Page 47 of Alpha Brock
I blow out a breath. The odds are pretty low that this’ll actually work, but I’ll humor her. No harm, no foul, right?
“Okay…” I lean closer, taking her hand and covering it with both of mine. I close my eyes, trying to focus my mind. I’ve tried to do this before with my intuitive abilities, and sometimes it works- I focus in on the other person and try to reach into their mind, plucking out bits of information like I’m picking wildflowers from their subconscious.
I do that with Brooke. I close my eyes and focus in on her, on what I know about her and what makes her tick. I try to reach in, to see if I can grasp onto something. I squeeze her hand with my own, focusing on that connection. I’m two seconds from giving up when I suddenly feel the whoosh of a vision hitting me.
It’s brief- I’m in the forest, high above the trees. Looking down at a pair of black chuck taylor sneakers, feet swishing in the air. I feel an overwhelming sense of warmth and happiness as I take in the view around me from my position on…is it a ski lift?
Just like that, the vision’s gone. I blink a few times as I come back to the present, pulling my hands back and staring at Brooke.
She’s studying me, tilting her head. “Did you get something? Your eyes changed…”
I nod quickly. “I did, but it was really quick. I’m not even sure what it means…” I look down at her feet, pointing. “I saw your shoes…” I look back to her face and squint. “I think you were riding on a ski lift?”
Brooke’s jaw practically hits the floor.
“Does that mean something to you?” I ask excitedly. “The emotions associated with it were content, happy…”
She slowly nods her head, the shock still evident on her features. “Theo took me to the ski resort for our first date, and again when we marked to seal the bond. We rode the lift both times.”
“Oh my gosh!” I squeal, reaching out to grab her hands, squeezing them with my own. I’m ready to do a damn victory dance to celebrate. “Were you thinking of that day or something?”
Brooke shakes her head, puzzled. “No, I wasn’t thinking of anything. But those were two of the best days of my life.”
Quinn grabs onto my arm. “Do me next!”
I laugh, feeling lighter than air right now. I can’t believe that I just had a vision on purpose! That means with some practice, maybe I can actually hone this ability and put it to use. And if I could… the possibilities are endless.
“Okay, okay,” I giggle, grabbing for Quinn’s hand and taking it in between my own like I did with Brooke’s. I repeat the same process- closing my eyes, focusing in on her. After a minute or so I feel like there’s something trying to come forward, but it’s being blocked somehow. It’s confusing and I’m not sure what to make of it, but I keep pushing, trying to get in. Reaching for it.
Then it hits me. I’m pulled into a vision, and the sadness that surrounds me is overwhelming- I feel hopeless, drowned by sorrow, like I can’t breathe. I’m in a large room; the great room of the Summervale packhouse. There’s a coffin with a woman lying inside, and a much younger looking Alpha Anders stands beside it as people file through to pay their respects. A young boy stands next to him, and though he’s probably ten years younger in the vision than he is now, I can tell it’s Theo. He’s stone faced, showing no signs of emotion as he wrings his hands in front of him. A little girl is beside him, her hazel eyes shiny with tears. Quinn.
I feel like my heart is cracking open as I watch them, and I’m grateful as the vision starts to dissolve away and I’m back in the hub, Quinn’s curious face staring back at me.
I quickly dart my gaze away, pulling my hands back to my lap.
“What did you see?” she asks, studying my expression.
I swallow hard, not wanting to even say it. Not knowing how to say it. “I… you were young,” I start, my voice cracking. “It was a funeral.”
Quinn’s smile fades from her face and her eyes flutter to the floor. “My mom’s funeral.”
I nod.
A brief silence settles over the three of us.
“Well, that’s not fair,” Quinn sighs, breaking it. The corner of her mouth turns up into a little smirk and she throws a thumb in Brooke’s direction. “She gets the best day of her life and I get the worst? What gives?”
We all chuckle softly, and I’ve gotta say, it’s amazing that Quinn can make light of such heavy emotions like she does. I was just there; I know the emotions associated with that memory are crushing. The fact that Quinn has survived that and pushed on to become the person that she is today is a testament to her strength of character.
“What trouble are you ladies getting up to back here?” Theo teases, shrugging off his leather jacket as he approaches our little trio gathered at Quinn’s desk.
“Astrid’s a seer now,” Brooke announces, swiveling her chair toward him and smiling brightly at her mate.
He cocks up a brow. “Oh yeah?”
“Try Theo!” Quinn urges, nudging my leg.
I glance his way, watching as he bends down to give Brooke a tender kiss in greeting. It’s amazing how sweet Theo is with Brooke given that he tends to be kind of a dick to most everyone else. Pretty sure he’d burn down the world for her if it came to it.