Four

Healing and Luna's Cunning Plan

Summer's POV

I pull the thread through the torn flesh, biting back a scream. The pain is unbearable. I must endure and heal, from wounds and the scars on my soul. They tried to break me. Amelia tried to make me submit, but I fought back.

I glance at Luna, who is watching me with admiration and concern. She is my wolf, my other half, my strength. She has a plan to get us out of this hell, to find Jackson, our true mate. But I’m not sure if I can trust her. She says she can call on his wolf power, make him recognize us, make him love us. But what if he doesn’t? What if he rejects us, like Amelia did? What if he hurts us, like they all did?

“Luna, are you sure this will work?” I ask her, as I tie the last knot on my arm. “Are you sure Jackson is our mate? Are you sure he will accept us?”

She nods, her eyes shining with conviction. “I’m sure, I. I feel it in my bones, in my heart, in my soul. He is our mate, our true mate. He will love us, protect us, cherish us. He will heal us, I. He will heal us from all the pain we’ve suffered.”

I want to believe her. I hope someone will love me for who I am, flaws, scars, and all. I want to believe there is hope for us, but I'm afraid—afraid of disappointment, hurt, and loneliness.

Deep breath, I glance at Luna. She smiles at me, her eyes full of courage and determination.

“Let’s go then,” I say. “Let’s go find Jackson.”

I nod and follow Luna’s directions to the main building of the clearing where Jackson lives. My heart is pounding in my chest, my palms are sweaty, and my breath is shallow. I’m not ready to face him, not after he looked at me like I was crazy for fighting Amelia. But Luna has a plan, and I have to trust her. She already explained to me how this wolf power thing works. Our wolves can talk to each other without involving us. It’ll just be like we’re in a trance while they do their work.

I reach his door and hesitate. What if he slams it in my face? What if he yells at me? What if he hates me? I shake my head, trying to calm myself as I prepare to do this for us and our mate bond. I raise my hand, softly knocking, then louder.

No answer.

I knock again, harder this time.

Still no answer.

I’m about to give up and leave when I hear footsteps on the other side of the door. The knob turns and the door opens slowly. I hold my breath.

Jackson stands there his eyes widening, mouth dropping open, and brows furrowing. He looks like he’s seen a ghost. He gazes briefly, then regains composure.

“Summer?” he says, his voice cold and distant. “What are you doing here?”

I swallow hard, forcing a smile as I prepare to lie to him to gain entry. It’s the only way Luna can work her magic.

“I just want to explain how the fight happened,” I say, hoping he’ll buy it. “It’s not what you think.”

He looks at me skeptically, then sighs and steps aside.

“Summer…come in…” he says reluctantly.

I enter his room. He walks past me and closes the door. The bed is large and cozy. He sits on it, facing away. I sit too and wait. He says nothing.

He just sits there, staring ahead, as if he doesn’t want to look at me.

My heart pounds violently in my chest.

Why isn’t he looking at me?

“I didn’t mean to fight…” I start to say, but then I feel a strange sensation in my head. A suction pulls me into a dark abyss, and I lose track of everything. Luna is taking over, putting me in a state of trance. She’s going to talk to Jackson’s wolf, make him see us as his mate.

I don’t know how long I’m gone, but when I come back, I feel a jolt in my body. I blink and look around. I'm still standing in front of Jackson, but he's different, with soft, warm eyes and a gentle, tender expression. He looks at me like I’m the most precious thing in the world.

He smiles and reaches for my hand. “I understand,” he says softly. “I’m sorry I rejected you. I don’t know why I did that. You’re my mate, Summer. My true mate.”

He cups my face. His lips brush mine, then press harder. I kiss him back and feel everything: the flutter, the spark, the fire. He tastes like mint and honey, like home and heaven.

Kissing him back, I let go of everything else. The pain, the fear, the doubt: all gone. Amelia and our fight: forgotten. His rejection: erased. All that matters is him, us, our bond.

He carries me. To his bed, he lays me down. His body covers me, his kisses trail down. My neck, my shoulder, my chest: he loves them all. I feel alive.