Chapter 89

Carol’s POV

“Great job everybody! You all practiced amazingly!” Coach Bower praises the team as everybody returns to the locker rooms.

I did some last-minute work in the office before I went home with Aiden. He was quiet for most of the drive which worried me.

“What’s on your mind?” I ask him, peeking at him from the passenger seat.

“Your speech,” he admits.

I raise my brows and look at him, confused.

“My speech?” I ask him in return. “What about it?”

“Didn’t you see how confident they got after your speech?” He asks.

I shrug.

“I think all they really need is a little pep talk,” I tell him. “That’s not so strange; is it?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s strange. But it’s not the first time something like that happens after you talk,” he tells me. I furrow my brows together as I examine him. “I think there’s something special about you, Carol. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.”

I smile at his words, feeling touched by the sentiment.

“That’s really sweet of you to say. I think you’re special too.”

He shakes his head and lets out a low laugh.

“That’s not what I mean,” he tells me. “I think you have some kind of ability.”

“Ability?” I asked him, not following along with what he was trying to tell me.

“Yes. Like a magical ability.”

I raise my brows until they reach my hairline.

“Like a witch?” I asked him, dumbfounded.

‘Yes,” he answers, surprising me to my core. “I think you have a witch’s ability. I’m not exactly sure what kind of abilities. But you can get people to do and think things. I’ve noticed it a lot lately.”

“You sound crazy, Aiden,” I said, chuckling and shaking my head. “I’m an average human; you out of anybody should know that. I’m not special and I’m certainly no witch.”

“Don’t you remember when my mother stood up for you that one time,” he reminds me. “Did you think that was strange? It was out of character for her and then afterward she looked so confused. Like she had no idea where that came from.”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“And when Katrina confessed to everything; she was hellbent on keeping her secret even when she was caught red-handed. Then, the next second she’s spilling everything.”

“Okay but—”

“And what about at the banquet with Daniel? Why was it so easy for him to confess everything and put an end to their little games?” He continues. “Not to mention every speech you’ve ever given to the team is just what they need to boost their confidence. Not even Coach’s speeches boost them that much. But you Carol… you seem to get it out of people.”

I was completely stunned and silent because truth be told, he was right. I had noticed that things had been weird, starting with his mother standing up for me that one time. I just didn’t want to admit it. I wasn’t sure what to say now; I stared down at my hands, fiddling with my fingers awkwardly.

“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he finally says after a long pause. “I just wanted you to know where my head was at. That was part of the reason why I went to your parents and straight up asked if you were adopted because I don’t think your powers came from them.”

My heart nearly stopped in my chest as I brought my gaze up to meet his.

“What do you mean you asked them if I was adopted?” I ask, furrowing my brows together. “They told us the story while we were all together.”

His eyes widened and at that moment, I realized he didn’t mean to say what he just said. He pressed his lips together, not wanting to say anything more.

“Aiden…” I urged. “Did you already know that I was adopted before we saw them the other day?”

He sighed, but he didn’t respond. He just stares out the front window, focusing on the road and biting his bottom lip.

“Aiden, tell me the truth,” I order, feeling myself growing angry by the second.

“Yes,” he finally admits. “I found out that night we had dinner with them.”

“That was over a week ago,” I said, staring at him with my mouth hanging open. “You knew that long, and you didn’t tell me?”

“They wanted to be the ones to tell you,” he explains. “I promised them I would keep their secret.”

“But why would you ask something so personal like that? How could you just put them on the spot like that?”

“Because you have special abilities, Carol, and I’m curious about where they came from.”

I shake my head, not wanting to hear anything more.

“Don’t be upset, I was just trying to do what’s best for you…”

“How is that what’s best for me?” I snap, glaring at him. “I wish you told me the truth. I was panicking on the entire drive over there the other day and you already knew what they wanted to talk to me about.”

He sighs.

“I’m sorry, Carol. I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” he tells me.

“I think I just need some time to think. I’m going to spend the night with Fiona,” I tell him, getting out of the car.

