Imprinted By The Alpha (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) (The Marked One - Book 1) (16 page)

Ava gave her a smile of thanks. Her best friend’s mother had such a gentle demeanor and had always been like a second mother. She’d been involved in Ava’s life as long as she could remember, taking real interest in both girls. Unlike her own mother, Katherine’s hair was now more gray than blond, and crow’s feet had formed at the corners of her chocolate eyes, with sun kissed freckles sprinkling her face. She was aging gracefully, but she looked much older than Ava’s mother, despite their being only a year apart in age.

Ava stood and blushed while they sang to her, and she graciously blew out the candles. Sarah served up the cake, and they sat in silence, devouring the chocolate swirl sweetness in pure indulgence.

When she finished, Kelly rummaged through her purse and pulled out a little silver box, neatly wrapped with a red ribbon tied in a bow on top. “This is from my mother and me,” she stated proudly, placing it beside Ava.

With excitement, Ava eyed the gift. She loved presents and hadn’t expected anything. For one moment, everything seemed completely normal, and she laid down her fork, reaching for the box. She tore off the ribbon and the paper, slipped off the top of the box, and stared at a beautiful sterling silver necklace with a heart shaped locket, encrusted with diamond chips.

She gasped and snapped the locket open and stared at the picture of herself with Kelly. The opposite side read,
Will Love You Always
, and Ava’s eyes burned with tears. She was so overcome with emotion she found herself speechless. It was a perfect gift, and the inscription couldn’t have been more perfect.

In that moment, Ava realized that part of her vision related to a fear of the relationships with those closest to her being choked until she lost them. It was good to be reminded they would love her, no matter what, and some of her fears were allayed.

She quickly swiped at the single tear that slipped down her cheek. “Thank you, Kelly. Thank you both. It’s beautiful.” She smiled at them sincerely and fiddling with the clasp on the chain.

“You’re welcome, honey,” Katherine told her as Kelly stood and took the necklace, wrapping it around Ava’s neck. She secured it and leaned down to hug Ava from behind, whispering in her ear, “I love you, sista!”

“Now for mine!” Sarah announced, pushing yet another small, neatly wrapped box toward her. Ava removed the wrapping paper and pulled out a purple satin box that looked ancient. She stared at her mother with wide eyes, unable to guess what could possibly be inside. She flipped it open and found a sterling silver ring with a glowing moonstone set in the center. It clearly held incredible significance, she realized, noting the intricate scroll engraved inside the band. The white moonstone refracted the light, creating a kaleidoscope of color. Around it sparkled several tiny diamond chips.

“Mom, are you sure?” Ava breathed, fingering the ring reverently. “It looks ancient.”

Sarah nodded. “Of course. It’s been in our family for generations, passed down from mother to daughter for as far back as anyone can remember. The moonstone’s appearance changes with the phases of the moon, and it’s believed to encapsulate a spirit whose purpose is to bring good fortune.” Sarah smiled, reaching for the ring and sliding it on Ava’s finger. “Now, I will that good fortune to you.”

Ava held her hand up, studying the ring as it appeared on her finger. It was a perfect fit. “Thank you, Mom. It’s beautiful, and I love it.” She hugged her mother, who clung tightly to her for several moments before releasing her.

Something about the ring made Ava feel as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. For the first time in a very long time, she believed things would be okay.

She let that confidence shine through, knowing her mother had been concerned about her over the past weeks. True, it had been rough, but Ava was glad to feel like she was done with fear and despair, as though the moonstone and her renewed closeness with this family cleared the fog around her.

“I think it’s time we head home,” Katherine said, her tone regretful. “It’s going to be dark soon, and we’re walking.” She stood, and Kelly followed her lead. “Goodnight, and happy birthday,” she said, hugging Ava’s neck. “Have a great evening.”

Kelly gave Ava a tight hug, whispering in her ear, “Give me a call if anything happens.”

“I will,” Ava promised. She saw them to the door and returned to the kitchen, running water in the sink so she could wash the dishes. Her mother pushed her aside, handing her a towel to dry. “It’s your birthday. You can occupy your hands with something that requires less work.” Ava worked in silence beside her mother and felt reassured now that she realized she wasn’t alone.

