“I’m Reese,” I whispered. I didn’t know how to introduce myself beyond that. Given his denial of me, it didn’t feel right to call myself Chael’s mate. Instead, I leaned down and asked, “Is there something you would like to show me?”
I waited a beat and then another, and another. Suddenly, my eyelids felt heavy and slid close without my making them do so. Everything was black, but then a series of scenes played as if they were happening right there in front of me.
I watched as a younger image of Chael stood before his grandfather when the older man was still in good health.
“Your pack is the reason my daughter is dead!” Arthur seethed.
Chael flinched and lowered his head.
“Your father led her into danger after promising me that he would take care of her. He lied to me, and as far as I’m concerned, you are not my grandson!”
I watched as Chael turned away from his grandfather and walked away, fading into a black abyss. The scene wasn’t over, however. Arthur turned his head and looked right at me. His face morphed right before my eyes. The relatively minor wrinkles deepened and spread, his silky dirty-blond hair turned gray, and he shrunk in stature.
Before me was the same man who lay in the bed in a coma. He had to peer upward to meet my gaze. A slow smile opened up on his face, demonstrating a hint of his younger self.
“He’s finally found you.”
I shook my head. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He took a tentative step forward, and I tried to reach for him, to keep him from falling, but my body wouldn’t move. Some immovable force held me in place.
“Tell my grandsons I’m sorry.” He stopped and inhaled deeply, his body swaying as he exhaled. “My daughter… she was my pride. Our pack has befallen much heartache before and after her death. I was not the grandfather I should’ve been. Your mate,” he paused and teetered his way over to me, closing the space between us.
He took my hand in his. “He has done well for his pack. He is the alpha that the Nightwolf pack deserves. I should’ve told him that sooner, instead of sending him away.” He lowered his head in shame. He raised his head and looked me in the eye. “But he will have to make a choice.”
“A choice between what?” I asked, feeling this was of the utmost importance.
He shook his head. “He will know when it is time. Tell him to choose with his heart. As long as he does that, all will be well.”
I couldn’t make sense of the cryptic message. It felt ominous.
“And Chance, please tell him that he is exactly who he was born to be. Let him know that I am proud of him, of both of them.” He looked away from me toward the blackness beneath us. “His parents are as well,” he added softly.
He squeezed my hands, and a few more images played out. Moving pictures of Chael’s grandfather smiling and laughing with AnneMarie and his grandsons before his eyes grew watery with emotion. I could feel everything he felt, from pure joy to deep sorrow.
Slowly, he let go of my hands, releasing me from the hold his emotions had on me.
After that, my eyes popped open, and I started to breathe rapidly, my heart feeling like I’d run a race.
“Are you alright?” Chael’s voice boomed from somewhere in the room. Before I could answer, he was by my side, next to the bed.
I stood from the bed and stared down at the man lying there. Again, his eyes were closed, and now his breathing was labored. I wasn’t a shifter, but I could smell death in the air. I knew it well from the months and days I’d spent at my nana’s side in the nursing home after her stroke.
“I-I need some water,” I croaked out.
“Yes, of course,” AnneMarie said. “Ronan, go fetch Reese a glass of water.”
Chael tried to help me down the bed’s stairs, but I pulled my hand out of his hold and walked on my own, though my entire body shook. I couldn’t put into words what I’d just experienced. It was like one of my dreams, but I wasn’t sleeping. Before exiting the room behind Ronan, I took one final look at Arthur. He remained in his sleeplike state, not stirring once.
But I knew that had been him in my vision. It wasn’t a figment of my imagination.
I knew I needed to tell Chael what I saw, but I couldn’t speak, not even as I took my seat in the dining room area. AnneMarie came to sit next to me and rubbed my back.
“I’ve heard that visions can be difficult for seers. Take your time with whatever you need to tell us,” she said sweetly. I appreciated her comfort.
Ronan placed a glass of water in front of me, and then AnneMarie ordered the men to give me space while I sorted out what I saw. They all must’ve had a certain amount of respect for her because they all scattered, leaving only the two of us in the dining area.
“Here ya go,” she said quietly, pressing the glass of water into my hand.
