(Hermes)

I smiled awkwardly at some of Jaycee males cousin who were giving me a 'I got my eyes on you' look as I grabbed two soda from an ice cooler. I turned around quickly and walked back over to Jaycee who was sitting on a lawn chair, her knees up to her chest. I pulled my chair closer to her and opened her can, “Here, you need sugar in your body.”

“I'm not thirsty.” she said as she scratched her arm. “God, I look like a heroin addicted don't I?”

“No, you're still to gorgeous to look like one.” I said, making a small smile appear on her face. She had dark bag under her eyes though, her nose was a little runny, and her eyes really wet. Hair looked dull still and skin was pale, but a little color was coming back. Her slightly hallow cheeks were slightly more plump again. “The darkness is just draining out of your body, of course your going to feel miserable until it's gone. The side affects is rough, the hard part was earlier in the day and that's over. ”

She ran her hands threw her hair and squeezed her eyes shut, “They won't leave me alone, Hermes. I can see many family members of mine here from different generations. Why haven't they gone away? Make them shut up!” she yelled as the palm of her hands covered her ears and it went quiet as everyone in her family went quiet and looked at her. Jaycee started crying as she covered her face as her arms crossed over her knees. I put the can of sodas down and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her in my chest.

I brought my other hand around to put it behind her head, cradling it as everyone finally looked away but even I could hear that's why they're not doing magic so they don't end up like Jaycee. I felt Jaycee tense in my arms, but she didn't yell at them. I leaned down towards her ear to whisper, “It's alright Jaycee, you're doing fine.”

I felt her nails on my stomach and she was scratching, “Hermes, please, I just need to do something! I can take that aching feeling anymore. I feel like every part of my body is having a spasm.” she said. “They're talking about me, like I’m a horrible person.”

“I'm sure they don't mean it like that.” I said. “You're paranoid right now, no one is talking about you.” Even though some were, I just wanted to make her feel better. They were talking about her, but I had to comfort her. They were only using her as example of why they told their kids not to do magic and they hope for her recovery to finish sooner so she wouldn't be in so much pain. “You're family loves you, Jaycee. We all love you. It's not like you wanted this, you had to help someone and it was forced on you. You didn't do anything wrong.”

“Let me do one little thing, that won't hurt.” she said.

“No, no magic.” I said. “Not even the most smallest magic trick, you can't.”

She pulled away from me and stood up, running her hand threw her dark long hair, “I-I need to some air.” she said as she turned and quickly walked away.

I got up and followed her since I know shouldn't leave her alone as she walked into the forest. I stood behind her a few feet and her hands were clenching and clenching as she spoke to herself, saying she can do this and it'll be over soon. As she walked, she put one arm out and scratching her fingers against a tree. I looked at it, seeing deep scratch marks of her three nails.

“Is it really that hot out here?” she asked.

“Yes.” I said, but I wanted to say no. If I disagreed, she wouldn't have gotten anger.

She turned to me and scoffed, “I need to do something, one thing.”

I shook my head, “No, Jaycee. It's dangerous. Think about it.” I said.

She pressed her hands against my chest and groaned, “Stop telling me what to do!”

I quickly wrapped my arms around her, pressing her against my chest, “Shh, relax. It's going to be alright.” I said as I petted her head.

“Let me shift!” she coldly said against my chest.

“Shifting is done with magic, you can't.” I said and she groaned loudly. “You lost yourself the other day, Jaycee. You'll do that again, do you want to hurt one of the little kid?”

She just groaned against and stop fighting.

(Jaycee)

I saw a ghost of a man stand near my mom as she laughed with my dad about something he said and the man reached out to touch her shoulder, but it just went threw her. He had dark hair and kind of look familiar. I know this man—I think I do. I couldn't think straightly right now, but I know him I'm pretty sure. He looked like the man in a picture I found in a box at my grandma Angie house.

“I can't eat.” I said to Hermes. I threw the red ball out of my hand, “And this stupid stress ball isn't working.”

“Well what well?” he asked.

“Breaking a tree with my bare hands.” I said sarcastically.

I felt a hand go on my shoulder and my grandpa came in view with a women in her late fifties maybe “Jaycee, I want to introduce you to someone.” he said as he lowered next to me.

I looked up at the women and she gave me a warm smile. She had brown hair short hair and those familiar brown eyes that everyone in my family seem to have.

“This is your third cousin, Emily Ralfe.” he said.

