When I finally wipe the last tears out of my eyes, the air has filled with the scent of wild. The cook is back, and from the looks of it, he brought every fighter of his pack. Snarling, flashing of fangs, deep rumbles. A few of the younger males stomp their feet, their faces edged with impatience.

I stare at Gideon. "What are we gonna do?"

He shrugs.

"For feck's sake, that's a no brainer." Andrenior kneels down, his palm firmly planted on the ground. The wind picks up with his mumbled words.

"Andrenior, don't."

"The alternative is to fight them," Gideon says.

Which would end in a blood bath. The earth rumbles underneath my feet.

"Did Cassum really forgive me?"

I turn my head to look at her mate. He has some seriously bad timing issues. "She did."

"And you know that how?"

"She told me."

Fissures rip open the space that separates us from the diner and the wolves. The wind picks up, tossing loose gravel and pieces of garbage high into the air.

"You do realize she's dead?"

I nod. "I can speak to spirits."

Another rumble shakes the earth. As Andrenior lifts his arm, he yanks a wall of sand and dust with him.

Cassum's mate leans closer. "Wanna know what I think? You guys are freaks. You belong in a human mental institution. Preferably in a straitjacket."

With a grunt, Andrenior drops his arm. The dust in the air settles. In the space where the diner once stood is nothing but a huge earth cavity. Muffled yelps and howls raise from the bottom of the sinkhole toward the sky.

Andrenior rubs his hands. "That should hold them off for a while."

I stare at him. "You're gonna leave them like this?"

"Duh! What else am I supposed to do with them?"

"They shifted. If the humans find them, they put them in zoos." Or worse, euthanize them.

He shrugs. "So? They can always shift back."

"And their clothes? They'll be naked."

"And?"

"Maybe they can claim they were running a nudist diner." Gideon grins as if this idea deserves a medal.

"You guys are insane." I move closer to the hole and peek down. Dozens of wolves squirm at the bottom; some try to climb, others jump to reach the opening. A few bare their teeth. I can't leave them to their own devices, knowing what the humans might do to them.

Cassum's mate chuckles. "One word: straitjacket."

"Oh, you shut up." I glance at Andrenior, my voice raising above the yapping wolves whose howls grow in desperation with every passing second. "Do something."

He shrugs again. "I can't sew clothes out of thin air, so what can I do?"

My gaze flicks to Gideon.

"Don't look at me. I'm with Andrenior. Besides, if they hadn't shown hostility, they wouldn't be in this position."

"They are wolves. They were defending their territory."

Gideon stares into the hole and shouts, "Next time, pick your opponents wiser!"

Sirens whine in the distance.

"That's probably the fire brigade. We should go." Gideon turns away from the hole.

"How? We have no car."

Gideon and Andrenior exchange this glance; if I had to take a guess, they are contemplating to location shift and leave me behind.

"We could hotwire a car," Cassum's mate suggests.

Andrenior arches a brow. "Dude, you know how to hotwire a car?"

"Sure."

Gideon smirks. "I'm starting to like this kid. At least he has some practical skills."

"Though on second thought, why should I help you?" Cassum's mate puckers his lips as if needing some convincing. "You kidnapped me and are holding me against my will."

"Nonsense." Gideon flings his arm around his shoulders. "Don't you want to meet your mate again? You know, to kiss and make up, and then you'll see her off into the afterlife."

"So you are seriously claiming you can talk to ghosts?"

"Well, look at it this way. If you don't come with us, or worse, we all get arrested by the humans, you'll never know."

"Man, I know I'm gonna so regret this." He frees himself from Gideon's arm. "I'll help you under one condition. I'll drive."

"You got yourself a deal, kid." With the smuggest grin, Gideon cups his hands around his shoulders and turns him toward a car. "And please do me a favor, hotwire this one."

"That's an old Jag. Can't you pick something less exotic?"

"I'm from Scotland and don't trust American machinery."

"Whatever." Shaking his head, Cassum's mate shucks off the hideous shirt and wraps it around his arm.

Andrenior frowns. "Bro, what are you doing?"

"Breaking the window to open the car door."

"There are easier ways to do that." Gideon lifts his hands; the locks on the car click. "By the way, you got a name?"

"Moose."

"Your parents should be shot."

"Tell me about it." Grinning from ear to ear, Moose gets into the car. A few seconds later, the engine roars.

With a loud honk and flashes of lights, the fire trucks race toward the diner.

"Raelyn, get in!"

I glance one more time at the sinkhole with the howling wolves. Should I leave them? Shrill sirens solve my dilemma; I can't afford to get arrested, and in the end, it's every wolf for himself.

Hopping into the backseat next to Andrenior, I slam the car door shut. He leans out of the windows, his middle finger raised. "Take that, suckers."

