My Secret I Never Knew

Rebirth cont..

Eric’s POV

I haven’t seen Nikki since the night she left, after Ariel stopped me from going after her I wallowed in my room for a few days. Then after a week I reached out to her and we talked about training. I wanted to tell her I missed her and I was miserable without her but I thought back to the night she left. I told her I loved her and she didn’t say it back, she was even tense at first, but then she kissed me. It could’ve been a pity kiss but I thought it felt like more, I thought we could be more. I guess I was just more focused on what I wanted or thought I wanted that I didn’t see her feelings clearly.

Then again she can talk with Eli so maybe everything isn’t in my head. I don’t know, I just know it’s been 7 months since I’ve last seen her in person and I was looking forward to today. I hadn’t expected to see her on my birthday but when I found a gift on my nightstand I knew it was from her, and I looked all over the place but couldn’t find her. The others told me she had left and I couldn’t believe she would just leave without seeing me, unless she thought the kiss was a mistake.

I remember wanting to see her so badly and suddenly I was able to.

~Flashback ~

I had taken a shower and climbed into bed, I pulled the gift box off of my nightstand and opened it. I stared at the white gold bracelet with an infinity symbol on it for a few minutes before sliding it onto my wrist. I smiled at it wishing I could have seen her then suddenly there was a blinding white light and she was standing in front of me with her back turned towards me and a towel wrapped around her wet body.

“Nik?” She jumped startled then turned around looking at me.

“What the Hell Eric seriously, what are you doing?”

“I don’t know, one minute I’m in my room alone the next you're here.”

“You’re an i***t, look around.” She said as she placed her palm on her face, I looked around realizing I wasn’t laying in my bed but in hers. I was somehow at the clubhouse.

“How, how”

“What is it with guys and reading? Geez you couldn’t open the birthday card before the gift?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked and she rolled her eyes and held up her wrist near her face. A bracelet that looked just like mine but a smaller version, more feminine.

“I spelled the bracelets, so whenever we wanted to see each other or talk we could. It’s kind of better than cell phones in my opinion. I just haven’t worked out all the bugs.” She said with a coy smile, I got off the bed and walked over to her and tried to hug her but my hands went through her body as if I were a ghost.

“Its astral projection not teleportation, I thought it might be nice to have but then I realized how stupid that was and forgot to grab it before leaving.”

“This is not stupid it’s great, I love it. Thanks, but why didn’t you give it to me personally? Why did you leave before I could even see you?” I was confused and honestly hurt, she didn’t say anything. I saw tears trying to fight their way out of her eyes but she was holding them back, something was wrong.

“Nikki, you know you can tell me anything, you’re my best friend and I’m here for you.”

“Yes and you’ll always be just that my best friend, Happy Birthday Eric, get some rest and read the birthday card.” She said as she pulled her bracelet off causing the white light to surround me again before I was in my own bed again. I rushed out of my bed into the bathroom and emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet, when I tried to stand dizziness over took me causing me to fall back down. Anthony heard the commotion in the bathroom and came to help me, asking what happened and I just shrugged. I didn’t know what was wrong. After helping me he picked up the birthday card from Nik and asked if he could read it, I nodded.

“Happy Birthday Eric, I was working with some spells and I wanted to share this one with you since you’ve always talked about being two places at once. Do NOT put on the bracelet until AFTER the full moon which is two nights away, there are a few bugs that still need to be worked out. Anyway, now how about you turn around for your second gift..”

“What second gift?”

“I think she meant her bro, she was supposed to be standing behind you as you read the card. Hey dumb question but did you jump the gun and use that gift?”

“Yeah and that might explain what’s going on with me now.” I said as I palmed my face laying all the way down. Anthony left laughing.

~ End Flashback~

I was sick for a week but once I was better we talked pretty much everyday and it wasn’t the same as being physically together but it was nice.

I talked to her on every trip she took over the last few months but not once did she mention this guy that she suddenly showed up with. I’ve seen this lady Zo that was in the sss with her but not once this guy.

His cocky smile, the way he touched her, the way he talked to her, him sitting with her at dinner it was all just pissing me off more than her not telling me about him. Why didn’t she tell me about him? Why did I find out she would be staying in a guest room with him from someone other than her? Why did she even bring him here?

