Devil's Three-way

Chapter 4

I sat at the island in the kitchen with a cup of coffee, waiting on my mom. She was on the phone with dad again when I came downstairs for our talk. I could hear murmurs coming from the other room as she spoke. It had been about a half hour since Kyle left. I wasn’t sure how I felt about our dinner plans at his parent’s house, antsy maybe. Still I couldn’t wait to see him again. I wasn’t even sure what I was going to wear at that point. Was this a normal dinner, or something a little more fancy?

My phone chimed as I sipped my coffee, startling me. I checked seeing it was Briana, a close friend from school.

You weren’t in 5th, saw the vid. Damn Girl! 

Grimacing remembering how horrifying I looked on the video I replied back telling her Kyle brought me home and we had lunch with mom, everything was fine and I’d see her tomorrow at school. Thinking to myself, even though I would miss certain people I was glad there was only a month left before I graduated. Hopefully, it would fly by without incident. We texted until mom came into the kitchen, looking a little exhausted. Nightshift was wearing on her more each day.

“Ren, I have to work tonight. I talked to your dad and when he gets home in the next few days, we are going to have a lot to talk about.”

I took a deep breath, “I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”

My mom smiled lightly, “No, it’s just we didn’t know how things were going to go...” She started but cut herself off, “Your dad and I thought it would be a good time to talk to you about some things.”

I gave her a funny look, “Mom, we have had the birds and bees talk.” It was pretty blunt coming from me, but I was a little dumbfounded at what she was getting at.

“Honey it’s not about that. There are just some things your dad and I need to discuss with you.” She rubbed her forehead, “Just be safe and don’t get yourself in trouble, protection.” She looked over and took my coffee cup, sipping it. “You know coffee is bad for you.” She tisked.

Rolling my eyes; I stood up, “I was thinking about going for a run.”

My mom almost spit coffee she was so caught off guard. “Jogging?” She came over and felt my forehead, “You are not running a fever.”

I shooed her hand away, “I just feel like I have all this energy lately. I thought it might be good to try jogging.”

Mom nodded, “So Kyle… huh?”

I blushed, “It just kinda started happening this morning. I mean I wanted it to happen for a long time, but then after the fight…. I don’t know mom, he kissed me and I felt sparks! It was like my entire being became aware of Kyle all over again. Not that still wasn’t already.” I flushed even more. Mom knew about my crush on Kyle, every one who knew us could see it. 

Mom smiled, “Yeah your dad does that to me too. I remember when we first met in college. It was like I was drawn to that man!”

I smiled and laughed lightly; I’d heard this story so many times. Somehow my dad still gave my mom that feeling, and I thought it was absolutely wonderful!

“So, I was thinking, before your dad gets home, I’d like to take time and tell you about my side of the family. I know I never really let you around them. They aren’t evil or anything like, it’s just they didn’t agree with my decision about your father. So, we lost touch.” Her thoughts seemed to drift into the past. “My father always thought down of your dad, mostly because he was on a coven council and it looked bad on him.”

“Looked bad on him? Coven Council?” I was already lost. “What kind of Coven Council mom?”

In that instance my mom looked up to me, her eyes swirled and I could feel electricity in the air. “There is a lot you don’t know. Your grand-father is the head of a coven, being a warlock’s daughter I inherited some of his magic. Its in the blood.”

“It’s in the blood..” I repeated, still confused.

She nodded then touched my forehead with her palm, “Bronntanas cuimhní cinn”

Suddenly a shock came through me, my vision blurred with images and words I couldn’t understand. As the words flowed into my ears, I began understanding…

An older man who resembled my mother sat behind an oak desk, his features were sharp and his eyes narrow. I could tell he wasn’t happy in that moment.

“You are choosing a mutt over your family and heritage? How can you be my daughter?” He spat his words at me, anger showing on his face. Almost fury.

“I didn’t choose this father. He’s my mate. It was fate!” I was almost pleading for his acceptance.

I could see his aura glowing a deep red around him, “This will stop immediately. You will withdraw from school and come home. We will discuss this matter after.” I ran from the room tears streaking down my face.

Everything goes black until another image forms, I’m laying in a bed. My face is tear streaked, but I’ve fallen asleep. Its now as if I’m standing in a corner of the room. The door creeps open slowly letting light fall onto the floor and over the sleeping girl. Her red hair glistened in the light, she murmured softly in her sleep. A man walked through the doorway, he was carrying a smoking smudge stick. I could smell the sage in the air as the man began whispering words I couldn’t quite make out.

Finally, my ears tuned in, “Bain na ceangail a cheanglaíonn an leanbh seo. Lig di a croí a reáchtáil saor in aisce gan brón nó pian ón gcaillteanas seo. Taispeáin di cosán nua, athraigh ceangailteach a cinniúint. Glan a hintinn, ag tabhairt todhchaí nua di.” He repeated it three times as the smudge stick glowed in his hand. I could see a single tear fall from his eyes.

