They all laughed. Adam seemed to get a big kick out of that, probably because he completely understood what Gustavo was saying. Kara saw the way Adam looked at Crina. Nothing was going to keep them from their true mates. Would her mate want her with the same intensity? She hoped so, but the thought alsoterrifiedher.
“How long have you been waiting to find your mate?” Heatheraskedhim.
His sensual lips turned up in a slight smile. “More centuries than I care toremember.”
“Okay, you look like a hot twenty-something. It’s really weird when you say stuff like that,” Stellatoldhim.
“Look at it this way,Gitana, your mate will have much experience and wisdom. He will have more to offer you than hormones and an empty bankaccount.”
“Oh wow.” Heather breathed out. “He’sgood.”
Crina nodded. “I have to agree. Anna’s got no chance atresisting.”
“I’m right here.” Adam practically growled, which was impressive considering he wasn’tawolf.
Kara grinned as Crina rose up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his chin. “And I didn’t have a chance at resisting you. So, you have nothing to complainabout.”
“Is the darkness in you beginning to … take over?” Karaasked.
Gustavo seemed hesitant to answer. “Talking about the darkness is difficult, even with other wolves. The struggle is verypersonal.”
Kara nodded. “Sorryaboutthat.”
“No harm done,” Gustavo reassured her. “Imagine having to face the thought of losing your mind, your sense of identity, knowing that you will be transformed into a mindless killing machine and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Your only hope is that some other more powerful wolf will execute you before you do too much damage to the innocent people around you. Now you have some idea of what it is like to struggle with thedarkness.”
All of the girls’ eyes went wide, and they said no more. The group was quiet for a long time, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Kara’s mind was wrapped up in the idea of true mates, of the one who was specifically made for her. Was it Nick, handsome, motorcycle-riding Nick? Was he the wolf that held the other half ofhersoul?
It seemed strange to think she only possessed half of her soul, and yet something inside of her said it made sense. She’d always felt like something was missing. She’d just assumed it was because she was an orphan and had been stuck in foster homes where love was scarce. What would it be like to be loved? It was a question she hoped she’d have an answer to sooner rather thanlater.
Stella was frustratedand hopeful at the same time. Gustavo’s tale about the Great Luna and how the Canis lupus had come into existence had fascinated her. But it also showed her that if she didn’t accept the wolf that was to be her mate, she would be leaving him to a horrible future. She had incredible fear when it came to having a relationship with the opposite sex. Regardless, she would have to find a way to overcome it. She couldn’t knowingly hurt someone who had done nothing to her, who loved her, and who had been created to bewithher.
She rubbed her hand against her chest, focusing on the dull ache that never seemed to abate. How much longer would they be stuck in the pixie realm? How much longer until they would meet the males that could take the ache away? Would she be glad once she met him, or would she rather have the ache back? Those weren’t the only questionsshehad.
What about Jewel? And Anna? Gustavo was obviously very worried about Anna, which meant something was seriously wrong. Were they with Peri? Did that mean something had happened to Peri? Stella couldn’t imagine anything happening to Perizada. The idea that someone could kick her ass was right up there with time travel being possible. It just couldn’thappen.
She felt a nudge and glanced over at Heather. “Yougood?”
“I’m as good as a sister can be when she’s trapped in a non-human realm surrounded by supernatural beings, a blind chick with a bizarre sense of humor, an orphan who’s more mature than she should be, and a damn ache in her chest that won’t go away until she meets here future werewolflover.”
Heather patted Stella’s arm. “That’s so good to hear. You seem to be coping so well, almost as well as one of my three-leggeddogs.”
Stella snorted. “There is something wrongwithyou.”
“What is with you people and stating the obvious?” Heather asked. “I’m blind. Of course, there’s something wrongwithme.”
“We just like to annoy you,”Karasaid.
Stella smiled at her. “Goodone,K.”
“Mission accomplished,” Heather quipped. Then she tilted her head in much the same way a dog might, or even a wolf. “Got any more stories,Antonio?”
Gustavo frowned. “My name is notAntonio.”
Heather waved him off. “For the sake of fantasizing, let’s just sayitis.”
Every person in the group groaned as Heather sat theregrinning.
“You do realize we won’t cut you any slack just because you’re blind, right?” Crinaaskedher.