Emily held out her hand, “Nice to meet you, Jaycee.” she said but I was focused on the ghost behind her. It was a man and just like that, I saw his death. It wasn't a horrible one, but I couldn't feel the heart ache of a broken heart. He died of a broken heart because his mate died and it's been hard on him. He passed seven months later in his sleep. That's how many of the deaths in the family tend to happen if your the wolf in the relationship. That's why you cherish the moments you have now with that special person. You never waste time and say 'wish I could have done that', we take risk in our relationships.

“Your father behind you.” I said and her eyebrows furrowed together until she turned her head around.

She chuckled as she looked back at me, “I suppose he is, he was eager to come meet with you.”

My eyes widen, “You can see him to?”

“Eighth generationer.” she said, chuckling. “Mom was a fourth and dad was a seventh since he was a wolf. I bumped ahead since I'm a little more special.” She looked at Hermes and me, grinning, “Like you're children will be, you can tell your mom that Hermes. Should boost your family reputation.”

“God, you're a mind reader huh?” Hermes asked, amused and her grin widen.

“And my fourth cousin on my mom side is married to your second cousin Dominic.” she said. “Having this much knowledge can come in handy sometimes. What makes us wolves unique though also, we can travel from the spirit realm and back to earth, but as ghost. Most of the ghost here, they aren't trapped but they want to be here. Seems like my dad wants to tell you something.”

James walked in front of me and lowered himself to bend on his knees. He reached out and placed in his hand on my knee, 'You're not safe yet.' he said and my eyebrow furrowed together. 'She's coming, Elayna daughter is still coming for you, your mind protection won't hold. You need to get rid of her, she's doing the same thing her mother did to me. Don't end up like me.'

“What happened to you?” I asked.

'I became a monster. I separated myself from our family for a long, long time until I was better. I have killed people, Jaycee. Innocent people because I had no control of what or who I was anymore. Elayna mother used me, I was her pet. I thought she was helping me, but she wasn't.” he said. My eyes watered up because it upset me. We were both tricked, we were both their little wolf pets. Tears slid down my face, 'Hey, don't cry. You're more brave and smarter than me apparently. Hermes is sticking by your side, helping you like Eliana did for me. He isn't trying to control you, he's trying to protect you. Let him help you, alright?”

I nodded, “Alright.”

He grinned, 'And tell everyone there is a place you go to be with your mate again and there you still love each other. Nothing changes even in death, nothing parts us.”

I chuckled, “I will.”

He smiled and patted my knee, 'Have a good life, Jaycee. Don't waste it, cherish it. And tell your grandparents he did a good job, he got the big family he always wanted.” he said and my eyebrow furrowed together. “He was a rebellious brat in his youth, almost didn't accept that he had a mate because he wanted 'freedom'. And that his boys were better at playing football then he was.' he said, chuckling. He looked up at Emily and they smiled at each other before he disappeared.

Emily waved her arm and a group of people came over, “It's nice to meet family members. Until I was fifteen, both my parents avoid their families and well—it just stayed that way for awhile so when we meet family members it can be exciting. We brought extra food.” she said, chuckling.

The extra family introduced themselves to everyone and the cousins who already knew about magic most of their lives were showing tricks and helping us curious younger wolves with simple white magic that won't hurt them.

“I wish you could have seen me at a better time.” I said to Emily with an awkward smile. “I've...been having a rough two days.”

She smiled and nodded, “It's alright, I understand. You're doing it, which makes it two huge steps.” she said, chuckling. “So I'm curious, how did you two meet?”

“Elementary school.” Hermes said. “We had no idea about each other and I had to move away because when my parents found out I was going to school and friends with a Russo wolf, they freaked. Most of family lives in Vermont and thinking Jaycee's family moved away already, we came back since my father enjoyed his old job here and they were eager to have him back.”

“Well it must have been nice to see all your old friends.” she said and I snorted, making Hermes give me a look.

“He wasn't a very popular kid.” I said and Emily chuckled. “I had to beat some of the bullies in the playground for him.”

“Aww, how sweet.” she said and Hermes rolled his eyes.

I looked around and moved my stiff aching body, “Is there a way to get rid of these ghost? They won't go away as hard I try.”

“On it.” she said, placing her hand on my arm and spoke in Latin. As she spoke, all the ghost in my grandfather backyard vanished and I felt such relief. “When you two have kid, you won't have to worry about them using magic. Hermes full-blooded magic blend with yours well make a strong wolf together, able to do so much magic without worrying about the side effect.”

“I just can't believe Carmina used me like that.” I said. “I'm such an idiot.”

“Magic can be addicting, white or dark. You have the ability and it was new to you, you didn't think anything harm would come out of it. You wanted to know what you could do. You learned your lesson early, it's alright now.” she said.