Change of Heart by Rina Pattinson (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

“Aiden?” Cate called softly. “Is it true?”

“Look Cate it doesn’t matter ok. You don’t feel that way about me, its fine.”

“I am really sorry. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It would’ve been no use. Plus, now I know you’re in love with Adrian. I don’t wanna get between.”

“There’s nothing to get between anymore.” She said quietly, wiping her face.

“Cate−

“Adrian please don’t. I don’t want your sympathy.” She shot him an angry glare. “And I definitely don’t need your pretence love anymore.”

“I wasn’t pretending Cate. I love you.”

“Well that’s too bad, because now love is the last emotion I wanna feel for you.” She said seriously before beginning to walk out.

“Cate are you−

She stopped and looked at Adrian again, ignoring Aiden. “Why did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Pretend to love me. Why didn’t you just tell me you felt nothing for me? Why did you lie to me?”

“If I told you that I felt nothing for you then that would’ve been a lie.”

She laughed softly, “Just the reply I was expecting.” She shook her head. “You don’t ever run out of lines do you?”

“I’m sorry Cate.”

“It’s a shame how much meaning a phrase can lose after it’s been overused.” She said coldly. “Please do continue enjoying your day.” She added then left.

“Adrian, are you ok?” Aiden asked.

“I’m fine.” He said, leaving the room.

“I’m coming!” The heavy British accent echoed through the half empty house. She opened the door a minute later. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes Madam Dina. May I come inside?” She asked, with a similar accent.

“Of course dear, this is your home now. Why do you seek my permission to enter?”

“Because, this house is still strange to me and it may be strange forever until you explain what is going on to me.” She said walking inside.

Dina closed the door and faced her. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course I trust you Madam Dina, I’ve known you all my life; only you. You raised me like your own daughter. How could I not have trust in you?”

“All you’ve done for days is question me.”

“That’s because I don’t understand why we’re here. Why did we leave our home to move to this place, all of a sudden?”

“Remember how I always told you that you were special, and that one day there is gonna be something really important that you’ll have to do?”

“Yes.”

“Well my dear, that day is coming. It’s coming very soon and you need to be ready; but like I always told you, there are other people who are special as well.” Dina explained.

“Like that boy?”

“Exactly like that boy. You found him. That’s excellent. You need to stick by him. Get close to him. You need to develop a strong bond with him. Make yourselves inseparable.”

“Why?”

“He is one, Natzietta; just like you are one.”

She took a deep breath and wiped the sweat off of her forehead. “How many more are there?”

Dina smiled, her red lipstick looking brighter, “There is just one more, dear.” She walked forward, the edges of the black satin dress dragging on the floor, “Together, you and the boy must find her.”

“How is that even possible if he has no idea of what’s coming? I don’t even know what’s coming either.” Natzietta held onto Dina’s hands, “Please Madam Dina, please tell me. I need to know.”

“In time you will my child. In time you will.”

“But you keep saying that there is no time!” She shouted.

Dina looked at her in shock.

“I’m sorry, Madam Dina. I’m just confused that’s all.”

“Just do what I tell you and you’ll be fine. You will know what your destiny is when the time is right.”

She sighed. “Understood, Madam Dina.” She was about to leave the room but stopped. “One more thing.”

“What might that be?”

“You wanted me to fit in and be normal right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I thought the name Natzietta was far from normality.”

“What name suits you better then?”

“I was thinking something more American.”

“Something like?”

“Something like…. Scarlet.”

“Scarlet?”

“Yes. From here on out, my name is Scarlet.” She smiled. “Scarlet Parks.” She repeated this time in the fake American accent.

We decided to walk together one last time. Bask in each other’s company; however what I thought would have been a joyful moment for the last wasn’t. Adrian, for the first time in his life, wasn’t smiling or cracking a lame joke. Honestly, I was looking forward to him to lighten the mood. He walked at the farthest right hand side of the group; his eyes never leaving the ground. Cate walked at the left hand side of the group, like Adrian, she didn’t seem to be in the best mood. Avalon and Jessie never left each other’s sides since we left our home. Cal, who was usually the calmest one, couldn’t stop checking his watch.

“We have five minutes.” He said out loud.

“That’s all right.” Reid said bringing us all to a halt in front the giant, rusty metal gate. “We’re here.”

“How do you know this is the place?” Adrian asked, finally speaking.

“Winters is here.” Reid closed his eyes and inhaled. “I could smell the bastard a mile away.”

Before I could open the gate someone stopped me; his claws scrapping my knuckles. I brought my hand out bleeding.

“Hey you nasty son of a bitch, what the hell is your problem huh? Do you want the fight to start now? I’m ready!” Adrian yelled rolling up his sleeves.

The man growled at Adrian showing off his razor sharp teeth; drool dripping down his chin. “Patience and mercy are not my things. I’ll tear your little ass apart right here, right now.”

“Please, you’re bluffing. You’re scared of Ian and what he’ll do to you if you disobey his command.” Adrian said going closer to the angry wolf, “Face it, you’re just another one of his bitches.”

