Page 24

Yelena

“Mama, is dinner almost done? I’m so hungry!” Cleo yells, bouncing up and down on the couch cushions.

I smile at her fondly and stir the chicken soup I’ve made.

“Almost done, sweetie. Be careful on that couch, you don’t want to fall.”

She grins at me and jumps more. There’s a wildness about her that I recognize. Even though she doesn’t have her wolf yet, she’s still the daughter of two shifters. What would be dangerous for a human child is simply a fun activity for her.

The doorbell rings and I look up in surprise.

“Oh! I’ll get it!” Cleo yells, bounding toward the door.

I move the soup to another burner and hurry after her. “Cleo, wait. You don’t answer the door, that’s for grown-ups only,” I call.

But it’s too late.

She’s already climbed onto the sofa table and unlocked the deadbolt, swinging the door open just as I arrive.

"Hi!” she says brightly.

“Hello,” a familiar voice greets her back.

A mixture of anger and surprise roils in my stomach.

“Cleo, go play. Mama’s got the door,” I tell her, stepping around my curious daughter.

Austin stands on my porch. He’s holding a bakery box.

“Do you have cake?” Cleo asks, her sharp little eyes glued to the box. Austin looks at me and then down at my daughter.

“They’re cookies, half pint. But maybe next time I’ll bring cake.”

Cleo claps for joy and then turns to me. “Is the nice man with the cookies staying for dinner?” she asks, hopefully.

I glare at Austin over her head. “No,” I mouth.

But he ignores me.

“I’m a friend of your mama’s from when she was your age,” he says, smoothly. “We grew up right next to each other. And wouldn’t you know it? I just bought a condo right next to this one, so we get to be neighbors again!”

Cleo beams at him. “Really? Well, you should have dinner with us. And bring the cookies.”

She turns to me, her eyes big and pleading. “Mama, can your nice friend have dinner with us and share his cookies? Please? Pretty please?”

I melt at her expression and sigh, giving in.

“Fine. Austin, you can come in,” I grumble, holding the door open enough for him to slip inside.

“Thank you,” he whispers, taking off his jacket and placing it neatly on the table.

“Your name is Austin?” Cleo asks, curiously. “That’s a funny name. My name is Cleo.”

I look between the two of them and feel the smallest twinge of guilt start in my gut.

This is not how I would have thought Austin would meet our daughter.

To her, he’s a stranger who has come for dinner.

She doesn’t know the importance of this moment.

And Austin looks like he’s trying his damndest to act casual, but I know him well enough to read his tells. He’s nervous.

She holds out her little hand and I watch in horror as Austin takes it and gives it a little shake. Oh no, what if her abilities have manifested? What happens if she reads him?

But she just smiles. “It’s nice to meet you,” she says, properly. “Do you want to help me build a fort with the sofa cushions?”

She doesn’t wait for him to answer, she just runs off into the living room and starts taking the cushions off the couch.

“You don’t say a word about the pack, Callie—any of it,” I warn Austin. “I haven’t told her, and I don’t plan on it tonight.”

“You have my word, Yelena,” he says, solemnly. His hand rests on the small of my back and a small shiver travels up my spine. “She’s beautiful. She looks just like you.”

I spin away from him and storm back to the kitchen to cook more food for our meal.

As I’m preparing the salad, I look out into the living room and a wistfulness overtakes me.

Austin is on his knees, carefully balancing cushions to help build Cleo’s fort while she runs in circles, bringing him pillows and blankets to improve it.

He’d be a natural father. She would love having him around. He looks so at ease with her. Like he belongs there.

The thought scares me and I quickly finish chopping the tomatoes and add them to my salad.

“Dinner’s ready,” I call out, setting the final dishes on the table.

Austin and Cleo come in and Cleo giggles when Austin holds her chair for her.

“For the princess,” he jokes, before moving over to my chair, “And the queen.”

“Who’s going to hold your chair? Are you a prince or the king?” she demands as she stuffs a roll in her mouth.

“I can hold my own chair,” he assures her, meeting my eyes with a smile. The exchange is so sweet, it forces me to relax and smile myself.

Just as I’m serving Cleo her bowl of soup, I notice that she’s dropped her bread, and she’s staring blankly at the wall.

“Cleo?” I ask, worriedly. “Cleo, are you okay?”

She doesn’t answer, and I quickly put the bowl down and move to her side.

She’s still breathing, but it’s coming in quick pants. Her eyes are unfocused and she’s sweating.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, taking her pulse. “Oh my God, Cleo!”

Austin hurries to my side. “What’s happening? Is she okay?”

I shake my head and try to think. Do I call the doctor?

Is she having a seizure of some kind? Is she having a vision?

I tried to remember what happened when Callie had a vision.

I don’t remember her looking quite so pale, but I have a vague recollection of her just drifting off into her prophecies sometimes.

Could this be the same? Is this Cleo’s first vision?

As quickly as she went into her trance, she pops out. Her eyes slowly become more focused, and she looks at me. Her face looks stricken.

“May I be excused, mama?” she asks, quietly.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” I ask, running my hand over her hair.

She just nods. “Please? I just want to lay down.”

I bite my lip and then nod. “Okay. But I am going to come check on you in a few minutes.”

Cleo just nods and slips from her chair. Austin and I both watch as she makes her way down the hall. I exhale when I hear the door to her room click shut.

“That was a vision, wasn’t it?” Austin asks, helping me stand.

