8. Chapter 8

Chapter eight

Netti

P icking up the notice of payment due for next semester and looking at my bank statement, my stomach twists. Even with picking up extra shifts at the bakery, it wouldn't be enough to cover what I'd need. After spending the evening talking with Rosemary, who passed out and is sleeping off her fairy gin on the couch, I'd finally convinced myself that maybe it was time to call home and ask for help.

Grabbing my phone, I cringe, imagining how the conversation will go. Mom will tell me she's proud I stuck it out this far, but it's a sign from the universe that it's time to come home. She'll tell me about the nice boys in town who haven’t settled down yet and how she could arrange a date through their mothers. Then, she'd launch into a list of my faults and how, if I had just stayed at home, I could have trained at the shop and worked on practicing my magic outside of potions and pastries.

As if I hadn't spent all of my childhood practicing alongside my brothers and cousins.

I can hear the distant sound of cars passing by outside, their tires rolling on the pavement, creating a faint hum. As I prepare for the call, I run a finger along the framed photo of my family, feeling the smooth surface of the glass beneath my touch. The image captures a joyful moment frozen in time. I can almost hear the laughter and excitement that filled the room as we posed for the picture. The memory of our Christmas traditions fills my mind, the sound of my brothers’ laughter and the crackling of the fireplace blending together. The smell of freshly baked pastries and the sight of colorful decorations adorning the tree. I can almost taste the sweetness of the treats I used to make.

My brother Ethan took after our great uncle Vernon, who had an affinity for the earth and could coax any plants to grow. Since he was five, he always challenged himself to grow a towering Christmas tree, and we'd all use our magical skills to create decorations. I always baked sweet treats and candies that could be enjoyed on Christmas morning.

But now, as I anticipate my mother’s words, the familiar warmth of those memories feels distant, replaced by unease and uncertainty.

I dial the family phone number, my foot tapping a restless rhythm against the floor as the phone rings once, twice. The familiar "Hello?" brings a wave of relief.

"Harrison," I say, a smile spreading across my face as I hear my brother's voice, the one closest to me in age. "Where is Mom and Dad? What are you doing at home today?"

"Well, hello to you too, Netti." The sound of a chair scraping across wooden floors echoes in the background. "Mom and Dad are both at the shop today but they should be home any minute for lunch. Me being home? About that..."

"What did you do this time?" I chuckle. Harrison was always getting himself into situations.

"Well, you know how Mom and Dad like to decorate every year for Christmas? Well, I decided this year I would surprise them by doing the house lights while they were out."

"You and heights are not friends." I shake my head, remembering when he tried to climb up a tree on a dare when he was seven, and I had to climb up and carry him down because he was stuck.

"Poppy Marie was coming by to deliver some tea for mom—”

"And let me guess, you're still crushing on her after a decade and got flustered and tried to show off."

"I was not trying to show off... okay, maybe a little. I was talking to her about how her grandmama was doing while on the ladder. A gust of wind blew in, and I lost my balance and slid down the ladder. I was perfectly fine, except I landed on Mom's English roses and I twisted my ankle trying to gracefully extricate myself."

I let out a loud snort, covering my mouth as my eyes welled up with tears, unable to contain my laughter. "Oh, Harrison, I'd pay good money to have been able to see that. So, you're in a boot for four to six weeks while your ankle heals?"

"Yes, miss ‘I'm a smarty pants and decided to leave home to study nursing.’ Maybe if you were here, I wouldn't have gotten injured."

"Don't try to put the blame on me," I reply. "You got yourself in plenty of trouble, even when I was home."

"Speaking of, are you coming home for the holidays?" he asks. My cheerful bubble pops. I hadn't been home since I left nearly three years ago.

"You know I can't just up and leave. I have a job and school--"

"Don't you get winter break?" he whines.

"Yes, but the holidays get busy at the bakery," I say. Not only that, but I could use all the extra shifts I could get.

"We miss you," he says.

"I know," I say with a sigh. The sickening feeling of guilt leaves a sour taste in my mouth and a knot in my stomach. "I miss you guys too. I'll be graduating before the summer, though!"

"And then what?"

Then what? That was a good question. I've been so focused on school, work, and bills I hadn't put too much thought into what I'd do afterward. My eyes flick to the flyer on the nightstand before me. Today, there was a job fair at the university for students graduating in the spring. Hospitals, clinics, and packs of magicals looking to hire their own personal nurses and medical assistants would come out. Scholarship and sign-on bonus opportunities are in bold at the bottom of the page.

"Harrison, I'm going to have to let you go. I'll talk to you later," I say as I lift the flyer.

"Didn't you want to talk to the folks?" he says as I hear the muffled voices in the background.

"Yes, but I need to go. I'll call later! Bye, love you!" My resolve is weakening, so I ramble on and end the call before I can change my mind.

"Netti, do you have any ibuprofen?" Rosemary's groggy voice calls from the other room.

"I'll be right there," I reply as I tuck the flier into my pocket.

"I fly halfway across the country to hang out with you, and you drag me to a job convention?" Rosemary punches me lightly in the arm as she rolls her eyes before opening the rental car door.

"I promise once this is over, I'll take you to my favorite restaurant in the town. I just need to do this." I smile at her before grabbing my bag by my feet and my envelope of resumes. I'd piled my hair back into a neat bun and wore the most demure professional dress I owned, a slack black a-line with matching black heels and the gray scarf Connor had left. It was starting to become chilly, and I didn't want to bring a full cardigan, so I couldn't leave the house without it. There was something about its woodsy scent and luxurious texture that calmed my nerves.

