11. Rachel

11

RACHEL

I stood in the living room, leaning against the back of the couch while Aunt Maribel bustled around, dusting with a feather duster. It was clear she was trying to keep busy to avoid talking to me.

Why?

I watched her for a moment, hoping to get an intuitive ping about what was going on but nothing came to me. There was a real possibility it was because she was blocking me out.

“So, where were you earlier?” I tried to keep my tone light, but I couldn’t keep the edge of curiosity at bay. “You left early this morning, and you didn’t say much about where you were going.”

She didn’t glance up from dusting the shelf she’d been standing at.

“Oh, it was just a few errands I needed to tend to,” she said, her voice as airy as ever.

It was clear I wasn’t going to get much out of her. She was adamant about hiding something, and I knew no amount of prodding would get her to let me in on her secret.

As though she knew what I was thinking, she finally shifted to lock eyes with me. “Not everything is meant to be known right away, dear. The wind has its reasons for keeping secrets, and so do I.”

I pursed my lips, feeling a flicker of annoyance at her vague answer. It was typical of her, though. She always spoke in riddles about the wind, never giving a straight response.

“Right,” I said. “Well, if the wind—or you—decides to spill the beans, let me know.”

The sound of a vehicle pulling up out front met my ears. Ellis was here to pick me up so we could meet with his crew at Last Drop. My heart did a little flip-flop and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so excited to see someone. Which was crazy because I’d spent the day with him. He’d only left a few hours ago to check in on a few things at work.

This whole having a mate thing was intense.

Even so, I loved it.

I turned to Serenity. She’d been quietly coloring at the coffee table, and I crouched down to give her a hug.

“You be good for Aunt Maribel, okay?” I said, giving her the firm mom-look I’d mastered in the last year or so.

Her arms wrapped tightly around my neck as she squeezed me back. “I will. We’re gonna make cookies, right?” She glanced at Aunt Maribel expectantly, a smile on her face.

“With hot cocoa.” Aunt Maribel winked.

“Yes!” Serenity hissed, excited.

All I could think was more sugar, yay . This was becoming a trend. We would have to take a sugar break soon.

I pressed a kiss to Serenity’s cheek and straightened up, shifting my attention to Aunt Maribel. “Not too many cookies for her, okay?”

She waved my words away. “I know.”

I pulled her in for a hug. “Thanks for watching her again. I know I’ve been asking a lot lately.”

“I enjoy it.” She kissed me on the cheek. “Have fun.”

A knock came at the door, and I rushed to answer it. Ellis stood at the doorstep looking handsome. His smile was instantaneous and contagious.

“Hey,” he said. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” I turned to grab my purse while he said hello to Aunt Maribel and Serenity. “Let’s go.”

We walked to his truck, and he crossed in front of me to open the passenger door. I slid into the seat and cast a glance at the cottage. A knot of unease twisted my stomach.

“I think Aunt Maribel’s hiding something from me,” I blurted out once he climbed behind the wheel.

He cranked the engine to life. “Hiding something?”

“Yeah. It’s just a feeling I have. She was cryptic about where she was earlier, and I can’t shake the sense that there’s something going on.”

He pulled away from the cottage. “No offense, but Maribel seems to always be cryptic when she speaks.” He cast a quick glance at me. “But if she’s keeping a secret, there’s probably a good reason for it. She’ll tell you when it’s time.”

I let out a sigh. “I guess you’re right. I just worry about her sometimes.”

Ellis reached over and gave my hand a gentle squeeze, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles. “She wouldn’t keep something from you unless she felt she needed to for now. Try not to stress about it too much. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“You’re probably right.” I managed a small smile, and then shifted to look out the window.

We spent the rest of the drive to Last Drop listening to the radio instead of talking. However, the feeling of unease in me still lingered. I realized as we pulled into the busy parking lot of the bar why.

Nerves were creeping in.

I knew how important tonight was, how important these people were to Ellis. This was his crew I was about to meet. They weren’t just important to his man; they were also important to his bobcat. I didn’t want to give them any reason to not like me.

