Bonus Chapter

Nervous didn’t begin to describe how I felt. Shit didn’t get to me the way it did my brothers. Usually. But this? I couldn’t wrap my head around it. The replay of the events in the warehouse had become a permanent resident in my mind.

Magic.

I knew magic when I saw it.

But me?

How the hell did I have magic?

Why did I have magic?

What the hell was I supposed to do with it?

And most importantly… why did I like it so much?

It wasn’t some wild rush of power like you see in the movies—though, that would’ve probably made this easy. Swayed me to the dark side with fucking cookies. Let’s face it. I made better cookies than any Sith Lord could.

No, this felt like coming home. It felt warm and safe. It felt like some version of my truth that I’d been missing my whole life. I didn’t know what to do with that. Was it wrong? Was it right? Was I broken? How had I gone my whole life not knowing?

I couldn’t make the magic work after that—my magic? Was I allowed to call it that? Had it just been some fluke? Or was it the hunter’s magic doing weird shit?

I groaned and slid down further in the front seat of Sam’s truck. Every question led to more questions. I had questions piled on top of questions, but no fucking answers.

“It’ll be okay, kid,” Sam assured me quietly. I glanced at him. For once, he seemed at ease as he hung one arm out the window with a cigarette in hand. I could still see the exhaustion in his face, but he looked better than he had in months.

I leaned on Sam for help for the first time in a long time. Maybe that made a difference? Who really knew? He hadn’t been there when it happened, but once Nolan was home from the hospital, I’d taken him to the warehouse to see the aftermath. It was hard to miss the giant fucking hole in the roof.

He didn’t have answers. Though, a part of me wished he did. For as close as the six of us were, Sam was the only one I could go to for this. He and I were cut from the same cloth, so it was different with him.

He was surprisingly patient with me—I had a tendency to push his buttons more than I meant to. And while he didn’t have any answers, his suggestion was for me to talk to Mom. Mom knew Tara and Kieran. If anyone could give me answers about them, it was her.

I couldn’t bring myself to go alone, so here we were, doing it together.

“Do you remember them?” I asked him. Sam had been four when our parents died. He called them Mom and Dad, but I’d been an infant. I didn’t have an ounce of attachment. Maybe that made me cold-hearted, but they were just pictures. Maeve and Seamus were my parents.

“A little bit,” Sam answered honestly. His jaw ticked as he fell silent. It was a bad idea to bring them up to him. He’d been in the car with them when they died. It wasn’t fair to push him back to that place.

“Sorry,” I muttered.

“Don’t fucking do that,” he snapped. I cringed. Yeah, I’d pissed him off. To my surprise, he sighed. “I’m sorry. I need to stop… you know. Mom liked to bake. You get that from her—not the naked part.”

I opened my mouth to retaliate but quickly shut it. I could fight with him later. I wanted to hear what he had to say.

“Dad would give her shit for trying to make him fat, but that didn’t stop him from sneaking cookies whenever he could. She made the best cookies. Chocolate with mint chips instead of chocolate chips,” he whispered. “When I’d help him in the garage, he’d sneak a whole plate of them in there. Told me it was our secret. He’d take me out to drive his truck, even though Mom would get mad because it wasn’t safe for a toddler to be driving. I was on top of the world every time.”

It made sense why he kept Dad’s truck.

“Dad liked bad jokes and Mom liked to sing.” He was a million miles away as he spoke. “And they used to read to us every night before bed. I may have hit you with a few books along the way while trying to make sure you could see all the pictures.”

“Sounds about right,” I replied. My chest was tight with emotions I didn’t expect to have.

“They loved you,” Sam said quietly. “I know I don’t talk about them… I should tell you more about them. I just… I can’t…”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not.” He shoved a hand through his long hair, sighing. “You deserve to know more about them. They were your parents too, and it’s not fair that I can’t…”

“Really, Sam,” I interjected, trying my best to reassure him. I couldn’t imagine half the shit he went through because of what happened. “This is enough.”

“Yeah.” He nodded and fell silent. His entire body was tense all over again, and he was lost in his head. There wasn’t a thing I could do to fix it, so I shut up and let him be. It was the least I could do, considering everything he was dredging up just to help me.

We drove the last five minutes in silence as I watched the trees pass. I had more questions than the forest had trees at this point. It kept me up at night. Even my wolf was off—grumpy and disoriented.

“What if she doesnt love me anymore?” I asked as I stopped in the driveway when we got there. Sam faced me, offering a small smile

“Kid, Declan’s a perverted lumberjack fucking his wife across town. Killian dances the line of morally gray by tearing people apart and stabbing people. Youre at sparkly teenage vampire status. If she can love them, shell love you,” he said. “And youve got me. Always.”

“Promise?” I sounded pathetic. I knew that. But I was scared as shit.

“You’re stuck with me, Finn,” he replied. “That’ll never change. No matter what. I mean that.”

His hand dropped to my shoulder as he walked me to the door. Mom stood there waiting, but her smile faltered as she saw whatever was written on my face.

“I think there’s something wrong with me,” I whispered. She said nothing, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized me. The deep sigh she let out resonated with my soul. I was so tired.

