"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Michael said, but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day." I winked at him. "Give it some time. She may surprise you yet."
Michael's face softened, sincerity shining in his eyes. "I could be gentle for her, you know," he said, earnestly. "I'm not what people think I am."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this admission. Picturing the wolf shifters, all young men with big bodies, little control over their emotions, and a tendency to be aggressive… they were exactly the way people thought they were. Even though, like the others, he also had a softer, sweeter side. So what did he mean he wasn’t what people thought? Michael shifted in his seat, turning to face us more fully as he launched into an explanation about wolf shifters and their pack dynamics.
"See, when Thomas, our old alpha, died, things went haywire. The pack was lost, directionless. We were acting out left and right, trying to fill the void Thomas left behind," he said, a hint of sadness in his voice. “People thought we were basically lawless animals, and we kind of were.”
I could see those memories pressing down on him, and my heart ached at the thought of what he and his packmates must have gone through. Thomas wasn’t just their pack leader, he was like their father. So not only were they a pack lost without their strong leader, but they were also boys lost without their parent.
"Now, with Nathan as our new alpha, we've started to find our footing again. It's not perfect, but it's better than it was. Daniel's been a huge help too. He's sort of become a mentor to all of us, especially Nathan. Since then, we’re rebuilding our lands. Someof us are getting jobs. Some of us are getting our educations. All of us are turning things around." Michael paused, running a hand through his shaggy hair. "The thing is, though, the rest of the supernatural community still sees us as troublemakers, no matter how much we've changed. When will that end? And is that why Rose hasn’t responded? She doesn’t want to be involved with someone like me?"
Deva nodded, her expression sympathetic. "It can be hard to shake off a reputation, especially in our world. It's important to remember that people can change and grow."
I sensed the vulnerability behind Michael's words and had a surge of protectiveness for this young wolf shifter who was so determined to prove himself. He really liked Rose, and I couldn't help but want to root for them, despite the challenges they faced.
"Patience, Michael," I advised, trying to sound sage-like as I gave him a reassuring smile. "Sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for, and if Rose is as special as you say she is, then she'll see you for who you are."
"Emma's right," Deva said. "Besides, your situation isn't exactly an easy one to navigate. You're both dealing with a lot right now, so it's understandable if she needs some time to process everything."
Michael nodded slowly. "Yeah, you're both right, I guess. The best thing we can hope for today is that she’s just processing my date suggestion.”
My stomach sinks at the reminder. He’s right. As much as I don’t want to get involved in drama, I'd prefer it to Rose being hurt by the curse. The darn curse has already hurt enough people.
We finally pulled up in front of a particularly charming house. It was a tiny, pastel blue bungalow with white trim and a cheerful yellow door. The fence surrounding it was a solid, unyielding wall of wooden planks, leaving me to only imagine what wonders might be hidden within its boundaries. The whole scene looked like something straight out of a fairy tale, which, given our current company, wasn't entirely implausible.
"Is this it?" Michael asked a bit nervously as he eyed the house.
"Yep," Deva said, her gaze warm and encouraging. "This is Rose's place."
"All right then." Michael took a deep breath, clearly steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. "Let's go see if she's home."
As we got out of the car and made our way up the cobblestone path, I had a strange sense of anticipation building within me. This wasn't just another visit to a friend's house. In the best case scenario, it was a chance for us to help Michael find the courage to face his fears and possibly change the course of his life forever. In the worst case scenario, Rose was hurt somewhere inside, and we’d have to spring into action to help her. Either way, we had to be ready for anything.
As we got out of the car and made our way up the cobblestone path, I crossed my fingers, even though it felt like a bit of a betrayal to Michael. Hopefully Rose was just avoiding Michael, and not hurt or something from this damned curse. I would rather tackle that problem for all our sakes.
I raised my hand to knock on the door, feeling the rough, cool wood beneath my knuckles. It wasn't long before the door swung open, revealing none other than Rose herself. She stoodthere in a flowing purple dress, her vibrant red hair framing an incredibly embarrassed expression.
Relief sang through me. Rose was okay. She wasn’t in pieces, injured, or standing in a burned down house. But just as I felt the tension leaving my body, I remembered what this likely meant and a little anxiety returned. Uh oh, drama and broken hearts might just follow this little meeting.
"Hi, Emma, Deva... Michael," she said in barely more than a whisper as she glanced at each of us, her gaze lingering on Michael for just a moment longer.
"Hey, Rose." I greeted her warmly, trying to ease the tension in the air. "Can we come in?"
Luckily, she just gave a small smile followed by, "of course." Then, she stepped aside to let us pass. As we entered her home, I marveled at the intricate, whimsical decorations that adorned every surface. It was like stepping into an enchanted forest, which, again, given our current company, wasn't entirely implausible.
Rose indicated her living. “Please, have a seat.”
"We just wanted to make sure you're okay," Deva said gently as we all settled into the cozy living room. "We're dealing with a curse, and we're worried about your safety."
“Some of the other staff members have been facing some unusual things,” I added.
"Thank you for your concern," Rose said sincerely, turning her embarrassed gaze toward Michael. "The truth is, I've just been, um, avoiding him, you, Michael. It's not that I don't care aboutyou or anything. I'm just really embarrassed, and it's hard for me to face you right now."
There was a long pause. “No worries. I’m just glad you’re okay,” but his bravado was a poor mask.
As I watched Michael's face fall at Rose's admission, my heart ached for him. He'd been so brave coming here, and now, his fears were confirmed. Before any of us could say anything to comfort him, Rose reached out and gently touched his arm.
