Stepping into the house stifles the memories. No sign of Nadja is left; no pictures of her smiling face, no momentum to show she had grown up within these walls, not even a hint of her wild essence. It's as if Michelle was determined to erase her twin sister altogether.

I turn around. "Where are your children?"

"Upstairs."

"Call them and send them outside. They don't need to witness this."

I plop onto the couch in the living room and drum my fingers on the armrest. What value will this visit bring? Rikka is leaning against the wall, awaiting my instructions. I'm not going to play around. If Michelle isn't forthcoming, I'll pull the information out of her head.

Stumbling footsteps draws my attention to the stairs. Four children stand in the hallway, three boys and a girl. The oldest, a male of maybe sixteen, sends a whiff of testosterone my way. He growls in warning, flashing his teeth. He must think of himself as tough. Silly.

"Brandon, stop it." Michelle sends her son a warning look. "These people are my guests. Now take your brothers and sister outside for a run in the woods."

The boy glowers at her. "I sense danger from them. They can't stay."

Now I get it. He's the oldest Alpha-born of the pack and is actually delusional enough to think he's in charge.

I stand up. "Young fool, do yourself a favor and don't test me. You don't want your mother to grieve over your dead body."

He snaps his fangs at me. The stench of wild emitting from his breath suggests he's about to shift.

Michelle steps between us. "That's enough. Until you prevail in Trials, I'm in charge, and you will do what you are being told. I'm not only your mother but your Luna. Now go."

Another growl resonates in the boy's chest, but then he spins around and storms out. The crooked screen door with the torn mosquito net slams behind him. That child is full of aggression and it would be wise to focus his abundance of energy on a worthwhile task, such as fixing up this house.

Michelle pinches the bridge of her nose. "Please, Chloe, just take your brothers and go."

The girl, appearing to be the youngest of the siblings, ushers the two remaining boys out the door.

Michelle's gaze flicks to me. "You have to excuse my son. Ever since my mate was killed, his emotions have been all over the place. It's been tough, not only for him but for all of us."

"I can imagine."

"And it's not easy to live under tribune of another pack. They only allow us to keep the minimum. We are enslaved on our own territory."

Someone should hand her a tissue for this sappy story. It's not that her pack is the first one that has ever been oppressed. History is full of examples of conquests and defeat. Folks who whine without pursuing a change of their fate don't deserve better. "To be honest, I'm not really sure how this werewolf hierarchy thing works." Not that it interests me in the slightest.

She hugs her arms around her chest. "What did you want to talk about?"

"A lot of things." As I retake my seat, I jut my chin at the chair across from me. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable?"

A few beats of hesitation, but then she complies. Sitting as rigid as a stick, she stares at me. "Now what?" Her voice is even; only her dilated pupils give away her fear.

"Raelyn. Take me back to the night she was born."

"Why?"

I roll my eyes. "Wolf, you are too defiant for your own good. My associate here can get the information out of you, no matter what, so just cooperate. Trust me, it will be easier on yourself."

Michelle's gaze flicks to Rikka. "I remember you. You came here with Kendrick Raynes and Raelyn and threatened my mate. I'm not afraid of you."

It's never good to underestimate an opponent you know nothing about. I signal to Rikka to get started. "Go ahead. She's asking for it."

Rikka lowers her gaze. Mind invasion is a draining endeavor not only for the victim involved. Sometimes I doubt she is even aware that her special gift is the only reason she's still with us in this realm. Taking a deep breath, she walks over to Michelle.

I stretch out my hand. "Here. I want to see."

Rikka presses the index and middle finger of her left hand on Michelle's temple. The fingertips of her other hand connect with mine. I close my eyes and lean back.

Pounding. Swooshing. A hollow echo.

When Rikka makes the connection, I tune in to Michelle's heartbeat. The sweat of her wild is strong; her wolf is fighting to break through her skins. Only Rikka's sun powers contain her.

Voices. A muffled groan.

"Don't push yet, Nadja. It will only be a few more minutes." A hint of distress colored Gideon's words.

Nadja's face was red as a beet, her sweaty hair sticking to all parts of her skin. A heavy breath ripped through her body. "I'm not sure I can hold off that long."

"We have to time the birth with the lunar eclipse."

Michelle stepped out of the bushes that had given her coverage. "What's going on? And why are you hiding here in the woods? You should be at the healer's cabin."