“Magic?” she asked quietly.

“How…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. I only nodded because how the hell had she known? Saying nothing, Mom opened the door fully to let us in.

“I wondered when this day would come,” Mom said as she came down the stairs with—was that a VHS? Shit, when was the last time I saw one of those? She had a VHS and two envelopes in hand. “You two are the only reason I never got rid of the VHS player. I couldn’t bring myself to make this into a DVD. I didn’t want anyone else to see it.”

Sam and I sat on the couch. Well, Sam sat. I fidgeted with an obscene amount of restless energy. My skin itched uncomfortably, and I needed to move or something.

“Here.” She must’ve noticed because she grabbed a small square from one of the side tables and gave it to me as she passed. Immediately, I began working my way through the Rubix cube. Mom was used to my inability to sit still. The house was full of fidget toys and Rubix cubes hidden everywhere to occupy me. The only time I ever felt truly at ease was when I was in the kitchen.

“What is that?” I asked.

“When you were born, your mom recorded a video for the both of you as a part of doing their wills,” she explained. Sam and I glanced at one another. “If something ever happened to her, Tara wanted to make sure you two had answers if questions came up. There’s a letter for each of you as well.”

Tara had planned all this? Sam’s face paled as Mom handed him one. I took the other but set it aside.

“You don’t have to do this with me.” I gave him the out. He looked ready to throw up as Mom queued up the videotape.

“No,” he snapped gruffly. “I said I’d be here, so I’m not fucking leaving.”

“Language, Sam,” Mom said gently. She gave me the remote and took my face in her hands. I couldn’t read her expression, which unnerved me. “I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re done if you want to talk. It’ll be okay, sunshine.”

The now-irony of that term of endearment wasn’t lost on me. She kissed my forehead and left—not before touching Sam’s cheek and offering a soft smile.

“You ready?” I asked Sam when we were alone. He barely nodded.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I hit play, but my breath caught in my lungs at the woman sitting in front of the camera. Tara Byrne. I’d seen pictures, yeah, but this was different. She was beautiful with her long dark hair and bright amber eyes. That wide smile of hers—that was Sam’s smile.

The sight of her did something painful to my heart—something I wasn’t expecting. I froze, feeling the room sway slightly.

“Hello, Sam and Finn,” she greeted so casually that it was almost as if she was there with us. “I truly hope this is a video neither of you ever have to watch. But if it is… I’m sorry. I’m sorry that your father and I aren’t there. We had such big hopes and dreams for both of you—to watch you grow up, to watch you chase your happiness… to see where your lives take you. Both of you are made for such wonderful things. I’ve known that from the moment I held each of you.

“But I know your aunt and uncle will take care of you. They love you two as much as we do. Maeve and Seamus are wonderful. I hope you can see that,” she continued. “Unfortunately, they won’t be equipped to handle the questions that are bringing you to this video. If you’re watching this, it means one of you has shown signs of having magic. I have my suspicions that it’s you, Finn.”

My heart dropped out of my chest. She knew?

“From the moment you were born, I felt it in you,” Tara explained. “Of course, that’s not to say that you, Sam, may not show signs later in life as well. Magic is a… oh, it’s a tricky little thing, boys. Some are born with it and never come into it while for others it’s an explosive coming into.”

“Fucking facts,” I muttered. Explosive was an understatement.

“I’m a witch, and I come from a very long line of witches,” she said. “My family and my coven are in Chicago, where I met your father. When I found out I was pregnant, I chose to move to Cedar Harbor. I didn’t make that choice lightly. Your wolves require more in your younger years than magic does. You needed your father, and you needed your pack.

“But while I love Maeve and Seamus, and I’ve come to love your father’s pack, they can’t give you what you need… someone to teach you how to use magic. It is through no fault of their own. I’ve found three other individuals in Cedar Harbor with magic, but none of them are capable of teaching you the way you need to be taught.”

“What?” I dropped the Rubix cube and glanced at Sam. “Who else has magic in Cedar Harbor?”

Sam gave the barest of shrugs, never looking at me. From the look on his face, seeing her again was killing him. Stupid, Finn. I should’ve been able to handle this on my own.

“I think it’s important for you to go to Chicago, even just for a while. But I need to tell you that I didn’t leave Chicago on good terms. My family and my coven weren’t happy that I left them for your father. They have a lot of hard feelings toward the Byrnes. I can’t promise a trip to Chicago will be pleasant.” Well, fuck. “Tread carefully with my family. I love them, but I’m not fond of their selfish ways. Be careful who you trust and what you trust them with.

“Find a woman named Bahar Amiri.” Tara smiled as she said the name. “Bahar was always a friend to me, and she has a daughter six years older than you, Sam—Naomi. She helped me learn so much about my magic and myself. She encouraged me to come to Cedar Harbor, to embrace the pack life. She’ll take care of you, I promise. And I know she won’t steer you wrong. She’s the only person in Chicago I’d trust with my boys.”

Her boys… why did those words do something awful to my heart? I’d never had an attachment to this woman. But seeing her? Hearing her voice? Listening to her talk? It touched a place in my heart I didn’t know existed. A dull ache built in my chest, and I swallowed back the rise of heavy emotions I didn’t want.

