Page 21 of Nyctophilia

It wasn’t quite midnight, meaning my parents would still be awake in Florida.If that’s even where they actually were.

* * *

Sighing heavily, I called the number of the one person I really didn’t want to talk to. But I would get my answers, one way or another. It rang once before she picked up. “Ava? Everything okay?”

No. Everything isn’t okay.I felt my resolve cracking.

“Ava?”

I had a flashback to Jasper, grasping my body. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? With me?” But I wasn’t with Jasper now, and his hands weren’t teasing me. I was on the phone with my mom. “Mom. How could you not tell me?” My voice cracked midway through, but I refused to cry. Not now.

“Tell you what?”

“Are you eveninFlorida?”

“Of course we’re in Florida!” She already sounded defensive.

“Mom. Jasper Knight is in town. He told me about the Venators. And now you need to tell me the truth.”

A sharp intake of breath, then a disappointed sigh. “When I told the Goddamn pack to send someone to watch you, I meant anyone other than Jasper Knight. How did he manage to tell you about us? I thought the Alpha had forbidden it.”

“I worked it out for myself. I’m not stupid.” And what vendetta did her parents have against Jasper? “What do you mean you sent someone from the pack to watch me?”

“Just because you didn’t know about this world doesn’t mean you don’t need protection from it. We asked the pack to send someone to keep an eye on you while we were gone…” Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words hanging.Because you couldn’t do it yourself. “I guess I always knew you’d find out about the Venators eventually. But what the hell are you doing hanging out with Knight? He’s no good for you, Ava.”

I couldn’t believe her. I had always looked up to my parents. They had always seemed so powerful. But they had not only hidden the truth of my heritage from me, but now that I knew, she was showing no remorse. And her dislike of Jasper was far from subtle. Her defence was ridiculous. “Jasper has been good to me, Mom, and he’s been as truthful as he can be. Which is more than I can say for you.” My body felt like a spring tightly coiled, unspoken anger bubbling up in my throat.

“Ava, we were truly trying to protect you. This is a dangerous life, and you’ve struggled enough with the non-supernatural side of things.”

Now I was angry and offended. A dangerous combination. “You never even gave me the option. Now I’ve been thrown into this crazy world -- something’s hunting werewolves in town -- and I’ve had zero preparation. How do you expect me to pick up our supposedfamilybusiness if you never even told me about us?”

Mom scoffed, clearly annoyed. “You aren’t going to take over for us. Your father and I discussed that a long time ago, and it was decided you weren’t cut out to take on this role. And nothing is going to hurt you. We still taught you important life skills. Your father tried to make sure you were as prepared as possible for a non-member.”

My anger was no longer veiled, and I was close to screaming into the phone. “How dare you? How dare you decide what I’m capable of or not capable of? You and Dadliedto me. You lied to me my entire life. No. Not telling me is worse than a lie. Youdecidedfor me. You decided I was weak without even knowing what I could do. There’s a whole other world out there that Jasper had to tell me about because my own parents wouldn’t.”

Her voice cut over the phone, sharp and to the point. “We chose because we are your parents, and sometimes that involves making difficult decisions. And I’m sure Jasper didn’t tell you everything. He has secrets of his own. Did he tell you what Venators could truly do? What you will never do?”

I couldn’t figure out why she was so cold towards Jasper. In the photo I had seen, they looked like they were friends. She obviously doubted how much I knew. “He told me everything.”

“Knight needs to learn how to keep quiet. Did he happen to tell you about werewolf mates then, Ava?”

Werewolf mates?Mom’s voice insinuated I should know something I didn’t. But I wasn’t about to tell her that. “I know everything, Mom.”

She sighed. “Ava, look. It’s been a long day for both of us. Your father and I truly have your best interests at heart and I’m sure you’ll see that in the morning, after a good night’s sleep. But Ava?”

I was still riled up, but I was done talking and wanted to get her off the phone. “What now?”

“Stay away from Knight. I mean it when I say he’s no good for you.”

I hung up on her before she could say goodbye and lay on my bed, staring at my phone like it could answer all of life’s questions. How could they think I wasn’t cut out to be a Venator? How could Mom not trust Jasper?

I was sure I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I lay in that same position for a few minutes, trying to decide what to do with my pent-up anger. My phone vibrated again, and I eyed it cautiously, anticipating another guilt fuelled conversation with my mother. Instead, Jasper’s name popped up on the screen for the second time that night. Had it really been only a few hours since I watched him transform? It felt like years.

“Hello?” I answered cautiously. The argument with my mother had left me feeling worn out and wrung dry.

Jasper’s raspy voice was instantly soothing as it washed over me. “Hey. It’s me. I know you seemed like you wanted space, but I needed to make sure you were actually okay. If you don’t want to talk that’s all right. I thought I’d check in.”

All the tears I had held back on the phone with my mom came flooding out. Great. Here I was bawling on the phone with him less than three hours after we had sex for the first time.

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