"Not now, Michelle." Gideon craned his neck to catch a glimpse of the moon. "Almost there."

A cry rolled from Nadja's throat. Pain had taken over her eyes. I instinctively reach for her sweaty cheek to sooth her. My fingers pass right through her face.

"I think the baby is coming."

Gideon placed a hand on her forehead. Silent words moved his lips. He was taking away her pain, stretching the birth out for one more contraction. Interesting that he linked the birth to the lunar eclipse. Nothing coincidental about it.

He bent down and kissed her cheek. "Almost there. I love you."

Nadja's smile made it evident she felt the same. It makes my heart cringe. Her body convulsed. Even Gideon's magic wouldn't be able to hold the child in her womb that was so desperate to come out.

"Now, Nadja. Push."

She clawed her fingers into his arm. Teeth gritted, the natural course of birth was taking over her body. The baby's head crowned.

"Quick, Michelle. Get a towel from the car. They are in the back."

"But you're doing it all wrong. Nadja should be with the healer."

Both he and Nadja ignored her. I feel around for her wolf, but they must have found a way to subdue her.

Gideon leaned closer. "One more push, love."

With the blood and mucous accompanying a birth, Nadja's womb released Raelyn's small form. A loud wail cracked the air. Gideon severed the umbilical cord with a pinch of his fingers and wrapped the wiggling newborn into the towel Michelle handed him.

He nuzzled his nose into Nadja's hair with tears in his eyes. "It's a girl."

"Let me see her."

With the utmost care, he placed the baby into her arms. Both their heads almost collided as they coo over the new life. "Isn't she beautiful? And look, she's wrinkling her little nose."

How cheesy. I roll my eyes. Don't they know it's just a natural muscle twitch as the baby sucks in air?

"What do you want to call her?" Gideon's voice was thick—if I didn't know better, he was about to cry.

"Raelyn."

"She's as beautiful as her mother." Gideon kissed Nadja on her forehead before turning away from her. His gaze drilled into Michelle. With one more look at mother and baby, he led Michelle to the side. His voice was low to keep Nadja out of earshot. "I have to leave. My kind is coming for me and it's not safe if they find me with her."

Michelle frowned. "What exactly is your kind?"

"I'm a warlock."

Michelle's mouth opened and closed but no sound escaped.

"Look, I'm sorry I deceived you, but it was the only way." Gideon glanced around; panic had filled his eyes.

"Does my sister know?"

"Yes." Unclasping the pendant around his neck, he let out a shaky breath. "Here, take this and give it to Nadja when she feels better. Tell her to keep it safe for Raelyn until she's an adult. It will protect both of them."

"But aren't you going to at least say goodbye?"

Tears sparkled in Gideon's eyes. "It's better this way. Anything else will just overly upset her." With one final look at the love of his life and the child created by their union, Gideon spun around. Hunched over, the burden of the world seemed to rest on his shoulders, The thick underbrush of the forest swallowed him up.

Michelle's tormented howl breaks her mental connection with Rikka. She shudders in her chair, blood running from her nose and eyes. Rikka takes a step back; she's trembling uncontrollably. Michelle presses her hands against the side of her temples. Jerking her head from left to right, she screeches at the top of her lungs.

I shake Rikka by her shoulders. "Reestablish the connection. I want to know what happened to the necklace."

Rikka shakes her head. Her breath comes out in short waves. "Impossible. If I invade her mind again, she'll turn into a vegetable."

And why exactly do I care? I didn't even get a good look to see if the stone is part of my Na Miodóg. Considering that this was the only purpose of this trip, I'm hell-bent on getting to the bottom of this.

Before I can convey to Rikka the gravity of the situation, the door crashes open with a bang. A young wolf flies across the threshold. He cowers low, his teeth snapping. Time to teach the boy a lesson.

Drawing a funnel of air from the depth of the earth, I pick him up, just to slam him back down on the floor. The ground under the house tremors from the forces of my palms. Floorboards crack as they split apart. A grumble of the shuddering earth drown out Michelle's screams. Dust twirls up until the contours of the living room disappear in a cloud.

"Marush, stop! You're bringing down the whole house."

Perfect, that's exactly the intent. I laugh at the large chunks of plaster raining down from the ceiling.

Rikka runs her hand along my spine. "You're riling up the whole pack."

So what? It's not that they are a serious challenge for me.

"Please, Marush, just stop."

