My Secret I Never Knew

Embrace 2

Candice’s POV

The last few weeks have been unbelievably horrible. First my birthday party was ruined, then I find out my bff tried to kill me multiple times, then I find out I have magic induced amnesia. Oh and let’s not forget this ridiculous training I’m being forced to do even though my magical block still hasn’t been removed. Apparently the spell is too strong, I just don’t get it. Something should have worked by now. I was so home sick in this short time and it doesn't make me feel any better that I seemed to be the only one staying in this big cabin that’s meant for guests, Eric is supposed to be here as well but he’s been in the Pack House with the others. From what I understood during my quick lesson on Werewolves the Pack House usually houses those of high rank or title and their families, while the guest cabin was for close friends and certain high profile guests. It was like a smaller version of the packhouse but still was pretty big and had about 16 rooms, every two rooms sharing an adjoining bathroom.

There was also a kitchen and lounge area but most of the rooms were empty until today when guests started arriving this morning for the graduation party. Well joint party because Eric wanted to surprise Nikki with a party so our graduation party became a joint party for her birthday. Originally my graduation party was going to be at a banquet hall downtown but because we’re stuck here that was a no go.

I felt like my life was spiraling, and there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn't even go anywhere without a driver and body guards, this whole ordeal was exhausting. I got up and went to the bathroom to shower for the day. I had an appointment setup at the spa today before the party tonight so that I can unwind. I came out of the bathroom and threw on a pair of white leggings and a plain pink t-shirt. I went to check my phone and saw a text from Holly telling me to come up to her room. I sent a quick ok text and left my room to head over.

I knocked on her door and was told to come in, I opened the door and saw Holly brushing her hair while Neesh was laying across her bed flipping through a magazine. They both had been marked by their mates and I wondered if I would meet my soulmate and when, they both seemed so happy I wanted that too.

“Hey girl, do you want to grab breakfast before you leave us and head to the Spa?” Neesh asked.

“Yes please it seems like we have barely hung out since you started training and we miss you” Holly added.

“Yes sure I would love that, uhm is this like a birthday thing for Nikki too, ooorr?” I asked courteously, I knew Eric had a day planned with her but I didn’t know all the details including the start time. I wasn’t ready to be close to her again just yet and the fact her training seems to be going better than mine didn’t help my self esteem.

“No, Eric wanted to spend the day with her and then we get her tonight at the party then tomorrow for a girls day and slumber party, remember we talked about this in the group text. You requested we not watch any scary movies and that request was denied by the way.” Holly responded with a laugh, I completely forgot about tomorrow and I hate scary movies they always get to me. After the girls finished getting ready we headed downstairs bumping into Eric with a breakfast tray that smelt heavenly. I pretended I was paying attention to the conversation and looked at my nails.

He thought Nikki deserved breakfast in bed, what about me? I have been training just as hard, actually harder, since I didn’t even know the basics that most witches were educated on from birth. Neesh was training hard also, but she was half werewolf so she won’t be as strong as I will be once I get this magic thing under control.

The conversation ended and we left with our driver and bodyguards in tow, there was an extra driver behind the SUV with the warriors since after breakfast the girls and I will separate.

We made it to The Breakfast House and headed right to our usual booth, it sent so wonderful and familiar here and I was missing home even more.

“Candice, you ok?” Holly asked

“Not really, I just really want to go visit home for a bit. There’s no way it should be still dangerous after all these weeks.”

“The Councils all feel that we are safer here, no one knows the identities of The Scourge or how they got into our town. Which should’ve been protected by barrier spells, the guy that attacked you in the A.S. and those that attacked during your party are thought to be connected. That means either these people are powerful enough to slip through the barriers or they have some sort of help Candice. You’re safe here, no one knows where you are plus Alpha John has made sure that none of his pack are traitors.” Neesh commented.

I smiled and nodded, but I’m still not happy about the situation.

“What’s going on with you and Nikki? You’ve been kinda pushing her away and you know that hurts her right, she’s always been there for you.” Neesh questioned and I looked between her and Holly, they both seemed concerned but confused at the same time.

“Before you think about saying it’s nothing, don't lie, we have eyes we can see. Don’t tell us you’re still upset at what happened when you guys were younger.” Holly spoke

“I just feel weird around her now. Part of me knows she wouldn’t hurt me on purpose but then part of me says that’s what she did. We all knew what hurting someone looks like and she kept hurting me, so maybe I just feel like I don’t know if I can really trust her.” I said looking down at the tablecloth.

