Changed (Marked Duology Book 2) Page 9

  “A week later I found myself here, in North Carolina, feeling better than ever about my decision to keep you and the wad of money in my pocket. It had been ten grand to be exact. Looking back now, part of me thinks that was Kale’s way of saying he was sorry and part of me thinks it may have just been his way of paying me to keep his secret.

  “By the time I was five months pregnant with you I was already opening up my own little florist shop and doing just fine all by myself. The only thing I needed help with was building all of the shelves in the front of the room for displays and some storage areas for in the back. The company I hired sent a handsome man with a great smile, a cute southern accent, and the hospitality of a gentleman.” She paused to wink at me, and I knew who she was talking about without her having to say his name—Bill, my dad.

  “We spent the next few months together as strictly friends and nothing more. At least that was what I told myself, because I knew I wasn’t ready for a relationship again just yet. But somewhere between the time that we met and the time of your birth Bill became more to me than just a friend, he became my best friend and so much more.” Mom looked at me with the first real smile I’d seen on her face since she began talking. It reached up and touched the corners of her eyes. I curled my body into her and rested my head on her shoulder.

  “I never told him everything from my past. I left out the werewolf part for obvious reasons. Tessa…” she cut herself off and sighed. “I hope knowing all of this doesn’t make you think any less of me.”

  I wrapped my arms around her. “No, it doesn’t. Thanks for finally telling me.”

  She patted my forearm. “I’m glad it’s finally out there, and I’m so sorry I never told you sooner. Maybe if I had, everything you’re going through right now could have been avoided,” she said, guilt lacing her words.

  “I probably wouldn’t have believed you anyway,” I said, my throat feeling thick. “So why did you choose Breckwater, North Carolina? How did you even find this place?” I asked, attempting to lighten the mood.

  “There was a tattered map of the United States left in my apartment by the previous tenants. I closed my eyes, spun my finger around, and North Carolina was where it had landed. I figured since there were no wolves here it was as good a place as any. I got myself a map of North Carolina that afternoon and did the same thing. My finger landed on Breckwater. Now I can see, though, that all of my strategic planning did me no good.”

  I avoided her eyes for as long as I could, thinking that this would be the moment she would tell me I should have listened to her and stayed away from Jace. When those words never came, I raised my eyes to meet hers and the amount of sympathy and guilt I saw mixed within them was enough to make me tear up once more.

  “Now, tell me what’s been going on with you,” she said in a soft tone, sniffling.

  And I did, I told her everything starting from the night of the Halloween party and ending with the news I’d just gotten about Jace being betrothed to Shelby.

  “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry,” she whispered into my hair after pulling me into a big hug.

  “I’m scared, Mom.” I sobbed, finally able to release all of my pent up emotions.

  “Shh, everything will be all right. We’ll get everything figured out.” She reassured me softly. “You don’t have to accept any of this… you can always walk away, Tessa.”

  “I know.” I sobbed into her chest, but the truth was, it was impossible for me to walk away. I loved him.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The next morning when I woke everything from the previous night came crashing down on me. Words and emotions flipped through my mind at a dizzying pace. I couldn’t believe Shelby and Jace had been betrothed to one another since birth. Looking back I guess her actions, his uncle’s visit, even the things that Jenna had said to me in the middle of my mother’s florist shop, all made perfect since with that newly gained piece of knowledge.

  I wondered if I could survive a fight against her. Shelby was vicious and sneaky as a human, and I could only imagine how much that would be intensified in her wolf form. Then it dawned on me why Jace had mentioned us becoming friends—if we were friends then Shelby wouldn’t want to go up against me with such determined force, if she even wanted to go up against me at all. I stared up at my ceiling and frowned. Who was he kidding? There was no way Shelby and I could ever become friends.

