The Alpha and His Rapunzel

Chapter 7: Whispers

"I've got to go," he said, looking back to Nora. "I'm sorry. Go back inside."

"But—" Nora's protest was silenced with a kiss.

"I'll find you. Now go." He ran in the direction of the voice that called out to him, and Nora snuck back into the club. The thundering music disoriented her, and she was suddenly dizzy. She went back to the VIP booth where Kai and the twins were still waiting.

"Nora!" Kai handed her a glass of water when she practically collapsed next to him. "Girl, what happened?"

"I want to leave," she breathed, feeling dizzier. The room spun around her, creating a kaleidoscope of color.

"Is it true?" Ruby jumped in front of her.

"Are you his mate?" Jade asked.

"Tell us!" they shouted.

"I need to go. I have to think." Nora stood. She reached for Kai. He grabbed her hand. Before leaving, she looked at the twins. Their faces were filled with sadness and concern. Nora felt a surge of guilt.

"Yes," she answered them. "I'm sorry."

***

The next few days were a blur. Nora busied herself with classes and research, doing her best to keep her mind occupied. Her heart felt like it was flayed open, bleeding and bared to world. After another long day at the library, she returned home.

"I'm home," she sighed, setting her heavy backpack down.

"Damn, girl. Did you bring home half the library?" Kai quipped.

"I have a lot of research to do."

Kai's eyes narrowed at her.

"All right. I've given you enough time. You need to tell me what happened at the club."

Nora looked away and pretended to be absorbed with her putting her books away. However, Kai was having none of it. Using his dhampir speed, he snatched her backpack and put her stuff in her room.

"What are you hiding from me?" he asked. "Did something bad happen? Did he hurt you?" Kai grabbed her shoulders and looked her over. Nora averted her gaze and Kai gasped. "He hurt you? b***h, I don't care who he is! I will drain that f*****g wolf dry! No one is going to hurt my best friend!" Kai's eyes flashed red as he let go. "Tell me where to find him! I'll end that son of a b***h right now!"

"Kai, no," Nora soothed him. "He didn't hurt me."

"So, he didn't put his hands on you?" Kai simmered down.

"Oh, he put his hands on me all right," Nora said. She sat on their couch and patted the seat next to her. Kai sat beside her and squealed.

"You got it on with Dante Silver?" he laughed. "My girl is all grown up!"

"We almost did… but then his fiance showed up."

Kai's smile fell.

"Right. Yeah. His father publicly announced their engagement after the party. I was wondering if that's why you were so down."

"Part of it," Nora sighed. "When he looked at me, it felt like the world shifted. And he was the center of it. You already know that witches don't have mates. But we can be a destined mate. At least that's what I found in my research. I can't find anything about a witch being a werewolf's destined mate."

"Doesn't mean it can't happen. Who are we to judge what the Moon Goddess does? She blessed him with a wonderful mate," Kai smiled and took her hand. "What else is bothering you?"

"Don't laugh," Nora urged. "But now I can't get him out of my head. In a carnal way. I'm having… dreams about him."

"You've always had dreams about him," Kai said.

"Not like these. They're s*x dreams," Nora whispered.

"He's hot and you're horny," Kai shrugged. "I don't see the issue here."

"It's not like that. It's like I need him. Like I'll die if he doesn't just… I'm drawn to him in a way I don't understand. But I can't tell if that's because I already was, or if there is something Magical happening."

"You've been in love with him for years," Kai sympathized.

"I've been in love with the idea of him. Knowing who he is complicates things so much more. He's in line to be the next Alpha. Does a pack as prominent as the Scarlet Moon Pack really want a Witch Luna? I don't think so. They want Leah as their Luna."

"That stupid b***h," Kai spat. "Even out of high school and we can't escape her."

"We can't be together," Nora lamented.

"But you're his mate," Kai urged.

"I don't know what that means for me!" Nora jumped out of her seat and started pacing.

"Didn't you find anything in your research?" Kai pressed.

"Not much, like I said. Either witches and werewolves have never mated, or history wants to erase that they did."

Nora accusation hung in the air between them. Kai's eyebrows knitted together, and he shifted in his seat.

"The more you uncover, the scarier this all gets. I'm worried for you." He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll be fine." Nora dismissed his concern. "I need some time in the woods, I think. It's been a while."

"It has," Kai sighed. "Something feels off about this."

"The last time you said that my whole life fell apart," Nora said with a sad smile.

"Things don't feel the same to you? This man that was essentially the catalyst for everything shows back up in your life and the moon goddess has selected you as his mate. There are some Magical shenanigans at play here."

Nora wanted him to be wrong, but even she couldn't deny that there seemed to be larger forces at work.

"Either way, I need some time to mediate. My mind is a mess."

"It's not your mind I'm worried about." Kai scooped her up into a hug. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Nora was stunned for a second. Kai wasn't the emotional one. Vulnerability was not something he did well.

"No one is going to hurt me," she said, wrapping her arms around him, feeling a small lump in her throat. "I promise ."

"No one better, or I'll show them what it means to get on the wrong side of a dhampir." Kai released her.

"See you later."

Nora could feel Kai's eyes on her back as she left.

Spring was approaching and blossoms were getting ready to burst forth into the world. It was Nora's favorite time of year. Right before spring. The world seemed to hold its breath for one last stretch before waking up from a long slumber. The sun had just started to set. The sky was washed with pinks and purples with peaks of silver at the horizon.

With that, she took off in the direction of Quail Briar Woods. The moon wouldn't be full for at least another week, so there wouldn't be too much activity. As she reached the perimeter of the woods, a sense of calm washed over her. She inhaled the scent of fresh earth and wildflowers. The Magic in her stirred, happy to be home.

Nora did her best not to use Magic in her everyday life. She didn't want to grow to rely on it until she knew everything she could about it. But when she was in the woods, it was her time to be free. The deeper in she went, the freer she became.

Her favorite spot was a small clearing guarded by an old, large wisteria tree. Nora had often laid beneath its mystical, purple canopy for hours. At night, she felt its presence wrap around her, like her hair used to. It made her feel safe and cloaked. As though the tree was shielding her. She knew she'd be safe there.

She walked up to her tree and placed a hand on its trunk.

"I missed you," she said to it. Throughout her research, she learned that wisteria trees symbolized immortality and longevity. Her tree had been there from very near the beginning. It had seen the war and she knew it was the spot where the treaties had been signed. But her Magic wasn't strong enough to connect with Nature yet. Nora could feel it trying to reach out to her, but it was a language she couldn't understand.

She sat on the ground, leaning against the trunk of her tree, and took several slow breaths. A breeze kicked up around her sending leaves swirling into the air above her head. The wisteria branches swayed and she was transfixed on their movements. Then she heard it. Like a whisper.

"Nora."

Her name floated in the wind, as the forest itself spoke to her. As she stood, the leaves swirled around her again, and danced around the other side of the tree. She followed them and saw as they fell towards the earth, at the base of the tree. There was a hollow spot between its roots, and she saw a book. It was an old, leather-bound tome with a faded crescent moon etched into the cover. Nora opened it and its worn pages were covered with elegant script. She ran her fingers across it and felt an instant connection.

Her answers were in that book. Everything she had been searching for what in the palm of her hand.

"Thank you," she said to the tree, and scurried home.