Unknown Touch: Werewolf Series, 1

Chapter 16 Practice

The next morning arrived too soon. December 6. My birthday. I was officially 21. Kind of hard to be excited with everything else going on.

But I clambered out of bed to embrace the day. Dominic almost gave me a heart attack when he popped into my room. I was trying to stretch the kinks out of my back and almost pulled a muscle with his shocking arrival. He smiled from ear to ear. Oh, Lord, what would I have to endure from him on my birthday?

"Happy birthday, Kara!" He practically shouted. If anyone in the cabin was still asleep, they weren't anymore. "What are we going to do on your birthday?"

"Well, as far as I'm concerned, we'll be working on our fancy psychic skills. But, thanks for acknowledging my birthday, Dom."

He waltzed over to where I leaned against the bed, reached out and hugged the life out of me. He also planted a quick kiss on my cheek at the same time. I felt a little awkward since I just woke up and my hair looked like I'd stuck my finger in a light socket. Not very pretty.

He merrily commented, "Yep, you're right. We'll be practicing today. But, at some point in the afternoon, I'd like to slip away and borrow Abigail's kitchen to whip up something special for your big day. Let's get real - you only turn 21 once in your lifetime."

"Yeah, I bet you'd love to get into that kitchen. Having someone else make all your meals for you lately is probably strange. I know how much you enjoy all that baking and cooking stuff," I said, giving him a look indicating I did not like cooking.

Within an hour, Daniel, Abigail, and The Liaison members assembled in the dining room for a light breakfast. Everyone gave me a hug and wished me a happy birthday. I mentioned how I should probably call my parents today. It had been quite a few days since I'd last spoken to them. With it being my birthday, they'd expect to hear from me. And I'd have to deal with their frustration that I hadn't returned home yet. I knew they had bought presents for me and they wouldn't have a clue what to do with them. I hadn't given them an address, so they didn't even have an option to mail anything to me. The gifts would sit on a table, and remain unopened, with no celebration.

Eli agreed I should call my parents. Perhaps give them a hint that I was closer to making a decision with where I'm going with my life. I needed to keep them subdued a little while longer. And I'd give them another dose of mental manipulation to continue this ruse, this cover-up of what I really had gotten involved in. In reality, I really did need to figure out what I planned to do with my future.

Before Zac and Tessa left for their undercover surveillance of the other werewolf pack, I borrowed their high-powered, untraceable cell phone. I knew this would be a good time to call my parents, since they'd both be home. What an emotional conversation it proved to be, filled with lots of tears on both sides. But I plowed forward and pushed pleasant, comforting thoughts into their minds. I explained how I felt fine and no harm had come to me while I'd been gone. I just needed this time for myself to reach out into the world and see what I could discover. I begged them to bear with me for a few more weeks. I told them to hold onto those presents they bought me because I'd be home soon enough to enjoy a belated birthday party with them. I mentally projected emotions and feelings into their minds of them having trust in me and my decisions. To have confidence that I knew what the hell I was doing and hadn't lost my sanity.

After I finished the call, Zac and Tessa prepared to leave. I asked them to wait a few more minutes.

I explained, "I have an idea for an experiment. And Zac, Tessa, you could try this while you're out today. Think about this... Dom and I are psychics. The werewolves have a slight psychic ability. Zac, Tessa and Eli are not psychic at all. I can enter their minds and read their thoughts. I can also have a conversation with them in their own minds as they think the words they want to say to me. And we know I can suggestively implant ideas, actions and behaviors. But on the three of them, I have to initiate the contact with their minds. Dom and Daniel to a certain extent can initiate contact with me first because of the shared telepathy. I want Eli, Zac and Tessa to experiment with trying to call for my help. I should be able to take over creating the mental connection if I 'hear' you call to me. Does this make sense?"