Neith purses her lips in disapproval. “I recommend hiring a witch to deactivate the spells on it when you are done…handling it.”
“I will,” Garrett replies sternly, a muscle in his jaw ticking. She leaves without another word.
“She seems… intense.”
“It happens.” Rett shrugs off his irritation. “Supes with more than two centuries under their belt are a little different. They either end up like Neith, fixated on rules and propriety, or they go in the complete opposite direction and leave a trail of chaos wherever they go.”
“There’s no middle ground?”
“Sure, but where’s the fun in that?” He grins. “Personally, I quite like the sound of shaking things up.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course you do.”
“Come on.” He slaps a palm on my shoulder, steering me back through the doors. “Let me show you the library.”
“You have a library, and it wasn’t the first room you took me to?” I ask with mock-outrage. “You’re already living dangerously.”
Tour complete, we head back to the ground floor. We ran into a couple more pack members who, thankfully, were much friendlier than Neith. I’m glad Garrett has a good mix of people around him.
“I should head out—it’s almost time for my lesson with Hux.”
“How are those going?”
“Not great.” My lips flatten into a line of displeasure. “Hux says I’m doing well but I can’t stop thinking about the power surge.”
“That must have been frightening.”
“Yeah.” I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Losing control like that… I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Rett lays a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You won’t. If Hux says you’re doing well, then trust that. He wouldn’t lie about something this important—not even to make you feel better.”
“That’s good to know.” My cheeks puff with my long exhale. “There’s just been so much to take in. I’m trying my best, but it doesn’t feel like enough. The Halloween festival’s only a month away, and I’m nowhere near ready to try taking this thing off again.” My fingertips brush over the familiar amber stone in question.
“You’ve only been practicing for a few days. Cut yourself some slack.”
“Fine, you might have a point,” I reluctantly concede.
Garrett pats my shoulder, then releases me. “I didn’t get to where I am just because of my pretty face.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re a wise, almighty pack leader and council member. Don’t expect me to start calling you Alpha.”
He snorts. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” His green eyes turn serious. “You’re strong, Jared. Not because of your powers but because of who you are—remember that.”
“I’ll try. I might need you to remind me sometimes.”
“What are friends for?” He shrugs as though it’s no big deal, but we both know how much his reassurances really mean to me. “Good luck with your lesson.”
“Thanks.” Rain continues to pour down on my drive back into town, but the weather no longer matches my mood. Talking to Rett helped. The ever-present clouds in my mind have parted enough for the sun to peek through. I’m not OK, not yet, but I will be. I’ll call the therapist Garrett recommended after my lesson with Hux. The Raven—I still can’t believe he’s a fear demon—has stolen enough from me. I won’t let his darkness stain the new life I’m building here.
Chapter 17
Selene
The past three weeks have flown by. Threads of Magic has been busier than ever with the run-up to the Halloween festival. Gwyn and I have finished changing all the stock over, and I’m really proud of the displays we’ve created this year. Even Giles complimented our window display when Jared and I ran into him at Sweet Dreams.
The surly librarian and Jared get on surprisingly well—they bonded when Jared stopped by the library to find out more about the history of supernaturals and sanctuary towns. Jared even convinced Giles to join him, Huxley, and Garrett for a drink at Hunters Moon, and I’veneverseen him set foot in there. Everyone was talking about it the next day, but, true to form, Giles glared at the brave few who dared ask him about it until everyone got the message. I’m just glad Jared’s finding his place here. It still blows my mind that the freaking pack Alpha is drinking buddies with my mate.
Speaking of Jared, the change in him over these past few weeks has been enormous. He’s thriving here in Crystal Lake, and I couldn’t be happier for him. Between his lessons with Huxley and therapy with Mohinder, his inner light shines brighter than ever.
