annoyingly slow pace. We arrived, finally, at the doorway. I was practically bouncing where I stood.
“Oh, Vance, there you are dear.”
Aradia’s voice came from behind. I hoped that if I didn’t move, she wouldn’t see me. I knew it wouldn’t work, but I wanted to hope. Gods I just wanted outside.
“Ah, I see you are taking my dear Colette outside. How sweet of you,” she said with a smile.
“Yes, a walk around the grounds will do her well.”
Vance spoke in a familiar way that made me want to say something. Instead I bit my tongue. I didn’t want to say something that would change their minds about letting me outside.
“Yes it will. Enjoy yourselves.”
She walked away after that. She barely acknowledged that I was there. I didn’t mind if I stayed off her radar. I don’t know when she would stopped trying the mother act, but I was happy it was letting up. I hadn’t come looking for her, and even when she told me things about her past, I never felt a craving to know her better. My father, on the other hand, whoever he was I was sure he was a great wolf. I wished that I could have met him. My memories of him were always so warm and safe.
Vance took my hand tightly again as we walked outside. As soon as the sun hit my skin I relaxed. The wind wrapped around me welcoming me home. I missed it terribly. I wanted to run down the stone stairs leading up to the house, but Vance’s hand in mine was a firm reminder I was still a prisoner. I might be outside, but I wasn’t free. I let him choose his pace. At least being outside I got to feel the wind, the sun, and at least some pretense of freedom.
“So you believe witches and weres can get along?” I asked. I hated that he still held onto me and that I had to let him.
“I believe in the revolution that my pack and your mother’s Coven is trying to achieve. We shouldn’t be separate, you of all people should believe in that,” he watched me from the corner of his eye. I didn’t like the way he looked at me. Vance looked at me like I was a precious, prized jewel. Something to be owned. My ‘uniqueness’ seemed to be common knowledge here, though I hated that he knew it more than the rest. I hated that he looked at me that way.
During my time here I had learned that not all witches were insane like my mother and Patricia. They weren’t open either. No one talked to me unless Aradia gave them permission. It was so stifling, I was still amazed I was allowed out here with Vance. I knew he had to be one her many puppets, but I wasn’t going to complain right now.
I closed my eyes and took in the scents. There were hints of salty ocean but mostly it smelled like nature. The earthy scent of the dirt mingled with the scent of fresh grass. The bark on the trees.
“You are unique, Colette.”
“So I have been told,” I said with my eyes still shut.
“A bridge between two feuding races, you could save us all.”
Vance’s voice took on the cult-like tone I had noticed in use around here.
I just sighed. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He didn’t look at me like the others did though. There was a different sort of possession in his eyes, one that stirred up fear.
“I am an oddity. A freak of nature gone wrong,” I paused looking back at the house. It really was gorgeous. The front was faced with different sized rocks a variety of shadings.
“You’re a gift. Your mother worked hard to bring you home to us. This has always been your home, and you will never be treated like those mongrels treated you.”
My wolf rushed forward with my rage, and I felt the urge to shift in my very core. I was certain that my eyes were yellow now, and I wouldn’t be surprised if my canines grew. Blind rage made my body shake.
“They were my family. My life. They took me in and loved me. They are not mongrels. They are your kind, and are a million times the wolf you could ever be,” I snarled, tearing my hand from his grasp.
I started to turn away from him breathing in slowly. His hand clamped on my upper arm and turned