“Maybe you should talk to her, try to see what was going on in her mind. See her reasoning for doing what she did, the way she did it.” Holly said while Neesh nodded in agreement.

We ate an amazing breakfast and chatted for a bit longer before it was time to leave. I went to the Spa and was immediately greeted while being handed sparkling water with lemon wedges. I walked into my private room to change into my robe and as I was walking out I bumped into someone’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry” I said before looking to see who I collided with.

“Oh, hey Superstar. Surprised to see you here.”

“Ugh hello Tierra”

“I noticed that you and your little friends would always disappear after school and I haven’t seen you guys around town. Where ya been?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Oh no big reason, I just heard you FINALLY know all about, how do I put this, our world.”

“Yes so,”

“Well I also heard that you’re not in much pain now when certain things are done to you, certain things that used to cause you pain. Hmmm I couldn’t help but wonder if it had something to do with what happened at my house, you know when you walked in on my boyfriend doing a little science experiment.”

I widened my eyes and wondered could she be right, I knew that day had happened but could whatever magical experiment she was involved with had helped me.

“I can see it in you eyes Superstar, you want help and I can help you. We were once friends remember.”

I was hesitant, I wanted to be fixed and maybe she could help.

“I…., I don’t even know how to get to the place where we are staying. Besides I don’t think it’s a good idea to go there anyway especially with all the training.”

“Oh really you’re learning magic with a block?”

“Well I’m trying but not getting very far,” I take a deep breath looking down in frustration.

“There’s more isn’t there, tell me what’s bothering you.”

“Why are you trying to be so nice to me?”

“We wasted so much time being at eachothers throats and I just want to be friends again, make things right. You’re an amazing and generous person, I think I was just a bit jealous of the strength I know you have. Plus a little upset the adults didn’t try to help you more. I wanted to but I didn’t know how and didn’t want to hurt you. Then of course there’s Nicole who was always in the way, geez your shadow followed you everywhere like she was trying to control your life or take it over or something.”

I felt like I was being seen again, and maybe I wasn’t in the wrong about my feelings towards Nikki. I mean if Tierra could see it too, then I’m not wrong. Nikki was trying to hurt me for whatever the reason.

“I doubt she’s in my shadow anymore, Mrs. Lee says she’s the most powerful she’s ever seen.”

“Oh really, I heard what happened at your party. I just thought it was a lie. I mean it’s not common for a 16 year old to gain and master powers most 20 year olds struggle with.”

“So I’ve been told, this guardian princess stuff is so confusing as it is and then I feel like everyone is throwing her power and skill in my face.”

“Wait, did you just say she’s a guardian princess?”

“Huh, what no” before I could finish explaining we were interrupted by the technician coming to show me to my room.

This Spa day was definitely needed.

All of us girls including Mack’s mate were getting ready in Nikki’s room for the party and talking. Well they were talking. I was mostly occupied with my own thoughts.

I couldn’t help but think about everything Tierra said mixed with my own thoughts that I have had since finding out about everything. As I sat in Nikki’s room she kept trying to treat me as if nothing was wrong, the same way she’s been treating me for weeks while I’ve been keeping my distance.

Why couldn’t it be like it used to be, why couldn't I feel the way I used to. Once We were ready we headed to the celebration building and were announced. As we walked through the doors everyone screamed SURPRISE while clapping at Nikki and she was all smiles. I clapped as well. Almost everyone’s eyes were on Nikki except Anthony was fixed on Holly, Mack on Lisa, Zack on Neesh and I had no one. I wanted someone to look at me how they looked at each other, I should’ve had one of the twins. If not Anthony then Eric, I am just as beautiful as Nikki and I have a way better attitude and less violent tendencies. Why wasn’t I with him, I should have Eric. He said he and Nikki are just friends so maybe I should claim him.

Suddenly I heard his voice, “Can I have the pleasure of the first dance?” He was talking to Nikki and she nodded and they walked to the dance floor. I danced for a bit and tried to enjoy myself but after singing Happy Birthday and us graduates receiving a toast and congradulations I was ready to go, so I walked outside. I sat on a bench looking up to the sky until I heard talking, I looked and saw Nikki walking with Eric. I decided to follow them, I couldn’t hear much but I watched, I watched them until I couldn’t watch anymore and I walked back to the Cabin.

I laid in bed thinking about how he made today special for her, how he held her. I always thought I would have one of the twins, Anthony is gone and I’ll be damned if I lose Eric too.

I let my sleep take over me

“NOOOOOOOOO” I screamed as I sat up in bed. Stupid dreams were getting worse.

“What did you see?” I looked to see Nikki, Candice, Holly in the room with concern on their faces.

