Page 69 of Haunting the Hunter

“I will always be broken in my own way. You can’t fix me, Cade.” I take a deep breath in. “Look, if I want to talk to you, I will. I have been putting everything I have into learning how to control my power. I finally feel like I’m getting somewhere. I’m sorry I scared you guys, but please… Don’t try to parent me right now.”

“Calli—” he starts, but I cut him off.

“No. I don’t want your logic. I don’t want you to try and solve my problems. I want you toseeme,” I say with strength. “I’m more capable than you think.”

I slowly raise my hands, closing my eyes as I will the wind to pick up. I imagine it circling around us—and it does. Fallen leaves begin to pick up and form a vortex around us.

“You are magnificent.”The smile that meets my lips is more genuine than I have ever felt before—I did it.

“Of course you did. Now open your eyes.”

I open my eyes to meet my brother’s, but he is looking up, taking it all in with an expression I’ve never seen on his face before.Wonder.His face is in awe as I drop my hands and the leaves float to the ground in a circle around us. He looks into my eyes as I speak again.

“I want to put my past behind me, Cade. I don’t want you to see that scared little girl anymore.”

He stares at me for a long moment, recognition dawning on his face.

I speak, looking away as my voice cracks. “Please, tell me you understa—”

He rushes over and wraps his arms around me, holding me to hischest, saying nothing. My confidence breaks. I can’t hold back the tears, so I let them fall. My chest heaves as I let out all of the things I’ve been keeping from him without words—the fear, the confusion, the pain.

We stand there for a while, arms around each other tightly as he lets me let it out before finally speaking.

“I don’t know how you feel or what you’re going through. And I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.” He says it in a loving tone, but I can almost hear his mind whispering for me toplease let him try.

My brother has never been one to show his emotions—I almost don’t know how to receive it. Right now, he’s accepting mine, and that is enough to break through the mask I try so hard to keep on.

I release him from the hug and step away, wiping at my face.

“I know you’re trying. But so am I,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself.

“Why didn’t you show me before?” he asks genuinely.

“I couldn’t… But I’ve been practicing.”

“Clearly,” he says, half smiling as he scoffs.

I look up at him and can’t help but smile as I shake my head.

“C’mon, let’s get home. Jack stayed back to wait in case you came home before me,” he says, gesturing toward the tree line.

We exit the forest and head back to the house, when I hear a voice in my head.

“You handled that well.”

I smile and speak under my breath. “Thank you. Now can you get out of my head?”

“No. I don’t think I will. I like it in here.”

CHAPTER 23

ALABASTER

Jack runs to Calli, his chest heaving, fear and concern etched on his face as he approaches. He cups her cheeks and looks her over, running his thumbs over her face. I feel the rage bubble up in me as he speaks.

“Are you hurt? You scared the shit out of me, Cal,” he says, his eyes not leaving her.

“Jack…” She pushes his hands away, shaking her head. I see him look over at Cade and drop his arms.