A small smile spreads across my face. “You’ll see.”
Another couple of minutes pass before we reach their street. It’s a narrow, paved road lined with trees that can barely fit two cars side by side. The trees will soon end, and once we get past them, the view of the ocean will be magnificent. When we pass the trees, and my parents’ small, yellow house appears, I glance over at Kara to see the expression on her face. Her eyes widen as they scan the horizon of nothing but the crystal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.
“Breathtaking,” she whispers. “Did you live here as a kid?”
I pull up beside my parents’ truck and stare out at the water. The shoreline is below us at the bottom of the cliff, but I can hear the waves crashing against the rocks. “No, but I wish I did. My parents have the ocean in front of them and the mountains behind; the best of both worlds.” My parents didn’t buy the yellow cottage until I purchased the vineyard house from them. It’s where I’ve lived ever since I was born.
Kara opens her door. “I agree.”
We both get out of the car, and I laugh. “I’m shocked.”
She shuts her door and glares at me. “I’m not blind, Maheegan. I can’t deny beauty when I see it. But, trust me, a lot has changed in this world in the two hundred years I’ve lived in it. Visions like this,” she says, pointing out at the sea, “are rare.”
I walk around the front of my car to join her. “I really would like to hear some of your stories. Maybe at dinner tonight?”
Her heart stutters, and she looks away. “Maybe. The past brings up a lot of memories I’d like to forget.”
Before I can say anything else, my mother opens the side door of the house. “Hey,” she calls out, waving her hand excitedly in the air. Kara awkwardly waves back, and it takes all I have not to smile. “I’ll be right out,” my mother adds, waving once more before shutting the screen door.
Kara looks over at me. “I think that’s the friendliest encounter I’ve had with a member of your pack.”
I shrug. “You should’ve seen my mom when she was the alpha female. Very scary.”
“I heard that,” my mother yells from inside of the house.
Kara slaps a hand over her mouth and snickers. It’s the first time I’ve heard any sort of genuine contentment from her. “I’d be careful,” Kara warns with a smile and keeping her voice low, “it’s not smart to mess with an alpha female.”
I wink at her. “I’ll be sure to remember that.”
Kara stares back at the doorway. “You and your mother have the same color eyes.”
“We do. But I look like my father,” I state. “You’ll meet him soon. He loves to get his morning surf time in.”
Kara’s head jerks my way. “Surfing? Seriously?” Shaking her head, she laughs. “Your parents are not at all what I imagined.”
“Hopefully, that’s a good thing,” my mother interjects as she comes around behind us. She steps up beside me, giving me a side hug but keeping her focus on Kara.
Kara smiles a little unsurely, but she nods. “It is a good thing. I didn’t mean it any other way. It’s just I’m not used to hearing about wolves who surf or prefer to live by the ocean.”
My mother beams. “I never would’ve thought it either, but I wouldn’t trade it in for anything.”
I drape my arm over my mother’s shoulder. “Kara, this is my mother, Maureen.”
My mother extends her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Kara.”
Kara shakes her hand, and I can feel the nervousness surrounding her body. “Likewise.”
My mother peers up at me and pats my chest. “As much as I love you, I think it’s time for you to go. It’s girl time.”
Kara keeps her expression blank, but I know she’s terrified. It makes me wonder how much she kept hidden when she had her royal abilities. But, of course, royals can hide a lot more of their emotions, and since she can’t do that right now, I get a front-row seat to it all. It’s as if she’s an entirely different person.
“All right,” I say, backing away from them. “I’ll see you two later.”
My mother stands next to Kara, and they both watch me leave. I take one last look at Kara in my rearview mirror, silhouetted by the ocean behind her. I want her. I want her more than anything I’ve ever desired in my life. But, unfortunately, I can’t give in.
11
KARA
I hate that Chase can feel my uneasiness. The last thing I want is for him to think I’m weak. I’m far from it. Physically, yes, but mentally I can handle anything that comes my way. I watch Chase drive away, wondering what the hell his mother has in store for me. She genuinely appears friendly, but that easily could’ve been just for show.
Maureen bumps me with her shoulder. “Thanks for coming.”
Once Chase’s car disappears, I look over at her. Her hair is dark and covered with a straw beach hat. She gives off the typical beach vibe with her flowy, golden-colored boho dress and sandals. I may be older than her, but she has a pearl of wisdom in her eyes that I know I don’t have.
“Did I have a choice?”
Her kind smile makes me regret asking. “Everyone has a choice, Kara. We choose to do the things we do in life. It’s up to us to make sure it’s the right path.”
My stomach clenches, and I can’t help but think her words were intentional. I know I’ve made bad decisions in my lifetime. And, of course, I’m paying the consequences for them now.
Maureen waves her hand for me to follow her. “Come. I’m going to show you what we’ll be doing this morning.”
I follow behind her to the back of her red truck where it’s filled with boxes of jars.
“What is all of that?” I question.
Maureen smiles at it all. “Homemade jams and canned vegetables. It’s what I do now that Chase runs the vineyard.” She turns to me, her aura warm and kind as she grins. Her presence sends a calming essence through my body, and my shoulders ease their tension.
I nod toward the goodies. “Where are we taking it all?”
Maureen lifts the tailgate and slams it shut. “To the farmers’ market. I have some friends with local businesses in town. They’ve been struggling here recently, so I give them all of this to sell. It helps pay their rent. Hopefully, soon they’ll be back on their feet again.”
“That’s really kind of you.”
Maureen shrugs. “I do what I can to help. They’re good people, and I don’t want to see them suffer.” She takes a step toward me. “If you had a friend who needed help, would you help them?”
Her question catches me off guard. From what I can tell of Maureen and her personality, I know she must have a slew of friends. I’m sure people gravitate toward her when she’s in a room. Sadly, you can count the number of friends I have on one hand, on less than a hand. In all honesty, it’s more like two fingers.
“I don’t have many friends,” I confess, “but the ones I do have, I would do what I can.”