“What are you doing in here?” I asked

“I told the girls we should wake you, I wanted to show you all something but you weren’t answering your phone. So we came to check on you but you were having a nightmare, what did you see?” Nikki stated as she kept her eyes glued to me.

“It was nothing just an unpleasant school dream.”

“You’re lying. Look Candice I’m sorry, I don’t know how many times I have to say it but I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. I still don’t, I love you. You’re my sister and this all has to stop. We need to come together.” She stood and walked over to sit on the bed beside me. Placing my hand on her heart and her hand on mine, the way she’s done since we were kids.

“We are always connected, I can feel your lies and it breaks my heart. Candice, please let us in. Please let me in.” I looked down took a deep breath and went into the details of my dreams for them and when they had started. They listened until I finished then all gave me a hug.

“Why would you hold all that in for so long?” Neesh asked

“I don’t know I should’ve told everyone once we found out the story but I couldn’t.” I replied as Nikki got up from the bed and walked near the door.

“I really have to show you guys something. Candice hurry up shower and get dressed, I think you need to see this most.”

I nodded curiously then grabbed clothes and went into the bathroom to shower and get ready. Once I was done we left out following Nikki, I remembered the path we were taking it was near where her and Eric were last night.

“Nikki where are you taking us?” Holly asked

“You’ll see.” was the only response given. We reached the water and Nikki looked at us smiling. Follow me she said before jumping into the water. “What the hell, yup she’s definitely lost it.” Neesh said looking at the water.

“What’s down there?” I asked staring waiting for Nikki to return.

“Nothing the whole pack comes here to swim sometimes but there’s nothing special about it.” Holly replied looking at the water

“I think we should go get her she hasn’t come up yet. Something could be wrong.” Neesh said walking closer towards the water. We all jumped in, the water was surprisingly clear. I looked around seeing a purple light and swam towards it, we soon found an opening and went towards it as the light faded. We got out of the water and realized we were in a cave, but it looked like someone had lived here before. There were a few cots and bins lined along the walls. Chairs and a table with dishes on it, the cave walls seemed to sparkle and had a few candle holders on them.

“It’s about time, geez, 10 minutes ladies really.” Nikki said shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

“Nikki, what is this place? How the hell did you find it?” Holly asked looking around.

“I didn’t, it called to me. Eric brought me out here last night to give me a gift, and we did a little magic. Once we went to sleep I felt, I don’t know like a pull bringing me back out here so I came. I saw the light and jumped in, finding this place and these.” She walked over to one of the bins and pulled out pictures. One was a painting of a woman with chocolate skin and a large curly semi tamed afro, sitting with her knees to her chest and her elbows were over her knees. Her hands were to her face in prayer position covering her face, and she had a gold grown on her head. The next picture she pulled out made me gasp, I looked to Holly and Neesh they were also shocked. The painting was similar to the first exact it was larger and had a second person painted in it, me. I was painted sitting next to the woman but instead of praying my hands rested on my knees and my chin was on top of my hands while my eyes watched the woman. I had a small Tiara on my head.

“What, what is this?” I asked

“Well these are really old paintings and they’re being protected by whatever magic is hiding this place. This place is really amazing, but the paintings are so amazing. It’s like they tell a story but I don’t understand it yet. The back of this picture with these two says Princess Rose and Maria, I think maybe your parents were right you’re a descendant of Rose. I mean look at the resemblance.” She was right, this woman looked so much like me or I looked like her. Before I could say anything Neesh and Holly growled. “We need to go, something is wrong. I can feel it and my brothers just mindlinked me to stay in my room.” Holly said Neesh nodded, “ I sense it too, times like this I wish I had a wolf I could’ve marked and linked Zack.” Neesh said frustrated

“Wait, I thought witches could make marks.” I said looking confused, then I looked at Holly’s neck and realized she didn’t have a Mark from Anthony but I thought I saw one last night.

“We do but mine won’t hold. I don’t know why, I place it on him then it fades away after a few hours.” Neesh responded while walking near the water. “That’s strange, Anthony’s mark won’t stay on me either. It’s like he has to do it every morning because it’s gone the next day. Maybe we can figure it out later.” Holly said, walking towards the water as well. Once Nikki put the paintings away we all jumped into the water and swam back.

Once we were out of the water we heard metal clanking and people yelling, there were also explosions. The girls took off running towards the noise and I carefully tried to make my way to the packhouse.