I roll my eyes; he can be so childish.

"Where to?" Moose asks from the driver's seat.

"Maine. We'll need to return to the site of the attack."

~~~~

I squat under a tree to keep safe from the drizzle and chilling wind, my hands rubbing together over the fire Gideon built to stay warm. The heat and crackles from the flames don't fill the void inside me. Andrenior left us as soon as we pulled up in front of the Scopan Lake barn, and my father insisted to gather the herbs for the ritual by himself, as if I didn't know what is required. His rejection stung. To top it off, I ran into Harla before I could get out of there; even though she didn't mutter a word, her blaming eyes have haunted me since.

What the hell am I doing?

I'm betraying my heritage.

And letting Kendrick walk out of my life. That was the worst. Not only did I hurt him, but I also made him look weak. If word spreads that he let his sister's killer walk away unscathed, he'll have a war on his hand. His pack might even turn against him. All in all, I screwed up by allowing Gideon and Sazith to suck me into a plan I never agreed to be a part of. Bringing Cassum peace is one thing, but then I'll have to set some boundaries. Their expectations are simply too suffocating.

"What was Cassum like?"

I look up at Moose who leans against the trunk of the tree. The dancing flames light up his face; his lips are twisted and his eyes are large with sorrow. The gravity of the situation must be sinking in.

"When I first met her, I hated her. Later, we became friends."

"What did she do to upset you?"

"I thought she'd challenge me for Luna, but then, after I started living with the Northern Light pack, we trained together and I realized that this was never her intent. To the contrary—we talked about me being Luna once her Alpha challenge was successful. She was great fun but still someone you could respect." Moisture stings my eyes. "And she wanted to be Alpha so badly, not because she was power hungry but to show other females that it was possible to be a worthy leader. That we are capable of being hunters and warriors, even Alphas. That pleasing our males, making a home, and caring for the young is not everything there is for us."

He snorts. "No offense, but those are crazy ideas. Females are not meant to fight and hunt."

"The Northern Light pack has allowed their females to join their hunters and fighters." It will be Kendrick's legacy. "That's why they were able to conquer so many territories—it gives their army strength."

"But what about those females who don't want to fight?"

"It's meant to be a choice. That's how it's supposed to be. We should be able to decide as individuals what works for us."

He stares into the fire. "You know, I don't think I could've beaten Cassum if I had encountered her on my own. She was very strong."

"An ambush is an act of cowardice."

"I would've never agreed to it if I had known it was only her and that escort she was with. The Scopan Lake Beta swore to us that she was tainted by dark magic—that she was a threat to all of us. I expected a group of warlocks to be with her for protection. When I realized she was alone, I was convinced she'd kill me with some freakish curse. And of course, I never expected her to be. . ." He chokes on the rest of the words.

I give him a small smile. "She wants you to find happiness."

"How? Even if she has forgiven me, how will I ever close my eyes again, knowing I killed the one wolf who was meant to be my mate for life? I sold my soul, Raelyn, and that's something I won't be able to live down. Even if this"—he swipes his hand aimlessly through the dark—"this weird thing you are about to do works, it won't matter. The guilt I feel will not go away."

A log pitches and I poke the fire to give the flames food to breathe. With my small finger, I swoop up an outlier trying to escape. Letting it dance on my palm, I soak up its warmth and strength. When the flame licks at my shirt, I smother it in my fist. Enough games.

"Moose, can you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Can you keep it to yourself that Kendrick let you go?"

"He didn't exactly let me go—you made him."

"Just keep it to yourself, okay?"

"And how do you expect me to do that? When I return to my pack, there'll be questions. Everyone thinks that he kidnapped me to kill me in a ritual in front of the Northern Light pack to avenge his sister. My mere survival will prove he let me go."

"Well, maybe don't go back then. Or at least not now—until I figured something else out."

"If I don't return in a few days, my grandfather will declare war. My whole pack could be annihilated. I can't risk that."

"Don't you think you owe Cassum that much? Spare her brother embarrassment?"

"I'm sorry, Raelyn, but Cassum is dead. My loyalties lie with my own pack. I don't owe Kendrick anything."

"Please, I just need a little more time."

"Okay, three days." He lifts up three fingers. "That's all you're getting."

I stare up at the crescent moon that briefly shows its face between the chasing clouds. In three days, the new moon will rise. It's also the day of the solar eclipse, the last chance I have to pledge my oath to the Sun God and keep my fire powers. "That's all the time I need."

Breaking twigs has me turn my head. Gideon's shadow falls long against the light of the flames. "I'm ready."