Another growl this time much louder escaped the wolf’s drooling mouth. His eyes glowed a sparkling yellow and in seconds the rusty metal gate was torn out of the ground by claws which were now longer and sharper. “Your time’s up!” He yelled lunging for Adrian who was prepared to deal with him.

“Ron!” Someone appeared out of the darkness, shouting the name. “That’s enough!”

The wolf stopped inches away from Adrian, his eyes returning to a muddy brown. “But−

“I said that’s enough. Now is not the time.” Ian warned sternly then turned to the group of us. “Are all of your pack members present?” He asked, “Well, all except for Kai that is.” He said smiling at Adrian.

“Son of a bitch!” Adrian shouted attempting to charge at Ian but Aiden held him back.

“That’s quite a temper you have tonight Reynard.” Ian said both hands behind his back. “You better be careful when this fight starts. You’ve already angered one of my members.”

“Who him?” Adrian asked nodding to Ron who was still growling quietly, “I could take him out faster than his over active saliva glands work.”

“We’ll see.” Ian smiled but quickly turned serious when his eyes landed on me. “Enough talk, follow me.” He said leading the way inside.

The irony of the building was the fact that it was a burnt down fire station. The damage wasn’t that bad but it was highly recognizable and not just because my eyes had more ability than the average person’s. The six storey structure had been abandoned for years and for what was about to take place tonight, thank god it was. Reid and I stood in the front of the group which consisted of nineteen of us in all. We were standing in the room on the sixed floor. On the opposite side of us were Ian and his pack. As expected, Ian stood in the front. He was dressed in all black and as usual he looked great. I hate myself for noticing that. The other members of his deadly pack were dressed similar. I could hear their heart beats; fast and eager to kill us, strong and young. Newborns. The strongest, fastest, most intelligent types of werewolves. All we had was our experience, and we held onto it tighter than the poor held onto hope.

“We’re gonna give you guys a head start since we have an advantage.” Ian said. “I’m all about being fair.” He smirked. “So, on the count of three you all are gonna run out of the room and go anywhere you would like in the building. Think of it as a game of hide and seek. You hide, we’ll seek. However should we find you, and we will, we are gonna kill you.” He smiled. “Sounds fun doesn’t it?”

“Sounds like you’re sick.” Cate commented.

Ian laughed and held up his hand. “One.” He held one finger up. “Two.” Another finger; the members of his pack got ready. “Three.” He smiled the last thing I saw as I ran from the room.

The rain was leaking through the ceiling of what I believe was the fourth floor. I placed my shaky hands under the water trying to wash the blood off of them then I splashed some of the water onto my sweaty face. I felt as though almost all of my energy was gone after killing just one member of Ian’s pack. That was a fight I could’ve sworn I was about to lose. Rolling my sleeves back down to cover the wounds on my hands which were struggling to heal, I ran for the door when a girl who looked almost twenty appeared by the door with a smile on her face.

“Ian said we’re not supposed to kill you.” She smiled playing with her hair and walking up to me slowly. “He said you’re all his, but that doesn’t mean I won’t hurt you.” She said pulling out a pistol. “I love Smith and Wesson, don’t you?” She asked firing almost eight shots in a row; the seventh one catching me in the upper leg. The shot didn’t feel like any other, and as if she read my mind she said: “Oh yea, I forgot to mention. The bullets are laced with wolfsbane.”

“Bitch…” I groaned trying to get up.

“Aww how nice of you, Jennifer.”

She was about to fire again when her mouth began sprouting blood. Confused I gathered the strength to stand but it was only when I walked closer to her I realized that someone had sent an iron spear through her back which went through her heart, killing her. Looking at the door I saw no one, but I knew someone was just there. Besides the fact that someone had to have thrown the spear, I could sense the person’s fading presence. Taking the gun from the dead wolf’s hands, I left the room.

She ran into one of the rooms situated on the fifth floor trying to catch a breath. Knowing it was stupid to lock the fragile wooden door she slammed it in and hurriedly moved the latch then jammed the door’s handle with an old three legged chair. Backing back slowly into the dark room she covered her mouth trying to mask the sounds of her sobbing. After a few minutes of silence she sighed and stood up from the corner in which she hid. The laugh hit her like a bullet as it echoed throughout the room from the outside and the banging on the door didn’t make things better.

“No.” She cried searching for a way to exit the room but there wasn’t any.

“Oh yes.” He smiled as he stood in the doorway, the broken door scattered.

“Please don’t, please.” She cried moving backwards into the room when she hit the wall.

“There’s nowhere left to go.” He snarled walking to her. “You’re so pretty.” He whispered wiping her tears; his claws cutting her cheeks. “What’s your name?” He asked, smelling her.

“Please just leave me alone.” She sobbed, the tears burning the cuts on her face.

“What is your name?” He yelled banging her onto the wall.

“Cate; her name is Cate.” Adrian said standing in the doorway.

The man smiled. “What a lovely name.” He said throwing her onto