Page 15

Yelena

I’m still thinking about Cleo’s dream while I’m working on patient charts. An old woman with a blue necklace. It’s such an odd detail to remark on, and yet it seems so familiar.

“Ms. Croft, ma’am, you have a visitor out front. He says it’s urgent.” I turn to look at her. In order to keep my privacy, I’ve shortened my last name to something less memorable and harder to find. But even after five years, hearing it still gives me pause.

My brow crinkles with confusion as I follow Brenda, our receptionist, out to the main lobby. I don’t have many friends here, and none that I can think of who would come see me at work.

"Dad?" I ask, surprised.

"I'm sorry to bother you here, Yelena," he replies, his face drawn with sorrow. "But I had to let you know. It's about Callie."

Icy cold fear worms its way into my heart.

“Brenda, we’re going into exam room two,” I say, ushering my dad with me. We duck into the unused room and I sit down.

“What happened?” I ask quietly.

He paces next to the exam bed before glancing at me. “She died last night, surrounded by her pack.”

My heart plummets and I close my eyes, trying to withstand the wave of grief that hits me.

Callie was more than just our pack’s Seer.

To me, she was family. She practically raised me and she was one of the few people that I felt like I could honestly confide in.

Only last week, we had spoken briefly on the phone.

Callie had told me she was tired, and that she was going to go to bed early.

There was nothing to indicate that she had been ill.

Did she know that would be the last time we spoke? Was that her way of telling me goodbye?

My heart hurts and her loss feels excruciatingly painful—almost as bad as the guilt that suddenly invades my mind.

She loved you like family too, yet you weren’t there. You didn’t get to say goodbye.

“The Farewell Ritual. When is it?” I ask, stiffly.

My father purses his lips. “It’s this weekend.”

I swallow hard. I don’t think I have a choice. I need to go back. To miss saying goodbye to Callie in the Farewell Ritual would be…unthinkable.

“There’s more,” my father says gently. “It’s about Austin.”

My breath catches in my throat and I study his face. “What about Austin?” I ask faintly.

“He’s…” my father sighs and grips the back of his neck, “he’s promised…to another…woman.”

I stare at him blankly as my brain processes that information. “He’s chosen another mate?”

My father nods. “After you left, he mourned for a long time, but he has responsibilities to the pack.”

I hold up my hand and stop him. “I get it. Everyone moves on. It will be fine.”

The words feel wooden in my mouth. Unnatural. Painful.

Austin with another woman? Austin mated to another. I never thought this day would come.

My heart pangs with more loss and my wolf cries from the pain. Being separated from Austin has been hard on both of us, but to know that he has moved on like this?

It hurts more than I could have imagined. I take a deep breath, and then another, willing myself to find the calm I need to get through this. My father looks at me with sympathy in his eyes.

Pull yourself together, Yelena. You have to be strong. For Cleo and for Callie.

I try to shove the troubling and painful thoughts away, imagining taking my feelings and placing them in a box before turning the lock.

Some days I wish I could turn my emotions on or off like a light switch.

Since I can’t, the next best thing is to put them aside.

It’s better for me if I don’t think about things like this.

“Are you going to bring Cleo?” my father asks softly. That gives me pause. As much as I would love to show Cleo her roots and let her experience life with a pack, I can’t risk it.

“No,” I say decisively. “I’ll have Susan watch her. It’s a short trip for the ritual. She’ll be fine.”

My father opens his mouth as if to say something, but then closes it, thinking better of it.

“Whatever you think is best,” he says with a sigh. “But she’s going to find out about her…heritage…eventually.”

I know he’s right. But I can’t handle that problem today. Not when I’m still processing the fact that Callie is dead. Not when I have to go back to the pack and face seeing Austin with another woman.

Later. I’ll deal with that later.

***

The drive back to the pack territory is a long one.

I haven’t slept well these days in anticipation of my return.

Now, it feels like every bend of the road brings back new memories.

The thick green forest is unchanged and my wolf howls in my chest in recognition of the land we used to call home.

Out of respect for the tradition of our pack, I quietly sent word ahead to the Luna that I would be coming.

As a pack member, I have the right to return at any time, but coming back like this feels awkward.

Anxiety courses through me as I make my way to the Alpha’s residence. I’ve been gone so long, I don’t know how I’ll be received. You left their son. You better be prepared for pushback, I remind myself.

I park the car in the visitor parking area and slowly make my way up to the familiar white house with the black shutters. The dahlias out front are in full bloom. The scent of them takes me back to happier times when Austin and I were just kids playing chase in the garden.

He’s not yours anymore , I remind myself.

The guard at the door nods at me respectfully as I make my way up the steps and onto the Alpha and Luna’s front porch. It’s a good sign that they are expecting me. I hope.

Nervously, I rap my knuckles against the shiny red door. My heart is pounding in my chest. As the door creaks open, Luna Elizabeth’s face comes into view.

“Yelena!” she greets me, her warm brown eyes lighting up. “It’s so good to see you.”

She steps aside and welcomes me into her home. I step over the threshold, the familiar scent of coffee and old books enveloping me.