It took us a while to find a parking spot. I hadn’t expected this place to be so busy tonight. Not that I knew much about it. After all, I’d only been here once before and it hadn’t been for long.

“This place is packed,” I said as Ellis cut the engine of his truck.

“Yeah. Sometimes it’s like this.”

I glanced at him. “Do you come here often?”

I wasn’t asking to be judgmental, and I hoped my question hadn’t come off as such. I was honestly curious.

“No. This just seems to be an easy meet up place for us all,” he said, before climbing out.

He rounded the truck to open the door for me again. I stepped out, and my nerves flared up once more. When I glanced at Ellis, his smile—easy and confident, like he didn’t have a doubt about this going well—calmed me.

We made our way inside, and he took my hand, leading the way through the crowded bar. The place was filled with people chatting, drinks clinking, and that hum of energy that only comes from a room full of people having a good time. It didn’t take long for us to realize it was karaoke night. There was a man on stage, singing slightly off-key and a group of his friends cheering him on. I felt a little overwhelmed but forced a small smile on my face as I kept close to Ellis. I scanned the room, trying to spot his friends. He weaved us through a thick section of people, and I realized he was heading toward a table near the back. There was a group of people sitting there with a pitcher in the center of the table.

A blond guy with a smirk that said he was trouble and a handsome face took notice of us first. “Y’all are mates, aren’t you?” he asked the instant we reached the table.

My eyes widened, and I felt my face heat up instantly. I wasn’t expecting to be called out like that right away and to be under such scrupulous stares.

“Waylen, good grief,” the woman beside him said, nudging him in the side with her elbow.

I remembered her from when we got the sage the other day.

Lyra.

Waylen shrugged, completely unfazed. “What? It’s like a tradition now. Everyone brings their mate to Last Drop for an introduction. He has someone with him, so I assume she’s his mate. Am I right?” he asked, shifting his attention back to me and Ellis.

“Yes, Waylen, she’s my mate,” Ellis said as we settled into empty seats at the table.

Waylen’s grin stretched wider, and he clapped his hands together, letting out a whoop loud enough to draw a few curious glances from the other tables.

“I knew it!” he exclaimed, like it was the best news he’d heard all night.

“Sorry about him,” Lyra said, shaking her head. “We’ve learned to live with Waylen’s lack of filter.”

“It’s okay,” I said, smiling.

Ellis introduced me to the rest of the group, starting with the man I recognized from the diner. “You already met Dean at Mariam’s Dinner,” he said, nodding to the massive man.

“Hey,” he said. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Hi.”

“This is his mate, Astrid,” Ellis continued, motioning to the woman with dark curls next to him.

“Nice to meet you,” Astrid said, her tone warm and genuine.

“That’s Waylen. Clearly.” He motioned to him. “And you met Lyra the other day, too.”

“Hi,” I said to them both.

“And last but not least, this is Sienna,” Ellis said, motioning to the redheaded woman at the opposite end of the table who raised her beer in a little toast.

“Hey,” Sienna said. Her full lips formed a slight frown an instant later. “I guess I’m officially the last single one now, huh?” There wasn’t any bitterness behind her words, but I could tell there was still some unease shifting through her eyes.

“It’s because you’re a redhead,” Waylen said before taking a long swig from his beer.

Lyra elbowed him in the ribs again. “Seriously, I think I need to get you a muzzle.”

“What?” Waylen shrugged. “Everyone always says redheads are trouble.”

Everyone laughed, and I felt myself relax a little more. Sienna reached for the pitcher and poured beers for me and Ellis.

“Cheers,” she said, raising her glass. “To new friends and old traditions.”

“Welcome to the Misfit Shifters,” Dean added, and I remembered Ellis saying once that if they had an alpha, it would be him.

I clinked my glass with theirs, a genuine smile on my face. These people were open and warm, and even though I was just getting to know them, I could see why Ellis cared about them so much. Their energy felt good.

“All right, we’ve had our fun,” Dean said, his demeanor turning serious. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and fixed his stare on Ellis. “Let’s get down to business. How’s it going with gathering the items for Maribel?”

“We’ve almost got everything,” Ellis answered. “The only thing left is the feather from Xander’s raven.”

