“So Ruby was a powerful future seer,but she couldn’t see that if she stuck me with Beth and Tom for parents, that Iwould be beaten. That my mother would be abused and called fat and lazy by myno good father?” I stood up, angry.
Sylvia’s face softened. “There is aheavy price to pay for changing the future. Maybe she thought that fate wasbetter than being captured, tortured, and killed at five years old before youcould even learn to protect yourself.”
“Drake drowned! My childhood wastaken from me! I should get to choose my fate. It’s my life.” I turned to Kai.“I’m going for a run. Don’t follow me.” I felt magic infuse my words as acommand. Kai looked hurt. I fled the house. I burst out of the front doorcrying, and collided with Emma.
“Oh, Aurora, I’m sorry.” She laughedand then saw my face. “What’s wrong?”
I stripped down in front of her andchanged into my wolf. Without asking, she stripped down too and followed me. Icould hear her bones slowly cracking as her change took longer. If Kai hadfollowed me I would have been mad, but something about Emma’s energy soothedme. I didn’t mind. She stayed a good distance behind me as I ran. I didn’t gomy fastest, but I was running hard. I could hear Emma panting behind me. Shedidn’t try to talk to me through the pack bonds and I loved her for it. Sheseemed to know I needed space, but didn’t want me to be alone.
I ran and thought of my mother, Beth,and all we had been through. Did she just love me and treat me like a daughterbecause Sylvia messed with her memories? No, I couldn’t believe that. I thoughtof the sacrifice Ruby made and I got angry. Part of me was grateful Drake and Iwere placed with my mother because otherwise I wouldn’t know her. Another partof me wondered if Ruby’s seer abilities were that good. What if the future changedand she did all of that and there had been another way. I never bonded with myfather Tom. It’s like a piece of me knew he wasn’t my real father. When Drakedied and my father blamed me, he began drinking. That’s when the abuse started.
If Ruby hadn’t put Drake and me withmy mother, then my father never would have started drinking and abusing us. Icould have saved my mother from all of her heartache. I stopped at the top ofthe mountain and howled long and deep. Then I curled up next to a large pinetree. A moment later Emma trotted over to me. She nuzzled me with her nose andcurled up next to me.
‘Are you okay?’Kai sent to me.
‘I’m with Emma,’I replied not sure if I was okay orif I would ever be okay. If this Matefinder gene was passed down to futuregenerations then I didn’t want children. I didn’t want to curse them to a lifeof being hunted. If I didn’t want kids, then Kai might not want me. Emma’s softand submissive presence put me at ease. We lay there a long time, curled uptogether.
After a while, I stood up and shookoff the dried leaves stuck to my fur.
‘Ready to head back?’Emma asked me. It was the firstthing she had said to me since she followed me on my run.
‘Yes,’I told her. ‘Thank you,’Iadded. She gave me a nod and we slowly trotted back to Kai’s house.
It was late and everyone lookedasleep. Emma and I shifted and got dressed. She gave me a quick hug and myvision changed. I was looking at a movie screen in my mind. Emma’s belly wasswollen with pregnancy and I was walking down an aisle littered with red rosepetals. I looked at my feet. They were barefoot with Henna designs and adornedwith a silver anklet on each foot. I was wearing a red and gold silk Sari. Ilooked up knowing what I would see. That I would see Kai at the end of an aislebut then the picture dissolved. Emma was shaking me. My head was on her lap andshe was stroking my hair.
“Aurora, come back to me,” she whispered.“What is it? Have you found another mate? So soon.”
I shook my head. “I think I just saw thefuture; my future, our future.” I turned to Emma.
“My wedding.”
“Your wedding!” She screamed, thensmiled.
“Yeah… Don’t tell Kai. I saw youpregnant again so it must be soon,” I told her. She motioned to zip her lips,but smiled.
I hugged Emma and she headed home. Ithought I would sneak in the house and just glide into bed without having totalk to Kai about my running off after the drama with Sylvia. I was halfway throughthe living room when Kai stood up from the couch and scared me.
I jumped back. “Jesus!”
“Nope, just me,” he said putting hishands up.
“Very funny,” I muttered.
He crossed the room quickly andwrapped me in his arms. “I held Sylvia hostage until she told me everything.I’m so sorry, Aurora. For the first time in my life I feel powerless. I wish Icould take the pain away for you.”
My throat tightened. Kai was a goodman. Despite his huge and dominating appearance, he was so soft inside, solovable. If we were going to have any future together he deserved the truth.“If I didn’t want children would you still want to be my mate?”
His eyebrows pinched before he smiledslightly. “First of all, I am your mate whether you want kids or eat meat orlike the same music as I do. We ARE mates. There is no changing that. Secondly,I have always wanted children. I want to be a father, but if you don’t wantchildren then what can I do? I want you and I won’t force you.” He pulled meback and looked into my eyes. In that moment I blurted out the stupidest thing.I didn’t even think.
“I love you,” I admitted then slappedmy hand over my mouth. Wasn’t the guy supposed to say that first? I had neversaid I love you before. I’d had boyfriends, but I never let them get closeenough for love. Being in love meant you could get hurt.
A huge grin broke out onto his face.
“God, I’ve been waiting to hear thatfrom you my whole life.” He scooped me up and started walking me to thebedroom, kissing my neck. I smiled. Okay, maybe saying I love you wasn’t thatbad.
Diwali
I was being nudged awake. I opened myeyes groggily to see Kai. He was freshly showered and was wearing a red silkIndian t-shirt with a smudge of ash on his forehead. I looked at him confused.