“What?” He asks, quickly getting out after me. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I tell him, storming inside the house.

He doesn’t bother to stop me; I pack a small bag and head to Fiona’s house. She doesn’t question why I’m spending the night; at least not at first. She makes a bowl of popcorn, and she pours us a couple of glasses of wine. We spent the night watching movies and snacking.

Then eventually, she asks, “So, what happened?”

“What do you mean?” I ask, sipping my wine casually.

“There has to be a reason why you are randomly here, Carol. I’m not stupid. Did you and Aiden fight.”

I lowered my gaze, not really wanting to talk about it, but I knew I really didn’t have a choice. I needed to tell her everything.

“I’m adopted,” I tell her. She gasps and stares at me wide-eyed.

“What do you mean?” She asks, studying me intently.

“I mean, exactly that…” I explain. I dived into the whole story that my parents told me and she kept gasping and covering her mouth the entire time. When the story concludes, I expect her to have a million questions; but she doesn’t. She just hugs me.

“That’s an insane story, Carol,” she whispers. “But I’m glad you were their little miracle.”

I am odd in agreement, but also glad that I was able to save my parents from actually divorcing.

“So, what brought you here then if you’re okay with the fact that you’re adopted?”

I bite my lip and stare down at my hands. She stares at me repeatedly until I cave.

“Aiden knew about it,” I murmur. I explain to her about my conversation with Aiden and she listens carefully without interruption or any signs of judgment on her face.

“Well, I mean… he didn’t lie to you,” she finally says with a shrug.

I glare at her.

“No, but he did keep it from me,” I tell her.

“It was only for a few days,” she reminds me.

I roll my eyes at her; unable to help myself.

“Whose side are you on, Fiona?”

She folds her arms across her chest and glares back at me.

“Yours of course… always yours. But you have to think rationally here, Carol. I don’t think he meant to hurt you. You shouldn’t have run away from him. He only wanted to get to the bottom of your strange abilities, like you said. Wouldn’t it be cool if you really were a witch?”

“I’m not a witch,” I said, unable to contain my laughter. “I’m a human girl. That’s all.”

“But now that you don’t know your birth parents, you don’t know that for sure,” she reminds me, raising her brows. “You have to think logically. You could be anything now.”

“Don’t be ridiculous—”

“I’m not! I’m being serious. You should take this more seriously and get to the bottom of things. If anyone could sense your magical abilities, it is a shifter and your one true mate. I don’t think he would ever intentionally mean to hurt you.”

I sigh and stare at my hands.

“I know,” I whisper.

She’s quiet for a moment as she assesses my face and then she tilts her head ot the side.

“Did you tell him you want to go through with the mating ceremony?”

I nod.

“And…?”

“And nothing. He was thrilled. We are waiting until after the championships but then it’ll be official,” I tell her.

“That’s phenomenal!” She says, grabbing my arm and shaking it excitedly. When I don’t say anything, her eyes grow wide. “Or maybe it’s not?”

“What? Of course, it is,” I tell her, trying my best to smile, but failing miserably.

“Oh, my god,” she says, dropping my arm. “That’s why you picked a fight, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say definitely.

“You can’t lie to me, Carol. You are scared and you’re having second thoughts.”

I lower my gaze, but I don’t deny it.

“You were so excited a few days ago. What changed?” She asked.

“I’m going to be a luna,” I tell her. “Me. A human girl being a luna of a wolf pack. Doesn’t that sound ridiculous?”

She raises her brows at me.

“First of all, you might not be human, remember? And secondly, you are the strongest woman I know Carol. If you can survive that asshole Zach for 2 years, then you can survive being a luna of the pack.”

I know she’s teasing, but it makes me smile anyway.

“Don’t let the werewolves make you feel less than because you are anything but that. You are my best friend and I have nothing but faith in you,” she tells me, resting her head on my shoulder. I relax beside her, already feeling better and ridiculous for getting so upset with Aiden. “You are going to be one badass Luna bitch.”