Cole

Things didn't go as planned. We woke up to an early phone call that Gran's heart was acting up again and they were going to go in and do the surgery now instead of waiting the extra planned day.

Dad and I rode together again, which was good, because I wasn't capable of operating a car. I was too busy mentally berating myself for not spending what time I could with Gran. So what if it was hard to see her in a hospital bed? So what if being confronted with potentially losing her was among my greatest fears? She must have been scared and lonely, too. Dad couldn't be by her side every second. And if those were her last days, I didn't think I'd ever forgive myself for missing them.

"She'll be okay," Dad said. It didn't help.

I texted Lucia. She had to work but offered to call out and come sit at the hospital with me. The offer made my chest feel warm, but I told her not to come. She wasn't who I really needed. Honestly, it would have helped a lot to have Ares with me. I might not know the first thing about him, but I did know how my body responded to his. I was willing to bet that just holding his hand would smooth out the worst of my nerves.

I tried looking up information about the surgery on my phone to pass the time, which was obviously a terrible idea. In seconds, I had enough information to haunt me for the rest of the next three hours while we waited for news.

Finally, someone came out and let my father know she had made it through surgery and was currently in a recovery room being closely monitored. I tried to tune out the words, but heard too much. She had a breathing tube in and likely would for several hours. They'd keep her in the ICU for at least a day before transferring her to a step-down unit. The tubes in her chest wouldn't come out for a couple of days after that.

Too much.

It was all too much.

And it wasn't like I could see her anyway. Only, as soon as the doctor left and my dad sat back down next to me, he looked ashen and I saw his hands start to tremble. He had been so solid through all of this, and now it seemed like it was finally too much to carry.

"She made it," I whispered, and felt my throat clenching involuntarily around the enormity of relief and sadness that came with that. Relief, obviously. Sadness, that we were here at all. That she'd had to go through such a serious procedure after being perfectly fine just a few days ago. I didn't know if I could look at her the same way again. She never seemed fragile before now.

Dad reached for my hand and squeezed it tight. "Yeah."

That seemed to be as much as he was capable of saying. "Hey, they have your phone number. Why don't we go out for lunch? They'll call if anything changes."

His answering smile was shaky. "Sure, kid. You pick the place."

---

That evening, after sitting at the hospital for a while after lunch, I accepted that I needed a break. Gran had woken up and we were able to say hi and chat her for a little bit. The way she smiled at me made me cry all on its own - it was the same smile, full of love, that she always wore when she saw me. I wanted to tell her not to act brave for me, but I knew it was an act of love. It was obvious she was exhausted, though, so I left with promises to come back in the morning while Dad settled down in the pullout chair that would serve as his bed tonight.

I headed to the café. Ares would be back tomorrow or the day after, and I didn't want to be tied up in the kitchen when he came. Not to mention, I could get back to the hospital with Gran sooner if I knocked out tomorrow's bakes tonight.

The café was in a busy part of town that usually calmed down by evening, but it wasn't unusual to see a few people walking around. There were a couple of bars on the same street and several condos and apartment complexes were in walking distance. I'd spent so much time here over the past few years that it felt as safe to me as my home did. It didn't occur to me to be watchful.

I parked in my usual spot behind the café and looked for the right key on my keyring as I walked to the door. I was aware that someone else was nearby, but it wasn't a scent I was familiar with so I didn't pay it much mind. I found the right key and struggled a bit to get it into the keyhole. The streetlight back here was sparse, and since the café had closed up hours ago with no expectation of anyone coming back so late, the sconce light by the door was turned off.

I finally got the door open and stepped inside, then turned to shut it behind myself. Only, the door wouldn't shut.

It took a couple of seconds to process what I was seeing: a hooded figure in front of me, a shoe blocking the doorway, and a knife pointed at my chest, the tip just barely touching my sweatshirt.

I slowly lifted my hands, though inside I was absolutely freaking out. There hadn't been violent crime in the area for years. My brain had a hard time processing that someone was threatening me, here of all places.