My stomach twisted at the mention of him, but I stayed quiet while Ellis continued to talk.

“Xander attacked us at Lucius’s grave. I should have thought to get one then, but I didn’t.” His jaw tensed as his gaze dropped to the table. “He got in my head.”

Dean sighed, and I noticed when Astrid reached over and placed a hand on his arm. “Shit.”

“Yeah. He’s getting stronger,” Ellis said. “He forced me to shift and then wanted me to hurt Rachel.”

All color drained from his face at the memory. My hand found his knee beneath the table, and I watched as he pulled a breath into his lungs and relaxed.

A tense silence settled over the table as everyone absorbed what he’d said. It wasn’t news to them that Xander could mess with a shifter’s mind—I knew that—but hearing he was getting stronger didn’t seem to settle well with any of them.

Rightfully so.

“Well, you made it out of there,” Sienna said, cutting through the tension. She was looking at Ellis, but then her eyes slid over to me. “How’d you manage that?”

“Rachel,” Ellis said, pride ringing through his tone. “Her magic surfaced during the attack. She slung Xander back before my bobcat could act on his orders. It surprised him enough to release me and jarred him enough that he gave way to his raven and fled.”

Everyone’s eyes shifted to me, and for a second, I wanted to disappear under the table.

Sienna leaned forward. Her gaze locked on mine as curiosity built within her stare. “Magic?” she echoed. “What kind of magic?”

I shifted in my seat, hating having the spotlight on me like this. “Telekinesis. I can move things with my mind. It’s not something I knew I could do until I needed to, though.”

Her eyebrows shot up, and a grin spread onto her face. “Telekinesis? Well, that’s interesting.”

“Actually, that could be useful,” Dean insisted. “Maybe we could use that to get the feather without having to confront Xander directly and put anyone else in danger. After all, you’re not a shifter, which means he wouldn’t be able to get into your head.”

Ellis stiffened beside me. “I’m not a fan of that idea.”

“I understand.” Dean nodded slowly.

“Also, I can’t control it,” I chimed in.

“Right. But, if you could, we might be able to grab the feather from a distance,” Dean said.

While the idea of using my power in such a controlled way felt a little daunting, I could see where it would be helpful.

“I can try learning to hone it,” I said. “But I’ll need time to practice.”

“Honing it isn’t what I’m worried about. You’ll get it,” Ellis said, his voice steady but tense. “What I’m worried about is you being involved in this more than you have been. Xander is dangerous—even if you’re not a shifter.”

The music inside the bar suddenly stopped and a female voice crackled over the speakers. “Up next, we’ve got Sienna!”

I looked at Sienna, noticing how completely unfazed she appeared, like she’d been expecting her name to be called any second.

“When did you put your name on the list?” Dean asked, raising a brow.

“Oh, a while ago.” Sienna grinned. “Why, you want to sing with me?”

He shook his head, a smirk pulling at his lips. “Not a chance.”

“I’ll sing with you,” Astrid piped up, already standing. “I promised I’d join you once before, remember?”

“Oh, I remember.” Sienna looked between Lyra and me, her eyes glinting with mischief. “What about you two? It’s more fun with a group.”

Lyra’s expression was a mix of horror and amusement. “Oh, no. I don’t sing. Especially not in public.”

“Come on,” Astrid said, nudging her playfully. “It’ll be fun. You’ve already had a beer.”

“Don’t leave us hanging,” Sienna pressed.

I could see Lyra wavering.

“I’ll do it,” I said, surprising even myself. “But only if she does, too.”

Lyra groaned, throwing her head back dramatically. “Ugh, fine. But if this is embarrassing, I’m never forgiving any of you.”

We all laughed as we got up and headed to the stage. The woman with long dark hair and bright green eyes who’d called Sienna’s name passed a microphone to each of us.

“Awesome. Have fun, ladies,” she said, stepping off the stage.

I could feel my nerves buzzing, but it was more from excitement than anxiety.

“What song did you pick?” Lyra asked Sienna, leaning around me to look at her.

“You’ll see,” Sienna insisted as the music started up.

