43
KNIGHT Holy shit!
I was advanced. Nirvana was still standing when I sped up. Then, in the blink of an eye, she was ahead of me, standing under the tree at the finish line.
“How?” I went to her, inspecting her from head to toe.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Please don’t tell anyone. I want to keep it to myself first. I need to know my strengths and weaknesses. I want to know if there are repercussions. Maybe there are side effects. And I’m terrified.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to tell me. My priority right now is to keep you safe, and to do that, I shouldn’t tell anybody. Does Zarah know?”This material belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
“While we were meditating, I think I went to the flowers in the backyard. That’s why I asked you if there were hydrangeas, because I felt like I saw them and touched the red flowers in the pot, but I wasn’t sure. I was sitting before Zarah, and the next thing I knew, I had somehow fallen off my seat. It was like a blow of wind threw me away.”
“You didn’t run fast like the Flash.”
She chuckled. “No. I think I can go to another place.”
“Like teleporting?” I asked in disbelief, amazed, and dumbfounded.
“Something like that, but I don’t know how to control it. What if I did it and I ended up in the street and got hit by a car? What if the next time it happens while I’m sleeping, I end up in the lake? Or in the crater. I’m scared, Knight, and I don’t know how to control it or what’s the limit.” I knew she was scared. I could hear it in her voice and hear her heartbeat racing.
“Hey,” I said, pulling her into a hug when she started to cry. “We’ll figure this out together.”
“I think I’d rather be a werewolf than have this spirit inside me that we don’t know how to deal with.”
I cupped her face. “Look at me. We’ll find a way. We’ll do some digging. Maybe Zarah has books or Sebastien’s. Maybe Ambrose has heard about this spirit, but the problem is we don’t know how to reach out to him.”
“We can’t summon him, Knight. It’s too dangerous for all of us. He has Cyrius on his heels, or he’s also hunting Cyrius, but maybe Shadow’s father or grandfather knows something.”
“Yeah. Let’s get back to the pack house. But that ball was impressive.”
“Shut up.” She elbowed me on my side. “I can sense you from far. I don’t know, I can’t describe it, but I can smell you when you’re around. You have a distinct scent, like a kind of citrus, musky herbs, and bark of wood. You smell like an expensive cologne.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Since I did not inherit a seer gift, does that mean the celibacy thing is off the equation?” Her question and hesitancy made me smile, and I was flattered that she still thought about our relationship.
“I think so, but there’s no rush, Nirvana. If you’re willing to wear my mark, the right time will come. I’m not forcing you into something you’re not sure about, and you’re not comfortable with.”
“I think this ability is triggered by emotion, just like a werewolf shifting prematurely.”
“Do you remember how you feel while meditating?”
“I was focused. My mind was clear then, like what happened right now.”
“Maybe you can also travel through time.”
“You’re kidding, right?” She snorted.
“Powerful witches can manipulate time. Ambrose can do it. He can stop time. It’s time warping, but it’s against a law of nature, and there’s a consequence for abusing a powerful ability like that.”
“That’s why I won’t do this.” We arrived back at the pack house. The guys were already waiting in the living area.
“Where did you both go?”
“We made out,” I said without hesitation, causing them to look away awkwardly.
“He’s kidding. We walked to the tree.”
“That’s far,” Uncle Lennox said. “How are you feeling, Vana?”
“Dad, we already told you not to ask her that,” McKaye groaned.
“It’s fine, Mac. I’m doing great. So far, I don’t feel any side effects.”
“I already gave them their prizes, Alpha.”
“Thanks, Kailin.”
“I should have my share. I almost lost my voice cheering for you, guys,” Nirvana joked as she joined them.
“I’ll buy Boba tea for you, Vana.”
“Just kidding, Zander.” She smiled at him.
“No. Really. There’s a good Boba Tea stall near our school.”
“That’s kind of you. Thanks.”
“Are you both staying?”
I turned to Kaleb. “No. We’re heading back home.”
“We can tag along if you don’t mind, Alpha,” Zander said, clapping Maddox’s back. “Maybe you need us to run an errand.”
“Don’t you have class tomorrow?”
“We do, but we can go to school from there,” West replied.
