Talons

Chapter 72: The Stage

Mavis’s POV

When my daughter leads me into her room, I take a deep breath, still pretending to be ill, and I’m relieved when I don’t smell a male, specifically the one she was dancing with. I’ve seen my other children dance in that way, but I never imagined my sweet little scientist would do the same thing.

I admit that I may have overreacted, but I can’t imagine what could be making my daughter give up on something she worked hard for. It has always been her dream to finish school and she is doing so well that it doesn’t make sense to me.

When I have decided that she has done enough crying, I take a deep breath and ask her about the boy she was dancing with. She tells me that he’s my sister's stepson, and while he’s interested in her, she is not interested in him.

I think back to the strong scent of arousal coming from the boy, but it's true that there was nothing from my daughter, even though she isn’t wearing a scent blocker. I know she has no sense of smell, so it's entirely plausible that she has no idea how much of an effect she was having on the male.

I take in my daughter's appearance, and I can’t believe how much more beautiful she has become over the last few months. Her father is going to go crazy when he sees her, especially if she is dressed the way she is now.

Like me, he has always seen Rhea as a treasure, and while that is not to say that we don’t love our other children as much, she is just different. 

She always wanted to be around us, wanting to just be hugged, and even when things were going terribly for her, she never complained. I’m happy to see her out of her shell and I hope she can keep her level of confidence, just wearing more clothing.

“Baby girl, I know that the pack hasn’t been the most welcoming place for you, but your family has always loved you; haven’t we? Don’t you want to meet Robin's baby, and what about your grandparents?”

Rhea’s POV

My mother is right, I haven’t had a great experience with the pack, and while she has mostly no idea, I haven’t had the best experiences with my siblings either. I do want to meet Robin’s baby, and I want to be near my grandparents, but I know that if I go home, I’ll be right back in the place where everyone hates me, and I don't want that. 

“Can I have time to think about it?” I ask, and my mother nods at me. I can tell she isn’t happy with my response, but the fact that she is even humoring me is a step in the right direction. 

I cuddle up to my mother, asking her if she wanted Raven to meet Grace. She tells me that she has known about Tucker for a long time. Still, I don’t know how much she knows, so I keep my mouth shut.

She asks me about dating, and I tell her the truth; I have gone on one date, not with Geo, and the guy was a pig, so I left before the night ended. I tell her that I don’t have a boyfriend, and I’m not interested in anyone.

She asks me about my urges, and I confess that they have not come. I know she is trying to ask me if I’m having s*x with anyone, so I quickly remind her that the few people in the pack who are not relatives are either much older than me or mated, and in truth, no one has really caught my eye.

Sylvia and I have already had enough heartache, so we have no plans to get into a relationship, especially one that we see no future in.

As we fall into a comfortable silence, my phone chimes, and my mother snatches it, likely thinking it's Geo, but when she sees that it's an alarm, she hands me back the phone wearing a ‘not sorry’ expression. I chuckle as I stand and start to get ready.

“Where are you going?” My mother asks, and I tell her that I have a stage every other night. She looks at me in confusion and I beg her to come to the bar with me. It takes a while, but she eventually agrees.

Mavis’s POV

I watch my daughter step onto the stage wearing a red off shoulder crop top with a skintight red pencil skirt; there are ruffles on its bottom and on her sleeves. She is wearing matching stilettos that lace up to her calf, which is where the skirt stops, and I look over to my sister who shrugs. 

“You turned my daughter into Chiquita Banana,” I say, and my sister laughs at me.

“Calmate (take it easy). You told me to help her come out of her shell, she had such low self-esteem that I had to try unconventional methods.”

“What is she doing up there?” I ask, confused because my daughter has never expressed an interest in singing.

“Just wait,” my sister replies, and I settle down.

As soon as a spotlight shines on my daughter I have to suppress a growl. She is beautiful, and while I hate what she is wearing, it perfectly frames her body, and makes her look tantalizing, which is why I’m angry.

