LOGINI pointed toward the door on the far side of my bedroom."The bathroom's in there," I said softly.Derek looked over. "I figured."I smiled. "You can use whatever you need."He nodded. "Okay, but you first."I shook my head. "We'll be quicker if we both clean up now. Mom's probably waiting."He laughed quietly. "I don't think she's waiting anymore."I rubbed the back of my neck, my face warming."...Probably not."Without another word, we disappeared into the bathroom. It wasn't long before we were both cleaned up and drying ourselves with fresh towels. Once we stepped back into my room, I walked to my wardrobe and pulled out another pair of gray sweatpants along with a loose black sweatshirt.I tossed them toward Derek."They should fit," I said.He caught them."You've got a lot of clothes," he snorted."My mother says I never throw anything away."He chuckled. "I can believe that."Within a few minutes, we'd both changed into comfortable clothes, and he looked strangely... at home.
We got to the door, and I took in a deep breath. Then slowly, I grabbed the handle, turned it to the side, and pushed the door open."Welcome to my room," I chuckled, trying to hide my shyness.Derek didn't respond. He was busy checking out the room, and after five minutes had passed, he finally sat down on the bed. I couldn't look away from him. Derek suddenly felt shy as I walked up to him. When he was about to look up, I held his chin and lifted his face towards mine."You don't have to be shy with me," I said softly, but deep down, I was relieved he felt shy as well. That gave me a confidence boost. Seeing him shy with his face red. "I really do love you so much, and you were all that I have been thinking about these past few days. Whenever I wake up here, and you're not beside me, it makes me miss you more.""So... what do you want me to say?" he said, giving me a little shy smile.'Don't say anything," I ran my fingers through his hair."I'm sorry Ethan—"I quickly put a finger
Elder Mira looked at me for a long time, then, to my surprise, she smiled."A clever boy."I blinked. "What?"She nodded once."Your house," she repeated as she folded her hands together. "If anyone were hiding an Ashbound, the Alpha's home would be the last place the pack would ever think to search."I let out the breath I'd been holding."So...""So," she continued, "the moment the village settles and the warriors leave, you'll take Derek there."I nodded immediately. "Of course, I can do that.""It will only be temporary," she blurted."I know, Elder. I know.""We still need to discover why you've lost your wolf," she reminded me. Even though I never forgot about it."Of course, yes," I noddedDerek remained silent through the entire exchange. When I looked at him, he was staring at the floor."Derek?" I called softly.He looked up. "I'm not sure about this."I walked over to him. "Come here."I gently pulled him toward the opposite side of the room, giving Elder Mira enough distan
After Elder Mira finished explaining the plan, I was already out the door.I was rushing home to update my mom about the plan and what she needed to do in order for things to work out, and if my mother refused, I didn't know what I'd do.The front door creaked open beneath my hand, and I climbed the stairs two at a time. Mother's bedroom door was slightly open, so I knocked gently, and there was no answer."...Mom?"Still nothing.I pushed the door open, and she sat on the edge of the bed with Father's picture frame resting in her lap. Her fingers traced the edge of the wood, and tears rolled silently down her cheeks.She wasn't sobbing anymore, she just stared at his smile in the photograph. It was as if she was trying to memorize it before time stole even that away.My chest tightened.I shouldn't have come... this wasn't fair. She'd lost her mate, her husband, the love of her life, and here I was... about to ask her for another favor.How selfish could I be?Quietly, I stepped back
The meeting ended, but some of the elders remained behind, the warriors filtered out in small groups. Some came over to clap Lucas on the shoulder, others bowed their heads respectfully to me before leaving, but I barely noticed any of them.Elder Mira fell into step beside me as we made our way back toward her cottage."Ethan." Lucas's voice came from behind us.I turned.He was walking quickly, almost jogging to catch up, and when he reached us, he glanced briefly at Elder Mira."I need a moment with him."Elder Mira looked between us before giving a small nod. "I'll continue ahead," she said as she rested a gentle hand on my arm. "Don't take too long.""I won't."She smiled faintly before continuing down the path alone.Lucas waited until she'd disappeared around the bend, then he looked at me."Walk with me."We stepped away from the main trail until we stood beneath a large oak tree where no one else could overhear us, and for a while... neither of us said anything till Lucas fin
The days that followed after was like a dream to me. I remembered waking before sunrise because Elder Mira insisted the quiet hours were when wolves spoke the loudest. I remembered sitting cross-legged in the clearing behind her cottage with my eyes closed while she burned herbs around me and whispered prayers older than the pack itself.I remembered trying.Gods, I tried.Every morning, every afternoon, and every night."Reach for it, Ethan. You have to reach for it," she'd tell me."I am.""No, you're doing something else. You have to reach deeper.""I don't know how.""You do.""I don't."She refused to believe me.Elder Mira was convinced Derek had somehow taken my wolf, but she never said it around Derek anymore, though I caught the way she'd look at him whenever she thought neither of us noticed, like he was both a miracle and a mystery.She performed every ritual she knew; she painted symbols across my arms using crushed berries and ash. She had me drink bitter concoctions that







