Pulling my hands from my pockets and wrapping them around myself, I try to think back to that moment. To the explosion of light that came from inside of me.
“Not really,” I say.
“Something happened, it was like a wave, or a ripple.” She glances at the lake then back to me. “Whatever it was, it passed through me, it passed through all of us. And for a second, I felt connected, not just to the pack or my friends, not just to the wolves nearby. I felt like I could feel every wolf on the planet all at once. It was incredible. It was like I felt, for the first time, truly like I was part of something bigger, something amazing. You did that. You connected us all, every wolf in the goddamn world, like we were all one pack.”
My mantra comes back to me, and I mutter it to myself.“One pack under the moon.”
“Exactly.”
I meet Aisha’s eyes and they’re glistening, big and round with this sense of wonder shimmering in them.
“You showed us that we were all part of something bigger, that we didn’t need to look far to find our kin. I think maybe the Axis Pack wolves resisted and that’s why it knocked them out. Hell, it was pretty overwhelming for me. For all of us. After it happened, we all stared at each other, every wolf out on that field, and it felt like no matter where we were we’d be home.”
“That’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah.” She nods with big eyes pointing out how obviously cool it is. “Did you feel that too?”
I wrap my arms a little tighter around myself.Did I feel that?
“I—I think I did, or at least I think maybe that’s what I wanted to feel?”
She smiles gently.
“And I think that’s why I think that maybe ... maybe it’s important that I continue to, I don’t know, it’s corny but, bring people together. Not like with another big metaphysical blast or anything but like ... The last few weeks as I visited the rogue colonies, I saw how disparate we all are, how separate. Maybe I should do something to bridge those gaps, maybe that would help people feel more like they belonged.”
Aisha places a hand on my shoulder, tears brimming in her eyes.
“That would be pretty cool too.”
“Hey, you two.” Jasper’s voice catches us off guard and we both wipe away a couple of errant tears before turning to find him standing at the top of the slope. “The Rocky Pack contingent are about to head off. Thought you might want to say goodbye.”
“Shall we?” Aisha asks.
“After you.”
At the top of the bank Jasper reaches out his hand for me and I take it, and with Aisha we make our way back to the lodge. When we arrive, Morven and his circle are out front. The sun is setting behind the trees, the evening air is warm and no longer carries the lingering scent of violence, but of honeysuckle and pine.
Jasper leaves to shake Morven’s hand while I head over to where Mason and Omar are standing with Mia. Off to the side Olivia is saying a tearful farewell to Salazar, who is holding her by the shoulders, no doubt imbuing some sagely beta advice.And Aisha heads over to join Katie, who is standing between Todd and Simon just outside the big oak doors.
“This is it, Cuz,” Omar says. “See you soon on the Lunar Plane?”
Jeez Louise, I’m already welling up.
Omar comes to me and pulls me into a tight hug.
“Thank you,” I sputter. “For everything.”
“Nah man, thank you. If I hadn’t known you, I would never have found my second chance.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
With a final pat on the back, Omar releases me. “Maybe I’ll come visit sometime?”
“You better.”
Mason steps forward and hugs me too.
“You look after him,” I say.
