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I did my best to remain calm before proceeding. I really didn’t want to mess up. Instead of thinking about what was going on, I closed my eyes and thought of a positive outcome. I thought of Brielle healthy and glowing, smiling and laughing.
I breathed in and out, putting my hands on the cut. I called on the ancient healers, saying the usual words and getting the healing process started.
“Hilatu mikatu. Hilatu mikatu. Hilatu mikatu,” I whispered.
I imagined Brielle crying at the altar, smiling broadly at Beck. She looked stunning in her wedding dress.
“Hilatu mikatu. Hilatu mikatu…”
I imagined a wall between a tree in bloom and me. I imagined myself knocking it down and gently brushing past a beautiful golden leaf.
“Hilatu mikatu …”
I felt a weird kind of heat spread through my body, like a tingle that started in my fingertips.
“Hilatu mikatu. Hilatu mikatu…”
I imagined Brielle telling Beck that she was pregnant. She laughed as Beck picked her up and twirled her around, clearly excited.
“Hilatu mikatu …”
The tree was glowing. Then, out of nowhere, this pure white wolf with a black heart on her forehead appears, looking at me with proud green eyes.
‘You can do this,’ my wolf said encouragingly. ‘We were made for this.’
“Hilatu mikatu. Hilatu mikatu…” I found myself saying the words without even thinking.
I imagined that Brielle, Lila, Maren and I went shopping. Brielle always picked out the ugliest things for us to try on. This time, she made me try on a white dress with feathers that made me look like a chicken. She laughed with the other girls as I posed for them.
“Hilatu mikatu…”
Brielle and Luca were playing a game. Brielle won. She rubbed it in her brother’s face.
“Hilatu mikatu…”
The golden leaves were circling my wolf. My wolf opened her mouth, sucking in the leaves. When she was done, it was dark. My wolf stared back at me.
She gave him a wolfish grin and said, “Open your eyes” before she disappeared.
I opened my eyes slowly. The first thing I heard was a soft moan. My eyes opened wide when Beck and Luca sobbed even louder.
Oh no, did I mess up?
I looked down at Brielle’s stomach. A thin scar replaced the huge wound.
My heart rate slowed down.
I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.
I took a step back and said, “I did it. Oh my gosh! I did it!”
I couldn’t help myself. I leapt to my feet, over the moon. Then, out of the blue, I found myself being pulled into all kinds of hugs. They were really pleased with my work. I felt a bit flustered by all the attention I was getting.
“Thank you,” Beck said, crying tears of relief. I was surprised by his tight hug. “Thank you so, so, so much.”
Luca gave me a hug and I returned it. I gave him a comforting pat on the back as he cried into my shoulder. “Cheers Talia,” he said, beaming. “I don’t know what I’d have done if my twin sister had died. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s all good,” I told him, smiling as I spoke the truth. “She’ll be fine.”
“You were awesome!” Maren yelled in my ear. I flinched back and laughed at her. “It was stunning! I swear I saw sparks coming out of your fingertips.”
“I saw them too. You did a great job, Talia,” Lila said, ruffling my hair.
“I knew she was a witch,” Cruz joked. “But she wasn’t as evil as I thought.”
I gave him a smack on the head. He gave me a thumbs-up, but also had some good things to say about my work.
“I told you you could do it,” Kieran said, standing next to me while we watched Beck wipe the blood off Brielle’s stomach. “I was a bit alarmed when you started muttering something in alien. I’ve got to be honest, that was a bit unattractive.”
I gave him a little roll of my eyes before giving his shoulder a little pat.
“Just messing with you. You did a great job,” he beamed.
“Thanks,” I said. “For having faith in me.”
Before he could say anything else, Luca clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Guys, Talia has officially learned how to heal!”
My mates shouted and clapped. I felt flustered again from all the attention. I started to fidget with my feet.
Logan came into the living room with a pretzel. He looked down at Brielle and saw everyone’s proud faces. “What did I miss?” He asked, confused.
We laughed at him.
Just to let you know, I’ve got a few more things to add.
Brielle was doing really well. She was a bit sore and had a fever, but her health was improving little by little thanks to her werewolf abilities. She felt like she owed me her whole life, but it wasn’t really in my best interest to look for something in return. I was the kind of person who did favors for others because it was the right thing to do, not because I was expecting anything in return.
Logan was pretty impressed with me for finding a way to tap into my healing abilities. His training had also got more challenging. I got most of the tasks he gave me done, though.
I’ve also discovered a new ability.
I gave it a go on Brielle, and her fever dropped bit by bit. Logan was literally bouncing for joy at my rare power. I had the ability to improve an illness, but only to a certain extent.
After saying the same words over and over again, my throat felt as dry as sandpaper. I finished our training and went to the kitchen.
I went straight for the cupboard, reaching up on my tiptoes. In times like this, I really wish I was taller. I smiled to myself when I got the glass cup safely in my hands.
“Hey,” a woman said out of the blue. I jumped a foot in the air, startled. I turned around, holding the glass close to my chest.
“Hey,” I said, feeling a bit awkward when I saw Pamela sitting at the kitchen table on her phone.
“Sorry I scared you,” Pamela apologised, putting her phone down.
“Oh, no,” I waved off. “I just didn’t see you there. I was just trying to get a drink. My throat’s as dry as the Sahara. Would you like a drink?”
“No, thanks,” Pamela said politely. “I’m just waiting for Kieran to come down.”
I sit down on the seat opposite her. It was really awkward, but it would have been rude to leave Pamela here on her own. I took a swig of water, the cool liquid sliding down my parched throat.
Suddenly, the sound of Pamela’s phone ringing cut through the uncomfortable silence.
“Sorry,” she said, turning her phone down. “I’m just texting my mum. I haven’t spoken to her in ages. My parents are divorced.”
I was pretty surprised at how easily she said it. She didn’t seem at all embarrassed that her parents weren’t together anymore.
“It’s all right,” I told him. “You should talk to your mum. I’m sorry to hear about your parents’ divorce.”
“My parents were divorced too,” I added when Pamela didn’t say anything. I was surprised at how open I was with her. I guess it was because we had something in common and it was the only thing to talk about. I’d much rather say the most embarrassing things than sit here and stare at her while there’s an awkward silence between us.
“They were? So they got back together?” Pamela asked, folding her arms on top of the table.
“Not quite,” I said, shaking my head. I was amazed at how open I felt with this person I barely knew. “My dad died about fifteen months ago.”
Pamela’s eyes opened wide and she frowned. She was feeling sorry for me. I usually hate being pitied, but I’ve got used to it. “I’m really sorry, Talia,” Pamela said sincerely.
“I’m still not sure how to respond to that,” I replied, laughing. “I’m not sure whether to say ‘it’s okay’, ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m fine’. Nothing fits really.”
“Tell me about it,” Pamela laughed too. “Whenever I hear that, I’m lost for words.”
“So, you live with your dad?” I asked.