I was staring at the ceiling when I heard a knock at the door, I called out roughly for whoever to come in.

“I still can’t teleport yet?” Nikki said from the other side with a slight chuckle. I jumped out of bed and opened the door for her. She walked into the room and took a seat at the foot of my bed, she had a box with her. I noticed how perfect her body looked, smooth flawless skin, plump in all the right places.

“So Uhm, what’s with the box?” I asked, she smiled widely at me then patted the bed on the other side of the box, I walked over and sat down.

“Well, I found these pictures a while back and I wanted to tell you but after I got as much information as possible.” I watched her pull pictures out the box, some were just of her mom. To my surprise some were of her mom and mine, years worth of pictures and a few rolled up paintings. Letters were also in the box but they were written in a language I didn’t understand, in two different handwritings. I looked at her puzzled.

“Your mom and my mom were childhood friends, they grew up together from what I’ve found. Maybe they were from the same coven, look at this.” She pulled out a canvas and unrolled it, it had 10 children and a few animals painted on it around the age of maybe four or five. They were smiling and surprisingly some were even holding weapons. She flipped the picture over to the back and the name that stuck out the most was my mom’s, Gloria.

“This can’t be.”

“It can though, Gloria is your mom and this child here is Adria, my mom. They WERE childhood friends and I think they were actually best friends. These photos here are pictures of paintings of these 10 kids, I can’t find any actual pictures of them until they are like 10 years old. I guess whoever ran the orphanage was big on paintings but.”

“Wait orphanage?”

“Well yea, look at these paintings and pictures. This place is huge you can tell by the fireplace but also look at the kids themselves, they aren’t all the same ethnicity and they don’t even have any similar characteristics. It’s possible our moms are from an orphanage, but you can tell they were best friends because look when pictures started being taken there are more of the two of them then any of the others. Then there are these letters, one is in my mom’s handwriting and the other I’d bet is yours we can compare it to if you have any keepsakes she may have written on.” I shook my head staring at everything in front of me, could she have been in an orphanage?

“Nik, how did you find this stuff and I think we should show Ant.”

“I found it, I was home in my room and I got a cherry craving and accidentally grew a cherry tree out back. Well when the tree branches grew up, they carried a trunk full of stuff out of the ground. I guess at some point my mom buried it back there which means she had to have known about the cabin. So there’s that and also Tony knows already, he’s kinda been to visit me a few times.” Her voice got lower on the last part. “Don’t get upset please, I asked him to not tell you. I had my reasons, but he confirmed that the woman and teenage girl was your mom and the child right here in these paintings is her as well, she looks the most similar to the pictures. Anyway, based on this seal in the background of the paintings I started doing research and traveling to find out as much information as possible, eventually I met Kin in the sss and.”

“Do you have some type of thing for my brother.”

“Excuse me.”

“Well it seems like you gave him a little nickname, I guess he became Tony when you guys were sneaking around on your little discovery missions. Did you drop him when you met your sss boyfriend or do you guys have some type of triangle thing going?”

“First off eww no I don’t have a thing for your brother. He’s your brother, you i***t and my other best friend is his mate. Secondly Kin and I are just friends, we look out for each other and he’s been helping me.”

“Helping you with what, different positions to try at night? I mean that’s why you’re rooming with the guy isn’t it? That’s why you’re comfortable leaning over him and allowing him to touch you.” I didn’t know what was happening. My mouth was moving and words were coming out, and I wanted to stop but I couldn't. I knew she didn’t have anything going on with my brother but still I couldn’t help but imply it. I watched her gather everything gently, placing it back in the box before going to the door.

“Nikki guys like him only want one thing and once he’s done with you he’s going to disappear.”

“You’re a complete dumbass, do you know that dipshit like really Seriously Eric!”

“Nikki if the roles were different.”

“If the roles were different I wouldn’t be such a dumbass you dumbass.”

“Stop calling me a dumbass.”

“Fine, how about King of the dumbasses does that make you feel better or Guardian dumbass. Does that work better for you numb nuts?”

“Real mature Nicole”

“Look who’s talking, you know what goodnight and don’t talk to me tomorrow.”

