Shades of Magic (Raven Point Pack Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  He stood there staring at the target, which now had a quarter sized hole through the middle of the head shape. “Crap,” he muttered. “I guess I’ll go for the chest since you took the headshot.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “Want a new target set up to make it fair? I wouldn’t want it to alter your opinion on who is the better shot,” I taunted.

  Caleb growled at me before slamming the reloaded magazine back into the gun. He took his sweet time making sure his aim was going to be on point. While we waited for him to finally shoot, Liam walked up to me and wrapped his arm around my waist.

  “Are you feeling better now?” he asked quietly.

  “A little. Thank you for getting me out of the house.”

  “I think Augie might have kicked you out eventually anyway. I was just saving him the hassle of it.”

  “Ugh, I never expected all of you to get along,” I whined. “I’m not sure I like it. It’s no fair when you gang up on me.”

  Before he could respond to that, Caleb began taking his shots. I suppressed my laughter as we watched each of the bullets hit the target, but nowhere near as tight of a pattern as mine had.

  Caleb let loose several curses as he stood back up. “Whatever. You might be a better shot than me, but I bet my wolf is faster than yours.”

  “Competitive much?” I quirked my brow at him.

  Aiden scoffed. “You have no idea. We’ve had to deal with it our whole lives.”

  I laughed, picturing the three of them growing up together. Each of them identical, but with extremely different personalities. Aiden’s broodiness was growing on me. Caleb had charmed his way into my heart from our first meeting and Liam was… well, I wasn’t sure what he was yet.

  My wolf continued to call him mate and, even if I wasn’t sold on that just yet, I had stopped correcting her. Even if I was certain she was mistaken.

  How were we supposed to live with our mate being in the Catskills and us being needed here for our pack? It wouldn’t work unless one of us moved, and I wasn’t going to be the one to do it, nor would I ask that of him. He had his brothers and parents in New York. His pack needed him. There was no way I could compete with that.

  My pocket buzzed with an incoming text. I pulled my phone out to see a message from Augie. Zarai was finally here. My anxiety skyrocketed once again. I was ready for her to do the soul exchange and bring my dad back, but at the same time, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Davis.

  He’d been under heavy medication since his seizure, so we hadn’t been able to talk much. Everything seemed to be happening so fast, but at the same time, not fast enough. Life was a bitch like that.

  Chapter 5

  With an unsteady hand, I stuck my phone back in my pocket, then took a deep breath before letting the others know Zarai was at the pack house. “We need to head back.”

  “You two go ahead,” Aiden said to me and Liam. “Caleb and I will clean up everything here and meet you back at the house shortly.”

  I nodded as Liam grabbed my hand, leading me to one of the ATVs. The ride back was quick and silent. I didn’t have much to say. My nerves were all over the place. I just wanted today to be over with and we weren’t even halfway through it, but at the same time, I didn’t. All my emotions were at war, making me feel like a basket case. Liam, being the smart man he was, left me alone with my thoughts.

  We made it back to the pack house to find Augie waiting in the living room with Zarai and several others who I assumed to be witches from her coven. Three women who sat huddled together on the couch appeared to be related, based on their matching brunette hair, hazel eyes, and fair skin. Nervousness poured out of them, and I wondered if being around wolves was the reason for it. I’d try not to take offense as long as they were willing to help us.

  A fourth witch stood next to Zarai. She had an air of confidence about her, making eye contact with each of us as we walked into the room. Her flaming red hair was tossed over her shoulder and her green eyes sparkled.

  “Oh, look. We have another firecracker,” Caleb joked.

  “Excuse me?” the redhead snapped.

  “I thought you were supposed to be helping Aiden.” I elbowed him in the gut, pushing him back as I turned back to the witches. “Sorry about him. He calls me firecracker for multiple reasons, but the least ingenious reason is for the red highlights in my hair like yours. Just ignore him. It makes things easier on everyone.” I reached my hand out and was surprised by her firm shake. “I’m Taya.”