I look over to my sister, who just points at the stage, and when my daughter opens her mouth, I can’t believe it's the person I raised. She is speaking in fluent Spanish, not that she couldn’t before, but she is making small talk, asking people how they’ve been, calling out regulars by name, and just expressing a confidence I’ve never seen from her.

She then translates for the tourists who have made their way into the bar and tells everyone to relax and have a good time.

When the music starts, I recognize the song at once, and when my daughter starts singing, my mouth hangs open. She has an amazing voice, and I can’t help but to feel emotional. I think back to Colt, who once told me that he heard her singing.

“How did I not know this about my own child?” I question, and my sister shrugs. 

“I think there is a lot more to Gordita that any of us know.” I scowl at my sister’s pet name for my daughter, but her eyes have lost focus and I know she is linking.

“Trouble?”

“Not really. There are two alpha males who have been coming to this bar since Gordita started singing. They have never been here at the same time, so Johnathan wants her stage cut short so that Jovan can take her back.” I nod, grateful that my siblings at least take my daughter's safety seriously.

Rhea’s POV

After singing two songs, one of my cousins takes the stage, and I know it means I’ve been cut off. I shrug thinking that I didn’t sound good, or maybe the crowd was growing bored, but Jovan tells me that it's something else.

He sits me in a corner booth where he tells me to stay until he can come back with more of our cousins. I’m starting to get scared; I can handle myself, and Jovan knows that. He and I have fought off rogues who were following Julee when we went to pick her up from her clinicals. Whatever is happening must be serious.

As I'm waiting for my next instruction, a male who I’ve seen before sits next to me, and I scoot away from him. He chuckles before placing a book down on the table. 

“You’re the one who sends the gifts,” I say, not sure how to feel about him.

“I am, and it took me a long time to realize that clothing and jewelry weren’t going to do it for you. Do you know how many times you've broken my heart?” I make a face, and he laughs before answering. “Every time I see someone wearing something I sent to you; that's how many.”

“I’m seventeen,” I say, wanting to cut the conversation short. If he is human that should be enough to deter him, but he dismisses it.

“I know who you are, and what you are, and I must admit that you smell fantastic.” I stiffen, because he just indirectly told me that he’s a wolf, and by the scared expression on Jovan’s face as he approaches the table, I can tell the man has a higher rank.

“Are you an alpha?” I ask, wanting to confirm my suspicion. 

“I’m with the council,” he says, and I stand to leave but he pulls me back down while chuckling. He is an okay looking man, but I don't get a good feeling from him, especially since he is with the council.

“I haven’t broken any laws. I’ve not joined a pack, and travelling was never a restriction placed upon me.” The man chuckles deeply, making me stare at him. Jovan is closer now, but he is waved away and not wanting to see him get hurt, or get into trouble with the council because of me, I stay put.

“Relax. I admit that I was sent to investigate you, but I was never told how beautiful you were.”

The alpha starts to make small talk with me and keeping my answers short has done me more harm than good. He is staring at me in the way that I once stared at Jack, but instead of it going unnoticed, it's making me uneasy.

“I feel a pull toward you,” the man says. “Can you not feel it?”

“I’m seventeen,” I repeat, and he sucks in a deep breath. 

“My name is General Newt.” I didn’t mean to, but I laughed, and while I thought General would be angry, he simply smiled at me, which was worse.

“General, I don’t want any trouble. What happened between your father and I-”

“Is unfortunate,” he interjects. “Especially since I think you are my mate.” I’m saved when my mother arrives, looking equal parts terrified and livid. She pulls me up, and I hide behind her. “Luna Mavis, I trust that you have heard my confession.”

“I heard it, and while I want to believe you, I know that you are twenty-four, far too old to be fated to my daughter. At your age, your wolf will be feeling a pull toward any one of interest, but if you are her mate, you will both know after she turns eighteen.” General smirks at my mother, who pulls me away, but we are stopped by another male.