"I know," she says, coming around the car and crushing me into a hug. "I'd do anything to support you. Plus, we have the whole weekend before I have to fly back. This scarf, though, is giving a cozy, chic professional. Is that what you were going for?"

"It's a good luck charm," I reply as I pull back, twisting the ends of the scarf between my fingertips and plastering a smile on my face.

"If you say so." She flicks the tip of my nose and links her arms with mine. "Come on, let's go see what's out there."

We make our way together past the convention hall's doors and into the main area. There appear to be dozens of booths sporting banners of all shapes and sizes, each representing different companies and organizations. The room is buzzing with activity as job seekers and recruiters converse and exchange information. I peer across the room, looking at the names of the booths to get a sense of the opportunities available.

"Welcome to the job fair," a heavy-set middle-aged man to our right says.

Turning, I smile at the stranger and offer my hand. "Netti Ellsworth. Nursing. I graduate in May."

"Fantastic. It's a pleasure to have you here, Miss Ellsworth," he responds warmly. He hands me a pamphlet and gestures around him. "The vendors are distributed around the room, but here is a list of ones specifically looking for nursing." Excited and determined, I take the pamphlet and begin my exploration of the job fair, hoping to find the perfect opportunity to kick-start my nursing career.

"Thank you so much Mr.—" I hesitate.

"Mr. Levatine," he supplies. "Best of luck, Miss Ellsworth."

"Many of these do not look local," Rosemary says as she points to a few booths with well-recognizable logos. "You could find an opportunity to take you anywhere. Maybe even near me."

Her words are lost on me, though, as I see a familiar face across the crowd.

"Netti, what is it?" Rosemary asks, trying to follow my line of vision.

"It's him. The guy I was telling you about."

The jostling crowd surges around me, but I spot Connor instantly, his dark hair, tanned skin, and familiar blue eyes cutting through the chaos. His smile is bright, illuminating his face as he talks to a trio of nursing students standing before him.

"Are you sure?" she whispers, following at my heels as I cut through the room.

"Connor," I say breathlessly as I finally make my way across the room to the table, but his eyes flick from me to Rosemary behind me before lighting up like a kid at Christmas.

"Well, hello there," he says, offering his hand to Rose, but then his eyes flick to me and down to my neck. He reaches out grabbing the trailing edge of my scarf and deeply inhales. His nostrils flare and his pupils dilate.

"Where did you get that?" He drags from my scarf to meet my gaze, his cerulean blue eyes so much like the man I had met, but not quite the same.

Was I losing my mind?

"You're not Connor," I blurt, hand reaching up protectively to the scarf around my throat and stepping back.

"No, I am not." He adjusts the tie around his neck before leaning casually on the table. "Forgive me, your scarf reminded me of someone who used to be part of my pack.”

“It’s fine.” It wasn’t fine. My heart races in my chest, fight or flight instincts at this stranger who was so interested in my scarf. Or more pointedly, the man who it belonged to. I clear my throat and smile politely at him. “From a distance, I thought you were someone else.” I rub the soft fabric of the scarf between my fingers and thumb.

“That’s quite alright. May I ask how you became acquainted with the owner of that scarf?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Oh, it was just a customer who came into the bakery I’m working at while I finish my last semester. Why?” I have the sudden urge to protect a man I hardly knew from the prying questions of this stranger.

“Interesting. I have not seen this pack member in years and was curious what he had been up to. You just caught me by surprise is all. Where are my manners?” He bows at the waist before offering his hand. “I'm Carter, and you two lovely ladies would be?"

I hesitate, reaching out to shake the man's hand, but I don't feel the tingle of recognition as I do when Connor has been in my presence.

"She's Netti, and I'm Rosemary," Rose pipes in. "Can you tell us about why you're here? My friend Netti here is graduating in May with top honors."

"Well, is that right?" His gaze lingers on her, a mix of curiosity and anticipation evident in his eyes before flicking to me. "I'm Carter Abernathy, the Alpha of the Abernathy clan. Our head healer's assistant recently had to step down due to retirement, and I thought I'd come out to see if anyone would be a good fit for our clan. Understanding, of course, that you'd need an adjustment period for training. We're offering relocation benefits to help with the transition and an upfront stipend upon signing."

He extends a paper toward me, filled with meticulously calculated numbers, causing my throat to tighten. The figures on the paper were more than enough to cover what I owed for my last semester, my rent for the next nine months, and then some. Not only that, but the clan's location was only an hour south of my parents' shop. I'd finally have the opportunity to visit them and my brothers anytime I wanted.

"Mr. Abernathy," I begin, my voice wavering slightly with excitement and uncertainty. I glance between him and the offering in my hand but my mind can’t seem to concentrate. Why did he look so similar to Connor? Were they more than just pack mates?

"Please, Netti, call me Carter," he interrupts with a warm smile directed toward both of us. "I don't know what it is about you, but can we talk more about this opportunity over dinner?"

Before I can make a good excuse as to why meeting a stranger for dinner might not be the best idea, Rosemary blurts out, unable to contain her enthusiasm, "That would be lovely! Netti was telling me about this quaint restaurant in town that I've been dying to try while I'm here for the weekend."

A spark of amusement flickers in Carter's eyes as he glances at me, awaiting my response. "That settles it, then. How does six pm sound?"