"Take me to your safe." The voice sounded masculine and betrayed no sign of uncertainty.

"I don't have the code," I lied.

"Yes, you do."

"N-no, I'm just a baker," I insisted. "I'm here to bake, that's all. I can't get into the safe and the registers will be empty this time of day, but I have some money in my wallet. Take it."

The blade left my chest and slashed. Pain followed in a line down my cheek. It was enough to take me from scared to absolutely terrified.

"You're one of the owners. I know you can get into the safe. Do it," they pressed.

I tried to make a decision or come up with a plan or literally anything other than standing here trembling, but I couldn't string two thoughts together between the pain and the fear. I could try shifting into my wolf form, but it would be too slow and I would be vulnerable during the shift. I could take them to the safe and hand over today's earnings, but what would stop them from hurting me worse once they had what they wanted? They couldn't just leave me be. I'd call the police the second I could.

I curled my hands into loose fists and tried to focus long enough to shift my fingertips into claws, just to have some kind of weapon, but that took a lot of control that I didn't have at the moment.

The knife was at my collarbone now, pushing hard enough that I was sure it would leave a mark. They twisted it so I could see light faintly glinting off the blade. It sent visceral fear through me, so potent I was sure I'd faint and leave myself utterly defenseless. I knew I was gasping for air, but couldn't hear it over the heightened sound of my own blood rushing.

Then, the knife was gone. I blinked furiously, once again unable to process what was happening right in front of me. My assailant was pushed up against a wall and held above the ground by a hand wrapped around their neck. Their hands scrambled to pry it away and their feet kicked, but the person holding them didn't let up for even a second. That was the first thing I noticed - the violence of it.

The second thing I noticed as my brain struggled to catch up to this moment was that I knew that frame - had run my hands all over it. The bond within myself, the one I had done my best to block out, was lit up with a searing fury that would have scared me except for my bone-deep certainty it wasn't directed at me.

Ares.

He was here, right in front of me.

Here, saving me, the night before he was supposed to be back in town.

He pulled my attacker away from the wall just to slam them back against it again. They went limp and stopped struggling. He let them drop to the floor before turning back to me. The anger was plain to see in his expression even in the very dim lighting. He crossed the distance between us in two steps and pulled me into a crushing hug that set my tears running free.

I clutched at the back of his shirt and pressed my uninjured cheek against him, for a moment uncaring about what he was and wasn't hiding from me. He was here, and he had saved me. And now, he held me like he had been just as scared as I was. His arms were solid bands around me, comforting and secure.

"Cole." He said my name on an exhale and tightened his arms even more.

"Ares?" I knew I sounded confused. I was confused.

"I could feel your fear. I knew something was wrong," he said like it was an explanation.

"How did you get here so fast?" It was an extension of a deeper question: where were you?

He didn't answer for a long moment. "I'll answer that, but let's call the authorities first. The last thing we need is this cretin waking up. I don't know that I'd be so merciful a second time."

How could I have forgotten the would-be robber collapsed on the kitchen floor? I pulled out my phone and called the emergency line. Once I received assurance that the police were on their way, I turned back to Ares. He kept a hand on the small of my back like he didn't want to stop touching me. I leaned against his chest again and chalked it up to a really, really bad week. Even though I was waiting for answers, I relaxed into him and felt better.

When the police came, they loaded my attacker into their car and took statements from both me and Ares. They also shone bright lights on my wounds and photographed them. The whole process took altogether too long.

As soon as we were alone, Ares gently traced his finger down the cut on my cheek. I flinched away instinctively, but it didn't hurt. No, it was more of a tingling feeling. He went to the nearby sink and slightly wet a paper towel while I watched curiously. When he returned, he wiped at my cheek and offered me a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "That's better."

I knew I was frowning as I reached up and traced over my cheek, which felt completely normal. I hurried to the bathroom to confirm in a mirror that yes, Ares had healed me somehow.

"How did you do that?" I asked when I returned to where he was waiting in the kitchen.

"This isn't the place to have that conversation. Let me take you home," Ares said. As ever, it wasn't said like a suggestion. Yet, he waited for me to nod before heading for the door.