“I don’t know,” I answer, truthfully.

I’m suddenly not very hungry.

“You need to come home, Yelena. If she’s the next Seer, you know how much danger she’s in. Let me protect her, and you. Even if you never want to be with me again, let me protect her,” he says, passionately.

“I’ve protected her for the last five years just fine without you,” I tell him, gathering up my plates. “Don’t you think I know what’s best for her? I’m the one who has raised her all these years. If we move back to the pack, it will be my decision, not yours,” I snap.

He looks at me for a long time, his expression hard to decipher. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he looks both heartbroken and intensely frustrated. I’ve never seen him look like this until recently.

“Is this because of me?” he asks, finally. “Are you staying away because of me?”

I don’t give him an answer, I just dig in the cupboard for a plastic container and start ladling soup into it.

“Yelena, please, just, think about it. Please don’t stay in danger just because you think it would be too awkward to share a pack with me. I wouldn’t do that to you. You’re in charge of our boundaries. If you say you don’t want me, I’ll respect that,” he adds, heavily.

I finish ladling the soup, and then put the lid on. I carefully wrap a roll in tin foil. I gather it up and hand it to him.

“Here’s dinner,” I say softly. “I think you should go.”

His face falls, but he nods and stands. “The cookies are for her. If she wants them,” he says, taking the food I offered.

“And Yelena?” he calls out as he puts on his jacket. “I really did buy the condo across from yours. Number fifty-seven. You can come visit me anytime. My card is here, in case you need to get a hold of me.” He places the card on the table, and I grit my teeth and nod, walking him to the door.

“Good night, Austin,” I whisper, shutting and locking the door behind him. I exhale and lean against the door, trying to get my thoughts in order.

Austin coming here was a shock. Seeing him at my doorway, watching him play with Cleo—it was a lot. I don’t have the mental energy to analyze it right now. I’m too worried about Cleo.

Please, Moon Goddess, watch over her. I pray as I pick up the sofa cushions from Cleo’s pillow fort and place them back on the sofa.

That girl is the most important person in the world to me.

I would do anything for her. The knowledge that she has this gift that could harm her, or others, makes me sick with worry.

Once the living room is put back together, I make my way to Cleo’s bedroom and peek in on her. She’s sleeping peacefully, curled up in a ball next to all her stuffed animals.

My heart aches looking at her. All I’ve ever wanted was for her to have a lovely, peaceful, normal childhood.

If she’s a Seer, she won’t have that, and it breaks my heart.

With a sigh, I creep into her room and lean down, pulling a blanket over her. I kiss her cheek and brush her hair aside, smiling when she giggles in her sleep.

“Sleep well, sweetie,” I whisper as I turn out her light.

***

“Cleo, do you know where your dance shoes are? We don’t want to be late for your class today!

” I call out, checking my watch for the third time.

I’ve been sending Cleo to a special sports academy preschool once a week for the last year.

It’s done wonders for her social abilities and the emphasis on physical exercise has helped with her crazy energy levels.

“Mama, you can’t go to the hospital. You can’t,” Cleo says, appearing behind me. Her dance shoes are gripped in her hand so tightly that her little knuckles are white. She looks terrified.

“Honey, what are you talking about?” I ask, kneeling down to pry her shoes out of her hand.

“Promise me you won’t go,” she cries, flinging herself into my arms. Her hot tears soak my shoulder and I hold her tightly. “I don’t want you to die.”

“Honey, no one is going to die. And I’m not scheduled at the hospital today. I’m going to work at the clinic. Let’s get you to class, okay?” I brush away her tears and help her put on her shoes.

She drags her feet as we walk to the car, her little sniffles breaking my heart each step of the way.

We make the short drive to the academy and I help her out of her booster seat and hand her the pink dance bag.

“You promise you won’t go?” she asks, solemnly. I kneel down to her level and give her a hug. “I promise, honey. Now go have fun at the dance, okay?”

I watch as she walks off toward her dance studio and give her a little wave when she turns back.

My anxiety is sky high as I get into the car. She’s having visions. Terrible visions. What if they’re true? But they can’t be, right? I don’t work at the hospital. I work at the Ruby Clinic. Maybe this is all just a coincidence…

I navigate out onto the freeway and make my way toward Ruby Clinic. As I reach my exit, my phone rings and I answer it on the hands free.

“This is Yelena,” I say as I merge onto the exit.

“Yelena, thank God. Are you on your way in?” Dr. Taylor asks. He sounds frantic.

“Yes, Doctor. I’m about ten minutes away. What happened?” I ask.

“A passenger train derailed at rush hour. There were multiple casualties. Many injured. We’re sending everyone we have to help up at the hospital. Can you make it over there?”

My blood runs cold, and I swallow hard. The hospital. The one place Cleo made me swear I wouldn’t go.

“Yelena, did you hear me?” Dr. Taylor says again, his voice tight with worry.

“I heard you, Doctor,” I answer quietly. My heart is torn. As a healer, I’m duty-bound to assist where I can. All those people suffering…if I could help them, I know where I need to be.

But Cleo…she’s my life. Her vision saw me dying if I went to the hospital. That’s horrifying too.

I take a deep breath and pray to the Moon Goddess, asking for whatever grace she might give me.

My decision is clear.

“I can be at the hospital in twenty minutes,” I tell him.

“Good. We’ll see you there.”

I hang up the call and grip the steering wheel.

Moon Goddess, protect me. Please.