POWERS OF NATURE Book 1 - Into the Storm

Epilogue

Stephanie stretched in the big white bed as the warm morning sun caressed her face, her muscles groaning in protest. No matter what she did, she couldn't sleep a solid night and when she did, she'd wake up feeling tense and stiff as if she hadn't slept at all.

With a sigh, she rolled out of bed until her feet hit the wooden floor of the spare room in the farm house. She'd moved in after graduation, much to the shock of her mother. The day she told her mom she was moving in with Matt flooded into her memory and she suppressed the tears. It hadn't been easy, her mom had refused and yelled at her, the first time she had ever yelled at her. But it had been necessary.

After Matt had taken Michael's body back to the city, to his family, Juliette had declared all out war, vowing to come after her and all she loved. Matt had tried to explain that there hadn't been any other choice, but Juliette had refused to listen. So here she was, three weeks later, cutting herself off from everyone besides Aiden and Matt. Well, with Aiden pretending she didn't exist half the time, she only had Matt. Stephanie knew she was being watched though, and only hoped that the fact she hadn't seen or spoken to her mom since she had moved out was enough to keep them away from Sue. She hadn't told Matt or Aiden about the strange people she'd seen following her around town, or the woman with blonde hair, and she'd keep it that way.

Standing from the bed, she walked over to the window, the ruined barn in her view and she sighed heavily. Her relationship with Matt was strained and tense. They'd had a fight over him going to the city, then they'd had a fight when he'd gotten back and told her about Juliette, and the last fight had been because she insisted on staying in the spare room and not in his room, with him.

It wasn't only because of how awkward it would be with Aiden, but because, deep down, Stephanie blamed him for the ruin her relationship with her mom was. She wouldn't admit it to him, but she knew he knew. Stephanie knew that Juliette would have come after her even if Matt hadn't returned Michael's body, but she also knew that if they had just buried him then Juliette would have spent time looking for her father before coming after her, giving Stephanie more time with her mom before leaving for college. Although she blamed him in a small way for the mess she was in with her mother, Stephanie missed Matt. A month was left before she had to go to college, a month for them to try get back what they had.

Hearing voices from downstairs, she pulled a shirt on over her sports bra and shorts and made her way down the stairs, pausing as she got to the kitchen door, risking a quick peek into the room. She hadn't planned on eavesdropping but after seeing both Aiden and Matt sitting together and having a normal conversation, it peaked her interest.

Aiden sat at the breakfast table, his leg propped up on the chair next to him and his shirt on the table. His scars had healed over the last few weeks, and he'd begun to feel more comfortable having them exposed, but Stephanie could tell by the ones that remained that he'd been through hell. A cast surrounded his knee, a result of it being shattered that night in the barn. Matt sat with his back to her, shaking his head at something Aiden had said, sending little drops of water from an early morning shower flying.

"Have you heard from Juliette?" Aiden was asking, and Stephanie focused on their conversation.

"No. And before you ask, neither has Mother." Matt replied.

"Do you think she would come here?" There was a brief silence, and then a bang on the table. Stephanie jumped in surprise.

"Dammit, Matt. I told you this would happen. We both knew how serious Juliette took Michael's work, and now she's disappeared with an entire network of Hunters at her disposal." Aiden said angrily. "They all know it was a Kairós that killed him, they probably assume she was out of control. The only thing keeping them at bay is the fact that she's still alive."

"I know that, Aiden. But we have had three weeks of peace, and I'd like to keep it that way. Atleast for Stephanie's sake." Matt replied.

Aiden scoffed. "We all know that's not the real reason, but whatever helps you sleep at night, brother. Just remember that peace won't keep her talent still. I saw it at work and that Stephanie scared the hell out of me." A longer pause filled the air, and just as Stephanie meant to walk into the kitchen and make her presence known, Matt spoke up again, his question startling her.

"Why'd you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Aiden, you told Dad that you were with Stephanie to protect me. You were willing to give your life for her that night and, from what I was told, you were ready to die so Stephanie wouldn't be controlled by her talent, then you somehow helped her get her control back yet you walked away. You let her come to me, without fighting for her. Why?" Matt didn't sound angry, he sounded merely curious.

Stephanie's face burned as she remembered the help Aiden had given her. It was yet another reason why she couldn't bring herself to share a room with Matt, the guilt was eating her.

"I don't know." Aiden replied, his voice so soft and low, Stephanie didn't know if he was answering Matt or talking to himself. Before Matt could respond, Stephanie decided she'd heard enough and entered the kitchen.

"Morning, boys." She smiled at them, Aiden returning the smile with a suspicious look, almost as if he knew she had been eavesdropping. Matt whipped around in his chair, startled, missing Aiden's look.

"Hey, Steph. Didn't know you were up." He said, jumping from his chair to pour her coffee. She smiled in thanks, trying to relax as he pressed a kiss on top of her head. She raised an eyebrow at Aiden's continued glare, daring him to say something about his suspicion but he rolled his eyes in response and looked away.

"So, what's news? You two wouldn't be sitting all civil like together in the kitchen if there wasn't. Is it Juliette?" Stephanie asked, as she leant against the counter.

"No. She seems to have disappeared."

"And I've been trying to tell my adorable brother over here that we need to find her, before she finds you." Aiden interrupted Matt, who scowled at him. Stephanie shook her head at them in mock disappointment. She had a feeling Juliette had already found her but she wasn't going to tell them that until she felt that they needed to know.

"No, Aiden, I agree with Matt. We leave her, until she comes to us." Stephanie said, locking hands with Matt.

"Oh, wonderful." Aiden said sarcastically. "Since when did you lose your sense of self preservation?"

"Aiden, I have college, and a life. I'm not spending it chasing after people who want me dead." Stephanie said as Aiden pulled himself up from the table and grabbed his crutches. He paused as he reached the door.

"You're both idiots."

They watched as he left, and Stephanie knew then that this was how it would always be. She'd always have to choose between them, knowing that whatever choice she made would hurt one of them.

Turning to face Matt, she smiled, ready to fix their relationship and have a chance of the peace he had been talking about. "So, Mr Leuco, what shall we do today?"

Matt grinned in return and pulled her to him. "Well, Miss Bruin, I do believe we have a barn to rebuild that is way overdue."

Stephanie giggled at his attempt of a serious and disapproving face, and hugged him to her, tighter. Together, they were safe. And even though things were way past complicated, Stephanie felt she was taking a step in the right direction as she and Matt began discussing their plans for the new barn.

Something shifted in her as she made the decision to accept her life as it was, with all its complications and fears. Her talent lay peaceful inside her, and she knew that when Juliette did show up, she'd be ready for her.

A/N: So, that's the end of book 1. Sorry it took me so long to write this last piece, but it didnt feel right. Still not 100% happy, but once i go through all of it and edit it, i'll do the same with this one. 

Really hope you all like it, and thank you to everyone who has read the whole book. The second book is longer, with more detail so i hope you all stick around!

later :) xx