“Okay, then. I’m ready when you are.” Jin smiled as she shifted from foot to foot, unable to hold still with excitement.
In a flash, Chasen changed. His body grew to a towering size. Rich brown fur covered his body, but he had the same brown eyes. He gazed at Jin, whose eyes widened as she walked up to him. She reached out, and he felt her fingers running through his fur. In his animal form, his emotions were more raw, and he had to suppress a moan from her touch. It sent tingling sparks over his body.
“Chocolate really is the best color,” Jin said softly as she continued to sift her fingers in his fur. As soon as she saw him, she couldn’t help herself. She was immediately drawn to him. She tilted her head and looked into his brown eyes, smiling. “I see you. You have the same eyes.” She stared into them for a moment. She felt like she was floating into them, sucked in by an invisible force. The tugging inside her chest began again.She immediately pulled her hands back to her sides and took a few steps backward, shrugging slightly. “I guess I’m the one to begin?” She watched the bear nod his head, his gaze fixed on her.
Her green eyes focused on Chasen. She lifted her hand slightly and called to the wind. At first, light swirls played around her, almost as if it was greeting her. Then the focus shifted from her to him. The wind shot out toward him in an angry fury, pushing the bear backward. She was shocked to see him regain his footing. Then she took a hesitant step backward as he continued to march toward her slowly. She raised her other hand and concentrated harder, not trying to summon a tornado but an intense windstorm. She didn’t want to hurt him, after all. A real battle, when it was a life-or-death situation, would be different. There was something else holding her back, though. A pain in her chest that burned as she watched the wind lashing at him. She could feel her body fighting her, as if it was lashing back at her for attacking him. When she saw him stumble to his side, her breath stopped, her chest tightened, and she instantly felt nauseated. She stopped the wind and ran to him. He regained himself instantly and tilted his head at her, confused as to why she stopped. Her eyes watered as she closed the distance between them, letting her body respond. She reached out, placing her hands on his face, and leaned her head into his.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s just practicing, but I can’t. It hurts,” she said in a whisper. She felt his body change, and soon, her hands were resting on his chest.
“What hurts? Are you okay?” He saw her teary eyes and panicked, thinking she was in pain.
Jin shook her head and looked down at her feet. “No, I’m fine.” She looked up into his brown, pooling eyes. “It hurts to fight against you.” She bit her bottom lip. She didn’t understand it. She had no problem sparring against Hunter, but it was different with Chasen. His eyes softened and his hands reachedout to rest on her shoulders. She could feel that something was about to happen. Something inside her was breaking free and faintly whispering out. She could almost hear it …
“Chasen! Jin!” Hunter called out, waving to them from the side of the field. “The weather is amazing right now! Let’s go swimming!”
Jin snapped her head over to Hunter and stepped away from Chasen. She immediately shrugged off whatever was happening and trotted toward Hunter.
“It’s late evening, though.” Jin giggled.
“Best time for a swim.” Hunter beamed.
“We can practice making a whirlpool in the water with the air! It’ll be good for you to learn.” A big smile curved over her lips as she reached him.
“Susan is waiting for you over at the house. She has a handful of swimwear for you to try on.” Hunter saw a flash of something in Jin’s eyes, but she continued to hide behind her smile. Just like his sister always did.
“Okay, I’ll go meet her there now.” Jin sped off in the direction of the pack house.
Hunter watched her with a frown on his face. His brother walked up next to him and sighed.
“You have the worst timing ever.” Chasen lightly growled at Hunter but stopped, sensing something from his brother. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it was nothing.” Hunter shrugged. “But she seemed a bit?—”
“Hunter!”
Hunter and Chasen turned their heads to see Chelsie running up to them.Great, now what?Hunter could see the concern laced over the kelpie’s face. The brave water horse looked a bit vulnerable. His heart sank. He knew something had happened with his sister, Reiya.
“Reiya and Brody sent me here. Abaas reached out through a mindlink to her. He said he would be sending his demon wolves after the Black Ice Pack. She’s worried about you all—” Chelsie was immediately bombarded with questions.
“Is Reiya alright?”
“How is Brody handling everything?”
“I bet Reiya is so upset.”
“Easy boys, calm down. She’s fine. Honestly, she was more worried about you guys. You know Reiya better than that. You know that her first thoughts would be about you guys.”
“I’ll kill him,” Chasen growled.
“That demon has lived for far too long.” Hunter scowled as he stomped back and forth. “I’m going to kick that demon’s ass, and then I’m coming to get my sister. You tell her that I’m going to do my part to make sure she’s taken care of.”
“Don’t worry. She has a set of protectors around her already. She’s fine. She wanted to come here to help protect the Black Ice Pack.” Chelsie sighed with a shrug.
“No, I want her to stay far away from here if that demon plans to show his face. Knowing him, he’ll just be sending in his army to get slaughtered.” Hunter frowned in irritation. He wanted to be with Reiya and keep her safe. He now had to depend on Brody and Leviathan to protect her. It was hard, but he had to trust them.
Chelsie pulled out a letter. “This is from Reiya and Brody.”
Hunter and Chasen,
