Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (74 page)

“I will.”

“Just because we’ve grown as parents these past twenty-four hours doesn’t mean we’ll never worry again.” Mom hugged me, this time even harder. “We love you more than anything. You know that, right?”

I nodded, my throat tightening.

“Time to go.” My dad wrapped his hand around Mom’s and walked away, glancing back at me periodically, until I couldn’t see them anymore.

I drove their car home and directly into the garage. The house was quiet and dark. Lonely. I decided stuffing my face with sweets might take my mind off the emptiness of the house, so I headed to the fridge where my mom always kept goodies. Prepared meals in plastic containers lined the shelves. She’d been busy.

Starting off with a fizzy juice, I twisted off the cap, mindful how much pressure I put on the bottle. I took a sip, enjoying the bubbles forming on my tongue.

Why had I gotten rid of my parents?

Oh, man, I need to stay focused and push away second thoughts. A mere few days wouldn’t be adequate to explore my potential. And since it wasn’t even nine yet, I could get started on that straight away.

I sprinted out the back door, dying to learn what else I could do. Turning around and backing up, I studied the roof, wondering how high I could leap. If I missed and fell, any injuries would heal quickly. But what if I miscalculated and couldn’t jump high at all? I’d end up destroying the gutters or taking out a section of the roof. How would I explain that to my parents?

Jasmine and rose bushes lined the fence around our home. In the middle of the yard stood a giant oak tree. With little light from a sliver of moon, the yard was nearly black. Nobody would see me if I did something impossible.

I scanned the area to make sure no one was around and sprung straight up as high as I could. I soared and, oh my God, my head was level with the top of the tree! Gravity took over and I groped for a limb, but missed. As I began to descend, I remembered how much it had hurt when the glass had sliced through my hand. Regardless of my ability to heal, I bled and felt pain just like everyone else.

Oh, crap.

I crashed into the ground and bit my bottom lip to muffle my scream. It was as if a bomb had exploded in my back. My eyes clouded over in a sea of agony. And then a moment later, I couldn’t feel anything at all. Panic tore through me as lay there, my legs bent in an unnatural position.

CHAPTER NINE

What had I been thinking?

Even as I prayed that I wouldn’t live the rest of my life in a wheelchair, my spine snapped into place. Gradually, the feeling came back into my limbs and I slowly got back on my feet. Moments later, I couldn’t wait to run.

How freaking cool.

My parents always lived in rural areas. So long as I’d had my own room, I never cared… until now. In the foothills of Los Angeles County, there were a variety of neighborhoods — from exclusive gated communities to ramshackle little houses. We lived on a quiet cul-de-sac with newer homes and manicured lawns. At the end of the street, a chain link fence formed a barrier between the houses and a field. A little farther, walnut trees beckoned, dwarfed next to giant pine trees stretching as far as the eye could see. Beyond that, a meadow.

I headed out.

Under the cover of dense forest, I inhaled the scent of earth and pine. With my improved vision, I could see the individual leaves at the top of the trees and the tiny yellow eyes of an animal staring at me from a lower branch.

I sprinted, weaving around the raised roots, wayward branches and occasional rock. My legs wanted to carry me faster, but I didn’t feel confident yet with the uneven terrain, so I held back. Taking a moment to inhale the smell of the woods, I sensed… a deer?

Scanning the woods, I cautiously moved toward a clearing that was several times the size of our back yard. A deer stood at the far side where the woods began again. He would surely bolt as soon as he saw me, but could I outrun him? I focused on a point on the other side and ran as fast as my legs could go. In an instant, I was there and touching the deer’s flank before he scampered off.

My mind reeled from the sheer speed. I wasn’t even winded.

Directly in front of me lay a fallen tree. The trunk was probably wider than Zack’s delicious shoulders and likely extremely heavy. Bending down, I clamped both hands around a branch and heaved. The tree rose above the ground, but banged into my shins and I dropped it. But I’d lifted it, which meant I could probably bench-press a bear.

I stifled hysterical laughter.

This was just crazy. People didn’t suddenly get superpowers. Well, apparently I did, but why? What changed? As I replayed the last few days in my head, I scaled the tallest tree at the edge of the clearing, careful to avoid the sap. Every day for the last week, extreme stress had hit me in one way or another. Perhaps the heightened emotions brought on the physical changes.

No, that couldn’t be it. Everyone had stress. Compared to other people’s problems, mine were minor. I hadn’t been exposed to DNA-altering chemicals and I hadn’t been experimented on by some mad scientist. So what was happening to me?

At the very top of the tree, I distributed my weight between two branches, but the tree still swayed beneath me. I gazed at the lights of the city, cars driving in the streets, logs burning in a fireplace through a window of a house.

The world had never been this breathtaking.

Holding very still, I listened. Somewhere behind me a twig snapped and a cricket chirped. Beyond the trees a horn honked and about a half-mile away, a jogger pattered softly along the road.

After inhaling the forest air one more time, I descended. When I landed on solid ground, leaves crunching beneath my feet, I stiffened and sniffed the air. It wasn’t a dog… but similar. Coyote?

A moment later, a large black wolf entered the clearing. I could smell him.
Male.
Somehow I knew that scent was definitely male.

He skirted the edges, but stayed close to the trees, his dark green eyes watching me. A coyote probably wouldn’t have fazed me, not with what I could do. But this thing — he was enormous. If he caught me, would I be able to fight him off? Either way, I didn’t want to get hurt if I could avoid it.

My body tensed for flight mode, but the wolf stopped several yards away and sat on his haunches, his tongue lolling. Keeping me in his line of vision, the beast yawned and lowered until his belly touched the ground. He didn’t
look
threatening. He was still a wild animal though and it would be foolish to let my guard down. Which took the thrill out of being in the woods. Time to go.