  I thought of everything my mother had told me and our two-hour-long conversation. I wondered if what I was feeling was any comparison to being told randomly one day that you were adopted, because I sure as heck could feel the similarities. I didn’t know yet how I felt about my mother having kept so much from me my entire life, but I wasn’t as upset or angry about it as I used to be.

  One thing I knew for sure, though; there was no way I was going to school today.

  * * *

  “So, tell me Shelby’s weakness… besides you,” I said. It was almost 3:00 p.m. and I’d spent the entire day at Jace’s house. My dad hadn’t noticed I didn’t get up to go to school and if my mom did, she didn’t seem to care.

  Jace cocked his head to the side and flashed me a grin. “Her weakness? You mean besides water, which would make her melt?”

  “This is not the ‘Wizard of Oz’ and Shelby is not the wicked Witch of the West,” I said, playfully smacking his shoulder. “I’m trying to be serious; this is something I should know.”

  Jace sat back, sinking into the overstuffed couch. “I know, I get it, but I just can’t think of a serious answer to your question.” I watched his face fall as he ran his fingers through his golden hair in frustration. “I can’t believe the way things are turning out. I’m sitting here having a conversation with the love of my life about how to take down one of my friends.”

  I reached out and placed my hand on his thigh. “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting how hard this must be for you, too.”

  “Don’t be sorry. If anyone should say they’re sorry it should be me, because I loved you too much to let you go.” He tilted his head my way and smiled, before his face grew solemn. “Shelby is swift, especially in her wolf form. If you want to beat her you have to think like a wolf. She’s going to try to exhaust you and take little nips here and there in hopes you’ll crumble from either pain or blood loss.”

  My eyes traveled to the blood-red polish on my toenails, lured in by the color, and I felt my chest tighten with anxiety. I knew Shelby was going to be vengeful; there was no doubt in my mind, and hearing Jace support this theory unintentionally, made it all the more worse. How was I going to come away from this alive?

  “You can’t waist time with her. You’ll have to come at her with full force… right here.” He leaned into me and nipped at the sensitive area where my shoulder and neck met. His laugh filled my ear, and I squealed as goose bumps prickled across my skin.

  I felt myself relax into him and was just starting to enjoy the feel of his warm lips pressed against my skin when my cell buzzed in my back pocket. It was a text from Rachel.

  Why weren’t you at school today? Are you sick or something?

  No, just playing hooky. What’s up? ~ Tessa

  Not much, heading to the store for soda with Gina. Mark’s having a party tonight at his place, you wanna come?

  “Feel like doing anything tonight?” I asked Jace.

  He raised one eyebrow and glared at me. “Like?”

  “Like going to a party at Mark’s place with Rachel…”

  “Sure, nothing better to do,” he said, stretching his arms above his head. “And I promise I’ll behave myself this time.” He smirked. “As long as everyone else does.”

  I playfully shoved him. “You better.”

  Yeah, we’ll come. What time? ~ Tessa

  Nine-ish.

  Sounds good. ~ Tessa

  “The party starts around nine so we have plenty of time to eat before or whatever,” I told Jace, setting my cell phone on the coffee table.

  “Right, plenty of time for… w
hatever.” He grinned, leaning into me again and picking up right where he’d left off.

  Jace’s hand cupped the back of my neck as he drew me in closer to him. He pressed his lips against mine softly and a sweeping sense of desire sparked to life inside of me. Pushing into me gently, Jace laid me down on the couch. My hands began roaming, exploring the smooth skin beneath his T-shirt.

  “I think I like passing time with you,” I muttered as his lips left mine in favor of the delicate skin along my neck.

  “Me, too.” He groaned and ran a hand up my thigh.

  * * *

  It was 9:25 when we got to Mark’s party. Inside there were wall to wall people. I took Jace’s hand, and we made our way back toward the kitchen where I knew all the drinks would be. Stopping in front of a long line of rum and tequila bottles, I reached into my pocket for a quarter and readied myself to flip it.

  “Heads I drink, tales you drink,” I said, my lips curving into a smirk.

