Her Wolf (Book 1 of The Circle Series)

CHAPTER 7: HAPPY BIRTHDAY

GIADA

“Remember how you used to say that summer didn’t start until it was your birthday? Well it’s here. Summer is here and I brought your favorite flowers.” 

I put the white Calla lilies in a vase attached to her spot and trace my fingers over her name. 26 years old today. 

“Did you know I moved to Italy? It’s expensive and I’m living in a tiny apartment but I’m teaching there and making it work. I’m in Capri and the beaches there are amazing. You would appreciate that I go whenever I have the chance.” 

We shared an infinite love for the summertime and beaches, never missing an opportunity to frolic by the water and work on our tans. 

“When I’m there, I sometimes think about the last time we spoke...how you tried to apologize. If I had known that would be the last time, Ness, it would’ve been different...I wouldn’t have let it end that way, I hope you know that.” 

For all the magic our coven possessed, no one could figure out what happened to her. Her body was disfigured and unrecognizable when found. Charlie, her brother, identified her by a beauty mark she had on her hand. Spells were cast, potions were made and nothing.   

“What happened to you, Anessa?” I whisper.

My eyes water. The last few days have been emotionally taxing. After trying to control my emotions for so long and be strong, it feels like all I’ve done since I’ve returned is cry.

“So the rumors are true. You’re back,” a voice calls out from the entrance of the mausoleum.

 Leaning against a pillar with his head c****d to the side is the last person I expected to see.  His dark eyes scrutinize me from head to toe. Rugged and slightly dangerous looking, he’s nothing like I remember. His dair hair is longer now and he could use a good shave. Dressed in all black and combat boots, he takes a swig from his bottle. Half of its contents gone and it's not even noon. 

“How long have you been standing there?” I ask. 

Bauer shrugs. It's obvious what the years have done to him and I have no desire to start reminiscing, not with him. Maybe I’m still looking for someone to blame. I don't know but I do know I should leave before things go awry. I make my way to the entrance. He grabs my arm as I pass him. 

“Wait,” Bauer calls out. 

The alcohol and smell of cigarettes on his breath combined with the emotions bouncing around within him threaten to bring up my breakfast. Self-loathing, guilt and anger are battling inside of him.

This version of Bauer clashes so fiercely with the carefree boy I fancied myself in love with. It’s difficult seeing him after all these years, even more so like this, so low-spirited. Being an empath does this, makes you feel for other people, worry about them even if they don’t deserve it. And he definitely doesn’t deserve it. I stare into his eyes of obsidian, looking for glimpses of that boy. 

My first boyfriend. The one I planned on giving my virginity to. The one my parents wanted me to build a life with, who cheated on me with Anessa and felt no remorse afterwards, continuing the affair weeks after I found out. 

His stare is unwavering and intense. Maybe he too is looking for hints of the girl he used to know. If so, we’re both going to be disappointed today. That girl is gone. 

“Is it the end of the world or something?” Charlie walks down the steps followed by my cousin, Valentina. “You’re the last two people I expected to see here. This is wild.” 

He looks like he stepped out of GQ magazine with his burgundy pants, white dress shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest and brown loafers. His blonde hair is artfully styled and he’s actually wearing sunglasses in the mausoleum. 

“Did you know she was back?” Charlie asks her. 

Valentina nods.

“And you didn’t think to tell me?” 

“I was going to, today,” she says. 

He has the good sense to take his sunglasses off as he walks towards us. Striking blue eyes stare at me inquisitively. He looks so much like his sister making it difficult to meet his gaze. 

Charlie’s face breaks out into a huge smile as he pulls me in for a hug. I bury my head into his chest taking comfort in the fact that he doesn’t seem upset by my absence. 

“You back for good?” he asks. 

“Just a visit,” I mumble in his chest. 

I catch a glimpse of Bauer frowning, as he starts making his way to the door.  

“Where are you going?” Charlie interrupts him.

“I’m out of here, man. I came early thinking I’d avoid you two...and you,” he points to me, “I wasn’t expecting you.” 

“C’mon Bauer. It’s been years since we’ve been in the same room and you can’t stay for five minutes?” Valentina asks. There’s a hint of anger in her usually calm voice. 

“Did you think because she’s here I'd want to stick around? Nothing’s changed, Val,” he scoffs. “Or maybe you thought I’d grovel at her feet and beg for her forgiveness?” His lip curls in disgust. 

“Why are you such an asshole?” Charlie asks.

“Oh that’s rich coming from you, Charlie. You’ve always been the biggest asshole I know,” he sneers.

He moves right in Bauer’s face. 

