"Alright slow down its right up here," I said to Emily.

"Right here?" She asks pointing in the far direction of a condo complex that Jacob was staying in.

"Yeah, 5678 Village Drive."

We spoke on the phone last night, said his place being renovated and so he's staying in his condo which is in Lyon's penthouses and condominiums.

She parks right in front. "You're boyfriend lives here?"

"I guess so." I say texting Jacob to come down.

"Huh," she goes.

"What?" I look at her.

"Nothing, I just— I know someone who lives here."

"Oh, so are you gonna come up?"

"I don't think I should." She said shaking her head, tightening her grip around the steering wheel.

"Why not? You should stop by and say hi." I suggest.

She shakes her head again, "We actually agreed to never see each other again."

"Really? What happened?"

"I rather not get into it."

"Okay well, Jake is coming down now. You want to meet him?"

Her face grew long, "No thank you, maybe another time or never."

"Why don't you want to meet him?"

"I told you already, I don't like them. And I really think you shouldn't associate yourself with them, but you're going to do what you want to regardless."

"Why do you have to say 'them' like that? What have they ever done to you?"

"We'll get into that another time." She says.

"Okay, well one thing I don't think I can get past."

"What is it?"

"So, you're a witch?"

"Yes." She says.

"And Aunt Macy?"

"She is too."

"Was my dad..."

"No," she shakes her head.

"Am I?'

"Yes."

"So inherited it from my mom?"

"Yes—look at you catching on so quickly."

"So that means she was a witch?"

"Yes."

"Did my dad know?"

"I'm pretty sure, yes."

"Can you do magically things?"

She smile and nod, "I've actually been working on something pretty cool."

"Okay, so—I mean can I?" I ask skeptically.

"Not necessarily, no."

"Why not?"

"Because you're unborn."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, I can't really speak for other witches but the coven that we come from a ceremony has to happen in order for you to get your powers—and can I just say you are taking this surprisingly really well," She says.

"Yeah, I recently found out my best friend and her brother are werewolves and he's my 'mate'—and I'm not entirely sure I know what that entails so let's just say this isn't the first strangest news I've heard this month."

"I get it."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because doing that would be going strictly against your father's wishes."

"But you did anyways."

"It just came out, no point of lying to you after the fact, you're obviously mature enough to handle this information. Because you know, if it were anyone else they'd completely freak out or worst—do you have any more questions?"

"Can I see?"

"What?"

"Your magic—what you're working on?"

"What, right now?"

"You're leaving tomorrow, this is the only time."

She looks around, "I can't do it here."

"Then where?"

"I think I have an idea, if your boyfriend can wait."

