“Welcomeback, child.” She went to the door and opened the flap. Cool night air waftedinside the hut and with it, the smell of rain. I took a deep breath as Nahuel movedbeside me.
Hehanded me water. “Can you go the final round?”
Iwanted to say no. I was hot as hell, tired, thirsty, and freaked out by myvampire vision. But I was also stubborn and I wasn’t a quitter.
Inodded. Alma closed the flap. Rain began to fall on the tent. Alma threw herarms up and shouted, “Sky Father! Thank you for this blessed rain. Wash awayour impurities, our doubts, all blockages that keep us from our true path. Washaway insecurities, fears, feelings of lack. We are worthy. We open our arms toreceive.” Mist flew out of Alma’s hands and wrapped around Nahuel and me. Shewasn’t a witch, but she had a natural gift for magic. I guess Kai was right.Shaman’s were their own kind of people.
Hermist wrapped around me and I began to think of Kai. I thought of what Alma saidabout removing insecurities and fear. Was I afraid Kai would hurt me? Why was Iwaiting to mate with him? Why had I said two months to get married? Why not sooner?I was scared. I could see that. In the tent, my emotions were so clear. Theywere laid out before me, raw and bleeding. I was a little girl with daddyissues and I was allowing myself to continue to be labeled a victim. When Kaihad tried to get closer to me after Sadie’s wedding, I pushed him away. Iburied our bond in my mind. I told him I had issues. But why? Why did I need tocontinue to play the role of abuse victim? Ididn’t. Iwouldn’t.
Agrowl ripped from my throat. Alma nodded as if she knew I had reached clarityon something.
Kaiwas mymate! The one person in my life Icouldtrust. What thehell was I waiting for? I could die at any time! I could have a heat stroke in thetent. I needed to fully live my life. I couldn’t control when I would die, butI could control when I chose to live. I needed to stop labeling myself avictim. I was strong. I was worthy. I deserved Kai.
Thesound of the rain was deafening. It pattered on the tent in a steady drummingbeat. I closed my eyes like Kai taught me to and went into my mind. I imaginedthe woods behind our house. I imagined the place where I had buried our matebond. I saw the glowing ball just under the surface. I dug it up and nudged theball out with my wolf snout, the ball hovered around me and then settled intomy chest.
Iopened my eyes, gasping. So much love. I felt so much love through our bond. Ifelt as if he was right with me. He was worried about me, but he wanted to besupportive. He was jealous of Nahuel. He was wondering why I wouldn’t mate withhim yet, why I hesitated to set a date for our ceremony. He had kept his sideof our mate bond wide open this whole time. He had just noticed me uncoveringthe mate bond. I felt excitement in his energy. We were too far to communicate,but I sent him love. I sent him good thoughts. Alma came to me then. I didn’trealize there were tears on my cheeks until she wiped them.
“Thereis a rightness in your soul now. Good girl.” She bent down to kiss my cheek andshuffled to walk around Nahuel, placing a tender hand on his head as shepassed. She opened the flap and went out into the rain. Steam rose off herbody. Nahuel clasped his hands together in prayer pose. “Thank you Great Spirit.”He got up and left as well.
Itook a deep breath. I was drenched in sweat, my hair stuck to my back and face.I smelled. I was hungry and thirsty, but I had never felt so alive and soclear. I clasped my hands. “Thank you for your guidance, Great Spirit.” Itseemed right. That there was some greater thing out there that I couldn’texplain, that I was a part of it.
Igroaned as I got up into a standing position. As I walked outside, the coolrain hit my skin. Laughter began to bubble up inside of me. Alma began to laughas well and spun around in a circle, dancing like a child. I followed herlead. I felt amazing. I was free.
Almatook me to behind a thick cluster of trees where there was another tentedstructure. Inside was a large wash basin and a composting toilet. Alma pointedto the toilet, which had a bucket of sod next to it.
“Afteryou go to the bathroom, place a scoop of sod over it.”
Itried not to wrinkle my nose.Fancy.
Therewere dried lavender bundles hanging from the teepee’s peak. She left and afterI washed up and changed clothes, I went to find Nahuel.
Therain was gone and it was dark out. I had a lantern to light my way. Somethingabout living without electricity or modern plumbing seemed right. The propertywas practically untouched by man. The moss grew in thick chunks on the branches.The trees were over a hundred feet tall and the weeds and flowers that grewwere beautiful.
Ifound Nahuel lying under a makeshift tent made of tarp by the fire. I pulledout my sleeping bag. He gestured to one of the teepees. “You can have theteepee, it will be warmer. Tomorrow you go on your vision quest. Now that youare cleansed, you are ready to find out about the Devi.”
Inodded and wished him a good night. I was nervous. Once inside my tent, Ipulled my cellphone out of my backpack. I could feel Kai’s energy. It was withme always. I could feel he was excited about something.
Iturned on my phone. It buzzed with missed text messages. They were all fromKai.
-Youopened the mate bond! Are you okay?-
-Youfeel okay. You seem like you are happy. I miss you.-
-Leaveit open. I like it.-
Iwrote him back.
-Everythingis clear now. I won’t close it again. I love you. P.S. I want to have our matingceremony ASAP. Next week?-
Ifelt shock run through our bond as he read it. Then it bubbled with happiness.
-Iwill arrange everything. Hurry home to me.-
I smiledand turned off my phone and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
VisionQuest
Iawoke to the sound of voices. Many voices.Men. I bolted upright.
