LOGIN“He didn’t tell me everything. What he did tell me was enough to know that we’re going to have to be extra vigilant,” Raven says.What could have happened to make Lyall call Raven like this?Honestly, part of me is surprised he didn’t contact her sooner. I had assumed he was staying away because he wanted to leave that line of communication open between them without risking me finding out. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe something has changed.“Okay, I’m going to need a little more than that,” I say slowly.“Well, they just got back, so he doesn’t know everything yet. But what he has learned is that their electronics have been compromised. His phone is clean, but only because he’s been away from the pack for so long. Someone has also infiltrated the pack itself and planted listening devices. Apparently, he noticed something strange about his room right away. It was completely spotless.”I frown, thinking about what that could mean.Our maids have always been competent, but they were never th
Raven spends most of the afternoon talking to me about what I might be able to do now that I've connected with the Earth.There are so many things witches can do that I never knew about. Knowing that I might be able to do them too both excites and terrifies me in equal measure."Once you're fully connected with the Earth, you'll start to feel subtle differences in the world around you," Raven explains. "You'll be able to sense when the Earth is suffering. You might even be able to find people you're close to. The stronger your connection becomes, the more you'll be able to sense."I glance at her, trying to imagine what that would feel like."There will come a time when you can connect with the Earth and know where the animals, insects, humans, and wolves around you are without even thinking about it. You'll just know.""That sounds a little overwhelming."She laughs. "It probably will be at first. Imagine walking into a crowded room and suddenly knowing where every living thing in it
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know how to tell you earlier."My mother's voice is quieter than usual. She glances toward the door, then back at me, as though she's still afraid someone might walk in and overhear us."There are people watching us, Lyall. Listening to us. We don't know who they are yet, but we've found clues. Someone has been spying on us."I stare at her."Who? And why?" I shake my head, trying to make sense of what she's telling me. "We haven't had any problems with other packs in years.""I know.""Then this doesn't make any sense."She looks around again, and the uneasiness in her expression makes my stomach tighten."We don't think it's another pack. If it were wolves, we would have expected some kind of confrontation by now. Someone would have made a move against us, or we would have heard something from our allies.""Then who?""We don't know." She takes a slow breath. "It could be witches. It could even be humans. We have no idea how far this goes."Witches.My though
Lyall’s POVThe shower does nothing to wash away my worries about what could be happening inside the pack.Whatever has my mother this frightened is something I need to take seriously.Then there is the question of my father.Where is he?He should have been there to greet me when I returned. As the heir to the pack, I would expect my father to be one of the first people waiting for me, especially after being gone for so long.There are only two reasons I can think of for his absence. Either he is away from the pack, or something is keeping him from coming to see me.Neither possibility sits well with me.Just what is going on here?Whatever it is, it must be serious if it has my mother acting this strangely and my father nowhere to be found.My mind spins throughout the entire shower and continues while I get dressed, but my thoughts have nowhere to land. I have no idea what has been happening while I have been gone, and every new question seems to lead to three more.I pull on a pai
Lyall’s POVReturning to the pack has never felt so strange.Everything feels different after speaking to Rowan. Knowing that she had our daughter and that I was not there with her makes everything feel backward. I should have been there. I should have been the one holding her hand, reassuring her, and making sure she knew she was not alone.Instead, I am here, walking back into the place she felt she had to escape.At the same time, I know the doctor was right when she told me I needed to find out exactly what was happening inside the pack.Rowan did not feel safe for a reason.She left for a reason.It does not matter what that reason is. I have to uncover the truth.I need Rowan and my daughter to be safe, even if that means staying away from them a little longer.My mind drifts to imagining what Rowan might be doing with our daughter right now.I have so many questions.What does she look like?Was she born healthy?Who does she look like?Will she have enough witch blood to inher
On my walk back to the house, I feel almost as if I am floating on air.My mind cannot seem to focus on anything as the feeling from the forest continues to linger.The saying “my mind is in the clouds” takes on an entirely new meaning as I keep replaying what just happened.I felt something.Something I had never felt before.Something that I am not sure I will ever be able to properly explain.“I see that you managed it.” Raven says with a small smile when I walk through the door.“I did.” I say simply.Her smile grows as I walk over to a chair and sit down.It must be written all over my face just how life-changing that moment was.I am not sure I will ever be able to go back to living the exact same way I did before.Not after what I felt in that forest.“This will fade,” Raven tells me. “That is why we continue to practice meditation on a regular basis. It is important to remember what you learned today.”“I am not even quite sure what I learned at this point.” I admit quietly.“
Flashes.That was all I had.Flashes of light.Flashes of voices.Flashes of movement just beyond my reach.Every time I tried to grasp one of the memories, it slipped away like water through my fingers.My head pounded.It felt as though someone had taken a hammer to my skull and then left the pie
Troy looked far too pleased with himself as we sat around sipping our drinks and talking about all the trouble we'd inevitably get into at college.I still couldn't believe everyone had decided to go.When Lyall and I first made our plans, I'd imagined the two of us facing a new world together. Som
"On a more serious note," Mel said, lifting his empty glass, "one of us has to go get the next round, don't we?"A collective groan went around the table.We all laughed at Mel's expression.His family was ridiculously wealthy. Not spoiled exactly, but definitely accustomed to convenience. If there
Knowing I wouldn't be allowed to leave until I promised to be careful, I gave my parents the reassurance they wanted before retreating to my room to finish getting ready.Most of my friends were guys, and I usually blended right in with them. Every now and then, though, I enjoyed reminding them tha