With a swoop of my hand, I calm the rumble of the earth. "What are you on about? Wolves are an abomination. They don't deserve kindness." Especially these wolves who killed Nadja.

"They are still creatures of the moon." Warmth spreads from her fingertips.

I grab her wrist. "Don't." I stop a poised finger right in front of her nose. "I'm not a toy. Don't ever try to compel me again."

When she drops her gaze, I let go of her and observe the damage. The house is still standing, though barely, the roof only held up by three of the walls but caved in on one side where a beam collapsed. The sun peeks in through the gap. Personally, I wouldn't step foot on the upper floor until I checked the joists.

The young wolf is panting on the floor. Bones poke out from his ribcage and a big, red puddle has stained the carpet underneath him. Michelle is on her knees next to him, cradling his head in her lap. Her eyes are still veiled with the pain associated with mind intrusion, but she's keeping her chin up. "Please help him."

That would imply that I wanted to do that. "Tell me what happened to the necklace Gideon gave you for Raelyn? And no lies, or I'll come back and finish off your whole pack."

"I gave it to Raelyn when she mated."

So that's how the hybrid gained possession of it. "Do you know where it is now?"

Michelle shakes her head and my gaze flicks to Rikka.

"Don't look at me. I told you I only saw it once, and when I tried to take it from her, Kendrick got all pissy and protective. He pocketed it, but since I never found it when I searched his packhouse, I assume he gave it back to Raelyn."

"Never assume, love."

"I told you everything I know." Michelle's gaze turns pleading. "Please, save my son."

I squat and stroke my fingers through his fur. The wounds seal. Even though his eyes are still closed and his breath is labored, he won't cross over to the realm of the Moon Goddess today. A little bit of pain for the next few days will be a good reminder not to be such a hothead again.

"One more thing. Tell me how your sister died?"

"Poison. It was very peaceful."

I search her eyes for a trace of deception, but she appears to be telling the truth. At least Nadja didn't suffer. "And it was your mate who killed her?"

She nods.

With a huff, I get back to my feet. Time to track the necklace through its intended recipient.

I smile at Michelle. "It was nice meeting you again." Not waiting for a response, I walk out of the house. I wasted enough of my time in this place.

~~~~

As soon as I get back to the Iomaire Draíochta, I seek out the hybrid. When I turn the corner, she is just leaving her cabin.

I smile at her to get the conversation off on the right foot. "I was looking for you."

"Is it already time for training?"

"Not at all. I just have a quick question. Rikka told me about a necklace that your foster mother gave you for your mating. Parts of it might belong to me."

"That would surprise me. I was told it was a gift from my father."

Not sure how this would preclude my rightful ownership to the stone, but I'm not prepared to argue the point. Her wolf is stirring with unrest, ready to break free from her skins, and I don't want to have to hurt her.

"I tell you what. Why don't you show it to me and I'm sure that will clear matters up."

"I actually left it behind at the Northern Light pack."

"Oh, that's a shame." And a problem since I have no idea how I can convince her to take a trip to Canada with me before her training is completed. Then a spark ignites, offering a brilliant and foolproof plan. "Aren't you going to Kenrick Raynes's claiming ceremony? If it wouldn't be too much trouble, you could bring the necklace back afterward."

The color drains from her face and her body goes rigid. "Where did you hear that Kendrick is going to mate?"

"Rikka told me." I crunch my brows in my best faint-innocent expression. "To be honest, I thought he had invited you or I wouldn't have mentioned it."

"No, I'm glad you did." I don't miss the sudden tears in her eyes. One escapes before she manages to blink the rest away.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be the bearer of bad news. Were you and Raynes close?"

"Yes, sort of."

"Then I think it's really low that he didn't think enough of you to send an invitation, but mind you, that's just my humble opinion."

"Yeah, maybe."

Not that I blame the man. I wouldn't necessarily invite my lover to my wedding unless I wanted to irk her.

Raelyn wipes over her eyes with her sleeve. It doesn't take away the distress in her features.

I close in for the kill. "And if I were you, I would surely tell him how I feel to get it off my chest. It's not right that he leaves you out in the cold."

"You think I can just show up at his packhouse without an invitation?"

"Most definitely. And in case you want company, it would be my honor to accompany you."

She slowly nods. "Yeah, I think I'll do that."

Bingo, a plan well executed. "Then let me make the travel arrangements."

~~~~

© Sally Mason 2018

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