Liam stepped forward, and movement caught her eye. At the corner of the house stood a lone gray wolf. Her bi-colored eyes were on Aro’s face. There was a sadness there in Lyric’s gaze. An acceptance.
She looked at Destiny, and as Liam approached the dying Elder, his lips pulled back with the promise of death on his face, Lyric turned and trotted for the woods.
Destiny didn’t watch Liam end it. Dodger bolted for her and stood in the way. It was over fast, but Destiny closed her eyes and imagined herself in Dodger’s arms. Home.
She was going to find home.
It would be different now, but it would still be home.
She flattened her ears and pressed her head against Dodger’s shoulder. He was ripped up, but he was standing. He was breathing. She could hear his pounding heartbeat.
He existed, and Destiny’s body sagged at the realization.
They were okay.
I’m here. Dodger circled her tightly and rested his head on top of hers.I’m here.
Destiny frowned. She could hear this faint whisper in her mind. She could hear him.
It’s okay. I’m here. You did so good.
There were other snippets of sentences whispering across her mind now.
…need to get her to the house…
…is that Destiny?…
…what the hell happened…
…she’s bleeding…
…get her to the truck…
…can she Change back?...
…Dodger, can you ask her to Change?...
…Liam, what do you need us to do?...
Destiny shook her head, confused by the way the voices were overlapping. When she looked up, her father’s wolf was sitting there. He had one paw limp on the red smattered snow, and he looked all cut up. Part of his ear was missing, and there was a long gash through one of his eyes and down his face. He watched her and lifted his head higher.Proud.
That’s the only word she recognized of his.
Proud, his wolf whispered again.
If she could cry in this body, she would.
Everything had gone wrong, and then she’d become this…this…thing. And she was supposed to be angry, right? She wasn’t. Overwhelmed perhaps, but she loved this…this…thing.
Destiny looked down at her paws. They were different shades of gray, and her nails were sharp and black. Weapons. The snow was turning pink, and she knew she was hurt, but not badly. It was nothing her new body wouldn’t heal. She could feel the hurt now. The ache of her injuries, but that meant she was still here. Still kicking. Still breathing. Still Dodger’s.
He was watching her with those bright glowing blue eyes, and God, she loved him. Could he hear her?Love, love, love, love, love.
…Fuck, get a room… Vic? His wolf trotted by. She could tell which of the Rogue Pack was which. She’d never seen their wolves, so how?
No, she couldn’t hate what she was. This felt right. This felt like she’d been meant to be. She felt like herself.
The whispering was so layered, she couldn’t understand. Her head was buzzing.
