Chapter 10

My anxiety is so bad that I feel like I’m going to throw up. “Aster close your eyes and breathe with me.” Ava takes my hands into hers. We’re standing at the end of a dirt road. She inhales slowly through her nose and exhales through parted lips. I take in a few deep slow breaths.

My boots crunch through the gravel. Spectacular rays of orange and purple bathe clouds in color. This is a beautiful location for the packhouse. We’re about ten minutes away from the coast and thirty to the city. I like what I’m seeing but the energy is off. She’s attempting to sneak me into the packhouse slowly. I think about running back to my car to escape. But I breathe in my fear instead.

“Welcome to The Barking Moon.” Ava says majestically. I throw a salty stare her way, “You didn’t mention a bar.” She smiles, “You never asked.” I could go for a drink. Ava douses me in her perfume. “What the fuck are you doing?” She sprays my whole body, “I don’t want any of them to pick up your scent.” I’m lost, “Do I smell bad?” Ava shakes her head, “No. Your smell is intoxicating and I don’t want them to hurt you.” Now I just smell like ass.

The front of the bar gives off cabin in the woods vibes. A sign with a black silhouette of a wolf howling at the full moon hangs over the masterfully crafted wooden door. I walk in expecting this place to be a dive but it’s actually really cool. It’s got this industrial feel with exposed wooden beams and high end imported wooden furniture.

I take a look at the delicate engraved carvings in the bar top. The bartender waves his hand in front of his nose. “Ava! You smell like shit. Glad you’re back. Can you grab a keg of nines for me?” She rolls her eyes, “Thanks Gus, it’s good to see you too.” Ava points to a table, “Sit there and don’t talk to anyone. I’ll be right back.” There’s a few men at a table to my left. A couple to my right and a small crowd around the jukebox by the back door that Ava’s opening.

From where I’m sitting I can see the bartender staring at me. I look down at the table. The last thing I need is for someone to question me without Ava being around. I pull out my tarot cards and then quickly put them back in my pocket remembering what Ava said. No magic. The bartender slams a pint of beer down in front of me, “What’s your name?” I look up into his glowing eyes, “Aster.”

Ava appears with a keg over her shoulder, “Gus can you take this?” He turns to her and grabs the keg from her like a ball of yarn. I bring the pint glass up to my lips. “Don’t drink that!” Ava swipes the glass from my hands, “Never trust the drinks in this place.” Noted, “Couldn’t you have told me that before?” She’s flustered, “Aster I tend bar here. Sometimes we drop powder in the drinks to relax our human customers.” At this point I’m not even the least bit shocked.

A crew of loud men barge through the door. “Good evening boys and girls. First round is on me tonight.” The loud one slaps cash down on the bar. Everyone in the joint hoots and hollers. He smells something. I can see him looking around for it. His eyes lock with mine. He’s a beautiful tall dark and handsome man. He puts his fingers through his shaggy dark hair. “Aster stop. Don’t look at him.”

I quickly retract my gaze but I feel my cheeks get warmer. He’s walking over here isn’t he? “Yes.” Ava whispers, “Just be cool.” I can’t help myself. My eyes meet his again. Holy fuck. I am barely breathing. His eyes pierce through me. I slowly exhale. It’s just him and me in this moment. There’s no room for anyone else to exist. I feel tingly all over. He growls but in his mind. I hear it.

Ava elbows me and I realize where I am once more. What was that? I didn’t even notice that he walked back to the bar. Time slipped away from me for a moment. My stomach is full of rabid butterflies. I look down at my shaking hands. Ava touches my arm, “Are you okay?” She asks me. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be okay again.” I pull my arm from under her grasp and head towards the door. Ava yells to me, “Aster!” I hold my hand up to stop her, “I just need some air.”

I’ve never felt anything like that before. I don’t know where I am, who I am, or what the fuck I’m doing. But I know that the way I felt when he looked into me is something I’ll never be able to get out of my head again. It’s stronger than any bond I’ve ever known. I felt like we spent ten years suspended in that moment. It’s almost as if I’ve known him my whole entire life. Or in a past life.

Maybe it was just me that felt it. He walked away before I even knew he left. I’m just making this a bigger thing than it is. He walks out onto the front porch where I’m hiding. I can smell him. He smells like cedar and honey. My back is turned. I’m staring at the moon hoping that he won’t notice me in the dark corner. Can he hear my thoughts too? Does he know what I am? I close my eyes.

His hands find their way up my back and onto my shoulders. Thunder booms over the mountains. Rain begins to fall. The touch of his hands on my skin creates a fiery burst of energy in my soul. I turn around to look at him. He lifts my body with one arm to half turn and throws me against the wall. There are no words. His tongue is in my mouth before I have the chance to introduce myself.

He comes up for air, “I’m Reed.” I try to speak but I’m out of breath, “I’m-” He interrupts me, “You’re mine Aster Harlow. All mine.”