Enya POV
Before I knew it, my long lost grandmother was expected to arrive in just a few minutes. My mom and dad are at the airport picking her up now, while Erik is distracting me with a walk in the woods.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. This is the woman that raised my mom, and she is one of the most powerful witches in the world. Not to mention, until a few days ago I thought she was dead.
The joys of living a lie your entire life. I did forgive my parents for the lies, but now that they are catching up to us, I'm finding it difficult to keep my emotions in check.
Erik is trying to keep me positive, "Just think of it this way: she is here to teach you how to use your magic. We already know that you have an extremely powerful wolf, but we have no idea what kind of magic you have."
"I know, I'm just worried. What if I disappoint her?", I didn't even realize that I was thinking about that until it left my mouth.
"Why would you think she would be disappointed?"
"I don't know. Maybe because she is the former High Priestess of the West Coast Covens, and because she obviously has really high expectations of me."
Erik stops us walking and turns me to look at him, "Baby, you have already exceeded everyone's expectations. I am sure that whatever expectations she has of you, you will surpass those too."
"You always know how to make me feel better.", I smile lightly and place a quick kiss on his lips.
He pulls me back in to kiss me again, this time longer and slightly deeper. All the sparks and tingles that course through my skin bring a calming effect on my nerves.
We resume walking in the woods when I receive a mind link from my mom.
'Enya honey, we will be there in about 10 minutes. Are you ready?'
'As I'll ever be.' I link back.
I tell Erik that they are going to be here soon, and we start to head back to the pack house. On the walk back I decide to have a conversation with Athena.
'Hey, Athena, you there?'
'Always.'
I smile at her response, it's strange to share my mind with another being, yet it's comforting to know that I'm truly not alone in this. She is as much a part of this fate as I am.
'Do you have any idea what kind of powers we have?', I ask her.
'No, I wish I did. I have no memories of my previous life or any knowledge of what Mother bestowed upon us.'
'According to my mom all witches have an affinity to an element. I wonder what element we are gifted with.'
'I have a feeling it's fire.', she responds.
'Why do you say that?'
'Well, the red marking on my fur resembles flames for one. Then there is the added factor that no other wolves have ever seen a wolf with markings like ours.'
She has a point. No one in the pack has ever seen red markings, let alone ones that are shaped like fire. I must have read over 200 books on werewolf history over the years, and not one single book did I read that said anything about red markings.
'I suppose that's something to ask Ruth about.'
Athena nods her head to me in agreement. The idea that our affinity could be to fire makes me feel even more nervous. Fire is an unyielding element, uncontrolled and dangerous if in the wrong hands. Would I be able to handle such a deadly power?
My worries seep through my bond to Erik, he squeezes my hand to reassure me in the hopes that my mind will not wander to the worst possibilities. I may not be able to wield fire, all my fears could be for nothing.
As we find our way back to the edge of the woods, that meets the training field, I pick up a scent that I have never smelled before in my life. It's a concoction of vanilla, rosemary, and lavender. The strongest note I pick up however is the sea.
I have only ever been to the ocean once in my life, but it was beyond memorable. When I was 11 we took a trip to see my dad's brother in South Carolina; he has a cottage in Folly Beach that is only a short walk to the sea.
Smelling the saltiness of the sea again, I'm brought back to that cottage and those memories I have cherished for the last 7 years.
The feel of the sand between my toes, the mist from the ocean as the tide comes in. I spent hours on that beach. It was one of the rare times in my life that I was not allowed to train.
My parents insisted that I needed a break from my rigorous schedule; I complained the entire drive from our pack home in Cookeville. At first I didn't want to leave the pack house, it's the only place that I've known my whole life. When they told me I was not allowed to train for the whole week I was livid.
Training was the center of my life and they knew that. It's the same reason that they demanded I take a break, relax for once. I reluctantly decided to listen to them.
There was no way that I would be able to win that argument.
Once we arrived at the cottage, I was stunned by the beauty I saw.
The beach stretched for miles, the ocean was a deep blue that rivaled the color of my eyes. I was even more drawn to it than I had thought possible.
The feel of Erik's hand in mine brings me back to the present. From the middle of the training field I spot the mystery woman whose scent distracted me earlier.
She has the longest hair I have ever seen, the bright silver shade is nearly blinding in the sunlight.
I can see that her eyes are not a blue shade like I had thought. They almost look violet from this distance.
She has an aura of great power - I instantly know who she is.
Ruth.
*****
Walking up the steps of the back porch Erik links me 'Breathe baby. It's going to be ok.'
The woman before me is extremely stunning, I feel drawn to her more than I expected. Her smile is warm and inviting, almost like a hug that I have been needing all my life.
While her aura is undeniably powerful, there is a tenderness in her that is at the forefront of who she is.
"Hello, Enya.", her melodious voice soothes me with such ease that my grip on Erik's hand relaxes.
"Hi…um, I'm not sure what I should call you.", I feel silly when I say it. But I honestly don't know how to address her. I've never met her before and I don't want to assume I can address her casually.
She smiles brightly at me, "You can call me Ruth, or Gran, if you prefer. I know that we don't know each other, but I am sincerely looking forward to getting to know my only granddaughter."
"I think I like Gran.", I return her smile.
Mom pulls me over to her for a hug and kisses my forehead. My acceptance of Gran seems to have overjoyed her.
With how close mom and I are, I can't imagine being without her. She has had to spend the last 19 years away from her mother. It makes my heart ache, I could never spend that much time apart from her.
Gran turns to Erik, reaching out her hand to him, "You must be Erik. I have heard a lot about you."
His surprise is clear as he shakes her hand, "Oh, you have?"
"Of course. The destined mate of my granddaughter, do you really believe my Becca wouldn't have told me all about you on the drive over here?"
"Ha! I see your point.", Erik side-eyes mom as her mouth drops open.
"What do you mean? Do I talk too much?", mom's embarrassment is evident as we all laugh in her face.
"Sorry, mom, but yeah, you do talk a lot."
After we spend a few minutes on the porch getting acquainted, Luna links us that lunch is ready in the dining hall.
All of my family sits together while lunch is served. Erik decides that I should spend some time alone with my new grandmother and goes to sit with his parents.
Part of me wishes that he would've stayed with me, but at the same time I have a feeling he is right. I've spent my life believing that I didn't have any living grandparents, it's a perfect time to get to see how mom and Gran are together.
The ease of which they speak is as if no time has passed at all. I can't recall the last time my mom looked this happy.
For as long as I can remember she has always had a shadow over her face. A deep sadness that was always present, even in the happiest moments of her life.
I always credited it to the loss of her mother - her death, the agony of grief. It's a shadow that my father also carries. The pain is indescribable, or so I've been told.
Now I know the truth: her pain was of not being able to lean on her mother, even though she was alive. She had to go through life without her, but not because she was taken away from her, but because she had to leave her behind.
For my sake. For the hope that we could have a life outside of the prophecy.
Initially I was angry with my mother's lie. How much more childish and self-centered could I have been in that moment?
It took her tears and breaking down in front of me before I could really listen to her. I should've known better, she would never do something to hurt me.
Everything that she does is to protect me. I make a mental note to talk with mom later to make sure she truly understands how grateful I am to her.
Once we finish with our meal, Gran asks me if I would like to go on a walk with her, "I'm sure that you have plenty of questions for me."
"Yes, as a matter of fact I do." I link Erik to let him know where I will be, and we head out to the front lawns.
I need to know everything about the prophecy, and I know Gran is the only one with the real answers.