  “What?!” Jace grumbled.

  “One of us has to be the D.D.” I grinned, even though I was serious.

  “Deal,” Jace said, placing his hands on my hips.

  I flipped the quarter high into the air and caught it, then smacked it down on the palm of my hand. Holding my hand in place covering it, I met Jace’s eyes and wiggled my eyebrows.

  “Heads, I drink!” I shouted triumphantly once I lifted my hand.

  “I think I like it better that way, anyway,” he said, pulling me in for quick peck across the lips.

  “I bet you do.” I laughed, reaching around him for a plastic cup.

  “Hey, Chick-a-dee!” Rachel’s loud voice called from behind me. “I’m so glad you guys made it!”

  “Me, too!” I said, giving my tipsy best friend a hug. “It’s been way too long since we all hung out.”

  “Yes, it has,” she agreed, placing a hand on her hip. “Oh, before I have too much to drink, I need a favor from you. I need you to step outside with me away from all the noise so I can call my mom and tell her I’m staying at your house tonight.”

  “Okay… maybe while we’re out there I should do the same,” I said, casting a pointed look at Jace, then biting my bottom lip.

  “I’ll wait right here,” he said, flashing me that little smile of his I loved.

  I grinned widely as I followed behind Rachel toward the door.

  ***

  After Rachel and I had made our phone calls and got the okay from our parents to stay at the other’s house, we headed back inside to the party and completely let loose. I lost count of how many shots I had and danced with Jace until I felt beads of sweat trickle down between my shoulder blades, happy that for once I was doing something normal.

  It was nearly 12:00 by the time Jace decided I’d had enough and started helping me into the passenger seat of my car. I cranked the radio up as Jace squealed tires out of the parking lot. Rolling my window all the way down, I hung my arm out and laughed while nodding my head with the music and bouncing my legs.

  Glancing over at Jace I realized that no matter what I had to endure to be with him, I’d do it. Even if it meant going up against Shelby.

  * * *

  I woke the next morning to the awkward, creepy feeling of someone staring at me while I slept. My eyes fluttered open and I realized it was Jace. He was wide awake, his head propped up against the palm of his hand, staring at me intensely as though he were desperately trying to burn the image of me lying in his bed into his mind forever.

  I looked away, moaning and stretching. “Why are you staring at me like that? Was I snoring?”

  “No.” He chuckled. “I just like watching you sleep. You look so peaceful.”

  I smiled, feeling my cheeks begin to flush with color, and shifted around beneath the blankets. Instantaneously, the realization I was naked crept into my mind. I’d spent the night and slept naked in Jace’s bed. Oh, my.

  “I can’t believe I’m here,” I muttered, my hand rubbing away the dull ache in my forehead.

  “Is that a bad thing?” he asked.

  I glanced at him, taking in his bare chest, tousled golden hair, and amber-colored eyes. “No, not at all.”

  His perfect lips twisted into a satisfied grin. “Good.”

  I sat up in bed, pinning the sheets to my bare chest for coverage, and reached over the side, grabbing up the first article of clothing I could find—Jace’s T-shirt. Slipping it on, I slowly climbed out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. Closing the door behind me a huge involuntary grin sprung onto my face that remained in place even while I was peeing. The thought that I’d just spent the entire night with Jace made me giddy.

  When I came out of the bathroom, Jace was sitting on the edge of his bed in plaid pajama pants with his hands clasped together in front of him, looking incredibly nervous.

  “What’s wrong?” I wondered, my stomach tying itself up in knots.

  Jace swallowed hard and brought his eyes to mine. “Nothing, just come here.”

  My anxiety grew the closer to him I got and the dull ache in my forehead became forgotten along with the giddiness I’d felt moments ago. Jace took my hand in his, and I could hear him take in a deep breath.

  “Tessa,” he whispered, his eyes locking on mine. “I know things between us have moved insanely fast because of my actions. I get that you’re going through a lot right now and I can understand how things in the future may seem pretty scary for you with Shelby and all.”

