291
Matt
I winced at the thought, and I shook my head. "No. And… I don't think I'm thinking about it at all."
"That's healthy," Arwen scoffed, picking up something that looked like flowers. She turned it left and right before placing it in my basket.
"What's that?"
"Wolfsbarro," she said. "And wolfsbane."
"What?" I blinked. "Why would you—"
She rolled her eyes. "Wolfsbane and wolfsbarro are related herbs. Neither of them will harm you, and they're used in various meals in that will help stabilize your magic."
I frowned down at it. "Isn't it… poisonous?"
"Anything in excess is poisonous," Arwen said. "Though, now that you say that, wolfsbane and wolfsbarro weaken werewolves because it combats the communicable viruses like the werewolf virus."
I nodded, slowly. "Right…"
It would make sense why it's preached so much to avoid it. I grabbed another bushel of it and walked on with her down the line. I reached for a pile of fruit.
"What's changed?"
"Changed?"
Arwen narrowed her eyes at me. "You're wearing a communication watch, and… your aura is a little different. Familiar."
"Familiar?"
She nodded. "Like I've met someone from your family before. It happens."
I sighed, feeling a sense of relief at being able to talk about my condition with someone who understood. "Not a clue… I'm still reeling from what happened earlier."
"The change?" Arwen asked, grabbing something from a shelf. She tried to reach the top shelf, but I grabbed what she was reaching for and handed it to her. "Thanks."
"Yeah. The change, I… Well…" I sighed. "Thanks for not asking for details."
Arwen smiled gently. "I know how important family secrets can be… You know, I was the family secret for a long time? My sister, bless her heart, busted it out in the middle of a traditional feast."
I blinked and laughed. "That's the kind of sibling everyone should have."
She smiled, and her eyes grew distant. "Yeah… Anyway, I only mention it so you know that I know all about family secrets. Secret babies, paternity tests, the works…."
I frowned. It felt like she knew, but I didn't ask.
"I just hope that Tony appreciates everything you've done for him in the end."
Her words resonated with me, and I felt a sense of gratitude for her kindness and understanding. As we made our way to the register to ring up, I smiled and swiped her basket from her.
"Ring hers up with mine."
"But—"
"Call it a thank you," I said.
She cocked her eyebrow. "You have no idea how much my basket is."
I shrugged. "I'll live."
I paid for it all without blinking. If she was surprised, she didn't say anything. As we left the store and walked back to our cars, she smiled. Her eyes were warm and knowing.
"I have the urge to tell you not to be hard on yourself." She cocked her head to one side. "Take care of yourself, and see you at your next check-up."
"Any chance we could do this again sometime?" I asked. "I'm hoping to charm my way into a proper date."
She gave me a sly grin, shutting her trunk.
"You focus on not dying first, and we'll see. I don't date skeletons."
I waved her goodbye, feeling lighter than I had in a long time. Then, I got into my car and started the engine, feeling a sense of warmth and happiness wash over me. My time with Arwen had been nothing short of a breath of fresh air. She was kind, understanding, and had a sense of humor that was contagious. Even
As I drove away from the grocery store, I couldn't help but think about how much my life seemed to be sideways. It had only been a few hours. Trent, Lilith, my mother, and everything else were spinning in my head, yet my heart felt so calm.
The pain in my chest and the aches were all gone. I felt warm. I didn't feel like I was dragging myself around. I felt almost normal.
No, better than. There was a fog in my mind that was no longer there. As I pulled into the garage, a sense of unease washed over me. The air got colder out of nowhere.
"Matt," a voice whispered.
I turned to my passenger seat and saw the woman who had been leaning over me earlier sitting there. She wasn't quite solid, but I could feel her presence. I shuddered.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"It doesn't matter who I am," she said haughtily. "It only matters what I say."
I cocked an eyebrow at her. "Interesting that you think I'm in a listening mood."
She glared at me. "You're walking a dangerous path. You think Oren will let you live once he finds out?"
I tilted my head at her. "Are you threatening me?"
"I'm telling you what will happen if you don't start cooperating," she said. "Tell Tony to return to Blue Moon."
I scoffed and got out of the car. "I'll tell you the way I told Eliza: fuck off."
I closed the door, and there she was again, standing in front of me.
"You think Trent can save you?" She growled. "You think—"
I walked through her. She gasped, clearly surprised. I opened the trunk.
"You seem rather invested in keeping me alive and controlling Tony, so it's probably best not to do a thing you say," I said, grabbing the bags. "There are enough women in my life doing that."
"You don't have a choice," she said, her voice rising in anger. "If you—"
I turned on her. A surge of anger rushed through me, and I grabbed her by her arm. Her eyes widened as I glared down at her.
"Leave me and my brother alone."
She hissed at me, her eyes glowing with a dark energy.
"You'll regret this," she said, disappearing into thin air.
I felt a brief pain in my head, but it went away soon. I shook my head, trying to clear the fog from my mind. The pain receded, and I grabbed the rest of the groceries.
Who was she, and why did she seem so intent on making me yield?
More importantly… how had I grabbed a woman who wasn't really there? I shook my head, heading up to the penthouse with a sigh. I used to think that I was just like Tony. I used to be so sure that we were alphas, twins, we couldn't do magic, and the instincts we had were all that mattered.
Pack.
Family.
Alpha.
Everything seemed to be thrown out of whack. I got inside and set the groceries down, passing my reflection. I still looked bad, but it was better.
I looked just like Tony, right down to the shape of my eyes. The urge to take the watch and portal off was strong, but I ignored them.
I wasn't ready for that kind of confirmation just yet.
Exhaustion washed over me. The high of shopping with Arwen was gone. I notched the A/C up a few degrees, trying to fight off the chill. Then, I dropped the bags I had brought from the store on the counter and headed straight for my closet. I pulled out a drawer and set the potions that Trent had given me inside. I'd talk to Tony and figure out how to explain it all, but for now, I didn't want to deal with it. I put the vials from the hospital inside along with the paperwork and sighed, heading back to the kitchen.
I smiled, pulled our mother's book out, and flipped through the pages, trying to decide what to make for dinner. I was hungry, but I didn't want to eat anything that would make me feel worse. I finally settled on a simple pasta dish that required wolfsbane and wolfsbarro and got to work preparing the ingredients.
As I chopped, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me.
Then, the watch chimed. I opened it and read the notification it was from… my father. I shuttered my eyes closed as I read Trent's message about training. He'd set me up for the first session, which would be tonight. My stomach turned.
How was I going to explain that to Tony?
Before you go, eat, take your potions, eat again, and drive to the Academy. Do not try to take public transit. Oren and his merry band of jackasses are still in the city.
My stomach churned at the thought. For fuck's sake, what were they doing here? Would Tony have to run into them? The watch chimed again.
Are you going to the Crescent Festival?
I winced, replying. Not sure.
If you're going, you're going to need armor.
I groaned. Was that supposed to make me want to go?
Then, my phone chimed. I opened the screen and grimaced.
Today just wasn't going to be a good day, was it?
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