My entire being pulsed with conviction.
‘At least we’ll still be here tomorrow,’ I said, ‘even if we’re not witches anymore. Wyn’s life is more important than my magic. Catherine, I love him.’
‘I can see that,’ she replied, softer now, more considerate. ‘You’ve got the same look on your face your daddy had when he came to tell me about Angelica. Nothing he wouldn’t have done for her. Nothing you won’t do for him.’
‘It’s not just that.’ I fished through all the things Wyn had told me, trying to remember the exact words. ‘He said his pack felt a darkness rising, something really bad. It has to be me. If I’m so dangerous Weres can feel it from hundreds of miles away, we shouldn’t go through with the ceremony. If you’re sure you can keep Wyn safe, I have to leave.’
Catherine moved and blocked my path to the door as though I might make a run for it right away. ‘That won’t help now. The full moon is on its way, the Becoming has already started,I know you can feel it. If we don’t complete the ritual, the chances of you losing control are increased tenfold. Our only hope is to secure your boy and keep his pack away until after your ceremony. Once the full moon is out of their system, perhaps they’ll listen to reason.’
‘And if they don’t?’
‘After your Becoming, you’ll be strong enough to make them.’ She kissed me on top of the head then pulled away with a determined smile. ‘My brave, selfless girl. Ready to give up everything to save someone she loves.’
‘Just like my dad,’ I whispered, searching for the same determination he had shown.
‘You are your father’s daughter,’ she agreed. Her smile only wavered for a second. ‘Now, I want you to go clear out the woodshed and let me take care of everything else. We’re all going to get through this just fine, do not worry.’
But as she drew me into her embrace, there was a look in her eyes I’d never seen before.
Catherine was afraid.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Emptying the woodshed was exactly what I needed. Hours of exhausting physical labour that gave me no time to think. Even though it killed me to be away from him, we all agreed Wyn would stay with Lydia until Catherine had everything figured out. This would surely be the first place his pack would look for him and while Bell House would do all it could to keep us safe, we didn’t want a fight knocking on our door if it could be helped. While Catherine worked on a way to keep Wyn safe, I worked on clearing out decades of junk; broken lawnmowers, old bicycles and pogo sticks, and a mountain of unlabelled boxes, the yellowed tape that had once held them closed disintegrating the moment I touched it. It was almost shocking to see so much useless clutter in the vicinity of Bell House. Inside, even a fly wouldn’t land where it wasn’t welcome and I couldn’t imagine why Catherine hadn’t thrown all this stuff away years ago.
Even though it wasn’t visible yet, I could feel the moon as it moved along its orbit. One second I was too weak to pick up a suitcase, the next I was sure I could lift the whole house. I squatted to pick up a box labelled ‘Christmas decorations’and I staggered sideways under the unexpected weight. This was one of the weaker moments.
‘You need some help?’
A pair of hands grabbed the other end of the box right before my knees buckled, and helped me carry it out into the garden.
‘Why does that say Christmas decorations when the damn thing is clearly full of bowling balls,’ Ashley asked, pressing her hand into her lower back after we let it fall to the floor with a jingling thud. She looked around her garden, scowling. ‘This is a mess.’
‘I know, it’s endless,’ I agreed. ‘Most of it looks like junk, we could probably toss it all out.’
She turned back to me, pushing the sleeves of her old denim shirt up to her elbows.
‘I wasn’t talking about the shed.’
I couldn’t really argue with her.
‘So, is he worth it?’ she asked. ‘This wolf?’
‘His name is Wyn and he’s not a wolf.’ I disappeared back inside the shed and came back carrying an ancient typewriter with more than half its keys missing.
‘At least that’s not all he is,’ I added. ‘And I know you’re going to say I’m dumb and too young and I’m throwing my life away for someone I just met but, yes, I think he’s worth it.’
‘I’m the last person who could call you dumb. Well, at least about this,’ she replied, laughing unexpectedly. ‘I was only sixteen when I fell in love.’
I dropped the typewriter on the wrought-iron table, a cloud of dust blowing up in my face.
‘Ellie,’ I said and she nodded.
‘When we were together, nothing in the world could touch me.’
Ashley sat at the table and tapped absently at the typewriter.‘I knew right away, the second I saw her. She took my breath away. Most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.’
‘Will you tell me what happened?’ I asked, slowly sinking down to sit on one of the boxes. ‘Whatreallyhappened?’