Suddenly my mind jumped, understanding every word he’d spoken…

“Remove the ties that bind this child. Let her heart run free without sorrow or pain from this loss. Show her a new path, change the binding of her fate. Clear her mind, giving her a new future.”

Gasping for air I felt as the incantation took hold, the girl was levitated over her bed for several minutes. As if nothing had happened, she floated back down into the crisp sheets. Her murmurs quieted leaving a smile on her face as if the world had been lifted from her shoulders. I realized the girl was my mother as everything fades to black.

What felt like a life time later, my vision begins to re-focus. This time it’s a bright and sunny day I’m sitting on the college lawn with a book in my hand. A man runs over to me and wraps his arms around me, “Mate! I thought I lost you! I could no longer feel you! Where have you been my beautiful mate?” I felt sparks fly through my/her being. There was a connection with this man who I recognized as my father. His eyes were brimmed with tears as he looked at my mother.

Pushing him from her startled beyond belief, “Excuse me, I don’t know you.” Her red hair circled her face and her green eyes danced over him. Something seemed familiar. I felt something when he touched me/her.

“Lillian, you’ve been gone for months! I couldn’t sense you. Don’t you recognize me? I’m your mate Stephen!” His tears barreled over, not understanding why his mate couldn’t recognize him. Suddenly he sniffed the air, “Your pregnant…”

My mother’s eyes got wide, “How.. how do you know?” She stepped back, frightened. Her face began to flush and breathed deep gulping air.

“Love.” My father almost whimpered reaching for her. I could feel his yearning to hold her, kiss her, protect her. It made my heart wrench when my mother rejected him, placing a magical barrier between them.

With a determined look, my father stepped forward and through her barrier! Suddenly he hit his knees and his body began to faze, hair sprouted over his body, his hands became paws with claws and his teeth grew sharp and pointy. Just as he had phased into this creature he turned back, like a flickering of himself. He swallowed hard and managed to stand. “Mate.” He stated firmly taking a step, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into a passionate kiss.

I felt as if my body was on fire, the soft spot in my neck began to burn. My mom screamed out in pain, tears rolled down her face as she closed her eyes. “Stephen..” She whispered softly before opening her eyes again, her face still filled with flowing tears. She took his face and kissed him as if he’d been lost to her. I could see red marks appearing on the curve of her neck as all the memories came flowing back. My dad buried his face in her neck, scenting her and placing a hand on her tummy.

“I thought I lost you.” He crumpled to his knees again and hugged her belly snuggly. “I’ve missed you so much. I’ve searched every coven university this side of the Mississippi!” He nestled her stomach finally looking to her face a smile forming on his lips. “And what a gift!” He whispered before standing again and hugging her tight.

My vision faded and I was back in our kitchen.

“Magic takes a lot out of you.” She pulled two glasses from the cabinet and retrieved the orange juice from the fridge. Pouring two glasses she came beside me, “You are the reason he was able to find me and break the spell.” She pulled me into a hug. “There is going to be a lot you don’t understand at first Rennie. There are still things I don’t understand. Drink your juice slowly.” She took a sip herself, “Your grandfather placing that spell on me was the last straw. I didn’t go back to our family home after that. I just left with your father, transferred back to the college we met and five months later you came along. Not knowing if you would have magic or be wolf, we made our home here. Out of pack territory but your father is a beta. We belong to the Rising Moon Pack.” She said softly.

“You never told me? You left me in the dark?” I was floored. All this magic stuff, information overload! Somehow all the air left the room and I was gulping not getting any oxygen. I fanned my face as tears formed, I was not understanding any of this. My body began to vibrate from the inside. I could feel something clawing to the surface, it wasn’t begging to get out. It was dominating me for full control. I felt hurt and betrayed from all the years of being in the dark! “Does Kyle know?” I croaked softly, my heart hammering.

My mother backed away from me, “Not everything, but he can sense you’re his mate.”

“Mate? What the f**k mom?” My body began to shake, and I could feel pins and needles over my arms, legs, and back. A sharp crack sounded through the air and I fell off my stool, “Ahh!” I wrapped my arms over my stomach, I reached out for my mom, but she was backing away.

“Oh no! Oh no! You’re not supposed to shift until the full moon!” She ran from the kitchen and up the stairs away from me! How could she just leave me like this! It hurt so bad! I could feel my bones cracking and shifting inside me. A growl came from my throat then a painful howl.

Kyle….

I could see everything around me in a new light, but I couldn’t control what I was doing. Words started to hum in my head, “Mika.” I felt my entire body shake, like I had water on me.

