Wolves of Enchantment

Jax’s Point of View I slammed my fist down on the alarm, groaning at the early start to my day. With football camp starting next week and my mom's friend Jason as the coach, I knew I had to be on top of my game. Not that I ever slacked off, but now there was a family friend to impress. Just as I was about to doze off again, my phone beeped with the sound of a motorcycle. Juniper never failed to make me smile with her daily jokes. I rolled over and grabbed my phone, opening her text to read it. Juniper: Why did the strawberry cry? He got himself in a jam. Rise and shine, Jax! See you soon. I imagined Juniper giggling at that lame joke, her strawberry blonde hair in her beautiful blue-green eyes as she typed out that text. It was funny, kind of. It made me smile and got me out of bed, which was her mission anyway. Juniper knows me better than anyone; she’s my best friend. Last year, when I was freaking out over school and life in general, Juniper said she'd send me funny texts to cheer me up. And she actually follows through with it. Every night before bed and first thing in the morning, she makes sure to brighten my day with some kind of meme or joke. It's nice to know she's there for me no matter what. With my family and friends coming over soon, I remembered I had some chores to do. And Ember mentioned that our new coach would be bringing his wife and some girl they're taking care of. She said Lilith is really cool and rides a motorcycle like me. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of bike she has and if she'd want to go on a ride together sometime. It's rare for girls to have motorcycles, so it'd be awesome to have someone else who shares my passion for riding. But I definitely don't want her thinking I'm trying to hit on her. I just hoped that she didn’t think I was hitting on her. I had a few female friends because they always wanted to make it more, and I just wanted a friend. I was excited about seeing Grandpa Dwade, too. He was bringing something from Malin to protect my brothers and me. Everyone is constantly stressed out about us turning 18, but I didn't get the big deal. So we had some crazy powers. It's not like that makes us any more attractive to girls or anything. My dad always says, "With great power comes great responsibility," like it's profound, but he never explains why. He only told me that my parents had fought some epic battles when they were younger. I never got the details though, just the highlights. Our life was quiet, without too much drama, and I liked it that way. I hoped peace remained. Juniper’s Point of View I giggled at my joke and tossed the phone aside. Mission accomplished. I knew it would get Jax’s ass out of bed. He was one of the most hard-working, dedicated people I knew… but the one who would hit snooze on his alarm until the button broke if you let him. That boy loved his sleep. I teased him that was how Jax would know when he was finally in love. He’d give up his precious sleep just to be with the one who finally stole his heart. My best friend was seriously unlucky regarding dating. He was gorgeous, intelligent, athletic and genuinely nice. But, with magic in our veins, among other supernatural things, it limited our dating options. Jax always got hit on at school, but no one ever seemed to catch his eye. Jax didn’t want to waste time with someone with whom he would have to hide parts of himself. Unfortunately, those who were magically inclined had all grown up together, and there wasn’t a spark. I always wondered if he had a crush on Prue. She and Hazel were twins, always hanging around Jax and Jackson when they could. His eyes followed her with a longing look, but when Prue looked at him, he quickly looked away. Maybe Jax was just shy. I’d encourage him tonight to make a move if he is interested. Jax did tend to overthink things and get lost in his head, except when it came to football. Jax was amazing and focused when he played. It was like he came alive on that field. I couldn’t wait to go and see the first game! I wasn’t a cheerleader like Prue, but I sat in the stands and cheered for my best friend. Even though I didn’t like the crowds and would rather have my nose stuck in a book, for Jax I made it a point to leave some wiggle room in my comfort level. Grandpa Dwade’s Point of View “Are you sure that Juniper doesn’t need something as well? She turns 18 this year, too,” I asked the ancient gnome. Malin smiled at me and shook his head. “I made sure to add some enchantments to the necklace Raven gave her daughter the last time Juniper visited with Jax,” the gnome replied. “Juniper is not your granddaughter. Why are you so concerned?” Malin inquired. “She’s Jax’s best friend, and I’ve watched the girl grow up. Juniper is the best of Joey and Raven and such a sweet girl. If you have anything that could give her extra protection, I would appreciate it,” I asked. “Juniper likes to read and sketch, eh?” asked the gnome, pondering what he could send back for her. “Yes, she likes butterflies as well. I think, in some ways, Juniper reminds me of what Sage was like when she was younger,” I admitted. “Perhaps that is one of the biggest reasons I’m inclined to watch over like I do my grandchildren.” “Sit, give me a few moments, and I’ll be back. I have an idea,” Malin said and disappeared into his workshop. I’m glad he didn’t offer me one of his unique brews. Those always knocked me out, and I had the most vivid dreams afterward. I was seeing my grandchildren later today, and the last thing I needed to be was tripping. Malin emerged, looking quite proud of himself, holding a beautiful ring. The crafty gnome told me it was made of black tourmaline, stunning red quartz, fiery red beryl, and vibrant carnelian in a butterfly design. It would protect and bless Juniper, and it was perfect for her. I knew she would love it, and I placed it carefully in the same bag that held the enchantments for my grandsons. I was excited to give these gifts to the children, knowing that it would protect and bless them in this most pivotal year for them.