It was an upbeat song I actually knew, which I was thankful for. Sienna gave us a confident nod, and then we were all singing our hearts out together on stage.

The crowd cheered, and I could see the guys at the table hooting and hollering for us. Waylen stood, pumping his fist in the air, while he held his phone up. No doubt he was recording. It didn’t matter though, because for the next few minutes, I forgot everything—Xander, his possession, my power surfacing, and whatever Aunt Maribel was hiding. It was just the music, laughter, and pure joy of doing something silly with new friends that filled my head. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d let myself cut loose and have some fun.

It felt good.

When the song ended, the applause was loud, and I was breathless, grinning like I hadn’t in ages. The four of us laughed as we made our way back to the table where the guys sat.

“You looked like you were having fun up there,” Ellis said as I sat in my chair.

“I was. More fun than I’ve had in a long time,” I admitted.

“Good.” He grinned. “You deserve it.”

“Thank you.”

Waylen bought another pitcher and once everyone had a full beer in front of them again, conversation flowed. It remained lighter and more relaxed than it had been earlier, which was nice. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Ellis looking at me. When I shifted to meet his stare, I saw that his expression was more serious than before. My smile faded.

“What is it?” I asked.

He reached over and took my hand, his gaze never wavering from mine.

“I love you,” he said quietly, but his voice was full of conviction, like he’d been waiting to say those words all night.

My breath caught in my throat, and the world tilted. A gentle warmth bloomed in my chest as I held his gaze, seeing the depth of his genuine care and how much he meant what he’d said reflected in his eyes.

“I love you too,” I whispered, not even surprised at how easy it was to say the words back.

This man was soft, he was gentle, he was sweet and caring. He held doors open for me and bought my daughter ice cream. He could change a tire and plan a day of fun.

He was exactly who I needed in my life, and I loved him because of it.

Ellis’s eyes softened, and he leaned in to kiss me. It was slow and tender, like he was savoring the taste of the words we’d shared.

For the first time in a long time, everything in my life felt like it was in alignment again.

Even with all the chaos and danger that seemed to surround us.

“All right,” Dean said, drawing everyone’s attention. “We’ve had some fun. Now, let’s figure out what our next move is with this Xander situation.”

“Leave figuring out how to get that feather from his raven to me,” Sienna said, a confident smile playing on her lips. “Y’all have gotten us this far. Now it’s my turn to tap in. Just give me some time to figure it out.”

Time .

Something Aunt Maribel recently told me about the ritual popped into my head.

“You have two weeks,” I said.

“Excuse me?” Sienna snapped her gaze to me and arched a brow.

My cheeks heated. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so curt. It’s something Aunt Maribel mentioned to me recently. She said the ritual needs to be done when the moon is in its releasing phase.”

“When is that?” Astrid asked.

“In two weeks,” I explained. “And it’ll last for another two weeks after that. So, we have a bit of a window.”

Sienna leaned back in her chair and sipped her beer. “Perfect. That gives me enough time to come up with a plan.”

There was a collective nod around the table, and I could feel a sense of relief settle over everyone. Tonight had been productive. There was a timeline, and a tiny plan starting to take shape.

As I finished the glass of water I’d switched to drinking after my second beer, I pulled out my cell to make sure I hadn’t missed any calls or texts from Aunt Maribel. I hadn’t.

“Ready?” Ellis asked, taking that as a sign I was ready to call it a night.

“Are you?” I countered, not wanting to be the one to cut the night of fun with friends off.

“Yeah, I think I am,” he said.

We said goodnight to everyone and then exited the bar, stepping out into the cool night air. The sky was clear, and the stars were bright overhead. The quiet out here felt like a gentle break from the buzzing energy inside. Ellis turned to me once we reached his truck.

“Today was perfect,” he said. “Everything about it. Making pancakes with Serenity, spending time together, you meeting my friends, watching you light up on that stage.”

“It really was,” I agreed, holding his stare.

He took my hand, his thumb brushing gently over my fingers. “I’m all in.”

A warmth settled deep inside me as I whispered, “Me too.”

His smile was soft and sure, and then he leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that felt like a promise.