Page 29 of Country and Clove
Graham settled in next to her, his massive frame sinking farther into the straw. In the few hours they’d spent together, Clove had grown accustomed to Graham’s energy already. He had a comforting, protective presence. Like the big brother she never had. Maybe it’s just because he was an outsider to her life, but she felt safe to let her guard down and her mask slip just a fraction more than when she was around the others. It’s funny how people are so willing to share secrets with strangers, but not disclose their struggles to those closest to them.
“All right, lass. We’ve got you good and drunk. Now tell me about your magic.” Graham grinned at her from the top of his whisky bottle.
“Can you really smell magic on people?” Clove asked, her tongue loose and limbs settling deeper into the hay by the minute.
“I can. You’re really saying no one can do that here?”
“My dad can. He said my mom smelled like magic and after so many years of being with her he was able to identify the scent on others, too. He knew Dahlia was hiding powers the first time she and Gideon set foot in the diner.” It occurred to her that Earl probably knew about her powers too. Even if she said they were gone, he would be able to smell it on her. He must have trusted her decision to keep them hidden enough not to disclose the information to others.
“So your mom is a Chosen? And you and your sister?” Graham’s questions were casually spoken but they triggered a cache of locked-away memories and painful sensations.
“My mom was a Chosen. But she died.” Clove took a drink from her bottle of tequila, shoving the sadness down with a forced swallow of the burning liquid. “And as for Ginger, her Chosen abilities never emerged. Mine showed up at thirteen and she was so sad to have been left out.” Clove shrugged, tracing her finger around the rim of the bottle. “It hurt me to watch her be so sad. So I told her my powers disappeared and that neither of us were Chosen.”
“You hid your powers from everyone? All this time?” Graham’s dark eyes were wide with disbelief.
“Surprise.” Clove smiled but there was no humor behind the word.
“What are they? Your witchy gifts?” Clove glared at him. “Chosen.Sorry.”
“Animals. Something happens with the animals and they’re drawn to me.” A sweeping breath freed itself from her lungs and a bit of weight lifted from her shoulders. It felt good to tell someone. “I usually have enough control to keep my magic buried inside but recently, I’ve been more emotional and I’ve had a few…slipups.”
“And it wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with whatever is going on between you and our fearless trainee leader, now would it? Captain Arsehole?” Graham gave a low chuckle, and Clove threw an arm over her face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she mumbled behind her arm.
“Come now, lass. What happened? You used to date? He broke your heart? Everyone dates everyone within a pack, it’s not that big a deal—”
“He’s my fated mate,” Clove blurted out. The alcohol was acting like a waterslide, letting all her hidden secrets slip out with ease. Graham dropped the bottle.
“Aaron is your fated mate? I thought he was just your secret boyfriend or something.” Graham’s brow furrowed and Clove could see the questions tumbling behind his eyes. “Why all the tension if the two of you are mates?”
Clove let out a hollow laugh and took another huge swig for courage. Her lips trembled as she spoke the words aloud for the first time. “He rejected me.”
Graham stood bolt upright. “He did not.” Clove just nodded. “And you’ve kept it a secret from everyone?”
“Yeppp.” Clove popped the ‘p’ as she released another sigh.
Graham threw his fist into the hay bale, sending bits of pulverized straw flying. “That bastard. I oughta rip his fuckin’ dick off next time I see him.”
“Don’t do that,” Clove pleaded, the tequila making her words come out sappy and slow.
“And why shouldn’t I?” Graham’s fingers balled into fists at his sides.
“Because I love him.” The words were barely out before the first sob racked Clove’s body. She drew her knees up and buried her head in her hands as the tears she’d kept locked away for weeks came flooding to the surface. Strong arms wrapped around her, squeezing tightly as she cried.
“Come now, lass. We’ll get this figured out. Everything will work out, I promise.”
Clove surrendered to his mountainous hold, leaning into him for support. “How?” She sniffled, feeling vulnerable and childish as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks, soaking Graham’s shirt.
“You’re mates.” Graham pushed her face back so she was staring up at him. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He might be fighting his feelings now, but he can’t do it forever. I’m goddamn certain it’s ripping him in two. Fate chose you for each other. And when fate settles her will, it’s damn near impossible to change the course she’s set. He'll come around. I’m sure of it.”
“I hope you’re right,” Clove whispered. His words gave her a tiny flicker of hope that she thought was long since snuffed out.
The two of them stayed up into the wee hours of the morning, drinking, sharing stories of home and family. The sun was beginning its ascent in the sky by the time they both drifted off.
The shrill ringing of a cellphone sliced through Clove’s hungover thoughts. She’d barely been asleep for a few hours when the call came. Her back was screaming as she shifted in the hay. Why had she thought it was a good idea to get blackout drunk and sleep outside? It had been a lot less painful as a kid. She answered the phone without glancing at the name.
“Yeah?” The word yawned from her lips.
