Lessons in Love

Chapter 32: That's not Bad News

POV: Beta Ben Westlake

When our auras mingled around us, mixing and pulling at each other, the bond seemed undeniable. I knew in that moment the bond had to be real. It was strong, and we were like magnets being drawn together. The intensity of her mate scent made it impossible to stop myself from wanting to close that gap between our hands; to close the gap between our lips.

My heart raced as she leaned in, and I wanted her. I wanted to kiss her, to hold her, have her. I felt her breath on my face and felt sparks like pings of static electricity between our outstretched hands. Half an inch, and we’d be touching. I closed my eyes, ready to make peace with the consequences of having her when there were two sharp knocks at the door.

Riley and I jumped apart. I raked my fingers through my hair as the door opened and had to remind myself not to growl as Rick stood in the doorway.

“Hey, you guys doing okay?” He asked.

I looked at Riley as she tucked her feet up on the couch and hugged herself. I felt fear from her and knew it was because we’d nearly kissed each other. “We’re okay.” I said. Riley looked at me and nodded like I’d asked her a question.

“Katherine found something, and I think you need to hear it.” Rick said, opening the door fully and letting them in behind him. I sat down in one of the chairs and waited. Katherine was brimming at her research as she explained what she’d read about power bonds.

“So,” she said, looking around between Riley and me. “What do you think?”

I looked at Riley, expecting to see a smile on her face, but I was hit with a wave of sadness and fear. She looked small and fragile, curled in on herself, as she sat on the couch. “It’s possible.” I said quietly.

Riley looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “I can’t do this.” She whispered. Riley stood up and started for the door.

“Riley, please.” I said. She stopped part way to the door but kept her back to us. “I know you’re scared. I’m terrified.” I said honestly, moving around to stand in front of her. “But what just happened to us sounds a lot like what Katherine is describing and what we just felt afterward … Riley, a curse can’t fake that.”

She was looking at the floor, but she sighed. I knew she’d felt what I had. There was no way she could deny it. It’s what made it all this scarier. “We’ve managed to keep our possessiveness in check, and we’ve still not touched each other after a week of finding each other. That’s gotta be some kind of record.” I smiled.

“Agreed.” Sam grumbled, drawing my attention. I watched him pull his wallet out and hand Rick $50.

“Seriously?” I growled a little. They both shrugged.

“Ben, I …” she said softly and immediately had my full attention.

“What?” I prompted as she rubbed her forehead.

“I think I want this to be real.” She said, finally looking up at me. Tears clung to her lashes. Her words made me feel lightheaded. I felt high from the fact that my mate, a woman who never wanted a mate, wanted me. She wanted me. The tears in her eyes, though, and the sadness I felt rolling off her confused me.

“Does that …” I swallowed audibly. “Upset you?”

“I don’t know.” She said honestly. “I think I’m just scared.” She added.

I growled a little and flexed my aura at her the way she’d just shown me. It rushed out of me a little, and I had to pull it back some, but I knew she felt the warmth of it. “What would make you less scared?” I asked.

Riley pulled out her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts. She put her phone on speaker and two rings later a woman answered. “Hello sweetheart, how are you doing?”

“I’m okay,” she said, trying to sound convincing. “Aunt Cindy, I’m with some friends, and we’re theorizing about power bonds.”

“You think that’s what it is?” Cindy sounded excited. Riley sighed as she launched into everything that had happened between us this week. Well, most things. Riley left out the more intimate moments. I felt her embarrassment at the story she told, and I felt like I’d bullied her into this phone call. Riley gave me a weak smile, and I knew she was trying to make me feel better even though I hadn’t been able to do that for her.

“Power bonds are rare.” Cindy finally spoke. “But what you and Ben are going through sounds like you’re reading a sample scenario of a power bond out of a textbook. There is a test that can be done easily on your auras, which Lu can administer. She should be able to show up next week when she’s done her assignment.”

Riley stood there silently and shook her head in frustration. I knew it was the waiting that was getting to her. I wanted answers, too. “Will it be definitive? The test, I mean?” I asked.

“You must be Ben,” Cindy’s voice smiled.

“Yeah,” I smiled awkwardly. Aunt Cindy knew my name. Riley had talked about me.

