Resisting Fate (Predetermined) (13 page)

“Who, Zachary,” I whispered again, more tentatively this time, “…who are you talking about?”

His breath went rapid, his chest heaved up and down against my back, and then his entire body began to tremble. Dammit, it was happening again. I couldn’t see it, but somehow I knew, without a doubt, that he was going wolfy on me.

“Your mate…is Jack.”

“Oh,
hell
 no!” I grumbled low under my breath; I couldn’t breathe for an entirely different reason that time. No. No way. Oh Christ, no wonder I was obsessing over motorcycle boy the way that I was!

Wetness seeped onto my neck, sharpness pierced my hands, but I was paralyzed in both fear…and yes, shock. Then things turned furry, literally, as a soft coat of hair brushed against my backside. And then something pointy pressed against my neck, something animal, incisor teeth pointy.

“Move you stupid son of a bitch!”

The loud growl behind us was none other than my heroine of a best friend. I blew out a breath in relief. Yes! I definitely didn’t mind being rescued by a girl.

“Go away witch, this doesn’t need to get messy, and if you got involved, then you know, as well as I do, that’s exactly what would happen…”

Before I could speak, before I could even blink and question their ridiculous argument, he was gone, his weight, his wetness, his heat, it all went away as he crumbled onto the floor.

I moved quickly, sitting back on my elbows, ready to thank Kelsey for her sudden kick ass moves. She stood over the bed, her hands outstretched, her arm shaking, but my words wouldn’t budge when I focused fully on her face, her eyes in particular. I blinked. Her eyes were
white
. Um, why in the hell were Kelsey’s eyes white? I shook my head, sitting up completely on the side of the bed.

“Get out of my way,
witch,”
I jumped as Zachary reappeared by her side. They were in a stare down, their eyes held, nobody moved for a few minutes, or was it seconds really? Did it really matter though? He stood on only two legs, the extra hair on his arms had disappeared, but his eyes, they were still golden as he studied Kelsey’s face.

“
Not gonna happen, pretty boy.” With a smirk and a little wave of her finger, Kelsey began chanting something. Something that was very, very…
un
-Kelsey like.

“…I take the power in my hands from air and fire, water and land…” Before I even realized what was happening, Kelsey’s hands shot out in front of her. Powerful, kinetic energy floated from her body, shimmering through the air like tiny, electrical particles. It reminded me of glitter strangely, and it sparkled even brighter the longer it slid through the air. It rammed into Zachary, sending him flying across the room, and into the legs of my favorite chair.

I chewed on my lip. Was it bad that I was worried more for my chair then his head?

Holy balls though. I
so
 did not expect that to happen.

“Okay, Em, you’ve got about ten minutes to get out of here before your wolf lover boy over there wakes up.” Her lips twitched with malice as she stared down at Zachary’s unmoving form. Her eyes, thank freaking God, were finally back to the normal chocolate brown hue I was used to.

I moved forward to stand, unsure of what to say to her. My movements were jerky, stiff, and I couldn’t quite comprehend much past the simple movement of my feet as I walked towards her body. Somehow, I did happen to notice an odd emotion pass over her face as she stared down at his still frame. It almost looked like sadness, guilt too, but I couldn’t tell due to the fact that when she turned back to face me, she was the perfect vision of composed again.

“What in the hell did you do, Kelsey?” I whispered, placing my hand on her forearms to lower her still outstretched arms.

Her smile curled up at the side. “Leave now, chat later, K?” She grabbed my elbow and pulled me quickly behind her. I tripped over my feet as I followed. I wasn’t sure if I even
wanted
to follow her, but really, what else was I going to do? I couldn’t exactly wait here and offer up a Band-Aid to Zachary when he woke up and all. Still though, I couldn’t help but look back over my shoulder at him again, to make sure he wasn’t leaking blood on my floor.

That was a bad idea because with my one last look, a sudden wave of panic joined my already freaked out nerves. Shit…I sure as hell hoped he woke up at all!

“He’ll be fine, quit worrying.”

I whipped my head back to face Kelsey as she pulled me down the steps, through the living room, and out towards her car. I blinked about a thousand times as she casually opened my door. “Seriously Emmy, you need to relax!” She grunted, motioning me in.

Sure Kelsey was relaxed, but she was also angry, damn near murderous even, as she pulled us out of the driveway. I eyed her as she glanced back at my house through the rear view mirror several times. I sat there next to her, my hands on my lap, my knee nervously jarring up and down. She was calm and murderous, I was on the verge of beating my head against the dashboard to try and see if it helped me make sense of everything.

Seriously, was I going nuts?

“Oh God, my mom, Jamie,” I panicked, pulling at my seatbelt, wondering if I should either A: jump out the window, or B: open the door altogether and escape that way, action movie style. I knew if I tucked my shoulder, it might not hurt as bad, but the road rash would burn like a bitch! “We have to go back, Kelsey! Or I’ve got to at least call her, tell her that she can’t go home! I mean what if Zachary is still there when she brings Jaime home?”