  “I’m Lex. Over there are Michelle, Kayla, and Gertie. They’ll be focusing on breaking the wolf gene spell against the humans using the power of three. Just give them some space and they’ll do their thing.” She paused, glancing around the room. “Not all of us have the best history with wolves, so being here is a little much.”

  I nodded, understanding how different things used to be after hearing what Zarai had told me about our history last week. “Not a problem. We have readied several cabins for you all to stay in. We have one turned human here, but the rest are spread out through the outlying packs. We can have them brought here when you’re ready, though.”

  “Thank you, Taya. That would be best. I’d rather not have our witches traveling to other packs if possible,” Zarai said. “Have you sorted things out for the ceremony tonight?”

  “We have. Davis will be volunteering for the exchange.” My heart constricted each time I said those words. It still didn’t feel right, but he had only been getting worse since the seizure. I wouldn’t be the one to stop him from doing what he wanted. “Do you need anything else from us? Help setting up?”

  Zarai nodded. “We just need to know where a good spot is. We need an open spot where the moon will be seen and enough space for us to spread out some.”

  Augie spoke up first. “I’ve got the perfect place out behind our training facility. I can take you there now if you’d like.”

  “We’ve been on the road for hours,” Zarai said. “We’ll get settled in first and then come back here later when we’re ready to start setting up.”

  “Alright. Let’s get you to the cabins then,” I said.

  All of the witches picked up their bags, following me and Liam out the door. I wasn’t surprised he was coming with me. His overprotectiveness rivaled my father’s, and I worried for my sanity if the two of them ever ganged up on me. I also worried for their well-being if they pushed me too far, but that was for me to think about on a different day.

  Today was going to be a day full of highs and lows. After we got the witches settled, I’d be going straight to Davis to have our last official talk. We’d squeezed in a few here and there over the week, but he’d been so out of it that none of what I had really wanted to say had been said.

  When we arrived at the cabins, the witches quickly went inside, shutting the doors behind them. Liam glanced at me, seeming at a loss for their abruptness.

  “Just roll with it,” I said. “They’re here and they want to help. I couldn’t care less if they’re social as long as they wake my dad and stop Jaye.”

  “Good point,” Liam agreed. “What now?”

  “Now you’re going to go do whatever it is you do when I’m not around and I’m going to wake Davis.”

  He narrowed his gaze on me and took a step closer. “Are you dismissing me?”

  I could see the change in his eyes as his wolf peeked through. His normally light green eyes turned dark, and a silver color weaved through the green. I loved pushing his wolf. Liam was an alpha through and through. Pushing his buttons and knocking him down a peg or two made me feel powerful.

  “I am. I’m a grown woman. I can handle myself and don’t need constant companionship. Is that a problem?”

  His gaze traveled up and down my body, heating it as he did so. “For now? No, it’s not.”

  I shuddered at his response. Liam was another person I hadn’t had the conversation with that really needed to be had. At any given time, one of us was either avoiding it or, when we
attempted to get into a more serious discussion about our future, someone always interrupted.

  “For now. Got it.” I nodded. “We’ll chat about that later then?”

  “Like usual,” he said with a cocky grin I was growing fond of.

  Well, at least we both realized my thoughts from before. We’d get it figured out eventually. Now, though, I had to thicken my emotional walls and prepare to say goodbye to someone who had been family to me my whole life. No big deal. I had this. Right?

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pushed my 5’4” body as tall as I could in a feeble attempt to match his 6’3” frame. He met me in the middle, pressing his lips against mine. “Come find me when you’re done?” he asked.

  “That I can do. Thank you for understanding I need to do this on my own.”

  He nodded, pushing me back down and away from him. “Go. Take your time and know I’m here for you when you’re done. Just remember, you don’t always have to be strong on your own, Taya.”

