“Do what you had me do when I was trying to contact my wolf. But… maybe, instead of looking inward, look outward. At the land? I don’t know. I sound like some new-age hippy,” Maddy said.
Closing my eyes, I did as she said. I cleared my mind and pressed my palms to the ground. The residual heat from the sun baked into my hands from the pine needles. The smell of the ocean drifted on the light breeze. The ocean was dozens of miles away, but I could still smell it. I slipped into an almost complete trance. I shoved everything out of my head—all thoughts of the war, of Edemas, Viola, even my pack, and Maddy. It was just me and the forest. No one else. Two entities, nothing more.
A peace unlike any I’d ever known descended on me. Now that I was fully open to my land, the earth responded. Like a wave or clap of thunder, something surged up through the ground and into my fingers. Images. There were glimpses in my mind. An ancient group of dark-skinned shifters huddling by a fire. An old crone, tracing symbols of protection on a tree. An alpha cutting his hand and binding a spell with his blood. There was power—unfathomable power coursing through me all at once. It didn’t scare me, though, only filled me with even more calm as the ancient spell’s remnants swirled within me. My body and mind seemed stronger, but in a way, I couldn’t describe.
When I opened my eyes, the woods looked more colorful and vibrant, as if I could see things that had been hidden before. I didn’t know the world could look so beautiful. I slowly got to myfeet and looked at Maddy, who was biting her nails, but her eyes gleamed.
“Did… did you notice anything?” I asked.
Nodding, Maddy said, “That was weird. Maybe your pack lands needed you as much as you needed it. It was like a pressure wave or something. I don’t know how to explain it.”
My legs were shaky as I took her hand and started to walk out of the forest. As we went, I touched the leaves, branches, and needles. Everything was warmer than it should have been. Like I couldreallysense the life inside. If I had to guess, I would say I now had a much closer relationship with my home than I had before. It thrilled me.
We walked up to my house, the night sky now fully dark. Sinthy sat on the front porch. Her eyes lit up when they fell on, and a wide grin crept across her lips.
“Was I right?”
“Uh, you could say that,” I said.
Sinthy looked out at the woods, then looked back at me. “I think we’re gonna be okay. I’ve got a good feeling.”
119
MADDY
Since the strange meditation session in the woods, there’d been something different about Nico. It wasn’t any one specific thing I could put my finger on, but he seemed surer of himself. He’d always been a confident man—something that came from being a pack alpha, I was certain. Now though, that confidence emanated from him. It affected everyone else as well. Each person who interacted with him said the same thing. It was like his confidence touched them, and so increased their own.
My wolf sensed it as well. Being near Nico calmed and relaxed her more now, like she was completely at ease near him and trusted him even more than she had before. Something had changed, and I was glad for whatever it was. Nico needed it. He’d struggled so much with the weight of the situation. He took so much on and wanted to be the one in charge, the one who took all the stress. It was nice to see that whatever power he’d tapped into in the forest was helping him. It might not last long, but the peace I saw on his face lightened my heart. I’d take it.
It was late when we gathered in Nico’s office. Sinthy came in, chugging an energy drink out of a brightly colored can.
“Are those things healthy?” I asked.
She drained the can and tossed it in the wastebasket by Nico’s desk. “Don’t care. Need the energy. This is gonna be rough.”
Luis and Sebastian stood at the far wall of the office. Nico’s dad sat beside Felipe, and two of Nico’s brothers were squeezed in there as well. The room had always been larger than the average office, but now it was absolutely cramped. The clock on the wall read one-thirty a.m.
“Luis, do we have anyone at the Moon Mate building?” Nico asked.
“The rest of your brothers are there,” Luis said.
“I’d like you to head down there too. I trust Tiago, but his people will be a little disoriented. I want as many hands there as possible.”
I remembered the first time we’d teleported. It had been disorienting for those first few moments. Vanishing from a place you know and ending up in and strange place would be scary as hell, especially for the children.
“Got it,” Luis said. He left without another word.
“Are you ready for this?” Nico asked with a wary look at Sinthy.
The woman shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m only teleporting like fifty people. No big deal.”
I couldn’t tell whether she was being sarcastic or serious, but Nico nodded as though he took it for assent.
“When do you want to do this?” Nico said.
“Whenever they’re ready. Call Tiago and let him know I’m ready when he is. I’m sure it’ll take some time to get everyone ready, but I shouldn’t be gone for more than ten minutes. If it’s been longer than fifteen, something has gone terribly wrong. That’s a heads up for you.”
Nico nodded. “Duly noted.”