I backed away and wove through the thick trees until I hit the open field leading to the houses. While listening for signs of activity, I glanced back occasionally, but didn’t see him following.

Wolves in California weren’t much of a stretch. But so close to humans? And why was he so damn big?

† † †

Driving into the school parking lot Thursday morning, I tightened my grip on the steering wheel when I saw Daniel sitting in front of the school building where he used to wait for me on the low wall. He spotted my car and jumped off, his eyes following me. Crap. What did he want now? Anxious to get it over with, I looped my backpack strap around my hand and climbed out of my car.

He gave me a charming smile, the same one he used whenever he wanted something. “I thought we could talk,” he said as I approached.

“I remember when
I
wanted to talk. Instead, we parked and you tried to molest me.”

He pretended to clutch at his heart. “Ouch.”

“I need to get to class. Say what you have to say.” I tapped my foot.

Daniel sighed, his face pained. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I screwed up bad, but… I love you, Autumn. I can’t lose you.”

He sounded like he meant it, but none of that mattered, because I didn’t feel that way about him anymore. “Daniel, I can forgive you, but we’re
not
getting back together.”

The lines on his face hardened, his eyes darkening. “It’s Zack, isn’t it? You’re with
him
now.”

“No. It’s
you
. I have zero interest in a relationship with you.” Where the hell did Daniel get the idea it had to do with another guy? “I’ve barely spoken to Zack and I don’t even like him.”

“You two are always staring at each other.”

“Only out of mutual loathing. Trust me.” I gave him a quick laugh. “He hates me.”

“Don’t mess with me.” His hand shot out to capture my wrist. “You’re playing us against each other.”

“You’re twisted.” He needed to cool off before I accidentally hurt him. “Let me go.”

His other hand circled my waist and pulled me against him. “Okay, fine. You win. You cheated on me with him and now we’re even.”

I stared at Daniel in disbelief, my palms against his chest, ready to shove him into the next century. “I never cheated on you. Now let go.” I sensed Zack before he spoke.

“Is there a problem?” Wisps of hair fell around Zack’s face, making him look like something out of a magazine. Perfection. My stomach fluttered.

“Stay out of this.” Daniel held me tighter.

“Let’s ask Autumn what she wants.” Zack shifted to me. “Are you enjoying this interaction with Daniel?”

I saw Maya among the forming crowd. Daniel was about to be humiliated beyond belief, but I was done protecting him. I met his eyes and made sure Zack heard me. “No, not at all.”

Daniel scoffed. “Okay, you want to play games. Fine.” He released me and sauntered off.

“Thank you,” I said to Zack.

“Your taste in guys is lacking.” He turned to leave.

Since I was wildly attracted to Zack, I’d say his comment was quite accurate.

“What was that about?” Maya asked as he stomped off.

I nodded toward the double doors and we moved in unison. “Daniel expects me to get back together with him.”

“Ew.” She grimaced, slowing her pace. “You don’t want to, do you?”

“No way. But apparently, that doesn’t matter to him.” I rubbed my wrists where he’d grabbed me. My ex had gone from a jerk to downright creepy.

† † †

At lunch, I found Maya with Trevor and Zack. I tensed. It was either sit with Zack or leave myself open to Daniel. Not that I was afraid of him. Thanks to my new strength, I was afraid
for
him and I didn’t want to end up in a position where I had to explain to the paramedics — and possibly the police — how Daniel got hurt. Better to avoid him altogether.

Gina sat with Natalie and some of the same girls she’d scorned all year. That was their problem though. Unlike Daniel, Gina seemed to understand what she’d done was a deal breaker. That or she never cared about me at all. Either way, she was out of my life.

I ate in silence while Maya appeared to be lost in another world chatting with Trevor. Zack stayed at the opposite end of the table, which was easier, because at that distance we weren’t obligated to talk.

“I’m hitting the ladies room,” I whispered to her when I’d finished eating. “I’ll see you after school.”

Maya smiled, then returned to Trevor. She gave me more attention before they’d started talking. But she was so happy, how could I be jealous? I made my way down the nearly deserted corridor. Hearing footfalls, I spun around.

I sighed. “What do you want
now
?”

“I’m sorry, okay? It’s just… you drive me crazy.” Daniel stopped in front of me, but he didn’t try to touch me. “Autumn, please. Give me a second chance. You owe me that much.”

He seemed imbalanced and I didn’t want to push him over the edge, but I couldn’t let him think it would ever happen between us. “I owe you? What the hell for?”

“Autumn, I still love you.” He stepped forward.

I backed up and my shoulders hit the lockers. He pressed his palms low and flat on either side of me, so it would be harder to duck under and get away.

Gazing into his eyes, I saw the pattern. His future. He was the guy who’d treat his girl like garbage, then beg for forgiveness and repeat the cycle all over again. But I wasn’t that girl, the type who’d put up with it.

Even though he was kind of freaking me out, I kept my voice steady. “But I don’t feel that way about you anymore.”

He raised an arm to stroke a finger along my cheek. “Aw, don’t be like that. I don’t think I can live without you.”

I gagged as the warmth of his breath hit me in the face. “You’ll have to.”

“C’mon, baby, one more chance.” He aimed for my lips, but I turned my head to avoid him.

“Get the hell away from me.” My hands curled into fists.

“You know you want me back. Why fight it?” Daniel dove for my neck.

I thrust a shoulder up to deflect his mouth. “I mean it. Get off me!”

Zack appeared out of nowhere. “Let her go, Daniel.”

“This is none of your business, New Boy. Keep walking.” Daniel’s gaze stayed on me as if willing me to go along with it.

“I don’t think so.” Zack took a step forward.