“Oh my gods,” I whisper.
Kitty turns to me, a smile nearly splitting her face in half.
“Isn’t it amazing?” she whispers.
I nod. It’s beautiful, although I’m still not sure whatitis.
“What are they doing?” I ask as the wolves continue to rise.
Elliot is the one who answers me.
“Harmonizing,” he says. “It’s how we stregnthen our pack bonds. Try it.”
“Me?”
He nods, chuckling at me.
“Yes, you.”
“No, no,” I say. “I don’t think anyone wants to hear me sing.”
I’m no good at singing. Never have been. That’s much more Elsie’s speed. But Elliot doesn’t seem to care. With a toothy grin, he strokes a finger under my chin, lifting my face into the light.
“I do,” he says.
For a second time tonight, a flush finds its way to my cheeks. Thankfully, the warm glow of the fire will not give me away.
“No, really. I can’t.”
Elliot shrugs, though he is grinning wide.
“Alright, princess, suit yourself.”
He stands without warning, tilts his head toward the sky, and joins the chorus with a perfect vibrato, and before Kitty rises from her seat, she leans in to whisper, “He wants you to sing so he can feel it.”
“Feel what?” I ask, still watching him.
There’s a beautiful tone coming from deep in his throat, and I can almost feel it vibrating through my limbs as he sings louder.
“Your energy,” Kitty says. “He’ll feel it through the pack bonds.”
She stands without further explanation, and I watch as the wolves continue to rise, each of them adding their own vocalization to the mix. Somehow, as the song continues and the tones blend, the pack develops a seamless harmony. It swells over the treetops and out into the night sky, and I’m not sure what it is, maybe the music worming its way into my heart, or Elliot attempting to do the same, but after a while, something moves me to my feet.
I play it safe and mimic the tones Elliot makes, and for a moment, I can feel the electricity of pack magic running through me as the voices fade in and out.
I don’t know how long they sing for, I’m too wrapped in their song to notice time ticking by, but slowly the voices stop, and people take their seats, until eventually the grove is quiet once more and the fire is nothing but embers.
The pack goes back to their chatting, and someone busts out a case of brew, passing them around the circle. I take one in hopes it might quiet the newfound fire in my stomach, but it only proves to make matters worse as my body loosens and my limbs grow warm.
“You ready?” Elliot says, tipping the last few drops of the bottle back.
I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows, only managing to respond once he’s finished.
“Yeah.”
He carries me on his back this time, and I decide I like this mode of transportation as he continues up the many flights of stairs to his room.
I hop down as his door swings shut behind us, and watch Elliot kick off his boots before collapsing onto the bed.
