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The closer they got to it, the brighter a strange green glow was visible in the cracks in the stones. It cast an eerie effect on the entire area, and Cohen didn’t like it. He was part animal, and that part of him was adamant that rocks shouldn’t be glowing like a kid’s plastic ceiling stars.

“Is that normal?” He pointed at the glowing green rocks. “Why doesn’t that look normal? Rocks aren’t supposed to glow.”

“They can and do if they are infused with magic as these have been. That green glow? It’s my magic. My powers. The ones my family used to protect the town.”

She wavered on her feet a bit as she spoke, no doubt now very much aware that this was real. Her magic was right there, almost within touching distance, but it would never be hers. Not if she went through with this insane plan. There was no talking her out of it, though. Alana was one determined woman.

If it were any other foe ... another shifter, for example ... Cohen would have insisted on taking the lead, but this was magic. He didn’t know enough about it to put his foot down and insist that Alana take her magic back. He didn’t know what the consequences would be for Half Moon Key and its residents. As it was, neither Cohen nor Alana was willing to find out what the end of the magic would do to their beloved town.

Cohen huffed out a breath. “Huh. Then I guess it makes sense that the glow is from you. It’s a shade of green, and it’s all you. It reminds me of your eyes.”

Alana flustered and looked away. “This isn’t the time and place to say sweet things to me, Cohen. I need to focus.”

“Well, it’s true. Now that I see it, there is no way I can unsee it. What’s the plan, anyway?”

She ran her fingers along one of the deeper cracks in the rocks, and immediately, the ground began to rumble.

“Holy fuck.” Cohen rushed forward and helped Alana stay steady on her feet. “I’ve got you.” The earth beneath them continued to tremble.

“Thanks, babe,” she said, breathless. “Do you think this is an ominous warning? Or is it because we are on the right track?”

“That’s a very good question, love, but I don’t know. You’re the magic expert. I’m just here because I ...” He stopped as the ground grumbled again.

The movements of the ground under their feet weren’t actually big enough to make her fall, but enough to scare the crap out of Cohen. He was a wolf, a sheriff, a man who saw the world in black and white.

That was before he met Alana.

Now he saw the world in shades of green. From her eyes to her magic, the woman was all kinds of wrapped up in him now. If Mrs. Francis popped out from behind a tree to tell him that he was losing his mind and that there was no actual earthquake, he was just falling in love with Alana, he wasn’t sure he would be very surprised.

Alana reached out for the rock formation again, but her movements and gestures were a bit more calculated this time.

“Do you have to touch it again?” he asked as she reached out for the stone formation again.

She nodded. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but for some strange reason, it feels to me that if I touch it, I can ...” She scrunched up her face.

“Suck the power back?” he offered.

Alana winced. “If I do that, if I take the magic back, there will be no more spell protecting the town from my father and any other threat. I think I have a responsibility to Half Moon Key to keep the magic as it is. Keep it there, locked in the stones for generations to come.”

Cohen shook his head. “As much as it warms my heart that you would sacrifice your magic for the town, I don’t think that’s fair.”

“It’s not about being fair, Cohen. It’s about protecting this place. It’s too important. It’s my home. I don’t know who my father is, but that’s not even the point. If I take back my magic right here, right now, and something happens to Half Moon Key? If something happens to one of the residents? Oh, god, someone like Mrs. Francis? To one of my friends?” She took a deep breath. “If something were to happen to you?” Alana straightened her back. “No. I need to keep the magic where it is. I need to protect Half Moon Key.”

“Then you should know that I will protect you right back, Alana Wixx.” Cohen placed his hands on her shoulders and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You just tell me what you need right now.”

Alana took a deep breath and stared down at the glowing rocks. “I don’t know. After the dream, I thought that I would come here and just magically remember the spell that my family did, but I am drawing a blank.”

“Close your eyes and steady your breathing,” he coaxed, keeping his hands on her shoulders. “Relax and just focus on the dream. Go back there in your mind and try to remember the …” he faltered. “Try to remember the thing.”

“The incantation,” she laughed softly.

“Yeah, that. Try to remember that.” He kissed her again, hoping that it would give her the strength she wanted and needed to complete this impossible task.

Cohen couldn’t begin to imagine what she was going through. “You always thought that you were less powerful than your grandmother and mother, and here you are now, knowing the truth. You are more powerful than both of them combined. They were able to keep the town safe all of those yearsbecauseof you. You have more than just earned your seat on the council. You should fucking lead that thing.”

She giggled. “Not a chance. I would never take that role from Mrs. Francis. That would be a major upset.”

“Fair enough, love. I just want you to know that I admire you. Your strength. I can’t even fathom what it would be like to sacrifice my wolf.” He shook his head. “Actually, that’s not true. I would give my wolf away to keep you safe.”