I slammed the door behind her and flopped on my bed, I could’ve handled that differently. I don’t know why I didn’t, I don’t know what made me be so disrespectful and rude. I tossed and turned in my bed until sleep overtook me.

I woke to my alarm the next morning, and grunted feeling extremely sorry. I rolled out of bed and hopped in the shower before getting dressed and walking down the hall to Nikki’s room, I knocked on the door only for sss boy to answer it naked.

“Dude really, put on some clothes man.”

“Can’t until Kiki gets back with something that she says will help me to blending in better.”

My hands suddenly caught on fire

“Are you in trouble with your powers, do you need help?”

“Just tell Nikki I’ll be training in the field and I would like to speak with her.”

He smirked and I walked away skipping breakfast and going straight out to the field, I started practicing with the dummies made of straw before Candice and Jessie joined. We practiced throwing weapons for a bit then as we got ready to spar, Holly and Neesh came out sitting at a tree nearby.

“I want you two to attack me at the same time.” I told Candice and Jessie receiving a nod from them. Candice attempted to attack first by swinging at my head, I dodged and attempted to kick her in the side but was hit in the back by a ball of water. I turned to find Holly and Neesh laughing, then another ball of water fell from the sky onto my head.

“SERIOUSLY WE’RE TRYING TO TRAIN HERE.”

“Ok, and we are just here to watch.” Neesh said innocently, I turned my attention back to Candice and Jessie. When I tried to punch Jessie in the side I was startled by a frog suddenly appearing in my pants, and gave up on training after an hour going back to my room.

I tried to shower but after a few minutes I started to feel sticky and realized the water turned to strawberry jello while flowers started growing in the toilet.

I tried to go to the kitchen to get something to eat but every time I would touch something it turned into bubbles.

“What the f**k is going on today?” I yelled frustrated at no one in particular as Anthony and Zack walked in.

“What’s your problem?” I tried picking up a piece of fruit and he watched as it turned into bubbles and floated away, they chuckled.

“So you pissed off the ladies Huh. Holly loves that bubble thing when she’s pissed at me. Her having best friends that can cast spells is a pain in the ass sometimes.” Anthony said

“I remember Neesh once turned my hot shower into Lime Jello.” Zack added while shaking his head.

“I haven’t done anything to them, I came down to train and I’ve gotten balls of water thrown at me, a frog in my pants, a jello shower, flowers in my toilet and bubbles instead of food.”

“Dumbass you were a d**k and upset Nikki, which upset the other girls and they are retaliating. It's like in some girl code book or something that if you mess with one they all gang up on you.”

“Yeah man you really messed up, I heard Nikki screaming at you down here. Then she told Neesh what happened in detail, thanks to you I was an unlucky wolf.” Zack stated

“Yeah well Neesh told Holly, and apparently they were just going to mess with your training for a day. But after finding out the bullshit you pulled in detail last night they’re pretty pissed man. Why the hell would you even accuse me of being in a love triangle with Nikki.” my brother asked

“Why were you visiting her and not telling me? The moment I found that she had information about mom I wanted to tell you only to find out you already knew.” I responeded

“You are a dumbass bro. Nikki knows things involving mom are a lot more painful for you. She was concerned about your feelings and how you might take things, she also wanted to make sure she was getting correct information before bringing it up to you. Just in case you wanted to do more research on your own, you wouldn’t run around chasing your tail like she was when she was trying to find answers to her powers. Oh and Holly knew about every trip I made with Nikki, she even came a few times you ass. At first Nikki didn’t want you to know because she didn’t want you to be disappointed, then after a while she told me she wanted to tell you so it could be like a bonding experience or something for you guys.” Anthony told me with irritation lacing his voice

“Yeah she told Neesh watching Holly and Anthony talking about some of the stuff and the way they were having an intimate discussion about the past and family made her want that with you. Something about bonding on her deeper level or whatever. Dude she was even going to take you to meet the tribe in the sss she’s been with. One thing I want to know is why do you think she’s not a virgin, Nikki seems like the type to save herself for someone special. Her body is banging though whoever gets to pop her cherry is lucky.” Zack commented making me roll my eyes and sigh at the mated idiot

“Right, it’s like BOOM in all the right places and that ass is just plump and whoah.” Anthony added and I felt my fists clench. They must have noticed my irritation because Zack did a 180 and add, “Exactly she’s hot, friendly and naive plus sss boy is definitely not a virgin. There’s no way he is, there’s something going on there even though she won’t say it.”

