Chapter 67

MEGAN

My heart was broken.

Charlie was the only person I ever really considered spending the rest of my life with, I thought that maybe he felt the same way. Sure, we didn’t have the luck of getting to be fated mates, but I didn’t think that mattered in the long run.

I hoped that if we just loved each other enough, it could work out. He met a rabbit shifter and they had that moment.

As two magnets pulled together, they belonged together and were destined for it, and all I could do was move to the side or else I'd seem crazy. I wasn't the first, or last, person to have to watch someone they love run off with a fated mate, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

Some small part of me hoped he’d choose me. He didn’t.

I couldn’t stick around town, so I picked up and found somewhere else to live. It was better than having to watch them have dozens of kits.

Ember Abyss called to me and I followed.

I'd heard that almost everyone there was magic, save for a few human partners. I could relax there. The high population of women didn’t hurt. It meant I could go there without having to think about dating again for a while.

My motorcycle hummed beneath me as I rode into town.

I didn’t bring much with me for the trip, a lot of it was mailed ahead of time to the small apartment I found online. The town was beautiful, it spun out from the center into long rows of cute houses and businesses. I slipped

past all of this on a cross street and told me that someday I’d have to figure out what was at the center of that spiral.

The apartment complex was pretty new, painted a deep gray with forest-green shutters and doors to the outside of every unit. After grabbing my keys from the front office, I followed the stairs up to the second floor. It was just a one-bedroom apartment. I’d have to make the living room my office, but it’s not like I knew anyone well enough to be entertaining guests any time soon.

My things had already arrived and were sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor.

“Knock, knock!” I heard from outside.

Not the sound of someone knocking, but she said the word 'knock' twice! I looked over, a little amused, and saw a very pregnant woman at my open door.

“Hi,” I said as I headed over, “I’m Megan.”

“Nice to meet you,” she smiled. “Are you from Ember Abyss? Or did you just make the pilgrimage?” It was a weird question, but I knew she trying to be nice. I tried to avoid her eyes, not wanting to see her future. I’m a seer, a person who can use people’s eyes as a portal to their futures, but that didn’t mean that I wanted to all the time.

It was like skipping ahead in a movie you hadn’t watched yet. “I’m new here, just moved from West Coven,” I offered.

“She’s new,” she shouted out my door. I froze, confused. “My name’s Anna, by the way. Oh, I’ve heard it’s gorgeous in West Coven, just crawling with witches like me,” she smiled. Suddenly four or five other women appeared out of nowhere, carrying wine and glasses.

“Welcome to the neighborhood!” a few people greeted me.

They must have sent her in to get a feel for what kind of person I was. I laughed, letting everyone in, and tried to help open the bottles of wine to serve them.

“Let us help you unpack,” Anna offered. She was way too pregnant to be lifting or doing much, but the rest of them seemed eager.

“Okay, but you have to sit,” I told Anna.

“Bossy,” she fake-chided me as I grabbed her a seat from my things. “Why’d you move out here?”

All of the women went quiet at once, it was a little eerie.

I tried to avoid eye contact, looking at their foreheads instead, so they wouldn’t think I was being rude.

“A relationship ended, so I thought I needed a fresh start,” I had to be honest.

There was a murmur of approval among the other women.

Some of the women shared their stories about why they, or their mothers, moved to this town. It was emotional and sweet. The place seemed to call women in need, lost without a purpose. In all of our emotional compasses, this place was true north.

We unpacked my bedroom and kitchen first, and they all seemed shocked at how little I was putting into my living room. Just a desk, my computer, my working chair, and a small coat rack.

“My cousin has a couch she wants to replace. If you want, I could ask her if you can have it,” one woman offered.

"Maybe a loveseat or a couple of good recliner chairs?"

They were instantly trying to help me plan out my living room and redesign it.

“No, no it’s fine. I have to use it as an office only or I won’t get the tax break,” I admitted. “Not that I think they’d drive out here to check, but I can get half of my rent back in taxes this way.”

There was a unanimous “Ohhh” heard across the room.

“Well, if you ever want somewhere to sit and watch TV besides your bed, you can always come over to mine,” Anna said. She was warm and sweet, obviously really wanting to make sure that I was comfortable in my new place.

"Is there anything you need around town? I can get you in with my hairstylist if you're going to need a new one," one of the others answered.

I knew what I needed to find.

“Do you know where the local motorcycle club hangs out?” The room went a little quiet, but one of the girls still seemed excited to answer.

“Sure, my brother’s in it. They hang out at a little dive bar on 3rd,” she explained.

“Are you trying to find a mate, or …?” “No,” I laughed. “I just want to join.”

It was quiet for a moment more before Anna patted my leg. “Well, nice! I hope you get in. If not, we can all make a gang here of our own,” she teased. I laughed, not sure why I wouldn’t get in.