Mika Wolf! The voice in my mind shouted happily, I could feel my paws padding across the tile kitchen. My wolf stretched and yipped. Free

Suddenly my body was flying through the air and out the window beside the front door. I could hear the glass shattering as I shot through. My nose went to the air and sniffed long and hard. Mate! With a yip I was off, running through the streets in broad daylight. I had no idea where I was going just a voice shouting, Mate! Mate! Mate!

I felt like we’d been running forever when we finally came to some woods. My wolf form dove and dodged branches as she wound her way through. Her nose went to air again, Mate Close! She howled with delight before taking off on her search again. Coming to a clearing, I recognize a few of the houses in view. I was close to Kyle’s house.

We slowed right before stepping out into the clearing, my eyes darted from figure to figure. Obviously, they noticed me, women were grabbing their children and running into their homes. While men tore off their clothes and shifted running towards me. I was overcome with fear, in this moment I was about to be wolf chow. Mate! Mate! Mate! My head bellowed before my wolf form took off through the grass! I was halfway to Kyle’s house with several wolves chasing behind me when I was suddenly tackled! With a growl and a yip I rolled through the grass but still managed to come to paws. I growl with fury showing my teeth, digging my claws into the ground. I could feel all the hair stand up on my wolf form as the other wolves formed a circle around me. They were all growling and showing me their teeth, but my wolf was on a mission. I howled deep and loud trying to focus on everything around me. With a snarl my wolf shot through their circle, leaping just high enough above them I could feel their jaws slapping into the air, it echoed. My leap gave me just enough advantage to stay one step ahead of them. My wolf pushed hard, crashing through Kyle’s moms picket fence and flower beds. Oh, Kyle’s mom is not going to be happy about this!

My wolf skidded to a stop as an extremely large midnight black wolf broke through the front door of Kyle’s house, turning everything to splinter. He made three of me easy! I thought. Oh f**k! Oh f**k! The large wolf growled and showed his teeth, he became stiff and looked somewhat confused. It sniffed the air, instantly my wolf screamed, Mate! She ran toward the black wolf and skidded to a stop, she bowed her head and showed her neck. We only submit to our mate. It wasn’t a tone I liked but it came out as a warning to me. She looked up our tail almost wagging. Please don’t eat me, I thought to myself.

By now, all of the other wolves had gathered around, I could hear their snarls and growls behind me. I looked up into the orange glow of the black wolf’s eyes, they shimmered blue briefly. It let out a threatening howl and glared at all the wolves circling us. Then he crouched beside me and licked my ears. He nestled my neck and continued to sniff me. He walked behind me and nudged my butt, coaxing me inside the house. Keeping low to the ground, feeling like I was prepared for anything and still nothing. I proceeded into the house slowly keeping my eyes on everything. Mate! My wolf sang in my head.

At the stairs the black wolf nodded for me to go up. I did and sat at Kyle’s door staring at the beautiful wolf with orange eyes, he’d followed me up. I felt a shift in the air but could only stare into the liquid orange eyes before me. Bones cracked and fur dissipated into nothing. Kyle stood in front of me, naked as the day he was born. His blue eyes shining to mine. That’s mine! The voice in my head screeched happily! With a shy whimper my wolf nestled his leg.

“Rennie baby, what happened?” His arms came around my neck and shifted into my fur. The feel of his touch soothed every vibrating bone inside my wolf. My fear forgotten, there was only Kyle. He kissed my snout, smiling softly. He reached for his doorknob and turned it, “Come on babe.”

As soon as Kyle opened the door my wolf darted into his room. It was heavenly! All I could smell was Kyle, sandalwood and Myrrh! My wolf jumped into his bed, sliding and rubbing our fur all over. She laid her head on his pillow and simply enjoyed his scent.

“I better call your mom.” He said softly sitting on the bed.

My wolf whimpered slightly as I unfolded the events in my head. My mom ran from me, she was afraid of me. I felt ashamed, unloved, and unwanted all at the same time. Kyle laid his hand on my side feeling my soft fir, he slid his hand over my ribs and made a hissing sound. I watched as he picked a piece of glass from his palm. My wolf nudged his hand and lightly licked the blood from his palm. “What happened baby?” He tussled the fur between my ears softly before grabbing his phone from the desk, dialing my mom’s number.

“So yeah, I’m guessing it was a rough afternoon?” He tried to make light of the situation, “She’s here, don’t worry.” He paused for a minute then clinched his jaw, “You let her first shift happen on her own?!” Without saying another word he hung up the phone and wrapped his arms around me. His naked flesh pressed against my fur. It wasn’t s****l, but a comforting gesture. My wolf rubbed against his neck and finally I could feel a calming coming from her. I felt my tongue swirl out and touch the skin on the soft part of his neck. My wolf closed her eyes, feeling safe for the first time since her shift.