“I know this time is confusing. It’s hard knowing you’re one thing and then finding out you’re something entirely different,” she said. The words hit home. I’d never understood what I was. I’d never felt quite like I fit in. Being the center of attention and floating around between people was always something I was good at with the pack and the town. But it never felt right. Not for me. There’d always been a deep sense of disconnect in my goddamn soul. “Magic doesn’t define you. Your wolf doesn’t define you. Only you do that. You can choose one, you can choose both, or you can choose something else entirely. Your destiny is in your own hands no matter what variables lie on the table. Never forget that.”

It sure as hell didn’t feel that way. I had a duty to the pack as one of its leaders. I belonged here. I belonged with them.

So why the hell did my heart feel otherwise?

I swiped the Rubix cube off the floor, needing something to do with the energy pulsing through me.

“And please, never forget how much I have loved both of you,” Tara whispered. “Both of you were an unrealized dream, and I loved you as fiercely as I could while I had you.”

Sam stood as the video ended and stormed out of the house, letter in hand. I wanted to go after him, but I didn’t. The best thing for the two of us was space.

I watched the video again, stopping and replaying bits and pieces to absorb them better.

A witch. I was a fucking witch. Wolf-witch? Witch-wolf? Wolfy witch? Witchy wolf? Man, none of those titles sounded fucking appealing at all. I’d have to work on that.

That was… if I decided to embrace this whole thing.

After a third viewing, I gave the letter my attention. Before even reading, I studied her handwriting in fascination. It was the only thing I had of her that was meant just for me. Big loops, fancy curves. It was all so light and airy and fancy.

Finnegan, my little sunshine,

You are six days old and your father laughs at me that I call you that. He and your brother call you a potato because you’re so tiny—much smaller than your brother was.

But oh… you are so fierce and bright. Even now, at so young, I can see it. I can feel the magic inside you.

You have magic, my little sunshine. Powerful, intense, and intimidating magic. I’ve never felt what I feel in you. Maybe it’s because I’m your mother. Maybe that connection between us is so strong I feel my own magic in you. I don’t know. Magic is such a tricky thing.

But there’s no denying that one day, that magic will make itself known. It always does. It’ll be scary and hard. It’ll challenge everything you thought you knew about yourself.

But it will be okay. I promise you, it will be okay.

Chicago and my coven will open doors and windows to a world you had no idea existed. Don’t be afraid of it. Magic is as wonderful as it is terrifying. It’s about how you use it.

Whatever happens, choose you. That’s all I ask. You have so many paths laid out for you, and I know so many people are going to influence your choice. It’s only natural.

But choose you, my little sunshine. Choose the life that makes you happy.

With all my love and blessings,

Mom

I stared at the letter, words floating off the page as I struggled to focus on it. Anxiety, grief, fear… all of it nestled inside me, making it difficult to find my footing.

I felt lost. More so than I’d ever been. I didn’t have a clue what I was supposed to do.

An hour later, I finally made my way into the kitchen. Mom sat with her e-reader in front of her and a cup of untouched coffee next to it. She just stared out the window, gaze unfocused.

I didn’t say a word. What could I say?

“Hi, sunshine,” Mom said when she realized I was there.

“Can I have a hug?” I whispered. My voice broke with the question. The chair scraped across the hardwood as she stood up, crossing the room to me quickly. I sank into her embrace, needing the warmth and familiarity she offered.

“It’s okay.” She stroked my hair. “It’ll be okay.”

“Do you still love me?” I mumbled into her shoulder. “Even if I’m a witch?”

“Oh, Finn.” She pulled away and took my face in her hands. Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke. “You listen here, my sweet boy, there’s nothing in the world that could make me stop loving you.”

“Promise?” I asked pathetically.

“Always,” she assured me. “I know… I know I’m not your Mom—not really—”

“Yeah, you are. You’re the only mom I know.”

“But for the first time, Finn, that isn’t enough,” she told me quietly. “I’m not enough, and it breaks my heart that I can’t help you. The best thing I can do for you is to let you go.”

“I have to go to Chicago,” I whispered.

“You have to go to Chicago,” Mom agreed. “You have to meet your family, and you have to figure out what’s best for you no matter what that means for our family. No matter how long it takes, or even if you decide to not come back.”

“I’ll come home.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I do. I do know that.”

“My sweet little sunshine, don’t make that promise,” she said. “Not to me, not to Sam, not to anyone. You have to do this for you. You deserve to know who you are.”

“I want to wait,” I told her. “Until spring maybe. I don’t know. I want to be here for Nolan.”

“Whenever you want to leave, you go. Don’t stay for any of us. Nolan…” Her voice hitched in her throat. “It’s admirable that you want to stay for him, but Nolan has a long way to go to be okay again. I don’t know if he ever will.”

“Still…” Maybe I just wasn’t ready to go. “Spring. Maybe.”

“Whenever you’re ready, Finn,” Mom replied softly. She brushed my hair away from my forehead with a sad smile.

Whenever I was ready… how the hell was I supposed to know when that was?