I reached over the center console to grab her cell, already dialing the number with unsteady fingers, but Kelsey reached over and ripped it from my hands before I could even hit send. She tucked it in between her legs and sighed. Wow… Apparently
that
was her version of a
no
. I grumbled. Secrets…God dammit, she was the almighty keeper of them now apparently. The question of the day then was…what in the hell was she not telling me this time?

“I can’t have my little brother getting eaten by a boy who turns into a wolf, Kelsey! Besides, you’re not telling me something, so spill it!”

She rolled her eyes, glaring over at me. Boy-oh-boy, her attitude was suckier than ever, “He’ll be gone by the time they get home Em…trust me. My little
trick
doesn’t last very long, especially on the newly changed wolves.” She released an exasperated sigh. Apparently I’d annoyed her. Well,
excuse
me for being a little nervous! It wasn’t like she had gotten almost chewed on twice now by a guy she was once in love with but no longer knew.

I wanted nothing more than to yell at her, to tell her that she had no right to be
exhausted
or
annoyed
or any other feeling beyond worry for me. She’d known about this crap her entire life, while I, on the other hand, only found out about it a few days ago! I had a right to be bitchy.

This had to be a dream though! My best friend was not a superhuman witch girl, Zachary wasn’t a wolf, and I didn’t have a motorcycle riding, red helmet wearing wolf boy for a mate. I was going to wake up from this nightmare sooner or later and everything would be as it should be…right?

“Hey, it’s going to be okay Em, I promise. Mrs. Martin will explain everything.” Her voice grew soft, reassuring…finally, but it was too late, I was beyond being reassured. “What Emmy? You look as though you saw a witch, or a werewolf, or both!” She giggled and patted the armrest of her seat. All I could do was blink at her. Wow. “All I ask is that you don’t puke in my car.” Double wow. Puke? In her car? That’s what she cared about?

I shook my head, too emotionally charged up to laugh at her so not funny joke.

And then ten minutes later, as we peddled on down the highway, she was singing along with the radio as if all that craziness we’d encountered hadn’t even occurred. I pursed my lips into a frown, wishing that I had that ability to be all cool and calm and stuff. Maybe I was more guarded from all the crap I’d endured in the past. Maybe eventually I could be cool with this, but not now, not when it was all so fresh, so…fictional.

I laid my head back against the seat and let my head fall to the side, “How can you sit there and be so relaxed about everything Kelsey? You’re a witch, an honest to God witch! That’s some pretty messed up shit, you know…”

Kelsey giggled, finally making the turn down Zachary’s parent’s road. Since they lived on an all-by-their-lonesome street, it took my speed demon of a friend only seconds to get to their driveway.

“Come on Em, lighten up. I’m a witch, so what? Just be thankful that I’m not a vamp or something.”

A what? I gasped, gripping the door tight, preparing to jump out of this moving car once again at her announcement. Vampires…? Seriously, there was no way…

 “Before you go all crazy nuts on me, you need to know that I’m only kidding. Witches and wolves, yes, vampires? Um no, well…” she tapped her chin with a finger as we pulled into the driveway, “…at least I don’t
think
so.”

I was caught between shock and irritation at her wickedly, horrid sense of humor. I shook my head, and opened the door. I was done with her, with everything. I ran to the front door the moment she put the car in park. Yeah, she could joke all she wanted, but I was no longer in a joking sort of mood.

Chapter Ten

Drinking what Mrs. Martin called her
special tea
, I finally felt myself relax for the first time in days. Whether it was the warm smell of pumpkin bread baking in the oven or the calm reassuring voice of Mrs. Martin’s voice informing me that I wasn’t actually going crazy, I didn’t know. At least my hands had stopped shaking…

“Okay, so I called the head master at Zachary’s school, and he had no idea that Zachary had left, which I find rather odd since they are all wolves and can practically smell each other a mile away.”

I smiled at her blabbering. It was so nice to know I wasn’t the only chatty Cathy in the world. “Anyway, I couldn’t get Zachary on his cell phone either, but I’m pretty confident his dad will find him. He’s the one with the wolf nose you know?” Mrs. Martin winked at me as she tapped her nose.

She buttered up two slices of bread, and I was practically drooling when she placed them next to my folded hands. I gave her a small smile of thanks. She was beyond amazing.

Kelsey had left about ten minutes after we got here feigning a headache. I knew the truth, saw it in her body language as she walked through the front door of the Martin house. Stiff, anxious eyes wandering from place to place, as if she was worried the boogieman, or a wolf, was going to pop out and get her.