“All right. Take the SUV with you.” I turned to Kaleb. “Can we talk?”
“Of course.” He rose from the seat. “I’ll be in the office.”
“Do you wanna come with me?”
Nirvana shook her head. “Go ahead.”
I followed Kaleb into my office and locked the door behind me. Nirvana didn’t have to come with me because she could probably hear our conversation, even if this were soundproofed from human ears.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. Who went to scout the parameters last night?”
“Gage and Tucker are in the south to west, and Luka and Fabian are in the north to east. There were campers outside the territory. They’re humans.”
“Don’t trust anyone, even humans. I’m afraid Cadogan will come to us to retaliate. Then, this warlock problems. How can I deal with that when I don’t even have the power to defeat him.”
“What about the warlock that healed your mate?”
“He’s hunting that asshole. If he loses and gets thrown into the underworld, we’re doomed. Even though Zarah is powerful, there’s no way she can defeat him alone. She needs her entire coven, even covens all over the world.”
“I’ll make sure our parameters are secured. You can take our best enforcers with you.”
“No. I don’t want to leave this pack house undefended. Just stay alert and make sure our alarm systems are working. Let Gage use his computer skills. If the system needs an upgrade, let me know. I’ll write a cheque. And if you need extra weapons and ammo, send me a list. Don’t let the girls out all the time.”
“Understood.”
“I’m going to talk to Mac about training Nirvana in hand-to-hand combat. She wants me to teach her, but I have a lot on my plate right now. She’s in good hands with him.”
“I’ll pick Mac myself to train her too. I’m glad she’s coming around. I’m happy for you, Alpha. When is the party?”
“Not right now. She’s still recovering.”
He grabbed the folder on the desk. “I’ve been meaning to give this to you.”
“Budget?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” I grabbed the pen from the pen holder and signed the quarterly budget for the pack. I looked at the figures. “Are you sure this number will last?”
“We’ll make it last till next quarter, Alpha. And we’re beyond grateful.”
“Hey. This is why I’m working hard.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything else?”
“Just a suggestion. Maybe you should do a blood pact with Vana so she could link you when there’s an emergency. And it’s solstice today.”
“Damn it. It completely slipped my mind. I’ll do it right now while everyone is around. Give me the chalice.”
He took it from the cabinet and handed me the knife. I made a small cut on my finger and let three droplets of my blood fall into the chalice. Since Nirvana was human, this way worked more than the common blood pact.
“I will clean the knife and be there.”
“Okay. We’ll wait in the living room.” I left the office to find the guys laughing at what Nirvana told them.
“What did I miss?”
“Nothing much, alpha.” She smiled.
“Are you ready for a blood pact so that you enjoy the free wi-fi?”
“I thought you’d never asked,” she said gleefully.
I kissed her forehead and whispered. “Make sure you won’t vanish before me.”
She laughed nervously. Kaleb came with a knife and a Chalice.
“I’m not drinking your blood, am I?”
“No, Vana. Since you two are mates, you will just share a drink,” my uncle explained in a shorter version, excluding the outlandish part.
“Ready?”
“Yes. Wait. Isn’t it a solstice today?”
“Yes. Now stand up before me.” My pack rose and began surrounding us in a circle. A console table between us with a knife and a chalice filled with red wine. “You can close your eyes if you don’t wanna see blood.”
“I think I went through hell yesterday. A small cut on my palm won’t scare me or make me collapse.”
“Okay, no more talking, Nirvana.”
“Sorry, Alpha.”
My pack chuckled.
I picked up the knife, took her right hand, and ran the blade through her palm enough to bleed.
She hissed but didn’t pull her hand back. I knew she was stronger, especially now she was turning into something powerful.
I did the same to my palm. I was already immune, as I had done this many times with my pack members.
Nirvana didn’t break the eye contact. When my hand bled, I grabbed hers and pressed them together in the form of a handshake. I read the rite to complete the rituals.
“Welcome to the pack, Blakely Nirvana Woodrow Thorne.”
“Thank you, Alpha.”
“You’re so brave and beautiful.” I opened my link to hers, and I watched her eyes widen.
“Holy sh-“