Undetectables

6. We need to talk

I didn’t push myself again last night, omitting the extra drop of wolfsbane. I couldn’t afford another rough day at work. Thursdays were typically the start of our weekend rush and by 7 am, we were busier than usual.

It was the start of February, which meant Valentine's Day was just around the corner. Piper had us start making her classic pink drink, which was just a white chocolate mocha with pink food dye and Valentine’s themed sprinkles. The number of people that came in and ordered one was shocking.

After the morning calmed down, Piper handed me a stack of window clings, “Would you mind scattering these around the windows?”

I smiled, nodded, and headed over to the glass. I’d gotten about fifty percent finished when Aspen started going crazy in my head. There was a wolf nearby, though I couldn't smell anything.

My eyes scanned the busy crowds of people walking around but without going outside, I couldn’t pinpoint who it was.

“You alright?” Gabriella questioned, walking over and looking out the window.

I blinked a few times, noticing that I’d accidentally destroyed the gel heart that was in my hand, “Yeah, sorry. I thought that I had seen someone I know.”

“Someone that makes you want to crush a heart?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

I chuckled nervously, “Yeah, I guess so.”

“I’m going to need the details of that story someday,” Gabriella insisted, before returning to her spot behind the counter.

As I was finishing up the hearts, my eyes caught those of a man across the street. He was wearing a black ski mask that covered everything except for his eyes. If you weren’t looking closely, it would appear that he was just blending in with the crowds.

Our eyes met and I was staring into an icy blue ocean. I felt my breath hitch because I knew at that moment, as he stood amongst the crowd, he was undetectable, like me.

I hadn’t met another like me outside of my mother. We were rare.

The stack of empty wrappers fell to the ground, floating like loose paper.

I averted my gaze for only a moment, cursing the mess I made, but by the time I looked back up, the pair of piercing orbs had disappeared. I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I had just imagined what I had seen.

‘He was like us,’ Aspen whispered in disbelief.

I climbed down from the chair I was standing on, bending down to gather all of the empty sheets I had dropped. My mind kept flashing to the man’s eyes. He was tall and thin, wearing all black. I couldn’t see any of his features due to the mask, but his eyes would be unforgettable. If I ever saw them again, I would know.

The blaring of my phone in my apron pocket broke me from my thoughts.

The caller I.D showed the schools phone number and my stomach sank.

*******

“I’m here for Bailey Graff,” I whispered to the older woman behind the desk. She glanced up at me over her bifocals, trying and failing to plaster a fake smile, “Right this way,” she responded.

My hands had begun to sweat as I followed the woman down the hall. She knocked on a door with a large clouded glass window. The principal opened the door looking past the front desk lady and directly into my eyes. He looked angry and I felt my palms grow sweaty.

Once he moved to the spot behind his desk, I noticed Bailey sitting in a seat directly in front of him. I took the spare seat next to her, trying to sneak a glance, but she avoided eye contact.

“Thank you, Ms. Graff, for making the time to come in today,” he started, “I’d like to bring to your attention some things that have been happening with Bailey on school grounds.”

I turned towards my sister, confused. She’s never been a trouble maker, nor did I think that she would do anything that would bring her unnecessary attention.

He cleared his throat, “Bailey was found.... doing things of the s****l nature under the bleachers this afternoon and, as you are aware, this was not her first offense.”

My eyes widened. Was he suggesting that this was something I knew about?

I chose to bite my tongue and talk about it with her later, “I’m sorry sir. She’s been acting out a bit recently. Our mother’s death still feels very fresh. Teenagers, you know?”

I had to play my cards right here. He looked between the two of us, frowning, “Bailey, this is your final warning. You will be suspended and required to do a week's worth of community service if this ever happens again. I lost my mother at a young age myself. I understand your pain,” he explained, his features softening.

The muscles of Bailey’s jaw tightened and she opened her mouth, but I cut her off quickly, “Thank you sir for being so understanding. I assure you that this will not happen again. And I'm sorry that you understand our loss. It's tragic at such a young age.”