"Oh, he can wait."

~~~ 

"Okay." She says parking on the side of the road.

"We're doing this in the woods?"

"There's a small lake not too far from here."

"What are we going to be doing at a lake?"

"I gonna show you what you want to see." She say opening her car door.

I open mine after her.

She walks into the woods, I'm shortly behind her. "How far is it?'

"Don't worry not too far."

"Okay." I say.

She looks to her phone and turns on her flash light to lead the way. "So tell me about you and Jacob?"

"What do you want to know?"

"When was it official between you two?"

"Probably a week or two ago."

"Do you love hm?"

"I wouldn't say what I feel for him is love, but it sure feels like that sometimes."

"Do you trust him."

"I want to, but it takes time to establish something like that."

"Definitely, I'm really glad that you know that. You're trust is invaluable and you should treat it as you know for a fact that it is, even if you recognize him as your soulmate you shouldn't give it to him completely unless you are positive that he deserves it."

"Does he know, if I'm what you say I am?"

"Who

"Who? Your boyfriend?"

"Yeah."

"I don't think so, you're not a complete witch, therefore I'd be virtually impossible to sense you as anything but human."

"How do I change that, if I wanted to?"

"I prefer that you didn't, but you can tell him."

"No! I mean... what if wanted to be like you?"

"It's an entire process and if you're really serious about it we talk more about it when I come back."

"I'd like that."

"But something to really consider, the pros and cons of becoming something like this."

"You say it like what you are is bad."

"Well it isn't entirely good, their people who use their powers for bad."

"And you think I'll become one of those people."

"No, I'm just saying the power gets to your head, and you have to be strong enough to not let it."

"I guess it is something to think about."

"Yeah," Emily says as we stop in front of a small lake. "It's right there." She says pointing ahead of us.

"What are gonna do?"

"I've actually been practicing something and this is honestly the perfect place to do it. I just hope I do it right." She says beginning to take off her clothes.

"Why are you taking off your clothes?"

"I'm getting in the water, I need to be in there in order to do what I gotta do."

"Alright." I say skeptically.

She was left in her bra and panties and walks into the lake.

"You might want to step back if you don't want to get wet." She suggests.

"Okay." I walk back further from the water.

Emily walks deeper into the lake and she slowly begins to disappear under water.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little anxious, I've never seen a real magic trick before. Well I guess, it's more than a magic trick. What I'm about to see isn't anything ordinary. I bet.

The only light was that from the moon and the stars, and it reflected beautifully on lake.

It took a minute before anything happened. But before I knew it, a large mass of water rises from the lake. I stood silently fascinated.

The water began to slowly turn and became a funnel, it almost resembled a tornado. I took another step back, afraid. Beyond belief. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing, what my own cousin was capable of— something I might be capable of.

Something my mother was capable of.

The mass of water turned and turned, it grew bigger and bigger soon the whole lake was empty and into mid-air. Emily was nowhere to be seen.

But I did not panic, I trusted she knew what she was doing and that she was okay. I took another cautious step back as the water spins around into a clear funnel cloud. When I looked up I no longer just saw the stars and moon, I saw something that my cousin created.

A funnel cloud made of liquid. Of water from a lake.

I couldn't believe my eyes, but it was there right in front of me. I'm amazed just as the day I met Jacob's wolf. I feel grateful to be able to related to a someone who's capable of doing something like this.

And the thought that my mother could've created something like this...

Wow.

• • •

I walk up behind Jacob as he stood next to a counter, wrap my arms around his torso, and lay my head on his shoulder blade. I inhaled the masculine smell of his cologne.

"How was your shower?" He asks.

"It was fine." I murmur against the soft cloth that covered his back.

"Just fine?"

I shrug my shoulders, "Yeah. Could've been better."

I step next to him and glance at the of the pile of papers he was going through.

"What is this?"

"What do you think it is?"

I skim through the papers, "You're being sued?"

"Yup."

I read a little more, "... for assault."

"Yeah." He says as if it isn't a big deal.

"When did this happen?"

"About a month ago."

"What happened?" I ask.

He takes my hand from the table and turn me so I'm facing him, "Just forget about it." He moves the papers away with his other hand.

"But-"

"I have the best lawyers in the state and if they aren't worried, you damn well shouldn't be."

"At least tell me who's suing you?"

"Someone who's trying to cash a check."

"Who did you assault?"

He shakes his head.