“They’re supposed to keep a more watchful eye on him, that way he doesn’t get those wild hairs up his butt, and come home whenever he pleases.” She settled her hands over my wrist as she stared up at me, sadness creeping over her face as her eyes met mine, “I’m sorry he spooked you, sweetie. The change…it was so sudden and he fought us until the end about leaving for that school. He loves you ya know. You’re everything to him.” Her eyes lifted over her cup of hot tea as she took a drink. I swallowed, and looked away, her truthful words only made my insides hurt even more.

I knew Zachary loved me and all, but Jesus, I’d never be with him again, there was no way! Dating a wolf or worse yet, being a wolf’s mate, was all too much! Besides, the love…it wasn’t there anymore. I couldn’t tell Mrs. Martin that. She might hate me for it, might stop being the motherly person I secretly needed, adored.

My gaze lowered to the table. Maybe I could run away, steal Jamie and go. Like I said, I was never going to let anyone chose the patterns I’d take in my life. And if I found a wolf free island, then that would be the place for me. This supernatural world and I were not going to get along, even if I
was
somehow linked to it.

“Emmy? Are you okay over there, hon?”

I jumped, forgetting that she was there; nodding as my face heated. Damn…I hated spacing out like that. “Yeah sorry, it’s been a long day.”

“I know it has sweetheart, and I wasn’t trying to make this any harder on you, I know how happy you and Zachary were before the change occurred. I can only hope things get better for you two eventually.” She smiled, setting her cup down. Then her face turned stoic, completely, one hundred percent serious. Finally, was I going to get some answers? “Anyway, you didn’t come here to listen to me preach about your love life now, did you?” I shook my head. She was right on that one. I was not in a lovey dovey sort of mood by any means.

She stood and moved towards the sink, her palms clasped together as she turned and leaned her back against the counter. “Do you know why Kelsey brought you her?”

My brows pulled together. Really, why had she brought me here? I guess she figured it was because of Zachary, but still… “Um, no, not really.” I shrugged, leaning back in my chair.

“You’ve got questions. I want to be the person to answer them.” Okay, now Mrs. Martin was going cryptic on me. Ugh. Why couldn’t anybody ever be straight for once?

I nodded anyways, suddenly nervous at the prospect of knowing anything. I mean I do want to know, but ignorance was so much more blissful, right? And then my mind began to wander, and that’s not a very safe thing because I always envisioned the worst scenarios.

I flinched, sitting up straighter, stiffening in my chair. “Mrs. Martin…? Are you like, a wolf too?” I blurted out the mush pile forming in my brain, poking my tongue against the inside of my cheek as I watched her grin down at me.

“No Emmy,” she laughed, “I’m not. I’m actually a lot more like Kelsey than anything.”

“You’re a witch?” Shock laced my voice and I leaned back against the chair with widened eyes. Crap…I knew she wouldn’t hurt me or anything, but now that I knew what these so called witches were capable of, I couldn’t help but squirm in my seat.

“I am actually. Not a full-blooded witch, but I do have the ability to cast some spells, nothing major of course.”

“So does that mean Kelsey is, like, a full-blooded witch, because her little spell thingy was pretty powerful with those few, simple words.” I shivered at the memory of Zachary crashing into my chair. That was brutal, and something I never wanted to see again.

“Yes, honey. Kelsey is a full-blooded witch, from her mother’s side. Her dad is a human though.”

“I don’t get it still. Why are you only half?”

“Well…witches and wolves are a lot alike. We both embody a great deal of magic in us and when a witch and a wolf…get together, um…physically that is, things change in the chemistry of our offspring. The line somehow weakens instead of strengthens. I know it doesn’t make much sense, but it’s just nature’s way of somehow keeping a bit of balance, I suppose.”

One of my eyebrows rose as I listened to her words. Balance? Hah! What balance? How could there be any balance in this so-called supernatural world I apparently now lived in? Ugh…I could do without any of it actually. I didn’t say that of course, I only steepled my fingers together under my chin as she continued to explain the unexplainable.

“So anyway, somewhere down the line on my side of the family, there is wolf blood
and
witch blood intermingled. And since it’s very rare for a female to be a wolf, I only got part of the witch traits. The wolf trait never transferred at all of course.”

“Okay, I get that part, but I still don’t know how Kelsey is a full blood and you are only half, even though you obviously came from a more magical line with both shifters and witches.”

Mrs. Martin sighed. It wasn’t a frustrated kind of sigh thankfully, but more of a
how should I put this into words,
 kind of sigh. “Well, like I said before, wolves are
usually
only males, and witches are
usually
 only females. Once in a great while, there will be a male warlock or a female wolf that is born, creating a more powerful breed. Kelsey’s grandparents were like that. I believe it was her grandfather that was a warlock and her grandmother that was a witch; therefore her mother was a full-fledged witch. For some reason, the first-born child always gets the gene too if it’s there, until time passes and the gene diminishes. It takes quite a while for that to happen though.”

