29

Travis POV

I pick Viv up from Conrad's to take her to her apartment. I did not think she would agree to leave with me, but she finally settled on it. It just had to be on her terms. She needed to be in control of the situation. I understand why she needs to be in control. She was just grabbed outside her home and taken by her boyfriend's ex. I guess I would need to feel in power too.

We drive back to her apartment in almost silence. She finally turns on the radio when we are almost at her place. She looks out the window, and I think she might be crying. She is trying to hide her face.

"Viv," I say softly.

"I am fine, Travis. I have a lot to think about right now; that is all," Viv says.

She certainly does have a lot to think about right now. Ozzy put her in danger. I want to take care of her without interfering with her independence. I am not sure how to accomplish that without coming across as a dick.

I pull up in front of the building so she can run in and collect some things from her apartment. "Pull up to the parking garage and come in with me," Viv says.

I pull the car around. She gives me the access code, and I punch it in. "Go up to the second floor of the garage to park," she says. I follow her instructions and go to the second floor of the parking garage to park. I park the car. She sits there for a moment and then turns to look at me.

"I want you to know that I appreciate you, Travis," she says. She gets out of the car. I follow her to the elevator. We ride up the elevator in silence. When we get off the elevator, I follow her to her apartment, still in silence. I wonder what is going through her mind right now and why she is so quiet. Is it the realization of everything that has happened to her and what Ozzy has done?

We go into her apartment, and she quickly gathers some clothing and other things she needs for a few days to stay with me. Ozzy should be leaving soon, so maybe while he is away, I can talk some sense into her head about him. I will not get my hopes up too much, but it could happen, maybe.

"Can you carry this bag for me, please?" Viv asks. She hands me the bag, and I take it from her.

"I am happy to carry anything for you, Viv," I say.

I carry one bag, and she brings another. As we go to leave the apartment, I notice an old book on her bookcase covered in dust. "What is this?" I ask her.

"It was my mothers," she says.

I pick up the book. "Bring it with us," I say.

Viv takes the book from me and puts it in the bag she is carrying. "Okay, I have never opened it, but maybe now is the time," Viv says.

It definitely is the time, Viv. You need to discover your magic so you can protect yourself. I shake my head as we walk out the apartment door. I wonder why she has never opened it.

As we get into the car, we both get a text from Conrad. Viv looks up at me. "The club is closed tonight for a meeting with the council. That does not sound good," Viv says.

"Maybe Conrad will get things straight. Do not worry about it. We are not wolves. What can they really do to us?" I ask her.

Viv snickers as she gets into the car. "They can make our lives hell; that is what they can do to us," Viv answers me.

"True, but I have houses all over. We can go anywhere you want, my dear," I say to her.

"Good, we might need to run," Viv says.

I crank the car, and we leave the parking garage. I take a right out of the parking garage and start driving toward my house. "Are you afraid?" Viv asks me.

"Of wolves? Hell No! Of losing you? Yes!" I say.

Viv shakes her head and turns the radio back on as we ride. I make the few blocks to my house. I half expected to see Ozzy waiting for us. I pull into the driveway but do not park in the driveway. Instead, I drive around back to hide my car from anyone passing by the house.

I get out of the car and grab both of Viv's bags. "You can stay in the spare room or in my room. I promise not to bother you," I say.

Viv smiles. I am not sure why, but her face lights up. "Always the gentleman, right," Viv says.

"Always," I say to her.

I open the back door, and we go into my house from the back. We walk through the back rooms until we get into the central part of my house. "Someone has been in here," I say.

The thoughts of someone being in my house piss me off. I go through the house looking to see if anything is missing. "Are you sure someone has been in here?" Viv asks.

"Yes," I exclaim.

I continue going through the house, and then I notice what is missing. A piece of the plant Gia was playing with the night she came by to see me. She came back for some of that plant, but why?

"What is it?" Viv asks me.

"One of my plants has been tampered with, see," I say as I show her the plant.

"Why would someone steal a plant?" Viv asks.

"To block magic," I answer her.

I know who was in here, and I know why she would take it, but I am not sure why she would need to block my magic or Viv's. I turn back to Viv. "I have to ask, and I need you to be perfectly honest with me, Viv," I say.

"Sure, what is it?" Viv asks.

"Do you practice magic at all?" I ask her.

Viv shakes her head. "No, never. Well, not since my mom dies. My father did not want me to practice, so I gave it up," Viv says.

She reaches in her bag and pulls out the book. "This book was with my mother when she died. We were under attack by wolves," Viv says.

I take the book from Viv. "I think it is time we open this book. What do you think?" I ask Viv.

Viv shakes her head. She looks worried and upset, but she knows it is time to figure out what is going on with her relationship with the wolves. They want something from her, and I have to wonder if Ozzy has any part in any of it.

I sit down with her book and open it. "I am going to go through it page by page if you want to get settled into one of the bedrooms," I say to her.

Viv sits down beside me. "I am in this with you. It has something to do with both of us," Viv says.

I look at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?" I ask her.

"Gia asked me about you and your magic. She also asked me about Ozzy and the council. What does all of that mean?" Viv asks me.

"I have no idea, but I bet it is in this book," I answer her.

Viv and I start going through the book. Hours pass, and we go through page and page until we finally come to a page with blood on it. Viv is horrified when she sees the page. The top of the page says the alpha king spell. I look at her and reach over and touch her hand.

"I think I need a drink," Viv says.

Viv gets up and leaves me while she fixes herself a drink. I read over the spell and realize that Viv's mother was one powerful witch. The magic is more complex than anything I have ever seen in my life.

I close my eyes and feel the words and try to connect with the magic in the page. A strange noise comes from the book, and then the words on the page begin to rearrange. Do not let my daughter mate with the alpha king. I look at the words in horror. Viv sits down with her drink and looks at the book.

"Did you find anything?" she asks.

"Maybe," I answer her. Viv looks down at the book and sees the words moving on the page.

"Travis, this is scary," Viv says softly.

"It is dark. This is some dark magic, Viv," I say to her.

She touches the book, and fire ignites from her fingertips. "Your magic is in this book," I say to her.

"My father said my magic left the night my mother died and never to try to find it. That my magic would bring me nothing but heartache," Viv says.

"I do not think that is true. I need a drink, now," I say.

I get up to get a drink myself. Viv follows me into the kitchen. "Am I a bad witch?" Viv asks.

I take Viv into my arms. "There is nothing bad about you, Viv. That I know in my heart," I say to her.