"Wait, you said about a month?" I ask looking over his shoulder and just as I thought; I saw Kai's name under plaintiff. I thought about what happened at the mall a couple of weeks ago. I remember Jacob breaking his hand. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"There's nothing to tell."

"There's everything to tell, my ex-boyfriend is suing you! And you didn't think I should know?"

"What good would it have done? We'd argue about it, and then what? After that there's nothing you could've done."

"I could've talked to him, get him to change his mind."

"I don't want you going anywhere near him."

"Jacob-"

"No! If he's some much as the same zip-code as you, I'll do more than just break his knuckles and that's a promise." He greeted through his teeth.

I can see it in his eyes that he had an untamable violent nature; given what he's told me, I could also see he'd go through a lot of trouble to protect me. And it was sweet. But he was wrong to hurt Kai. Jacob's has 5x more muscle mass than Kai. There's no way Kai could've ever defended himself against Jake.

"What are you going to do then?"

"I'm going to give him what he wants. Money. I don't need this to go to trial. Somehow he found out that I have and he's exploiting that."

"I'm sorry." I say somehow feeling like this was my fault.

He shakes his head, "Don't worry about it."

My heart felt heavy, I took a step back. Telling me not to worry had little to no affect.

He takes my face in his hands and kisses me, he takes my bottom lip in his mouth. He grazes it with his teeth. I take the bottom of his shirt and scrunch it in my hands, pulling it as he slides his tongue in my mouth. His tongue dances with mine. I moan at his effort to subdue my anxiety.

I feel so much for him.

I pull my head back and look up at him.

"Don't be upset with me." He says.

"I'm not."

"Don't worry about this either. Promise me you won't stress about this." He says holding my hands.

"I try not to, with everything else I already have enough to stress me out anyway."

"Like what? Let me take it away." He said chivalrously. He's so sweet.

I stay silent for a second and bite the inside of my mouth. "It's a little of everything. Like I found something about my mom today."

"Was it bad?"

"No. I think I'm kind of glad I found out, brings me a little closer to her. I wish she was here, so then she could've told me."

"Her name was Eviett? Right?"

I nod, "You know it's weird that you know so much about and I don't know anything about you."

He puts his hands on my waist and pulls me closer, "What do you want to know?"

"Hmm," I thought, "what's your favorite color?"

"Don't have one."

"Everyone has a favorite color."

"What's the color of your panties?"

"I'm serious." I hit his chest.

"Okay, let me think... orange."

"Orange?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, how much money are you worth."
"How much do you think?"

"5 million?"

He looks up as if thinking, "Maybe times that 50."

I do some quick math in my head.

"Wow. That's a lot, Jacob."

"Does it change how you see me?"

"You mean do I like you more? To be honest, it's nice to know that you're financially secure. But then again, if I think about it, I'm starting to find you a little less attractive." I joke.

He pulls me closer. "Tsk, try again." He shakes his head smiling.

I role my eyes, "I thought it was funny."

"Okay, next question."

"What's your favorite song and/or artist?"

"I don't listen to music."

"Everyone listens to music."

"I listen to whatever comes on."

"Come on, I'm sure when you work-out you listen to music. Don't you?"

"I do, I simply don't listen to a particular artist."

"Are you one of those people who listens to instrumental music?"

"Do you assume that because I'm white?"

"Maybe. I bet you do though."

"Alright you caught me. Now let me ask you a question, what song reminds you of me?"

"Why do you assume I have song that reminds me of you?"

"Because for some reason, girls always have songs that they listen to when they're in feelings about a guy."

"Okay, it's by Jhene Aiko. Do you know her?"

He shakes his head, "Is it a sad song?"

"Really—but not really. It's actually nice, well I like it."

"Let me hear it."

"Alright," I say taking out my phone, "This is really a big deal, I don't share my playlist with anyone." I say skeptically holding it to my chest.

"I don't either, but if you show me one of yours I'll show you one of mine."

"Deal." I place my phone on the counter and press play on my phone

I look at his face as he listens to the intro's melody of the song.

He looks at me as the rest of the song plays out.

And it really is a beautiful song, every time I listen to this song it reminds me of him. It reminds me of how his touch makes me feel, or how I want to trust him but it's hard because trust isn't given with me; it's earned. And when he tells me the truth and I believe him, I sincerely hope he's being honest with me.

He presses the pause button just as the song comes to an end. He leans on the table and looks at me.

"What do you think?" I ask anxiously.

"I think you really don't want to be hurt again."

"I don't."