“You don’t even know me anymore. You want to blame Gia for leaving, but you left too. Val and I are the ones who stayed. Ritual or not, we were all supposed to be the future of the coven, remember?” He looks at me as well. “But it’s been just the two of us.”

Valentina grabs his arm and attempts to pull him backwards but he doesn’t move. I feel guilty but they don’t know what happened with Rafe. They have no idea that he’s in jail and the real reasons I left.

“Charlie, that’s enough,” she tries putting herself between them and sends me a look for help.

“No, it’s not. What happened between us is your fault, Bauer. You and my sister f****d up and then you were a p***y about it.”

“What the f**k did you just say?” Bauer shoves Valentina out of the way and she stumbles a bit.

“She was my sister. My sister!  The only family I had left. It was me and her and the three of you. You knew that and you still bounced after she died. You made her death about you, and it was never about you!”  

He shoves him hard but Bauer recovers quickly and charges forward swinging his bottle across the side of Charlie’s head. He barely registers the blow and takes Bauer down laying into him with his fists. 

“Enough!” I scream. I pull them apart with my magic and lift them into the air a few feet. 

“I didn’t want to get involved before because you’re grown men and I thought you could handle your business, but clearly I was wrong!”

They both seem stunned, feet dangling in the air.

“So you’re going to calm down and figure your s**t out because I’m not putting you down until you do,” I add as I sit on the steps. 

“Gia-“ Charlie interrupts

“I can do this all day, Charlie. Trust me. And you’re bleeding, so the faster you calm down, the quicker I can help you.”

He touches his forehead and winces. The bottle hit his eyebrow and there’s a gash above his left eye. Valentina sits beside me, stoic as always.

“Can’t you help them calm down?”

“Yeah, but they need to work it out for themselves. Plus, I’m going to heal Charlie’s wound and that magic takes a lot out of me.” 

“You can heal now?” Charlie asks incredulously. 

I nod.

“That makes you pretty powerful,” Charlie says which causes me to shrug.

“We're all pretty powerful with Valentina leading us all,” I remind them. 

A coven with a seer is very powerful and ours has two, both from my family. They’re often chosen to lead. It was rumored that I was being considered because of my family and the nature of my powers but I squashed that possibility when I backed out of the ritual and left. I followed the rules blindly and did what I was told, but it’s not what I wanted. If Valentina remains dedicated enough and she is willing, she will probably be elected the next high priestess after my mom and that’s fine with me. 

“Hey! Are you going to put us down anytime soon? I have to piss,” Charlie interrupts.

I look at the both of them trying to gage their emotional state. Charlie has calmed down considerably but Bauer is still angry. I can’t tell where the anger is directed but it is less than when I first suspended them into the air. I drop them forcefully.

“What the hell, Giada!” Bauer hisses. 

“You’re evil, woman,” Charlie groans.

Crouching down beside Charlie, my hand hovers over his wound as I call upon my healing powers. It surges through my veins requiring a considerable amount of magic. Open wounds often do. My hand starts to tingle but I can see the wound close. Charlie must feel it too because he touches the spot where it once was. 

“That felt weird. What else can you do?” Charlie asks.

I explain to everyone how I found out I was an empath. 

“Did anything change with your powers?” I ask them.

“Not really. I can do more damage with water and fire but that’s about it,” Charlie admits. 

Charlie was born being able to control fire. As the oldest of our group, he was the first to come into his powers, long before I left. Back then he had already begun controlling water too.

“My visions have gotten stronger. They used to be like pictures, now they project like a mini movie. Not just of the future but of the past as well.”

“Just like my mom,” I say and watch her nod. 

Bauer is quiet. It’s obvious he’s still not too keen on our little reunion and wary of us. 

“I can make the things I conjure move and disappear now,” he finally says.

“Can you make people disappear?” Charlie asks.

“Nah. I’ve tried though...more than once,” he admits with a small smile. 

Charlie chuckles softly. 

Silence ensues. Everyone’s powers are so different, but equally impressive. We would’ve been a force to be reckoned with if we had completed the ritual. I can’t imagine the power we would’ve been able to wield, the good we would’ve been able to do for our people, for all people. The mood becomes somber as we’re all probably sharing similar thoughts. I stare at Anessa’s name and grab Bauer’s bottle.

“Happy Birthday, Ness,” I take a sip and pass it to Valentina.

“To Anessa,” she says. 

Bauer grabs the bottle from her, raises it up, and takes his time enjoying a few gulps before passing it to Charlie.

“Happy Birthday, sis.” 

I loved being at the Packhouse with Jacquie and the group yesterday, but these three in front of me are special to me in an indescribable kind of way. The connection we once shared, while weak now, is still there. I can feel it. I don’t know if we can even mend what’s broken between us. But as long as I’m here, I want to try.