I chuckle. Of course. The black and gold cat is right there, coming out from under a car like any regular stray cat would. I smile and grab him to carry him. He stares at me with those big innocent eyes.
"You smart boy, Spark... Did you help me hide it?"
He purrs and rubs his head against my chest. I pet him for a while, taking a little walk with my cat. At least I can count on him... My heart aches a bit when I remember the look in Liam's eyes when I left. I didn't want to leave him, but his situation with his family isn't for me to handle. I have a lot on my plate already, I can't face his brothers for him. From the way Nathaniel Black glared at me, there's definitely more going on. He needs to tell them about our bond too... I guess we should have known this relationship wasn't going to be easy.
I look around, but I don't have anything on me. Can I walk back to the docks from here? It should be closer than the cemetery, but it still took us a long while to get there with Liam's bike… I grabbed his phone, but I don’t know Kelsi's number by heart. Should I go back to my apartment? I'm not even sure which way to go. Oh, I can grab a cab and pay at the destination, right? ...If I can find one. I decide to keep walking, Spark in my arms, trying to look around for a solution. I really feel at a loss at times like this.
"Mara!"
I stop and look around, only to find a familiar old Toyota with Ben and Kelsi inside, waving at me.
"Guys!"
I run to them, and they park to come and meet me. Before I can react, Kelsi suddenly hugs me, looking relieved. I hug her back, a bit surprised. We've only been apart for a few hours, I'm glad to see her... although I have questions. Ben nods with a big smile behind her.
"What's up?"
"How the hell did you find me?"
"Selena texted me," explains Ben. "She said you'd probably be in this neighborhood, but she didn't explain much."
Oh... Was she expecting her husband to kick me out or something and told Ben to come and get me? I nod, a bit thankful. Kelsi checks me out from head to toe, a bit confused about my attire.
"You're trying the boyfriend style?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
"I... have a couple of things to explain. And so do you, by the way. I know you saw that text."
Kelsi pouts but still nods. We both turn to Ben, who's waiting for us, clueless, his hands in his pockets.
"So, where are we going, ladies?"
We find a nearby café to stop at and have breakfast as those two apparently left in a hurry. I take another coffee while, as usual, Ben orders a lot and Kelsi only has a bowl of granola. I fill them in on everything I learned so far. Not only my strange relationship with Liam Black, but also Sylviana's house, the map, and that short meeting with Ravena at the border. They both stay mute but listen to each word, concerned, letting me do all the talking for a while. When our orders arrive, my throat is so dry again, I have to order a smoothie.
"I don't know about that witch, Mara," says Ben. "I mean, no offense, but there are reasons werewolves don't get along with witches, and I don't think this one is going to be on your side..."
"I agree," sighs Kelsi. "The fact that she was lurking at the border isn't reassuring."
I nod.
"I hope she doesn't get any closer, but... I keep thinking I could use someone to help me. I keep second-guessing everything so far, and the progress is super slow."
"Well, you would have progressed faster if this idiot had paid attention to the clues earlier," says Kelsi, glaring at Ben.
He almost spits out his coffee, shocked.
"What, me? What clues?"
"Mara Jones! You're a werewolf, couldn't you have told us there was a Jones family of Alphas when you heard that name?"
"Hey, it's a super common name, and I was only half-listening back at the library! Plus, I'm not involved in any way with that pack, why would I make the connection?!"
Kelsi rolls her eyes, and this time, I agree. Ben can be super slow, for a werewolf. She turns to me, shaking her head and playing with the lace of her pink sweatshirt.
"If any smart werewolf had heard that name, they would have told you to go see that family, Mara. I bet it's another clue you left for yourself. You should meet them and ask if they know anything about you. Plus, isn't that witch Sylviana's house right on their territory? Isn't that too big of a coincidence?"
"Maybe that's what I was meant to find by asking them," I sigh. "The house."
"Anyway, you have to ask," says Kelsi.