“Honey, why didn’t you invite Caleb?” Sarah asked, breaking the spell.

Ava flinched, having hoped to avoid this conversation. She hated to talk about it, not even wanting to admit it to herself, but her mother would keep pressing until she had an answer. With a sigh, Ava put away the plate she was wiping. Quietly, she said, “Caleb was in my vision.”

Sarah dropped what she was doing and turned to face Ava, her expression a mask of shock. Leaning against the counter, she said, “I thought you couldn’t make out the faces in your vision.”

Ava understood her mother’s reaction. Neither of them could believe that Caleb would hurt her. Ava herself didn’t understand what it meant, and the idea that he could betray her gave her belly a sinking feeling. But Caleb was the only likely candidate, despite his promise of protection. “I didn’t. But the man who grabbed me and choked me had a tribal tattoo on his neck.” She met her mother’s eyes, feeling very somber as her heart twisted in her chest. “Caleb is the only man I know with a tribal tattoo.”

“I see.” Sarah turned back to the plates and started scrubbing. Ava scowled at her, confused by the reaction. “Do you truly believe Caleb is capable of hurting you like that?”

Ava considered the question. He was strong, and he was physically capable. But when it came to disposition, motive, and emotions, Ava just couldn’t reconcile it.

“I don’t know what to think anymore, Mom. All I know is that I’ve been walking on eggshells for the last week, and I’m paranoid. I feel like I’m going crazy, between the information you’ve shared, the things Caleb has told me, and my vision. I just feel like it’s safer for me to stay away from him right now, until I can figure out what the vision actually means.” She laid down the towel, putting the last of the plates in the cupboard.

“I didn’t mean to upset you, Ava,” Sarah apologized, and Ava let her mother pull her into a soothing hug. “Why don’t you join your old lady for a movie, and we’ll forget all this mess for a few hours?”

Ava rolled her eyes. “You’re not old, Mom.”

Sarah laughed heartily. “I feel old,” she said, leading Ava into the living room. Maybe cuddling on the couch with her mother while they absorbed a good comedy was just what the doctor ordered.

––––––––

A
va’s eyes flew open, and she struggled to catch her breath as the horrible dream faded away and reality took its place. She sat up, gazing around the room, her skin clammy with sweat. She ran her hand through her hair, wincing in pain as something stung her wrist. What the hell was that?

She raised her right arm to her face, inspecting the spot on her inner wrist that bothered her, fear and amazement gripping her chest. There was a perfect circle burned into her skin, about two inches across, as if someone had placed a hot branding iron to her skin.

She jumped out of bed and rushed to the window, yanking the drapes open to let the sun seep in so she could examine the mark more closely. It was raised, like a fresh burn or scar, and she traced it with her finger curiously, wincing as it seared under her touch.

It’s happening.

Everything was coming to a head, she realized, and she flipped the light switch on as she moved to look at the mirror above her armoire. Her jaw dropped as she saw her reflection, and she rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. Her hand flew to a section of hair hanging by her temple, once the same rich brown as the rest of her locks, and now vibrant silver. “Fuck!”

She raced downstairs, aiming for the kitchen. She could smell fresh brewed coffee, and she poured herself a cup with shaking hands. She would rather have a stiff drink, but this would have to do. Less than twelve hours ago, she’d started to believe things would be fine, and now, her resolve wavered, and she headed to the living room, walking like a zombie in a trance, to find her mother enthralled in the morning paper.

Sarah lowered the paper at Ava’s approach, and her face registered no surprise. Ava wanted some sort of reaction. After all, her mother knew Ava hadn’t done this to herself. As she waited, her mother simply raised an eyebrow and quipped, “I like the new color, sweetheart. It suits you.”

Ava flopped down on the couch. “Very funny,” she mumbled. She jutted her arm out so her wrist was under her mother’s nose. “Look!”

Laying the paper down, Sarah leaned forward and inspected the mark. She nodded. “It’s an ancient symbol, the Unity Circle.”

Ava shook her head. “I didn’t think it was actually going to happen. What does it mean?”

