“You aren’t the only one who liked to ask why while growing up. Every time I did, she told me that she was helping us as much as she could. She has rules she needs to follow, just like we do. She can’t give us the answers. She can’t sway the Judgement in favor of one over the other. She can only show Bethi the past and give Michelle access to our futures.”
How do Michelle’s premonitions work?I sent Emmitt.Not the stock market ones, but the other ones.
Mostly they just pop into her head, unless she touches Mom. Then, she sees a room full of premonitions. Why are you asking?
Just trying to figure things out.
Don’t hurt yourself,he sent back.
I ignored him and focused on Olivia.
“If she can’t sway the Judgement, why does it feel like she’s stacking the deck in our favor?” I asked.
“I honestly don’t know.”
My gaze swept over her serene expression, her loosely folded hands on her lap, and her perfect posture. Her words, body language, and scent never matched. She maintained a calm and beautiful exterior, her scent even and pleasant. Her voice, when she spoke, carried soft, pleasant tones. Her words seemed to carry the true message.
She waited for me to speak again. In that silence, I noticed a small scar on the back of her hand. My gut clenched at the sight of it and thoughts of the fresh injuries on her back. I hadn’t smelled her blood until I’d lifted the bandages. I wouldn’t have thought that possible. Just additional proof that something more was at work here.
“How many times have you asked them to help you?” I asked, remembering her comment about a letter to Isabelle.
To answer me, she lifted her shirt, showing her stomach. The smooth, pale perfection made my mouth water and my chest squeeze with a warning pain. I swallowed hard and focused on the real reason she’d lifted her shirt. The lengthy pale scars of old wounds healed long ago.
“Whenever I needed to,” she said softly.
“If what you’re saying is true, then you’ve been helping us for a long time. What was it like growing up attached to Blake?”
She sighed and sat, her shirt falling back into place, which was both a disappointment and a relief.
“Cold, guarded, miserable. You’ve seen what he’s capable of. I’m sure Michelle has told you stories of her time with him. How do you think it was for me?”
I hadn’t meant to upset her. Yet, despite her undisturbed scent, I was certain I had.
Where are you?Winifred’s thoughts cut into mine.
With Olivia,I sent back.
You’re going to kill yourself. Leave.
I’m fine. There’s something going on here, Winifred. According to Bethi, these women have lived and died countless times in previous lives. They’ve never all been together. The Urbat always hunted them down. Why did they all fall into our lives before we even knew what they were? My Mom is one, Emmitt’s a Mate of one, and now I feel the pull for one? That’s beyond coincidence, don’t you think? We need to figure this out.
She remained quiet for so long, I thought she wouldn’t answer.
If you start hurting, you reach out to Sam or me immediately.
I understand,I sent back.
But, I knew I wouldn’t reach out to either of them. If I started hurting, I’d think of how I was helping the pack.
“Do you believe me?” Olivia asked.
“Yes.”
“Then help me.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