  Oh, well, if that last statement didn’t kick me in the feels, I didn’t know what would. I couldn’t find the words to respond, so I nodded and turned back toward the house. I heard his low chuckle behind me as I quickly retreated. I knew I didn’t always have to be the strong one but being vulnerable was scary. Trusting people and hoping they didn’t disappoint me was downright petrifying. It was easier to pretend nothing got to me. Being strong was easy. Letting someone else take on the burden? That was hard.

  I arrived back at the house and went straight to Davis’s room, offering only a nod to those I passed on my way. The pack had been completely understanding about everything being up in the air for the time being. I had asked for time and they’d given it without hesitation. I just hoped that whatever Zarai had planned later was actually going to work and my dad would be the one updating the pack soon, not me.

  Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to be alpha, but not yet. I wasn’t stupid. I knew I had a lot to learn and I needed to learn it from my dad. I wasn’t ready for it to happen any other way.

  I softly knocked on Davis’s door when I arrived. When he didn’t respond, I opened it gently and tip-toed inside. I took residence in my usual chair next to his bed, reaching for his hand as I did so.

  The rough calluses on his hand made me smile. Davis was a man who had worked hard all his life. He’d given everything he had to our pack. He’d cultivated our lands, trained our people, and most importantly, protected us.

  As much as he had driven me crazy keeping an eye on me for my dad, I wouldn’t have traded him for anyone else in the world.

  His hand gently squeezed mine as his head shifted toward me. Seeing him laid up in a hospital bed and barely able to move was slowly killing me. As much as I didn’t want to say goodbye, I was happy to know he’d be going somewhere he’d no longer be confined as he was. He had been right. It was no life for a shifter.

  “Hey, kid,” his rough voice rumbled.

  “Hey, yourself. How are you doing today?”

  “I’m alright. Ready to get out of this bed. It’s depressing in here.”

  I glanced around the room and he was right. It was no way for a man to spend his final hours on earth. I had a plan, but there were some things I needed to say first, so they didn’t get left unsaid.

  “You’re right. Don’t worry about it, though. We’ll rectify that soon, I promise.”

  “I know.” His voice was full of resolve as he took my statement the wrong way. Tears leaked from my eyes as I realized how ready he was to be done with everything.

  “Don’t cry for me, Taya,” he said as he softly reached out to touch my face. “See my grey hairs and wrinkles? I got each of them from a long and fulfilled life here with the pack. I’m okay with how everything is working out and you need to be, too.”

  I began to half cry and laugh at the same time. “I’m sure you’re ready. I probably gave at least half of those grey hairs and wrinkles to you myself.”

  “You and Cord were like kids to me. Your family helped to give me a life worth living when I thought I had none. Before Gerald gave me a chance, I was a hot-headed kid with nothing to look forward to. No family and no purpose. Decades later, I have both, and I feel truly blessed. Us tough guys don’t say it enough, but I love you, Taya. I’ve loved you and Cord your whole lives, and now I’ll watch over you with him until we meet again.”

  Hysterics. That was the only word for it. I leaned forward, wrapped my arms tightly around Davis, and bawled my eyes out while mumbling how much I loved him and would miss him. Even if he couldn’t understand the words, I knew he understood the feelings behind them.

  Once I calmed down, I pulled back and wiped the tears from my face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that, but I think a breakdown was a long time coming,” I said with a small smile.

  “Don’t worry. I plan on punching Cord right after I hug him for all the shit he’s put us through. They should have brought us in on all this a lot sooner.”

  I nodded in agreement but knew I couldn’t dwell on the past. What was done, was done. There was nothing we could do to change it, but I damn well planned on making sure Declan didn’t take anyone else away from us.

  “How about we get you out of here until Zarai is ready?” I asked.

  Davis grinned and, for once, one of my mischievous plans sounded like a good idea to him. “What did you have in mind?”

  “ATV rides, fishing, gun range? Whatever you want. You name it and it’s yours.”

  “Even ice-cream from Dilly’s?”

  My stomach rumbled in response. “I think we can handle that.”