“Wow so breakfast talk is my virtue and my body.” Nikki yelled out of nowhere, we turned to see Nikki and the girls pissed looking at us while sss boy and Jessie were chuckling. I palmed my face and judging by the faces of the guys they didn’t hear everyone come in either.

“Zack, just so there’s no confusion you’re sleeping on the couch tonight.” Neesh said with a pointed look.

“But there are spare rooms.” Zack said

“COUCH” she screamed at him and with a wave of her hand he was covered in honey and feathers, he nodded not saying another word.

“Anthony.” Holly said calmly

“I will be sleeping in the Bell tower until further notice my love and the woman of my dreams.” He replied quickly, I shook my head, the guy was completely whipped. I turned to look at Nikki who was glaring at me, not saying anything just giving me a death stare. I got a chill up my spine and watched as she glowed a light purple. I burped suddenly and a butterfly flew out of my mouth, I looked at her before burping again and another flying out.”

“Oh wow that’s a new one, bug burps. Pretty cool, can you maybe assist us.” Neesh said before looking at Holly who nodded, before Zack and Anthony could protest ladybugs were being released with each burp they made.

The girls and sss boy then walked away while us guys tried to locate Mrs. Lee for help, we knew she had to be in the cottage that Mr. Lee built with a little help well a lot of help from the Blood Moon Pack a few months ago. It’s located a little over 100 yards behind the SafeHaven, we found out about 6 months ago how huge the property was. Apparently, we own more than 1,000 yards of land on this side of the road and over 800 yards on the other side. We won’t have an exact number until the actual deed is found.

We arrived at the cottage and before we could knock Mr. Lee opened the door laughing and shaking his head.

“You three are idiots, not only did you upset one but three powerful beings. Back in my day we were cautious about what we said to and around women, especially women with powers.”

“One minute we were alone, the next they were standing there, it’s not our fault.” Anthony said with a burp that allowed a ladybug to fly out his mouth.

“You live in a place that has people literally coming and going at any given moment, you should know better than to talk out in the open instead of let’s say in one of your rooms.” Mr. Lee said before mouthing the words, “make soundproof man cave.”. We nodded and he let us into the cottage. We walked inside and down the hallway to the den where Mrs. Lee was working. She had Rebecca still in owl form sitting on a perch over a steaming cauldron.

“Hold on one minute you stooges, I just need to add one more thing to this potion.” She said, reading jars, before finally grabbing one and sprinkling the substance inside the jar into a pitcher with orange liquid in it. She stirred it before pouring it into three glasses and handing them to us. We looked at each other then drank the substance that tasted like liquid earwax and toothpaste mixed with orange juice.

“I knew little Nikki would use this spell, but she’s a few hours early, and instead of just one of you it’s all three. I really should meditate more, my focus is a little off it seems. Anyway, you three will be fine in a few hours hopefully.”

“HOPEFULLY!!?!?” all three of us exclaimed in unison.

“Yes well this spell was one that belonged to Nikki’s mom. She used it a few times when she first started dating Nikki’s father. My poor friend didn’t know what hit him the first time she used it on him and it lasted days, she eventually gave me the ingredients for the cure potion. Her way of not talking to him but still helping him, Nikki hasn’t perfected the spell yet so the potion can take a while.” She said with a chuckle then made us leave. We all decided to just camp outside until the spell wears off then we would start working on a man cave.

11 hours, the spell lasted 11 hours.

The next morning was filled with bubbles, jello, frogs, bats, Anthony even woke up with breasts.

“Eric, fix this. I can NOT go to the party tomorrow like this.” My brother yelled at me pointing to the size double Ds now taking up space in his shirt. Zack chuckled and I shrugged, yes I knew I was an ass and I was going to apologize, but you can’t punish someone for having a conversation.

