remembers last, but I’m going to play it off that I was asleep.
“Ari?” my mom whispers. Her eyes on Paige and me in bed.
I fake yawn and blink a few times. Paige pretends to be soundly asleep beside me. “What time is it?”
She shakes her head as if she’s trying to clear it. Peering at my alarm clock, she says, “You slept through your alarm. If you and Paige don't get up, you're going to be late for school.”
“Thanks,” I mumble and close my eyes again, exhaustion settling over me. Too bad I can’t go to sleep. I hadn’t realized we were at Ford’s that long.
Mom leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
Paige sits up. “That was crazy. Your poor mom. Do you think her memory of that is really gone?”
“I hope so. She'd probably think she was losing her mind if she remembered that, and I don't want to explain to my mother how my new boyfriend is a wolf, and I've also got a bestie who is a vampire.”
“I'm you're bestie. Ford is nothing more than a fill-in within the paranormal world when I'm not around.”
I smile. “Whatever you say.”
“I like that vampire less today than I did yesterday,” she pouts.
“No one is going to take me from you. Come on. Mom's right. We have to get moving.”
Putting my feet on the floor, I wince from the pain all that running did last night. I have to remember to put sneakers on when I sleep. It’s not that I want to, but this pain every time I have a premonition isn’t going to cut it. Hopefully, my mom never notices, or I'll have to lie about wearing them to bed.
This whole immersion into the paranormal world has upended my life. Not that I'd change it for anything. I actually sort of love it. Everything I thought was fiction isn't. And now I'm a part of it. Every day, I'm adding to the history that is the Avynwood Pack. I'm going to be in one of the books. Well, as much as I want to be, anyway.
Paige showers first, since she takes longer to get ready. Luckily, we keep clothes at each other’s houses in case we decide on an impromptu sleepover. I don't have to do anything other than shower, brush my teeth, and throw on clothes. It doesn't matter if my hair is wet or if I look like I haven't slept in weeks. I seriously don't care. I'm exhausted.
When we finally descend the stairs, the house is quiet, both of my parents having left for work already. Outside, there is a familiar black Jag waiting with a very sexy Rion leaning against it. His jeans are slung low on his hips. His black T-shirt has ridden up a little, showing off a sliver of taut skin. Yeah, my boyfriend is hot. And yet, I’m standing here looking awful. Wet hair pulled back into a ponytail. Jeans and a navy blue T-shirt, which were the first things I grabbed. I really should put more effort into how I look. At least, when I’m not completely sleep deprived.
“Someone’s waiting for you, and he's looking mighty fine,” Paige whispers in my ear. She smacks my butt before getting into her car.
Stopping in front of Rion, I push on my tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. “Good morning. What do I owe the honor of having you drive me to school?” This is the first time he's done it.
He smiles. “I wanted to check on you. Make sure you're okay. I tried to talk to you last night. I texted you; sent you a message.” He taps on his head. “You didn't respond to anything.” I haven’t checked my phone since yesterday.
Luckily, the lie rolls off my tongue. “I'm sorry. Paige and I spent the night in then crashed early. I haven't been getting much sleep lately.” It does make my stomach sour keeping the truth from him. If he knew who I saw last night… It’s better this way. For now, at least.
“Me neither.”
“You don't have to watch over me at school today. I'll be fine. I'm in a building full of teachers and students. I doubt anyone is going to bother me there.”
“I won't leave you unprotected, but I am going home to sleep. I'm no good to you if I can't keep my eyes open. Cace is coming up to your school. He'll drive you home after school and be outside all day should you need him.”
“In wolf or human form?” I have to ask.
“In wolf, for most of it. He'll park his SUV down the road then shift. Our hearing and eyesight is much better in wolf form.” I nod.
Rion opens the passenger side door for me. Walking around him, I move wrong and wince from the pain in my feet. I tried to find the most comfortable pair of sneakers I
own this morning, but it wasn't enough cushion to help with all the pain.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, just hurt my foot walking up the stairs last night. No biggie.” If he knows I went into the woods in my dream again, he'll ask if I saw Wake and I can't reveal I did.
“Ari, don't lie to me.”
“Fine, I was running through the woods and cut my feet. I washed and bandaged them. They’re just a little sore. That's all.”
His jaw clenches. “They were chasing you again, weren't they?”
“Yes, but I got away and safely teleported home.” Not a complete lie. I eventually did end up at home.
“Is that why Ford and Kiara were in your room last night?” Oh, no. I forgot about his crazy wolf hearing. He would have heard their voices. But not Wake; he didn't say a word.
“Yes.” I drop my gaze, unable to look him in the eyes. “I'm sorry for not telling you.”
“You should have. I gave you every opportunity.”
“Why didn't you come right out and say something then?”
“Because I wanted to see if you'd lie to me.”
27
Thankfully, the drive to school is short. Any more silence and I would have screamed. There was nothing more for me to say. Yes, I lied, but I did it for a good reason. If he knew I was deliberately with Wake, he'd be livid. But I'm my own person with my own power. I'm also the one caught in this never-ending loop of premonitions. What’s frustrating is that I’ve seen nothing of importance. I’m always being chased, the scenery blurring past me.
Rion needs to start understanding I can take care of myself. But I'm unsure how to make this right with him. He gets out of the car and opens my door for me. Of course, there is a group of girls who stop and practically drool seeing my boyfriend. I stare them down, causing them to shuffle away. Be gone, trollops. He's mine, and he isn't going to leave me for you.
Taking my hand in his, Rion pulls my attention back to him. He holds our hands up, staring at our palms touching and the invisible connection we share. It’s there, flowing through my body in a low hum. “I don't like it when you lie to me, Ari.”
The Ash Moon (The Ariane Trilogy Book 1) Page 18