‘Lina?’he questioned in shock.
I nodded my big bear head and Gavin’sgrief ebbed with mine, becoming one.
Nahuel took off through the woods andGavin and I followed. Sometimes you just needed to run. My paws smashed throughthe delicate green ferns and with each one it broke, I envisioned breaking thebones of the Skin Walker Mukesh. I had never wanted anyone more dead than Iwanted him.
‘What’s wrong?’ my father asked me,his deep voice infiltrating my thoughts. Although I was a part of his pack, Ihad more privacy than before. Bears were solitary creatures and we didn’tneeda pack. Still, my father could pick up on emotions and he no doubt sensed mydistress.
‘Nahuel’s pack mate Lina was murdered.The one who saved my life.’My father would understand the words pack mate. It meant Lina was family. Andreminding him that Lina had saved Gavin and me would put him behind us withsupport.
I felt his emotions come back to methrough our pack bond, saturating my body like a salve on a wound. He was thereif I needed him and he loved me. I appreciated his concern and knew if I simplycalled, he and my mother would be here.
As jaguar, wolf, and bear, we pounded theforest floor trying to run off all of our sorrows. We snaked through the densegreen forest until I realized we were heading to the creek. As we neared, Icould smell Jaxon and Avery. He often took her here to train. Although she wasin line to be the pack doctor, Jaxon wanted a woman who could take care ofherself if a fight broke out. Turning the corner, past a large tree, I couldsee they were sparring with bo staffs on a flat rock. My brother and hisgirlfriend had been supposed to be starting junior year of college with Gavinand me, but now we were all in a holding pattern until we knew if thesewerewolf kidnappings would escalate. As we approached, Jaxon whipped around in aprotective stance. When he saw that it was us, he relaxed but still lookedconcerned. He must have felt it then, through our twin bond, the utter sorrowthat only the death of a loved one can bring. Other than my mate, and my Alphafather, Jaxon was the only other soul able to speak into my mind. We werecloser than normal siblings; it was a twin thing.
‘Who died?’he asked through the bond.
‘The Walker murdered Lina,’I told him as I began the shift back tomy human form. Taking a cue from me, Nahuel and Gavin shifted as well. I walkedover to the clothes hamper we kept by the creek and snatched up some clothes,pulling them on quickly. Then, I threw Gavin some sweats. Standing barefoot ona moss-covered rock, I turned to find Nahuel. He was fully dressed in theclothes he had on before, like magic.Show off.
No one said anything. We just stared ateach other, letting Lina’s loss seep into our souls. Avery had no clue what wasgoing on, but she gathered it wasn’t good. So, she simply stood with her headlowered.
“I have a burden that I selfishly need tolay on you.” Nahuel’s voice had startled me. His words were ominous and had mereally thinking before I answered.
“Tell me,” I said, meeting his eyes.
Everyone turned to look at Nahuel. Heseemed to scan each person’s face, sizing up whether or not he wanted thempresent.
“Lina is one of twelve in the world whocarry the magic for our people. She was the anchor for our power. She did thisas Alma did before her. She is the gateway to all that is good in magic.”
Whoa. That was … Okay, homegirl was moreimportant than I thought.
“What does that have to do with me?” Iasked him, taking a step closer as my feet pressed into the damp moss thatlittered the edge of the creek.
Nahuel looked shattered, emotionally andphysically. He looked like he had aged ten years, lines around his eyes andmouth were deeper, hair with more silver. What had happened to him? The threegashes in his cheek didn’t look to be healing very fast.
Just when I thought he may not answer, hespoke, soft and unsure. “I got to Lina before she completely crossed over tothe spiritual plane. I was able to freeze time in a small space around her sothat she could do what needed to be done. So that she could pass on her lifepath to the next chosen one. Her cousin, Rayla, is the next chosen anchor and willbe thirteen soon. At thirteen she can take this burden, but until then …”
He stopped talking and just stared at me,willing me to understand his meaning. I didn’t want to guess, I needed to hearit. Needed to hear what I thought was about to be the craziest thing he couldever ask me.No.
“But?” Jaxon asked, reading my thoughts.Just then, Gavin’s warm hand slipped into mine, offering comfort that only amate could.
Don’t say my name. God dammit, Nahuel,don’t you dare lay this at my feet,Ithought to myself and almost hoped he could hear.
“But … until her cousin has come of age,Lina chose Anya. Anya is chosen to be the next anchor temporarily.”
I barked out a laugh and put my hands upin front of me, pleading with Nahuel to pump the brakes. “Whoa! I think I’vegot enough on my plate here. I’m a Keeper, right? I gave up my wolf, lost mybirthright gift of Matefinding so that I could be a light keeper and help keepall the races from killing each other off,andso that I could helpbring an end to the Skin Walker’s murderous reign, and now this? You’re joking,right?” I gave a good chuckle for effect.Commence panic attack in 3 … 2 … 1.
I looked around me, eyeing the trees tomake sure I wasn’t on an episode of Punk’d. This was insane. This was toofreaking much. What had I done to piss off the universe?
Nahuel placed his head in his hands andwhispered, “Give me guidance, Great Spirit, for I am lost.”
Well, shit. His spiritual anchor gotmurdered and he came here asking for my help and I just freaked out on him. Iexhaled slowly and then approached him.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” I reached out to placemy hand on his shoulder when I felt that pull at my navel. Nahuel was having avision and I was about to go along for the ride.Crap.
My eyes lurched closed as I was pulled upout of my body and into that now-familiar place of a vision. How my mom andGavin did this on a regular basis I had no idea.
My feet slammed down onto a gravelpathway and I spun around quickly, looking for Nahuel.
“Nahuel!” I shouted.