My head couldn’t fully wrap around everything, especially the thought of Kelsey’s seventy-year-old grandparent’s casting spells and shifting into animals. That brought about another thought of mine…if Kelsey had wolf blood in her family, then why in the hell did she hate Zachary so much? It made zero sense.

I relaxed finally, sitting forward to tap my fingers along the edge of the table. “So…you’re more of a down the line kind of witch then, with only little powers…”

“Yep, you’ve got it kiddo!” She gave me two thumbs up, smiling before she turned around to continue on with her kitchen duties.

My questions were far from over. It was now time for the meat and potato information. “So, uh…can you tell me about the whole mating thing then? The mate thing with uh…Jack?” Her hand stilled in midair. Crap…we were back to square negative one.

“No…she can’t tell you anything about that, Emmy.” Jack’s intense voice sounded behind me, the temperature in the room rose at least twenty degrees above what I’m sure the thermostat was set at.

My breath stalled out inside my lungs as I stood, in slow motion. The chair scraped across the floor, and my knees shook. I didn’t want to appear too eager, and I definitely didn’t want to be needy, but ever since our little argument in the hall this morning, all I could think about was seeing him again, hearing his voice, feeling his body close to mine. And then our eyes met and I had to grip the table to stay upright. His scruffy jaw flexed, it was the only motion that made me think he was affected by me, as I was him.

“There’s more pumpkin bread in the freezer if you guys would like some,” Mrs. Martin's voice stole the intensity of the moment, and I was more than thankful for the interruption. I stared down at the floor as she moved in between us. “If you need me…I’ll be upstairs putting laundry away.” She stood in front of me, but I couldn’t look at her. If I did, then he’d be there again. And I couldn’t
not
look at him…

I nodded, she left, and then Jack was there next to me, pulling up the chair that sat by the one I was occupying. That’s when my nerves took a flying leap to paranoia land.

His knees were pressed against my legs, and I gulped at his nearness. God, this guy definitely didn’t know the meaning of personal space.

“God, you’re cute when you’re mad…”

I scrambled up, putting more distance between us. I did turn to face him full on though. I had to watch him. His funny business was absolutely unpredictable anymore.

Was he being serious here though? Come on…cute? Still, there was no denying the affect his words had on my body.

Slowly, like the stalking animal he would be surely turning into one day, he rose to his feet, closing the distance between us. I gulped again, and pressed my hands behind me, backing even further away. But unfortunately the damn wall was in my way of an escape.

“I–I don’t like puppy dogs. I’m allergic…” I pressed my lips together into a tight line. I was far from allergic, and actually, I loved puppies, but it was the best I could come up with.

His lips pulled together in a sardonic smile, but his jaw tensed ever so slightly, and I grinned, happy that my puppy dog comment had gotten to him after all. So I inched forward in a show of bravery that I couldn’t actually locate. It was time to show him what I was really made of, even if my bravado wasn’t around to back me up. “What’s the matter
Jack
, wolf got your tongue?” I popped my lips together. Woo-hoo! Score one for me! I was totally on fire with my jokes lately!

“That’s not very original, Strawberry. I know you can do better than that.

Um, really, I couldn’t…not today anyways. His presence, his
nearness,
did all sorts of screwed up things to my insides
and
my outsides. I froze again, no more witty comments built inside my throat. All of that bravery I wanted to show off was tucked away in my chest. He pushed his hands onto the wall behind me on either side of my face, pinning me in place. His face and his body were within definite groping and kissing territory. I swallowed, staring down at his lips. Shit. No…I couldn’t go there.

His smile grew wider, he obviously knew exactly what he was doing, “Now, do you want to talk about this…or should I take your edge off once and for all.”

I blinked. Oh no. Oh God. What exactly did he mean by
your edge
because I had visions in my head that spanned from his mouth on mine to…ugh!

“Now who’s all tongue tied?” He winked. I hated when he winked.

I sucked in what had to be my very last breath, as he used his fingers to slide a lock of my hair away from my eye. The move was slow, tantalizingly slow, and electric as ever. My breathing came out in tiny pants. Hell, it was amazing that I could still breathe at all… His finger slid down the side of my cheek…until it landed on my neck…and continued its journey south to what had to have been my pulse. I was no longer able to keep my wandering eyes from connecting with his. And there they were, in all of their sparkly, blue glory, focused solely on mine.

“Chillax, Em…I’m only teasing you,” he whispered. His gaze was steadfast, unwavering, the epitome of intense. “I’ve got good news for you, now that you obviously know about us being mated and all,” his tongue slipped, and oh you better believe I watched it, became mesmerized with the way it moved slowly between his two, perfect lips. I wanted to lick it. I was also completely mental… “And there’s no need to worry…because I don’t want you as a mate. Not now, not ever.”