Her mother looked exasperated. “It’s the universal symbol for unity, sacredness, and infinity. It signifies the goddess, female power, and the strength of the sun. It represents a feminine spirit or force, the cosmos, a spiritualized Mother Earth, and a sacred space. The circle is also a symbol of protection.”

Ava gazed at the mark in confusion. Could another symbol have appeared instead? If so, why was it this particular symbol? What did it mean for her? She couldn’t figure it out, and she was a little irritated that having the mark didn’t give her a bit of insight into how she was supposed to go about restoring the order of things. It just looked like she’d burned herself in a moment of stupidity.

Sarah patted her knee and chuckled. “The symbol doesn’t come with divine instructions, Ava. I’m sorry to tell you that. It’s simply a reminder of your greater calling, the purpose of your life going forward. All those who meet you and understand the significance of our kind will know, just as I’ve always known, that you are special in so many ways.” She stood and said, “I’ll get you some aloe to spread over it. It looks like it hurts.”

Ava hadn’t counted on her mark being so blatantly obvious. Couldn’t it have appeared on her hip, or the back of her neck, somewhere more intimate that would avoid notice? She knew her mother meant well in telling her she was special, but Ava felt the opposite. She felt condemned, trapped.
Marked.
While she’d never been one to shy away from attention, this wasn’t the kind she was looking for.

Things were spiraling out of control, and all Ava wanted was a modicum of control over her life and her destiny. She wasn’t looking forward to trying to explain this one or facing the reactions she’d encounter at work. She was already tired of feeling like a freak show. Now, she had to contend with both a very perfect burn
and
a strange silver streak in her hair. And that was on top of the ridiculous eyes.

Sarah returned, smearing the aloe on the mark. “That should help soothe it. You’ll want to leave it uncovered.”

******

U
p in her bedroom, Sarah sat in her reading chair and gazed out the window. The mark’s appearance on her daughter left only one last piece of her prophecy to be fulfilled. The war would come sooner than later, and Ava would have to stand strong and be determined to meet her destiny. Sarah didn’t know exactly what Ava needed to do, but it wouldn’t be easy.

She knew Ava didn’t want this, was overcome with emotion. If Sarah could have changed history, could have created a future where she’d never been the designated oracle and had never prophesied this war, she would do it to protect her daughter from all the things she would face. She would make Ava a normal young woman, coming into her own and building a life just like any college student desperate to get out of a small town and reimagine herself in a large city.

But that wasn’t the case. Sarah closed her eyes and could almost hear her daughter’s thoughts as the girl quietly mourned her situation in the next room. She was angry at Caleb for appearing in her vision, for a betrayal she couldn’t be sure would actually happen. She was angry with Kelly and Katherine because she felt they were acting like nothing had changed. Sarah winced as she recognized Ava’s anger at her, for waiting so long to dump all of this on her shoulders. She felt blindsided, and that was another thing Sarah would take back if she could.

But most of all, she realized, her daughter was angry with herself for being afraid. Sarah understood the fear; she had held her daughter close to her chest, sheltered her throughout her life, and this was bigger than anything Ava could have ever dreamed being involved in. She felt she wasn’t ready for the coming events and her responsibility in them, no matter what everyone else told her. Sarah frowned, sensing Ava’s crippling terror and denial.

Sarah closed her eyes and pushed her strength and resolve in her daughter’s direction. She would drain herself by doing so, but Ava needed it now far more than she did. Sarah was willing to make any sacrifice to assure Ava could handle her responsibilities.

––––––––

A
va gazed in the mirror as she dressed for work, almost used to her appearance now. Her birthday had been a week ago, and she’d struggled through the questions people asked and the scornful expressions. At this point, her goal was to return to acting like a normal person, getting back to her old self in the wake of a week with absolutely no surprises. She felt like celebrating the fact that nothing out of the norm had happened, and now, she just wanted to forget about the prophecy.

Ava took one last look in the mirror and headed downstairs, hearing Kelly’s honking as she descended the stairs. Her best friend could be ridiculously impatient. She wrenched the front door open and let it slam behind her as she yelled, “I’m coming!” irritably. She doubted Kelly heard her, the windows of the black ’72 Beetle were rolled down and music blaring through the quiet clearing as Kelly tapped the steering wheel to the beat.