Neesh’s POV

I raced to the sounds of fighting pissed at myself for leaving without telling Zack were I would be, or having him come with me because I didn’t even know I would be where I was. We made it to the back of the field before the Pack House and saw the chaos we were being attacked, those not in wolf form had weapons. I saw three huge black wolves running in formation and ripping through others, I knew that was Zack with his dad and brother. Before I could say anything Holly shifted, I thought she was running towards her family but she ran a different direction.

“Neesh, Candice didn’t follow us.” Nikki said, I looked and saw she was right. I knew Nikki was probably worried.

“She probably went to safety, we have to help.” She nodded her head and ran into the field with her hands glowing. I saw a wolf stalking a small boy and I ran to him, I jumped on the wolf’s back and twisted its neck. “You ok.” I asked the kid, he shook his head no and pointed behind me. “Are you serious, really?” I yelled as I turned around seeing two bears running towards me. I stood in front of the kid in fighting stance, preparing myself trying to summon a stupid energy ball. I was great at hand to hand combat but my magic still wasn’t as strong as a full blooded witch, I needed either magic or a wolf to beat these things. One would’ve been fine but there are two charging towards me, and I was standing my ground. As they neared Ophelia swooped from the sky clawing one of their eyes out and a black wolf attacked the other, biting into its neck and pulling its throat out. I knew it was Zack or rather his wolf butcher. I nodded my head and grabbed the child running behind Butcher as lead the way to my mothers cabin, it was a safe house protected by magic. I opened the door and we went inside, I noticed other children in the cabin and I sat the boy down so he could go to them.

I went for the door but I was stopped by Zack who had shifted back.

“Where are you going?”

“To help our friends and families.”

“No, Neesh stay here, help here.”

“What, no.”

“Neesh please, you can only link your dad and we have no idea why you’re not as strong as you should be. Please stay here.”

“I’m strong in hand to hand now move.”

“You can’t do hand to hand for everything Neesh please.” He placed his forehead to mine and I nodded. He was right, even being half witch I should’ve been stronger. My wolf side could only link family plus I have heightened senses but I should’ve been a stronger witch either way. My stupid mark wasn’t even holding on him. He left after kissing me and I looked at everyone, I’m going to stand guard outside you all will be safe here ok. I’m pretty sure Zack wanted me in the cabin but all he said was help here, so I’m helping my way. I took off my shoes before opening the door, I noticed when I was younger I could sometimes feel my mothers magic and it would amplify my own. As long as I stayed near the cabin I should be fine, I stepped outside and my feet absorbed her magic around me. Red energy began to form in my hands I smiled as a wolf tried to lunge at me, I threw my energy ball knocking the wolf out perfectly. I defended the cabin from the outside, only letting those from the back into the cabin. I had just decapitated when I felt a pain in my left left side, I wasn’t injured but it brought me to my knees. I screamed in pain as my left arm began to radiate with pain, I quickly realized it wasn’t my pain. I took off running looking for Zack, I stopped when I saw him. He was dropped to the ground by a bear, two small children were crying behind him. My heart raced as I saw the bear raise its paw to deliver a killing blow to Zack, I couldn’t believe it. “NOOOOO, ZACK!!” I screamed running towards him as fast as I could, I felt a my body shivering as red light around me grew brighter. I needed to get to him, I pushed myself faster and when I got close enough to the pair I jumped in the air onto its back.

My hands had claws coming from my fingertips, I clawed into the bears back and released an energy ball as I did, causing the bear to explode. I fell to the ground near Zack, I could feel he was alive but barely. “Zack, come on babe, come one open your eyes.” I told him while patting his face. “I told you to stay in the cabin.” He said weakly. “Correction you told me to help at the cabin which I did until I felt you, you’re not healing. Zack we have to get you out of here.”

“No the wounds are too deep, Butcher is too weak. He’s trying to heal me but can’t. Get the kids out of her it’s not safe Neesh.”

“No, I'm not leaving you. I can’t you’re going to be ok, Ophelia is getting help.” I told him then I heard a bang, I looked to see that the four of us were inside a red dome being shielded from those trying to attack.

“We’ll look at that, I always knew you were strong. You were just too stubborn to try.”

“That’s not me”

“The kids are wolves, they aren’t shielding us baby, that’s all you.” He said with a weak smile, closing his eyes. I could feel his heart getting weaker, I looked around hoping to see my mom but I couldn’t. I started to cry pulling him close to me, but I could sense him leaving me.

“You are NOT dying on me. Do you hear me.” I said firmly and I heard the children behind me gasp. Red light started emerging from my hands and body then suddenly it started fading into white before going back to red then white again then red, and then suddenly the noises from the battlefield were gone.