  My heart pounded in my chest as I thought this is it, last night was the moment when Jace realized that I wasn’t what he wanted after all. I took a step back as Jace stood and reached into the pocket of his pajamas pants. Then, seemingly in slow motion, I watched with wide eyes as Jace got down on one knee.

  “I’ve given you things you’ve always wanted, but never knew were possible to have,” he said, looking up at me through nervous eyes. “I’ve given you the wind—never have you been able to run as fast as you can now. I’ve given you the moon—now you’ll always be able to enjoy its luminous beauty and feel its power against your skin. But there’s still one more thing I’d like you to know that I’ve given you…” A hesitant smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he held up a ring. “My heart. Tessa Morganton, will you marry me?”

  His words lingered between us in the air and for a long moment I forgot how to breathe as my eyes remained frozen on the glittering ring between his fingers. It was gold with two delicate looking hands clasping around a heart with an intricate crown resting on top.

  “It doesn’t have to be right now. It can be whenever you want… I’ll wait forever if you need me to,” he insisted. “I just saw it and thought of you and how much you mean to me. It’s a Claddagh ring, and there’s this cool little saying that goes along with it.”

  “What?” I asked, my voice sounding breathy.

  Jace smiled up at me. “With these hands I give you my heart, and I crown it with my loyalty.”

  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

  “Is that a yes, then?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  His lips twisted into a triumphant smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, and I felt my heart explode with happiness. Jace held up my left hand and gently began to slip the ring into place. “It’s actually an Irish wedding ring. When worn with the crown facing inward it means your heart belongs to someone.”

  “It’s perfect,” I gushed, unable to take my eyes away from its glittering perfection.

  With his hands still clasping mine, Jace stood. “And now, I’ve given you my heart,” he said just before his lips pressed against mine.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Weeks slipped by and with each passing day my senses became duller and duller until finally a moment came when I felt normal. There were no lights too bright that day or harsh noises. No smells too strong or grumbles that twisted my stomach nearly making me double over from the pain of hunger. I had the old me back and it felt spectacular.

  But the old me onl
y lasted for one day.

  Each day after, my senses grew and I hated what I knew they were leading up to… another full moon.

  Christmas had passed and I’d found it extremely hard to appear normal around my dad; he still had no idea what I was. Mom and I hadn’t decided on the best way to tell him yet. How do you tell someone that a mythical creature exists?

  The relationship between my mother and I had become better, but the relationship between her and Jace had only intensified. She just couldn’t see past the fact that he’d taken my life away with one stolen bite. Her words, not mine. I knew it was going to take a lot of time for her to see how truly happy I was with Jace, but in the long run… that was all that mattered, my happiness.

  Everyone seemed to notice the ring on my finger, but no one more than me. I never would have guessed such a tiny thing could carry so much weight, but it did. It was just as much a symbol of Jace giving me his heart as it was of me giving mine to him. I lay in bed at night, spinning it around on my finger with my thumb and memorizing every tiny indent, every perfect curve. I had given him a definitive yes, but we’d never discussed a time. There was too much weighing on my mind, and my future with Jace at this point seemed uncertain, but only because it rested in the hands of Shelby at the Wolf Moon.

  * * *

  I kicked off my shoes and pulled off my socks; feeling the frost-covered grass beneath my toes made a shiver travel through me. This was it; this my second full moon. I didn’t hesitate this time in slipping out of my clothes in front of Jace. There was no point; he’d already seen everything anyway.

  Moonlight filtered through thin clouds and touched my skin here and there, instantly relieving me of the itch that had begun to spread moments ago. A whipping wind came, blowing strands of my hair into my eyes. I tucked them behind my ears and glanced to where Jace stood, just a few feet in front of me, completely naked with his head tipped back and his eyes closed as though he were basking in sunshine on a warm summer day.