“I’m surprised Holly is still having them spell you, our birthday is tomorrow and you would think she would want her mate in top condition. After my damn breakfast turned into sand when I bit into it I went and begged for forgiveness.” Zack said while eating a freshly made sandwich, my stomach growled at the realization I hadn’t eaten anything in over 24 hours. I couldn’t touch food without it turning to bubbles, but maybe he could feed me. As if he knew what I was thinking he said, “don’t bother asking I’m NOT getting back on Neesh’s bad side.” Then continued eating in front of us, I looked at Anthony.

“Why didn’t you just do what the cowardly wolf did and beg for forgiveness.” I asked him

“I did, multiple times. She said something about me needing to learn to keep thoughts to myself and respect women or some crap. Then keeps asking me what’s my takeaway from everything and I have no idea what she’s talking about.”

Zack and I rolled our eyes at the i***t of course he wouldn’t learn a lesson from this, I could tell him what to say but why suffer alone.

I walked outside with Zack to the training field hoping to get my mind off things when sss boy came over with a stupid grin on his face.

“Good Morning, I would like to know if there is a place on your land or nearby for swim break? I think Kiki would enjoy the water.”

“I know in the sss you don’t have cold weather so you don’t understand what to do, anyway It’s 32°out here. Swimming may not be such a good idea someone can catch a cold, sss boy.”

“We have cold temperatures occasionally and my body runs hot, very hot. I can not feel the cold as you do. I can also keep Kiki warm so she will not get sick if that is what worries you.” He replied with a smirk

“Why are you even here? You shouldn’t be here.” I groaned

“I am here because Kiki needs me here, and I am not one to turn away my friend in need.”

“Nik, doesn’t need you. I am here and I can take care of her needs just fine. I always have.

“How can you when she doesn't want you around. You may have been helpful in the past but I can do things for her you can’t imagine, or maybe you can but aren’t man enough to do yourself.”

My hands sparked and I balled them into fists making contact with his jaw followed by his rib cage. He grunted before landing an uppercut on me, he tried to kick me but I dodged. He smirked before pulling out a handheld stick that expanded into a full length staff, he spun it over his head then in front of him before getting into a fighting stance with it. I summoned my own weapon made of energy and attacked, the asshole was skilled. I'll give the cocky bastard that, he moved gracefully with each swing and dodge.

“I hope that if she is in danger during a real fight you will do better than this. I am disappointed after all the stories she would tell me about you as we prepared for bed, I imagined you to be better then this.” He said, as he landed a hit to my shin thoughts of him touching her and laying near her played in my head and felt my body heat up more. I felt the flames overtake my body and I threw the staff at him. I instantly regretted it, as it changed into a spear midair moving too fast for him to react and piercing through his abdomen.

Suddenly a purple force wrapped around his wound holding the blood in.

“I think that’s enough for one day.” Nikki said with her hand outstretched, concentrating on his wound. I hadn’t noticed she was even out here.

“s**t, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to”

“Well Kiki, you were right as usual. This one is a pretty good warrior, I see great potential if he learns to control his emotions. I am truly surprised he even attacked first, didn’t think he had that in him.”

“You have a hole in your side, stop being a dipstick and let’s go to Mrs. Lee to get you healed.”

“Nik,”

“Not now Eric, just please not now. Kin walk now.” She said as they walked away and I slumped to the ground.

“Well congrats bro, you just impaled your girlfriend’s boyfriend.” Anthony said as he walked up behind me and patted me on my shoulder. I huffed punching him in the knee before laying flat on the cool ground.

“Part of me feels he deserved it and so much more. I don’t understand how she could be with him, Ant. He’s a conceited idiot.”

“Oh and you know this from the whole two minutes that you had a conversation with him Huh.”

“I am great at reading people and those two don’t fit together, he’s just not right for her. She deserves someone better.”

“Are you saying that because you want to be that better person for her? Honestly, where I’m standing bro you haven’t even been a good friend to her. You never gave the guy a chance, you don’t even know how he treats her or what is it that she gains from him. You have been a real jackass and that’s saying a lot if it’s coming from me.” He slapped me on my chest and walked away whistling. I stared at the clouds for a bit before deciding to go up to my room and take a shower.

After my shower I went down the hall and knocked on the guest door for sss boy to once again open it naked, this time he was drenched in water, I sighed and stared him in the eyes trying to be as sincere and calm as possible.