Chapter 17

Tabitha picked at the food sitting in front of her as she was lost in thinking about her quarrel with Madeline earlier. “Tabitha, is everything ok? Do you not like the steak that they’ve made for you? I can have them bring you something else instead,” Esha asked as she looked at Tabitha with genuine concern etched onto her face. Tabitha smiled, and she shook her head. “No, everything’s fine. The steak is amazing. I’m sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts.” “Where did you go?” Esha inquired. Tabitha didn’t want to discuss what Madeline said about Silver City. She needed to put it behind her and let it go. Tabitha smirked and lied, “ Just reminiscing about how much fun we had last night with you at the after-party.” Esha’s smile grew, and her eyes sparkled with delight when she heard this. She was happy to hear that the two wolves could remember the night. The pheromones had only a positive effect on them and not a negative one. This was good news. “I’m glad you two enjoyed yourselves. I believe there’s another party tonight in the meadow district. You both are welcome to come and check it out if you like,” Esha told them. Tabitha’s heart filled with excitement when she heard there was another party. She looked over at Marco and smiled. She mind-linked him. Tabitha: So? Do you want to go? Marco: What about the others? Tabitha: I’m sure we can invite them too. And if they don’t want to come, it’s their loss. Marco nodded his head in agreement. Tabitha turned to Esha and said, “We’re in.” Esha smiled in delight. “Excellent. I’ll send you the details later,” she said as she picked up her glass and took a sip. *** Colson’s heart beat hard against his chest as he walked quietly beside Gretchen through a small park by the hotel. As pretty as the garden looked, something was missing that made it perfect. Colson looked up at the dark sky and frowned. It never occurred to him how much he enjoyed feeling the sun. He glanced down at Gretchen as she walked beside him and saw her shivering. Colson wanted to slap himself upside of the head eternally. “Are you cold?” he asked Gretchen as he pulled the jacket he had on him and wrapped it around her. “Thanks,” Gretchen said softly as she pulled his jacket closer and took in his smell with happiness. They continued to tiptoe along the park. Neither knew what to say to the other. In an attempt to break the awkwardness, Gretchen spoke, “It’s weird walking through here when it’s so dark, but it’s only noon. How do these flowers stay in bloom without the sun? I don’t think I could live somewhere without the sun, no matter how amazing they say this place is.” Colson smiled at his mate as he placed his arm around Gretchen’s waist, leaned close to her ear, and said, “I couldn’t agree more,” then kissed the side of her head. Gretchen leaned into the kiss as she closed her eyes, and her heart fluttered. When Colson pulled back, Gretchen laid her head against Colson and sighed. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked her. Gretchen pulled back from Colson. “Can we sit down for a bit?” she asked, pointing to a bench not far away. Colson nodded softly, followed her to the bench, and sat beside her. Gretchen turned in her seat so that she could face Colson. “How is the mate bond different from liking a person? I mean, how can you tell that you actually like someone versus the bond telling you, you like someone?” she asked him. Colson sat and stared at Gretchen, unsure how to answer her question. Was she worried that he didn’t like her? “I think the bond helps us see our mates for who they are and how they can be our better half. Sometimes our insecurities and standards get in the way of choosing who is right for us, and the bond helps push those thoughts and feelings out of the way so that we can see our mate through clear eyes. Some mates will focus only on the bond and not learn about the person they are meant to be with. Our wolves help make it easier to establish the bond because we can sense their emotions, and they can sense ours. But how I feel for you is real. It’s not just the bond that connects me to you and makes me want to be with you. That first time I saw you, I felt something before my wolf yelled mate in my head,” Colson confessed. Gretchen’s chest filled with happiness as she listened to what he told her. It was more than just a bond. “You like me?” she asked with insecurity laced in her voice. Colson pulled Gretchen into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “You have no idea how much I like you and want this to work. I have tried so hard to keep my protective side and wolf in check, so I didn’t scare you away like I did that first night we met. I don’t want you to be afraid of me, ever.” he confided as he pressed his forehead against hers. He liked her. Gretchen kept repeating to herself. This wasn’t just one-sided. This could work; they could be together. All she had to do was take that leap and trust he would catch her. “I like you too,” she whispered. *** Deak and Vita pulled up to one of the voodoo shops they found on one of the side streets off the main drag. Vita could feel the power that was radiating from the shop. It was a magical shop and not just for the tourists. Vita sighed as she took a deep breath and opened the front door. Vita stepped into the shop, and it immediately reminded her of how Deak smelled fresh out of the shower—her favorite scent. Deak leaned into her and whispered, “Why does this place smell exactly like you? My wolf is going crazy in my head.” Vita smiled. “It’s a spell to make people feel more comfortable as they walk in,” she explained. “Girl’s not wrong,” they heard a voice say from the front of the store. Vita and Deak continued to make their way toward the voice they heard. They found a tall woman with her back turned to them. She was mixing ingredients into a bowl. “That’s some bad mojo he’s got on him,” the woman said aloud. Vita and Deak looked down at his wrist where the bracelet causing many problems lay. “I haven’t seen that kind of juju in a long time,” she told them. “I was hoping that one of the covens here in Silver City might be able to help us break the curse on it,” Vita admitted. The woman turned and looked at both Vita and Deak. She looked young, not much older than them. She looked down at the bracelet and saw the burns it was causing on Deak’s wrist. “I’m sorry, there’s nothing any witch here can do to help you. The only way to cure that curse is to reject your mate,” she told them before she turned back around and continued to mix.