I want answers," I reminded him.

"And you'll have them."

I nodded again and followed him out. We exited into the parking lot - where there was no car other than my own - and Ares held out a hand for my keys after I'd finished locking up.

At this point, whatever. He could drive my car. I didn't really care where we were going or how we got there. What I cared about was finally getting explanations for everything that had been going on. I knew now without a doubt that I was safe with Ares - physically, at least. I hoped I could trust him with my feelings, too.

Ares kept both hands on the wheel in a white-knuckled grip as he drove. I had hoped - stupidly, maybe - that he might hold my hand. My chest ached, and I had missed him. And, my mind wouldn't stop replaying the attack. I distracted myself by observing every detail I could about Ares. He wore neatly tailored black slacks and a red button-down made of some luxurious fabric I couldn't identify. It had a slight glimmer to it, though the cut and style were entirely masculine. His jaw was clenched and his brow furrowed. Something was making him tense. Was it the aftereffect of my attack? The idea softened the ache in my chest just a little.

I recognized the route Ares was taking; this was the way to the little cabin in the woods. But that made no sense. It was empty. What was he going to do, sit me down on the floor for our talk? I wanted to ask, but I wasn't supposed to know that the house was empty and definitely didn't want to get into that now and distract from all the questions I was hoping Ares would answer.

Finally, he parked the car. I got out by myself this time instead of waiting for Ares to open my door. I saw him note this with a slight frown, but he didn't comment. He reached up for the hidden key and opened the door, then gestured for me to enter first. I stepped inside and froze, causing Ares to bump into me.

The house looked just as it had the first time I saw it. Fully furnished and perfectly put together. Pristine, but certainly not empty. I blinked my eyes a few times, but the image before me didn't shift. I walked forward and ran my hand over the back of the couch. It was solid and felt normal.

"Is something the matter?" Ares asked.

"It was empty before," I muttered, still looking around. Had I imagined coming here by myself and finding the place empty? I should have taken pictures. I had been really, really tired. Was it possible to imagine something like that?

No. I knew what I saw. I looked back to Ares and met his eyes. "I came back here once, and the house was empty."

His expression shifted from confusion to one of understanding. I was glad this made sense to one of us. "That would be because you didn't have a passkey."

"I had the key. I used the same one you did," I admitted.

Ares shook his head and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt so he could pull out an amulet that was hanging from a cord around his neck. "This is the passkey."

How was it possible his explanation was making this make less sense? "What?"

"Come with me," Ares said, leading me back to the front porch. He locked the door with the actual key, then handed it to me. "Unlock the door and step inside."

I took the key and did as he asked. When I went back into the cabin, it was bare. The couch - everything - was gone. I looked over my shoulder to where Ares was watching from the porch. I thought he looked nervous.

"Come back and put this on," he instructed, holding out his amulet. While I did, he locked the door with the key and handed the key back. "Go in once more."

I thought I could see where this was going, but did as I was asked. And, just as I expected, when I walked inside this time, the cabin was furnished and lived-in again. "Cool trick," I said, and felt the knot of anxiety I had been carrying since that night I came here alone ease away. I pressed my hand to my chest and laughed with relief.

Ares gently turned me toward him and wrapped one arm around my waist while the other rose to cup my cheek. "I am sorry, I would have warned you if I'd known you would come here."

I shook my head. "It was stupid."

"If you missed me half as much as I wished for your presence, then I understand why you came," Ares said, and I impulsively wrapped him in a tight hug that made my head spin. I felt him press a kiss to the top of my head and sighed happily.

Only, then reality crept back in. There were still a few questions that I really needed answers to: how had Ares gotten to me so quickly? Why did he look so nervous showing me how his amulet worked? It was a cool trick, and there was no reason seeing it would upset me. And, maybe most importantly, what was he? I didn't know of any species that could heal with a touch like Ares had. Whatever he was, it was uncommon.

My arms loosened and Ares sighed like he'd been expecting this. "We still need to talk," I said.

"I know."