"What will happen now?" Moose asks.

"We will connect with Cassum. Wait here."

"Will I be able to see her?"

"No."

"Then how do I know you're not lying—that this is not some elaborate stunt?"

Gideon huffs. "Why would we bring you here if this was a stunt?"

"Fair enough." The wrinkle on Moose's forehead hints that he's not convinced. Cassum will want more than this before crossing into the afterlife.

"Okay, let's get started."

I walk with Gideon to the second fire he built in the middle of the clearing. The flames hiss under the slight drizzle; the fire won't stay lit long. Stoking the embers, I coach them to keep going until I release them from their duty. They murmur their agreement and I smile when they engulf my hand in a caressing kiss.

"I've always been fascinated by the way fire warlocks control their element. It seems like you are friends."

I glance at Gideon. "The fire is my friend. Don't you feel the same way about wood?"

"Wood is my servant, bound by my command and respect. Our relationship is not that amicable."

"Well, then you're missing out on a lot." I motion to the smoking herbs. "Shall we begin?"

"You knew her, so it's better if you call her spirit."

Oh, now he needs my help. Figures.

I kneel in the wet grass and fist a handful of herbs. They burn on my skin. Closing my eyes, I connect with the sounds of the night, the breath of life, the shadows of death. The wind whispers in my ears. It's the sing sang melody of spirits lost on earth. Opening my heart, I search for Cassum's soul. Not long after, she steps out of the forest. Her eyes are filled with tears.

"Did you bring him?"

"Of course. I promised you I would."

The blood streaks on her skin glow crimson in the light of the glimmering fire. "I want to talk to him."

"I'm afraid that's not possible," Gideon interjects.

Cassum snaps her head around. She squints at Gideon who steps closer to the fire out of the shadows of night. "What is he doing here?"

Gideon's smile is the epitome of fake. "I said I'd be back with your mate. And now you owe me an answer to my question."

What question?

Cassum's laugh is hollow. "Wrong, warlock. The deal was that I get to speak to him."

"Living beings can't connect to spirits unless they are a Caomhnóir."

The murmurs of the embers distract me. They are calling out to me.

Cassum smirks. "Too bad. I'm not going to help you unless I get to speak to my mate."

"Don't be stubborn, wolf. You don't earnestly want to be stuck in this place until your mate is ready to join you in the afterlife. That could be years."

Cassum folds her arms. "I will, if I have to."

"You could even miss him crossing over, which means your soul will never be free."

"It's a risk I'm willing to take."

"Quiet!" I move closer to the fire. The embers tempt me to give it a try. Their teasing laughter rings in my ears.

Oh, what the heck.

Scooping up a handful of the glowing cinders in my fist, I toss them high into the air. They pelt down on Cassum like soft rain. For a breath, her frame stands illuminated against the black of the night.

"Bloody hell."

Gideon steps back in the same beat Moose moves forward.

"Was that her?"

"Yes."

"Can I touch her?" He stretches out his hand.

Cassum edges closer. Their fingertips connect.

"I can feel her." Moose laughs. "I can seriously feel she is there."

"That's—"

I cut Gideon off with a warning glare. Just give them a moment.

Cassum has her eyes closed. A shudder runs through her broken body. "I forgive you."

The flames spike, whispering her words.

Moisture sparkles in Moose's eyes. "Please, let Raelyn take you to the afterlife."

Cassum nods.

His gaze flicks to me. "What is she doing?"

"She has agreed."

"Good." His fingers comb through the air as if trying to caress her cheek. "And I'm sorry."

"I hate to break up this happy reunion, but you owe me an answer to my question." Gideon steps between them, breaking the connection. He glares at Cassum with a puckered brow. "Otherwise, I'll have to send your mate to the afterlife now."

My wolf growls and I'm tempted to let her loose.

Cassum's gaze is on her mate, a smile playing on her lips. Despite Gideon's threat, she looks absolutely content. "You were right. My mother gave me a dagger just before I left the Northern Light pack."

"And what did you do with it?"

"I gave it to someone I trusted. For safekeeping."

"Who? Where can I find him or her?"

Cassum clutches my arm. Her grip is firm enough to hurt my wrist. Sunken eyes drill into me. "The last time this warlock was here"—she juts her chin at Gideon—"he told me there'd be war. That the werewolves would be massacred if I didn't help him. Is that true?"

I confirm her fears with a nod.

"Please, Raelyn, whatever you do, you need to save the packs and my family. Even if that means you can't be with Kendrick. Please, it's the last thing I'll ever ask of you."

"I'll try." I hate the tremble that has sneaked into my voice. I'm not prepared to make it a promise.

She lets go of my hand. "The dagger is with my uncle, Gabriel Raynes. He lives as a rogue on the outer Northeastern rim of my old territory."

"Thank you." Gideon grins; he got what he came for and it irks me that he won. "And now, let Raelyn take you to the afterlife to find peace."

~~~~

© Sally Mason 2018

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