"I'm grateful you've decided to give me a chance."

"Don't take it for granted." I say.

"I'll try not to, but you know... I can't promise anything."

"I know, I've accepted the fact that being hurt is inevitable when you're in a relationship. So, if and when one of us do get hurt we should make it a priority to talk about it."

"Talk about it." He repeats.

"Yeah, talk about it. You want me to tell you what makes me upset, I want you to do the same."

He takes my hand in his, "I'm not the best at expressing how I feel in a healthy way."

"I'm not either, but I want to try because I know if I don't I'll lose you and I don't think I want that."

"I don't want that either."

"Good. So, what's it like being so handsome?" I say changing the subject.

He laughs, "I don't know, what's it like to be so beautiful?"

I shrug my shoulders with a small rolling my eyes.

His phone rings in his pocket. He takes it out and looks at the caller ID. "Can you give me a second?" He asks.

"Yeah sure."

He walks away to a distant part of the penthouse.

I watch his demeanor change as he spoke to the person on the other line. It was different than when he's speaking with me. He was comforting and charismatic, now he seems tense and uninviting.

I found myself wanting to change his dire look, to put him at ease.

I walk the other way, towards the terrace. I open the clear door and step out. The cool wind blew right at me. I found my way to the loveseat that seemed  comfortable. There's a blanket fixed neatly, I unravel it and  set it over my bare legs. I wore tight shorts that didn't cover too much, and a grey hoodie. I got comfortable and I started to think as I always do.

I thought about how affluent Jacob was and how could someone like him could fit someone like me in his life.

I've been around Katie for a while and it never felt like this. Of course she was rich by relation but it didn't always show.  I guess that's what makes Jacob and Katie different; he seems like the type to buy lavish things and treat himself, as he should, he obviously works hard and Katie she could but she doesn't always. She enjoyed the simple things and appreciated what was in front of her. I'm grateful that I have such a humble best friend, there isn't a lot of people who are like her. She's honest, strong, and modest. Only a few words to describe her.

I remember how she reacted when I told her the truth about Kai, she reacted just as any best friend would. She swore that she would break ever bone in his body, and she did do enough damage to send him to the hospital. She broke his leg into two places. Kai claimed to everyone at school that it was due to a football accident. Which obviously wasn't true. It makes me think, he could've press charges then against Katie, but didn't. I imagine it's because Jacob's a guy and Katie's a girl and it's easier say you got a beating from a guy rather than a girl. Now he's going to take advantage of Jacob's circumstances, his wealthy stature. I mean it's not like it's not fair, Jake hurt him and Kai may have unpaid medical bills from both encounters. But then again, Jacob hurt him in fear that he might hurt me. Jacob probably felt like Kai deserved it, I bet he doesn't regret it. He seems like the type to be righteous about his actions against others, depending on a situation of course. In this case, I rather he didn't interact with Kai like that or any way or any time; given Jacob's violent nature.

I don't think it completely bothers me that he can be violent, or that he's done unspeakable things. I know it should bother me more than it does, but I asked for the truth and he gave it to me, I'm grateful, it must've been hard for him to share that part of himself with me, to trust that I'd do everything in my power to understand. Instead of rejecting him I'd  accept him. And I want to do everything in my power to accept all of him especially all the scary parts. I want to love every piece of him as I expect he'll do the same.

I turn my head as I felt the silent motion the glass door, I saw Jacob coming out. He came and got comfortable next to me.

"How was your phone call?"

"As you'd expect it to be. What were you thinking about?"

I shrug my shoulders, "What you'd expect I'd be thinking about."

"Me?" He asks in a bashful manner.

I smile, "A little bit."

He stares at me and takes my short curly hair between his fingers, playing with it. He loses the tip of his index finger in them. "What are you doing?" I say taking his hands away from my hair.

"I can't touch your hair?"

I shake my head, "Why do you want to touch my hair?'

"It's soft. How do you get your hair like that?"

"Conditioner... gel."

"Conditioner does that?"

"Not alone, but yeah."

"If you were to have kids, would there be like this?"

I smile at his question, we haven't been seeing each other for very long and he's already talking about kids. "You see it all don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You see everything with me."

"Is that a bad thing?"

I shake my head, "No, I want you to."

"What do you see with me?" He asks.

"I see something... different. I see possibilities of something special. I see change. When I look at you I see the