  “Alright. I want all the above then. Show me all the fun I’ve been missing out on while you’ve been giving me these grey hairs.”

  I grinned at him. “You’ll be leaving here with a permanent smile. That’s a promise.”

  The plans were already made in my head. We had about five hours left until the moon would be up in the sky and I planned on making the most of those hours for Davis. He deserved a happy day and so much more. If it was the only thing I could do, I was going to do it big.

  “I’ll be back with some muscle. Take a quick nap if you need to, old man. It will be the last one you get today.”

  Chapter 6

  Laughter. It was the best kind of medicine, in my opinion. Liam, Augie, and I took Davis out for all the adventures he requested to go on. Caleb and Aiden stayed back to help the witches set up, which we appreciated. We’d been into town for ice cream at the small parlor we loved so much. Davis had gotten a banana split with more toppings than I thought he could eat, but he somehow managed while commenting about not being sure about the food choices in the afterlife. I quickly replied it was too soon to joke about such things, but he continued on anyway.

  We followed that up with off-roading in the ATVs, then fishing at the pond. Davis’s last request was to sit out under the stars with ice-cold beer and tell stories. Caleb and Aiden had shown up along with Rick, Sam, Tommy, and several others. S’mores were made, plenty of beer was drank, and stories that caused our bellies to ache with so much laughter were told. Overall, it had been one of the best days I’d ever had.

  Davis’s face was glowing. I’d never seen him smile so much or be so carefree in all the years I’d known him. It made my heart happy to know I helped put that look on his face. It also made me feel more at ease with the situation, seeing how sure he was of everything. If I had thought for one second that Davis doubted his choice to switch his soul for my father’s, I’d have fought him on the decision. But he’d been in good spirits all day and seemed to even look forward to later.

  Augie leaned in and whispered, “You did good today, Tay.”

  “Thanks. Seeing him how he is right now, that’s how I wanted to remember him. Not lying in a hospital bed. It wasn’t right.”

  He squeezed my hand. “No, it certainly wasn’t, but this is perfect.”

  “Is it weird I feel nervous about seeing my dad?” I asked. “It feel
s like it’s been months instead of weeks. So much has happened.”

  Augie nodded toward Liam. “Are you afraid he won’t approve?”

  “No. I mean, maybe. There’s the whole logistical issue. I guess because I don’t know where we stand, I’m not sure what to tell Dad.”

  “You two still haven’t talked about that?” Augie shook his head in irritation at me. “I know you’re good at avoiding stuff when you want to, but this can’t be avoided or you’re going to get your heart broken. Then, I’m going to have to hurt Liam’s face for hurting you and he’ll likely hit back harder. It’s not good for any of us.”

  I laughed at that and grinned at him. “Nobody is getting punched in the face. We’ll work it out sooner or later.”

  “Sooner, Taya. I mean it. I want to see you happy. Don’t avoid this for so long that you miss your shot at happiness. I’m even willing to play mediator if you’re too chicken to handle Liam on your own.”

  He was baiting me, and I wasn’t going to fall for it. He knew I couldn’t back down from a challenge and he’d just thrown one down.

  “I’ll handle it, I promise. Your mediation services won’t be necessary.”

  From the corner of my eye, I caught Zarai and Lex headed toward us, meaning our time had run out. This was it. I took a trembling breath and stood up to greet them before they could join us.

  “We’re ready,” Zarai said when I approached them outside our group circle.

  I glanced up at the sky, and the moon was out in full force. Bright yellow without a cloud in the sky to obstruct the view. I wasn’t ready, but I never would be, so it didn’t matter. I just had to breathe deeply and deal with it.

  “Okay, we’ll make our way there now,” I said. “Thank you again. We can’t show our appreciation enough for your help with this.”

  “We need to correct what our sister has done. We’re happy to help with this.”

  I turned back toward the group and Davis met my gaze. He nodded at me, understanding without me needing to explain, which I was grateful for.