“The rarity of the bond would make it pretty definitive. The aura test will show what type of mate bond you’re destined for. If you both test positive for a power bond, then the chances of you not being mates is low.”

“It doesn’t rule out a curse, does it?” I asked, not liking the way she’d phrased her response.

“No, but Lulu is gifted at reading auras. She should be able to tell you if you are cursed, whether or not you find a curse stone. Hell, she’ll probably be able to tell you if the two of you are fated, what your matehood will stand for, the injustice that you’re destined to solve, and that last five lives you’ve lived!” Cindy chuckled. “She’s one of the absolute best I’ve ever seen.” Cindy’s praise put both of us at ease.

“Thanks Aunt Cindy.” Riley said.

“Chin up, honey.” Cindy’s voice smiled through the phone. “I know how stressful this is, but it’s going to be okay.”

“One more week, then?” I said, looking at Riley.

“One more week.” She said with a bit of a sigh.

“I can’t wait to meet you, Ben. I’ll see you all soon.” Cindy said her goodbyes and hung up. Sam and Katherine offered to take Riley home. Truthfully, I didn’t want her to go, but I knew if she stayed, things would get out of hand quickly.

Rick and I walked down with them as far as the second floor and said goodbye to them. I stood on the landing, watching them descend the stairs. Rick nudged me to get my attention.

“You love her.” He said quietly.

“I barely know her.” I replied, looking away.

“Please,” Rick laughed. “I saw the way you looked at her. When she told you she wanted this, you lit up like a Christmas tree.”

I felt my face get hot, and I pushed a frustrated hand through my hair. “Are we watching a movie or what?” I asked, stepping away from the railing. As embarrassed and uncomfortable as the conversation made me feel, hearing Rick laughing at me, after how he was just a few short hours ago, made me immensely happy.

“Come on, lover boy.” Rick laughed as he turned and opened the door to his place. I followed Rick inside. He went to the kitchen and pulled out the popcorn maker. I leaned against the island as he got everything out of the cupboards.

“This was supposed to be about making you feel better.” I said to Rick’s back. “I didn’t mean to add to your stress earlier.”

“You didn’t.” He said, putting butter in the microwave.

“You sure?”

Rick turned around and looked at me. “Ben, after you left, I hoped in the shower and thought about what happened today. It was awful. I felt awful, and I still feel a bit shaky.” He shrugged uncomfortably at the admission. “But I helped Kelsey today. I helped all of them. It hurt, but in a way, it helped me, too.” He gave me a weak smile and turned back to the popcorn maker.

“I’m still not going near that gym, certainly not in it.” He added, pouring kernels into the machine. “But for the first time in nearly four months, I think maybe I will one day.” With that, he turned on the popcorn maker and ended the conversation.

POV: Riley Campbell

Claire arrived the next morning with Rick and Ben in tow. The men were carrying a multitude of boxes and bags as they clamored into the school.

“What’s all this?” I asked.

“Needlepoint.” Rick grunted, putting his boxes down and tucking them up against a wall. “I’ll see you tonight.” He said to Ben and headed for the door.

“Be careful.” Ben said, concern naked on his face.

Rick smiled at him. “Always.” He gave Ben a wink and left.

“Where’s he off to?” I asked, grabbing some of the bags and heading for the gym.

“My father has asked him to accompany him to Ridgeline today. He won’t be back until after dinner.”

“I thought your father wanted the Alphas to come to him.” I questioned.

“He does,” Ben grunted as he put his heavy load down. “Just not Ridgeline, apparently.” Ben straightened up and wiped sweat off his brow with the back of his hand.

“Let’s get this ready,” Claire said to Ben. “I want it all set up before my girls get here.” She smiled. I helped for a bit and then went back to my office to get some stuff printed out for my class. Ben didn’t stick around at the school in the morning. After he helped Claire set up, he stopped to say goodbye but that he’d be back with lunch for the two of us. He was true to his word. He was in my office setting out lunch for the three of us when Claire and I came in shortly after the bell. He looked frustrated.

“No luck?” Claire asked.

“Luck? With what?” I asked, looking between them.

“No,” Ben said as he took his seat. “I was searching my parents’ house and offices for any sign of the curse stone. I didn’t find it.”

“You found something else, though?” I said, noticing the way he was choosing his words. Ben shot me a look, like I shouldn’t have said anything.