I nodded. “You should have.” I grabbed both of their hands. “But I understood why you didn’t. I couldn’t tell you because your tears are the catalyst of the spell. I would have down a lot worse because of my pup. I am doing a lot worse. I don’t hold it against you.”
Shelly broke down into sobs then. “Why not? We deserve it and worse.”
Rick nodded. “This is all my fault. The curse, the kids, your friend… Oh goddess, your friend.”
I shifted to Megan. “Is completely fine.”
He reeled back. “She was you…”
I shifted back and sighed. “Yeah. It was me.” I waved him off. “But I got more information than I had in the few months in the office.” I smirked as I turned to Abby. “Down you come.” She held up her arms, and I grabbed her. “You did so good, sweetheart.”
“Am I really healed?” Her voice was full of hope.
I smiled. “How do you feel?”
“Tired, but…” She scrunched her face up. “Better.”
I smiled. “That’s expected.” I spun her around and looked at the brand, but it was gone. “Your curse mark is gone, and I don’t feel anything around you anymore.” I spun her back around to face me. “You are officially healed.”
Shelly stood and held out her arms. But I shook my head. “What’s wrong?” Shelly’s hands dropped. I turned and handed Abby to Wendy.
“Can you bring the girls up to bed?” Wendy nodded.
“Of course I can.” She put Abby on her hip before she turned to a slightly pale Carly. “You ready for bed time girls?”
Carly bounced on her toes, then yawned. “Yeah Aunty Wendy, I am.” She slipped her hand into Wendy’s and then all walked upstairs. Shelly and Rick turned to follow, but I called them back.
“Don’t leave.” They turned, and I raised my hands. “Tomorrow you guys will have all day to play and have the first healthy day with your girl for the first time since all of this started, but sadly, we aren’t done with everything tonight.”
Rick looked down and sighed. He looked at Shelly. “I haven’t been one hundred percent honest…” He turned to look at me. “How much longer do I have?”
I opened my mouth but Shelly smacked him on his shoulder. “What are you talking about?” She looked at me. “What is he talking about?”
I had to stifle a laugh. “Rick, you aren’t the only one with something they have been hiding…” I turned to look at everyone here. “Are you?” I looked at Alannah, Ternen and then settled on Shelly.
All three looked away from my eyes. Alannah and Ternen caught each other look, but it was Alannah that smacked a hand over her mouth and sank to the ground. “No.”
I turned to Rick. “Show them.” He stared at me for a minute before turning around and lifting the hair he had let grow over the infected rune carved there.
Shelly broke down. Her sobs were soft, but everyone could feel the pain. “That’s why you stopped letting me cut your hair?”
He let the hair drop back down. “I couldn’t let you see.” Shelly wiped her eyes before she lifted her arm. Tucked inside her armpit was a brand. “What the fuck is that?” Rick rushed to her side and stared at the brand. “It doesn’t look like mine…or Abby’s.”
Before I could say anything, Alannah took off her shoe and lifted a foot, showing off the same rune on the bottom of her foot. Ternen looked a little green when he grabbed a fist of his hair and pulled back his ear, showing off his own rune. My mom looked at all of them and then turned to me. “What are these?”
“Parasitic runes.” I sank back into the chair. “Abby’s was a draining rune. Vince is trying to drain all the children of pack members who I can only assume wouldn’t blindly follow his plan to revolt.”
My mom scoffed, but then she fell silent. “You are serious?” I nodded. “But how would he even know that they wouldn’t follow him?”
I raised my shoulder. “May be small things. Like with Rick.” I pointed at him. “Vince wanted him to go against daddy, Rick said no. Woke up with the rune on his neck. When that didn’t make him fall in line, Vince turned his sights on Abby.”
Shelly stumbled back against the table. Her eyes were glossy with her unshed tears. “What does his rune mean?” She turned to me. “Amy?”
I reached out and snagged her hand. “It’s called the quickening rune. It’s to enhance a wolf’s power by feeding them an extra boost. It was used in battles of old. To give a pack the leg up if they had lower ranked members or fewer numbers.” She nodded. “But his was poisoned.” Her fingers tightened on mine.
“What does that mean?” Her question was soft. Rick grabbed her other hand.
“It doesn’t matter.” He leaned into her but she pulled away so she could look at him.
