Idrove back up the mountain like a man possessed. The rain had stopped, but the roads were still slick and treacherous. The only light was from the high beams of my rental car, slicing through the dark. Still, I took the curves too fast, my hands white-knuckled on the wheel. Emma’s voice was still echoing in my head from the phone call.We’ll gather the pack. Get here as fast as you can.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Probably a text from Cole. He must’ve been wondering why I wasn’t at his place by now.
I couldn’t slow down to check. Besides, there wasn’t time to explain. My world had narrowed down to one simple truth: Reed was in trouble. It was the only thing that mattered.
The commune appeared through the trees, lights blazing in the cabins on the ridge. I pulled into the gravel lot and killed the engine, my heart hammering. Lindsey was waiting for me, her expression unreadable as she watched me park.
I grabbed my duffel and climbed out of the car.
“You came back,” Lindsey said, appraising me.
“Where is everyone?” I asked, ignoring that. She could be angry with me later, after we got Reed back.
“In the mess hall. Everyone is there. Even the witches. They were about to head back to Seattle when you called.”
“Let’s go,” I said, already walking past her.
Lindsey followed without another word.
Every head turned when I walked through the door of the mess hall.
Emma moved first, crossing the room to meet me. Her face was tight with worry. “Harris. Tell us what you know.”
I set the duffel down and forced myself to breathe. To think clearly despite the panic clawing at my chest at the thought of what might be happening to my mate. “The Algea took him. Reed’s in the Otherworld.”
A shadow crossed her face. “You already said that on the phone. But you’re certain?”
“We shared a mate dream. I saw it.” I sucked in a breath and let it out. “He’s there.”
Lindsey swore under her breath.
“How long ago?” Emma asked sharply.
“I don’t know. Hours, maybe. He’s still alive.”
I looked around the room, taking in the worried faces of the pack and the exhausted, drawn expressions the witches wore. They were all silent, their eyes locked on me.
Reed was in the Otherworld. With that monstrousthing. And no one could reach him.
The witches had already said another portal was out of the question. Which left only one other option. Puttingmyselfin a state between life and death.
“There’s another way to cross over,” I said, forcing the words out one after the other, doing my best to keep my voice steady. “Apart from opening a portal.”
Emma’s lips pursed as she regarded me. A moment later, she said, “What are you suggesting?”
“Tamrand said someone in a liminal state could cross into the Otherworld.” Then I paused before speaking the words that would change the course of my life for good. “A human becoming a werewolf would probably work.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes and she took a startled step back. “Harris—”
“I can do this. Ihaveto do this.”
“Absolutely not,” Simone cut in, her voice sharp and her gaze fixed on me. “Do you understand what you’re proposing? Transitioning into a werewolf is permanent. It cannot be undone.”
“I know that.”
“You’d be giving up your human life,” Hunter said quietly. He and Lee sat side by side at one of the tables, nearly identical expressions of concern on their faces. “Are you willing to do that?”
The sum total of my human life was my job, my spartan apartment back in Los Angeles, and my friendship with Cole. I wasn’t particularly attached to Los Angeles. I definitely wouldn’t miss the deafening silence of my apartment. And I liked protecting people—solving homicides did that. If I cracked the case, I usually stopped bad people from hurting anyone else.
