Abby looked at me. “I don’t know how to explain.”
I looked at her for a minute. “Did you want me to explain instead?” She nodded, relief on her face. “Okay.” I looked at the trio. “When I cut her wrist, my magic, and my wolf pulled me into her safe place. The place where, when fully grown, her wolf would have lived.”
“Would have?” Rick whispered.
“Oh, Goddess.” Shelly pulled Abby to her.
I held up my hand. “When we got there, Abby followed me. She walked with me to the dark forest in her soul and together, we found her wolf pup. And I mean pup.” I held out a hand and cupped her face. “The hex has stunted her growth. Not just her human side, but her wolf as well.”
“Her wolf hasn’t awoken yet. I would have felt it.” Rick looked a little lost.
“Normally I would have agreed with you, but I’ve seen her, met her, held her.” I shook my head. “She was at death’s door. If I would have waited even twenty-four more hours for the spell to bring you here…” I trailed off, but Abby rubbed her face against my hand.
“I would have been dead.”
Rick and Shelly stood. But it was Shelly who looked at me, accusation in her eyes. “You said she was strong enough to last the month.” She looked down at her daughter. “You said she would have survived.”
I nodded. “I would have been wrong.” My words were soft. “I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what?” She nearly screamed.
Nix slipped back into my mind and she looked broken.Nix? What’s wrong?
It’s been years.Her words were soft before she charged a tree and attacked it. Shattered the big oak into splinters. She whirled on me.Years Amy. That pup was awoken too early, and she was left to suffer in pain and silence because she was too weak to reach out, but strong enough to save her human.
My brain clicked back on as Shelly hit my face. Everyone froze. My voice dropped to a whisper. “That her wolf woke up years too early to save her life from a hex that should have never been placed on her.”
Chapter Forty
Apin could drop. That’s how quiet the room was when I looked at Shelly. But she just stood there, hand hanging loosely by her side, staring down at me. “What did you say?”
I took a deep breath. “Sit down and listen to the full story. I will ignore the fact you hit me because you are emotional and worried about your child. But make no mistake. I am an Alpha wolf and I will not suffer disrespect so easily.”
She stumbled back a step and sank down. Rick grabbed her hands, flashing me an awkward, apologetic smile as he pulled her close to him. “What were you saying?” Shelly looked at him with a tiny bit of hurt in her eyes, but Rick just kissed her. “Let her speak. This isn’t her fault, babe.”
Abby sighed and pushed up to her knees. She was face to face with her mom. “I know you're worried, and you don’t understand, but Amy is the only reason I’m still alive.”
Shelly stared down at her daughter and a tear slipped out. “I’m sorry.” Her eyes flicked up to me. “I’m so sorry. I just…”
“I know, and it’s okay. Protecting your child is your first instinct and I believe me, I understand the instinct. Rick can explain once you get away.” I looked back down at Abby. “How long has Abby had the mark?”
Rick looked like he was thinking, but it was Shelly that answered. “She was five, she had just started school, and her class needed physicals. She came home with the brand and Vince explained it was a new vaccine for a sickness going around. Why?”
My eyes snapped to hers. “I’ll explain in a moment.” I could tell she wanted to rip my head off, but I pushed on. “When we got there, my wolf wrapped her up, and felt how weak she was. Her fur was patchy, and she couldn’t even lift her head. I didn’t know she had even manifested yet, but there she was, small, shivering and weak.” I heard Alannah whine, but I pushed through it. “I picked up Nala, and held her close, trying to figure out how bad the damage was.”
Rick furrowed his brow. “Nala? Who is that?”
“My wolf daddy.” Abby smiled. “She is amazing, and even though she is sick, like me, she’s beautiful.” She turned to look at me. “You were right.”
“What do you mean?”
“You said that sick people can be beautiful, and I said you were wrong. But you were right.” She closed her eyes. “Even sick…Nala was stunning.” Her eyes looked at me and smiled.
“She was.” I booped her nose. “When I first cut Abby, my intent was to heal the cut, so she wouldn’t get sicker. But my magic took over, healing as much damage as it could.Strengthening her, even as my wolf drew me into her inner sanctum.”
Rick looked at his daughter. “She looks healthier.”
I nodded. “So when I held Nala, my magic did the same. But Nix, my wolf, was right. Nala had taken on so much of the damage, she had less than a day left. And maybe Abby would have survived losing her wolf, but…”
