Page 48 of Cultivating Caden

“It’s too late. He’s going to die.”

Ten pulled away from Quade and threw himself onto the bed. Quade rose, strode over to the bed, sat down, and rubbed small circles on Ten’s back, just as he’d done for Quade many times.

“Tell me what’s going to happen.”

The tears started again, but Quade wouldn’t comfort Ten. He had to know what was going on.

“The bad man is going to get Caden and force him into becoming the Tree of Life. You and I are going to be there, and we won’t be able to stop it. Caden’s going to die once he becomes the Tree.”

“Then we won’t let that happen, buddy. I swear to you, Caden will be okay.”

Ten shook his head. “No, he won’t. I’ve already seen it and know exactly what’s going to happen. If you had only listened to me.”

“I always listen to you.”

Ten snuffled and rolled onto his back, then sat up. “No, you don’t. I’ve been telling you for years that you need to embrace your wolf. I’ve told you you’re stronger with him, but you keep rejecting him. You even call the wolf ‘it’ instead of ‘him.’ It’s like you want to be rid of him.”

God, wouldn’t that be amazing? If he could be rid of the wolf? Live a normal life? But…. Running as his wolf brought such an incredible high. There were moments in there that Quade thought he could fly as he zipped through the forest, wishing he could laugh.

“You were supposed to go with Caden, and you were going to fall in love and your two halves would finally combine into a whole being. There wouldn’t be a war between the two of you for dominance.”

“How would that work if I fell in love?”

“Because your wolf already recognizes Caden as his. He’s been waiting for you to see the same thing. Why do you think he doesn’t react badly when Caden is around?”

The news came as a shock. Hedidwonder why it—he—had been so docile around Caden. Why he’d became so playful and why he’d had no problems protecting Caden, even if it meant dying in the process.

“My people don’t mate the way humans do. I would hurt Caden.”

Ten narrowed his gaze. “You don’t listen! You never listen to me. Your people are assholes because they’re assholes. You’re not like them. You have a heart and conscience.”

“I almost killed that little girl, or have you forgotten that?”

“No, the wolf almost killed her because he no longer had a tether in you. You gave up and let the wolf go free. Without a pack, he had no guidance, so he did what any wolf would do. Your wolf is an extension of you. How many times have I said that?”

“Look, buddy, I know you want to believe that, but the truth is, my wolf is a wild animal.”

“Oh my God!” Ten launched himself off the bed and slammed his hands on the sides of Quade’s head. Images began to flood Quade’s mind faster and faster. He could barely process what he was seeing. “Look! Maybe now you’ll see what I’ve been telling you for years.”

More images. Sights. Sounds. Voices of a thousand lifetimes. So much.Too much. Too fast.

Stop. Make it stop.

Quade’s eyes flew open and he screamed.