The memories flood back even stronger, threatening to drown me.

I force a smile onto my face and accept her hug.

“Thank you, Luna,” I say respectfully.

“None of that, Yelena. I’ve known you since you were a pup, and no matter what, I’ll always think of you as a daughter.”

Her words tug at my heartstrings.

“Come, say hello to Alpha, and then I’ll take you over to Callie,” she says briskly.

I nod and follow her as she leads me into the sitting room where Alpha Malaki is sitting in an old worn chair.

His eyes soften slightly when he sees me, but there’s marked sadness there too. He stands as I enter and holds out his hand toward me.

“Yelena,” he says, his voice tight with emotion. “It’s been too long.”

We shake hands, a formal greeting that feels alien now.

“Alpha,” I respond, my voice barely holding steady. “Thank you for allowing me back to attend the Farewell Rite.”

He waves his hand and motions me toward the couch.

“I would never keep you away, Yelena,” he says softly, “We’re your pack. Your family.”

So many conflicting emotions rise in me that I can’t speak, I can only nod.

I knew coming back here would be challenging, but I didn’t think it would be because they were going to welcome me back so warmly.

“Are you well? Tell us about your life in the human city,” he booms. Luna Elizabeth comes to perch on the edge of his chair, and she smiles at me. “Your father said you’re a nurse. That’s wonderful!”

I nod. “Yes. I have found a lot of joy in nursing. I’ve found my training as a healer here has aided me in my studies in the human world,” I tell them. At least talking about work feels easier.

“You do your pack proud,” Alpha Malaki praises, causing me to flush scarlet.

“Dad, Mom? Are you home?”

The familiar voice echoes through the house, freezing me in place. I know that voice as well as my own. I’ll always know it.

Austin.

The Alpha and Luna exchange a glance before nodding at me reassuringly.

“In here, son,” Luna Elizabeth calls out.

I take a deep breath and try to prepare myself, but when he walks through the door, it’s like being hit in the face.

Nothing could have prepared me for seeing him again. He looks…good. Better than good, actually. He looks great. My wolf perks up immediately, overjoyed to see him. I can feel her intentions pushing against mine, begging me to go over and greet our mate.

He’s not ours anymore , I remind her, forcing myself to ignore her whines.

My appearance is also a surprise to him because he sees me and stops in his tracks. A muffled “ow” from behind him breaks the silence.

“Austin? Austin, baby…why did you stop?” The high-pitched whine makes my skin crawl.

A tall, beautiful woman appears in the doorway. She’s dressed simply in a fitted white dress that accentuates her figure, her blonde hair tumbling down in loose waves over her shoulders. She looks every bit the Luna, radiating grace and poise.

She’s stunning.

I can’t stop myself from looking down at my jeans and T-shirt. I’ve never been glamorous before, and I’m certainly not now.

"Oh, hi. I didn’t know you had company,” she says, staring directly at me.

“This is Yelena.” Austin’s voice is a low drawl that resonates in every corner of my being. It brings back a tsunami of memories that I’ve spent years trying to forget.

“Hi,” I croak.

“Hi, I’m Sylvie. Austin’s intended mate,” she says, brightly. I don’t miss the way she steps into him, resting her hand on his chest.

The large diamond catches the light, sending rainbows all over the room.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say quietly.

Sylvie’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes as she takes my extended hand. “Likewise.”

She turns her attention back to Austin, who still seems to be recovering from the shock of seeing me here. His silver eyes are filled with unreadable emotions.

Austin clears his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Are you…” he starts, then seems to change his mind about whatever he was going to ask. “How have you been?”

“Good,” I respond curtly. The tension in the room feels oppressive.

My eyes involuntarily flicker between Austin and Sylvie, studying them.

He hasn’t changed much. His hair is slightly longer now, curling around his ears. He’s put on some more muscle.

But he’s still Austin. Just no longer my Austin.

“I should get over to Callie’s before too long. I want to sit with her before the Farewell Rite.”

Luna Elizabeth rises and comes over to me, pulling me into a tight hug.

“She loved you, never forget that,” she whispers in my ear. Tears well in my eyes, and I sniffle and nod.

“Thank you, Luna,” I whisper.

I look up to see Sylvia glaring at me. There’s something about her that makes me deeply uncomfortable.

But, with any luck, I won’t have to interact with her much. I’m not here for drama, or Austin. I’m here for Callie. To honor her life and send her off.

“The house should be open. You can go right in,” Austin says. “I can walk you over there.”

There’s an unreadable emotion in his eyes. My wolf perks up, but I push her back and give him a watery smile instead. “Thank you, but I remember the way. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be going. You enjoy your visit with your folks.”

He steps aside, and I hurry past him, brushing my elbow against his in my haste.

The familiar jolt of intense attraction hits me like lightning through my veins.

I had hoped the physical reactions I have always experienced around him would have mellowed with time, but they feel stronger than ever. I exhale sharply and walk faster.

I don’t breathe easy again until I’m outside and halfway down the path to the Seer’s house.