He gave me a solemn smile, nodding slowly. His eyes looked lost and I could only assume that he was thinking about his own mother. I was just thankful that things played out in our favor....this time.

I basically dragged her out of the school building and she angrily followed me all the way home.

Once inside, she tried to push past me and go to her room, but I stopped her. She stopped, staring me down, but I wasn’t having it.

“Sit. We need to talk.”

She bared her teeth angrily, “Not interested in anything you have to say.”

“I’m not asking, Bailey.”

I had an Alpha aura and I will use it if I have to, but I hoped it didn’t come to that. I’ve not used my aura much and found it to be suffocating to anyone that was near me.

I gave her the look and she walked over, falling onto the couch with force, “I’m all ears, sis,” Bailey sneered. The way that she said sis was so condescending.

Her attitude was starting to piss me off. She acted like I willingly sent our mother to death. Like I walk around every day, free of the guilt that eats away at my soul. Like I’m not heartbroken at the loss of my mother and goddess given mate.

“I just want to know why? Why at school are you doing things that are going to bring attention to us? To you. You are not undetectable!”

“Because I don’t care, Bri. I’m so tired of hiding. I want my life back. Living within these four walls every day for the last two f*****g years, I’m over it. You ruined my life,” she growled, tears spilling from her chocolatey eyes.

“That day, he took everything from me. Every single thing that I loved, except for you. I see the hatred in your eyes. I see how badly you despise me. Did you think, for even a moment, how f*****g hard this has been for me? I lost my mate the same day as I lost momma. My heart was devastated that day. But you know what? I didn’t take even a moment to grieve because I couldn't. I got my ass up and have pushed every single f*****g day to try and get us to safety. To provide you with a single ounce of normalcy. I didn’t ask to be a mother. I was thrown in head first. It’s not easy, B.”

My cheeks felt damp and I quickly wiped away the wetness. As much as it hurts, it felt really good to get that off of my chest. I’ve been holding so much in for the last two years, that I thought I was going to explode.

“I can make it on my own. I don’t need you,” Bailey muttered, going to stand up, but I stopped her once again.

“We need each other to get through this. I’m fighting so hard every day to get us to where we need to be. At the very least, let me get us there. If after that, you choose to never speak to me again, then so be it,” I paused, “But you cannot be doing the things that you are doing at school. If you need to get out of the house, that’s fine. I’m not here to rob you of a life. I just need you to be safe. Any day but Wednesday.”

She sat in silence for a while before sighing, “I’m sorry for getting into trouble at school. I’m angry at the world and you’re the only person I have to blame.”

“Just be safe, please. That’s all I ask. Be home before curfew and on Wednesday. I need to know where you’re going and who you’re hanging out with. Keep your phone on you at all times.”

Bailey perked up, hearing my loosened set of rules. As long as she followed them, we could make this work. After all, I was a teenager once, though it felt so long ago.

“Who’s the boy? He sounds like trouble.”

Her eyes widened and a soft blush tinted her cheeks, “He’s no one,” she said, trying to hide her emotions.

“Come on, we can at least pretend to still be close. I miss the way things used to be.”

Bailey sighed, “I hate him,” she paused, confusing me, “He’s stupid handsome. He plays football for the school team. All of the girls oogle him, but for some reason, he has eyes for me.”

“Well, you are beautiful, smart, and spunky. He probably knows you’re not easy to win over and men love a challenge.”

Her blush grew deeper, “I don’t know why I even like him so much. I swore off men years ago. Told myself if I ever met my mate, I’d reject him on the spot. I don’t have time for a man’s bullshit.”

I raised my hand for a high five, “I’m with you on that.”

A genuine smile spread across her face and warmth spread through my body. It’s been too long since I’ve seen a real smile. I outstretched my arms and she nearly leaped into them.

“I’ve missed you.”