chapter 4

With that, Alec turns and heads for the door. He hesitates for a second, then leaves without another word.

Things haven’t been right between us since Jade left, and I’m starting to wonder if they ever will be.

I sit back down at my desk, but my mind’s already somewhere else. I don’t trust this psychic crap, but at this point, I don’t have any better ideas. If there’s even the slightest chance she can help me figure out what’s killing my people, I’ll take it.

Because if I don’t get answers soon, we’re screwed.

***

I’m halfway to Glory Town before I realize how tense I am. My knuckles are white around the steering wheel, and the sound of my engine humming is the only thing keeping my head from spinning too far out of control. Seeing a psychic is the last resort, and I know it. Hell, everyone knows it. But with the pack on edge and shifters dying, I’m desperate. And desperate people do stupid things.

Like driving two hours through the mountains to see some woman who claims she can see the future.

I drive through the narrow, winding roads that lead to Glory Town. The deeper I get into these woods, the more the pressure in my chest builds. I glance at the nav system on thedashboard. Almost there. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. I’ve never believed in this psychic nonsense, but if there’s even a small chance she can help, I’ll take it. Because at this point? I’ll take any lead I can get.

The road finally opens up into a clearing, and just ahead, I spot a small, unassuming cabin tucked into the trees. A single light glows in the window, barely visible in the late afternoon gloom. This must be the place.

I park the truck and climb out, slamming the door shut harder than necessary. The cool air hits my face, clearing some of the fog from my mind as I walk up to the cabin. The wood beneath my boots creaks with every step. The whole thing looks like it might collapse under the weight of a strong gust of wind, but there’s something almost… peaceful about it. Almost.

I knock once, twice, and then the door opens. And that’s when my entire world tilts sideways.

Jade.

She’s standing there, staring at me like I’m the last person she expected to see. To be fair, I feel the same. Her hair’s longer now, and the dark brown strands frame her face. She looks different. More grounded. But those eyes, those warm brown eyes that I haven’t been able to get out of my head for three years, are colder than I remember.

“What the hell are you doing here, Damien?” she hisses.

I can’t find my voice. I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. My brain is too busy trying to process the fact that Jade is the psychic. My Jade. The girl I banished from my pack. The girl who—

“I asked you a question,” she says, cutting through my thoughts.

“I—I didn’t know it was you.” The words sound pathetic, even to me, but it’s true. Alec hadn’t said a word about where Jade ended up, and now I’m wondering if he knew exactly who this psychic was and chose not to warn me.

Her eyes narrow, and she folds her arms across her chest. “Well, now you do. What do you want, Damien?”

I’m still trying to get my bearings, trying to wrap my head around the fact that Jade—the outcast, the girl I hurt—is standing here, apparently running a psychic operation and using magic without apology. My gaze sweeps over her, looking for any signs of the girl I once knew. But this version of Jade is different. Harder. Stronger.

Her innocence is gone. I took it.

“Look, I came here because I heard you could help,” I finally manage to explain. “Shifters are dying in Starfire Hollow. I need answers.”

She raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “And you think I’m going to help you?”

“I don’t have a choice, Jade,” I snap. “We’re running out of time. You think I want to be here?”

She flinches slightly, and for a moment, I think I’ve crossed a line. But then she steps aside and gestures for me to enter. “Fine. I’ll give you a reading, but that’s it. Don’t expect anything more.”

I step inside the cabin, and my heart is still pounding. The place is small but cozy, with shelves lined with strange objects—crystals, candles, herbs I don’t recognize. A fire crackles in the fireplace, but there’s an odd chill in the air despite it. Probably coming from Jade.

She moves to a small table in the corner and motions for me to sit. I do, feeling strangely out of place in this environment. Jade sits across from me, but her face is unreadable as she reaches for a deck of cards.

“This won’t take long,” she says, shuffling the deck with practiced ease. Her hands move smoothly, almost hypnotically, and for a moment, I’m distracted by how steady they are. Like she’s done this a thousand times.

I clear my throat, forcing myself to focus. “You’ve been using your magic?”

Her eyes flick up to mine, but she doesn’t answer. She just lays out the cards in a neat spread between us. “Close your eyes,” she instructs.

I hesitate, but when she shoots me a glare, I comply. My eyes shut, and I take a deep breath, trying to ignore how close she is, how the faint scent of her—lavender and something else—fills my senses.

“Now, just breathe,” she says, her voice softer now, more focused. “Let me see.”

I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel, but I do it, anyway. Breathe… in, out. My heart pounds, and I can feel my wolf stir restlessly inside me, uneasy with the whole situation.

A few seconds pass in silence. And then, I feel it—her hand brushes against my arm, just the faintest touch, but it’s like a jolt of fire rushing through my veins. My eyes fly open just as a vision slams into me.

Her vision.

I see Jade, standing strong, magic swirling around her like a force of nature. She’s powerful—more powerful than I could’ve imagined. And she’s… she’s leading. Not just herself,but my pack. Our pack. There’s a strength in her I never saw before, a potential unlike anything I’ve seen in anyone. She could be the key to everything.

The vision fades, leaving me breathless. I blink, trying to get her frame to stop swaying as I stare at her. She’s watching me with wide eyes, like she’s just realized what happened.

“You saw it, didn’t you?” she asks.

I nod slowly, almost without realizing it. I may not understand why or how, but one thing is clear: Jade is exactly what my pack needs. She’s powerful. And I need her back.

Without thinking, I jump to my feet with my decision made. “You’re coming back with me.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You’re coming back to Starfire Hollow. You’re going to help the pack.”

She blinks, and for a split second, I think she’s going to laugh. Her lips twitch, but then her expression hardens, and the air between us thickens.

I can see the defiance building in her eyes, but I don’t care. I’m not leaving here without her.