o

ps around my skin like old skin. The tension

No

y the nightmare riding our c

od bedroom. The books stacked in my bedside table. The soft pale pink carp

whispers, n

the worry kno

he broken shards of last nigh

my legs into a pair of black camps and stuff my feet into my

ver in the mirror I de

ens mother, today. If anyone could give m

shifters. Her access to magic not only helps her heal mortal wounds b

h it's closed I know she's awake and

can decide what to do with my

p floor serves as recovery rooms while the ex

robably be in her apothecary working on healing elixirs. Each step echoes, each echo pou

ealing myself and walk inside, the d

sweetly. "I wasn

oft hazel eyes widen just a fraction, worry an

back e

he orders patting th

y, hands dusted in dried herbs. Beside her,

e chair unsure of how t

and say I'm back

lf sn

r behind my ear capturing my atte

hisper. " I- som

. "At the Lotus Pack? Did some hurt

e that. It's...I

my hand, presses her fingertips to the pulse at my

ered my future." The furrow in her brow goe

s too warm, the air to

pward. She cups it in both her hands.

mma. The next three years of my

the warmth of her ma

rything," sh

I

detail. I left nothing out, ending

dying me, vulnerable.

keep my voice

of my body. I can feel the warmth of her magic as she moves up my arm, across my

she says thoughtfully before standing a

think it is?"

in both healing arts and magic." She pulls out a leather bound book and sits back down as she flips through the pages. "There wa

and my breath cat

mother telling me stories. She bridged the chasm between healer and witch. Brou

my father about ha

ding against my head like thunder

my thoughts. "If you possess Elena's power-then what

. I felt and saw everything. How

heard of waki

N

their lives or the lives of their subjects can take." She places her hand on my shoulder and squeezes. "While it's powerful it could also be

riting and faded sketches of herbs

something in me...shifted. It made m

learn more, see if we can tap into the power if it's there. But there is also another possibility. E

hes. "Why woul

must be careful. We might not know the reason but we know something nefarious was waiting for you. It was why you were blinded." She points to a row of glass bottle

d incense to my che

. But you're here now. And I wo

ide it if we want to keep it secret. "We'll start slowly. No heavy magic until we're sure. If th

t if I live this life over again-and I can

of Rose Brown. You are not helpless so don

door interrup

, giving me a chance

e glances between m

" I w

s saved m

s Tessa loo

and I've been sent to get y

ong?" I sa

alone. Alpha Keith-he

a glance at Emma whose fa

be doing here so soon after his

showed his features. "I'm not sure. But I can't imagi

travel to other packs for a handful of reaso

lse r

tight smile then he meets my eyes. "They

whispers. "Think, Hope. You are here to see what

small smile before following

ces beneat

running isn't

e to fac