章 31: Birds and bees and abilities

Author's note: This is from Seraphina's point of view

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I looked at the teens in front of me, and I wondered if they feel different after the oath.

Sergio said that they might experience some benefits, blessings of some sort, and I was curious to find out if that was just him talking, or if that's actually possible.

I mean, I felt the energy surge last night, so something definitely happened, but enhancing abilities or getting new ones sounded like a stretch. On the other hand, a gush of emotions made me unlock my abilities more than once, so… anything is possible.

Luca and Ash finished their game and Zoe kept the tablet down, all three giving us their full attention.

"Well? How do you guys feel?", I asked teens. "Any changes? Do you feel faster, stronger, or something like that?"

All three of them shrugged and shook their heads, and my enthusiasm dwindled. It seems that it was just Sergio's empty talk as he wanted to sound mystical, but unfortunately, he spoke in front of the kids, and now they are disappointed. I wanted to comfort them.

"As long as there are no negative effects, it's OK. It might take days or months for you to feel something, so keep your eyes open, but don't lose hope. You could have a gradual power boost that you don't notice happening."

I tried to encourage them, even though I knew I was failing miserably.

The three kids in front of me wanted immediate results, and things like later and gradually didn't sit well with them.

Luca shifted and looked at me and Duke apprehensively. "I have a request."

"Go on.", I urged him, seeing that he stopped talking.

All eyes were on Luca, and Ash said, "You want to come to London."

Luca looked at Ash with a confused frown. "Yes."

Ash's face lit up. "You want to go with me to work."

Luca gaped at Ash, and Ash continued, "You are confused how I know that you want to stay with me until…"

Ash stopped talking when Luca stood up abruptly.

"How do you know what I wanted to say?", Luca asked Ash and Ash shrugged.

A moment later, Ash's eyes lit up with excitement, "Maybe I can see the future."

My heart rate increased at the thought that Ash got an awesome ability. Maybe Sergio's talk was not just empty boasting.

Can Ash really see the future? That would be useful.

"Wait, you didn't tell him that?", I got involved in the conversation in an attempt to figure out what's going on.

Luca shook his head and repeated his question to Ash. "How did you know?"

Ash shrugged again. "I don't know. I just… I knew what you were going to say."

"What about now?", I asked and gestured toward Luca.

Ash frowned and looked at Luca for a second before responding, "Nothing."

"Did you get those vibes from anyone else?", Duke asked.

"No.", Ash responded. "Only from Luca. It was like I could hear his voice in my head before he said it."

"You were sitting really close.", I remembered. "Maybe physical contact is necessary for you to get a reading."

Ash extended his hand toward Luca, and Luca moved further away, obviously refusing to participate.

I rolled my eyes and moved on the sofa next to Ash.

"Here." I extended my hand toward Ash. "Hold my hand and tell me if you can sense anything."

Ash held my hand and furrowed his brows. After a few long seconds, he shook his head and let go of my hand.

"Maybe he needs practice.", I heard Duke say. "It doesn't need to be seeing the future. He could be reading thoughts."

Sergio said that after the oath, kids can get a power boost in strength, speed, or sharpness of senses because he was thinking about Alpha's abilities that are beyond regular werewolves. But if the power is from me, this could be related to how I can access my memories, or Duke's when he was in a coma.

I thought that it doesn't need to be the full ability to access memories, it can be the power of hearing what's on the surface, happening right now. Just like what Duke said, reading thoughts.

But some things didn't add up. If Ash can read thoughts, why didn't he get anything from me?

"Reading thoughts would make sense if he could read my…", my voice trailed as I remembered hooded creatures who were trying to influence my mind, but then they said I have some protection. What if Ash can really read minds, but my protection is blocking him?

I knew that Luca was not willing, so I stood up and glanced from Zoe to Duke. "I am an odd case, so someone else should be the guinea pig and let Ash attempt to read his mind. Any volunteers?"

To my surprise, Zoe's frown matched Luca's. Ah, it seems that teenagers have a lot of secrets. In time, as they face challenges as grownups, they will realize that all these things weighing on their mind now are irrelevant.

Duke let out a long exhale and sat next to Ash.

"Think of something Ash doesn't know.", I told Duke when Ash put his hand on Duke's shoulder.

Every second seemed like an hour as we all stared at Ash and Duke.

"You are hungry", Ash said to Duke.

Well, that's not a secret.

"He is always hungry.", I mumbled, and Duke threw me a sly smile.

My face fell when I saw Ash staring at the floor and blushing. Even his ears were red!

"Stop it!", I hissed at Duke.

If Ash can really read minds, Duke was having naughty thoughts, and based on Duke's heated gaze, I didn't need to read his mind to know what he wanted.

Duke shrugged and looked at me innocently. "What can I do, love? I am always hungry, and I am always…"

"That's enough!", I interrupted him. "Think of something that won't corrupt teenager's mind or this experiment is over."

Duke chuckled. "Ash is not a child. He knows all about birds and bees."

I frowned and waved at Duke, indicating for him to stop talking. It's one thing to have it as an educational talk, but this was different.

"Mateo", Ash said and looked at Duke, awaiting confirmation. "Your name is Mateo."

I couldn't believe this! It's true! But before rejoicing, I asked Duke, "You didn't tell him that before?"

Duke slapped Ash's hand away and turned to me. "Other than you, Sergio, and your father, no one else knew."

"What does this mean?", Ash asked with sparkles in his eyes.

"It means that you can read thoughts of people you touch.", I responded.

"How is that possible?", Zoe asked.

Duke looked at me, and I realized that it's time to have an open talk.

"How about we move to the study? It's soundproof."

I was unable to create a big enough sound barrier to enclose all five of us, so this was a good location.

The staff knows about creatures and abilities, but I didn't want to risk them overhearing things that should be private.

My father told me that one's abilities should be kept a secret because they can mean the difference between life and death, and I knew that he was not exaggerating.

Talking with kids about their abilities seemed normal, but now that I needed to disclose mine, I was nervous. I told myself to take it easy, one step at a time, and not to disclose more than necessary. Yes, that should work.

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