Page 16

LIVIA

“Get up, Livia,” Caelan said from the edge of the bed. “We have to go.”

I slowly blinked my eyes open and held an arm up to block the blaring light. It must’ve been midday at the latest, and while we probably should’ve left hours ago, I didn’t know if I had the energy in me to make the trek today. My entire body was aching, my mind like mush.

“Please, another hour,” I whimpered. “Everything hurts.”

“No,” he said, yanking the blankets off me. “We have to go.”

The heat still lingered deep inside me, but at least it wasn’t as bad as last night. So I slipped out of bed, tugged on some clothes that those witches must’ve left for me on the nightstand, and followed Caelan toward the kitchen.

Esma and Circe sat at the dark wooden table, their kitchen decorated with purple and black books written in languages that I couldn’t read, vials filled with red potions, and herbs scattered across the counters.

“We appreciate you allowing us to stay the night,” Caelan said. “But we must go.”

“So soon?” Esma asked, her hand wrapped around a steaming mug.

“Yes.”

“I hoped that you’d stay a little longer. I think we can help.”

“Help?” I asked, furrowing my brows. “With what?”

After sharing a look with Esma, Circe offered me a small smile. "Your mom… she was different. We can’t tell you how; that’s something you have to learn on your own. But we might be able to help you."

Caelan stared at them for a few moments, then took my hand. "We can’t stay. I have to return home to protect my pack. I’m sure we’re already under attack by the Whispering Pines Pack. They need me there."

"We understand,” Esma said. “But we’ll be here whenever you need it."

I pulled my hand out of his. "I want to stay.”

He hardened his eyes at me. "You’re not staying."

"Why not? This is the first time that I… could possibly be of any help."

Canines lengthened, he drew his tongue across them the way he always did when he was angry, then he captured my hand again, tugging me toward the door. “You’re not staying. I need to go.”

"All this time I’ve felt like shit because I couldn’t shift, because you didn’t want me, because Dad didn’t want me. Nobody wanted me!” I shoved him toward the door, nostrils flaring and anger pumping through me. “And now I have power, and you don’t want to let me see it."

"That’s not the reason,” he said, gritting his teeth and leaning in closer so only I could hear him. “And you know that’s not true. You’re a member of our pack, and it’s my job to protect you, no matter what. And that’s what I’m doing right now. I don’t trust them."

I crossed my arms. "You trusted them enough to let us stay the night."

"Livia, I need to get home to protect our pack."

"Then let me stay here by myself."

"No," he growled, the sound echoing throughout the room. It wasn’t him anymore—it was his wolf. Flecks of gold flickered inside his irises, and he snatched my hand even tighter. "I’m not leaving you here alone."

"But—"

"But nothing. I make the decision for you. We’re leaving. Now."

"We understand that you have to go," Esma said, finally speaking up. She looked over at Circe, who nodded as if they were sharing a thought. "But… we have something for you before you leave."

Circe opened one of the kitchen drawers and pulled out a necklace with a pendant hanging off the chain. "This was your mom’s when we knew her, and now it’s yours, Livia. She’d want you to have it."

I took it in my hands and stared down at the design: a circular pendant with winding indents that carved an intricate maze-like pattern into the metal. I had vaguely remembered seeing this somewhere before, but I couldn’t remember exactly. It must’ve been years ago, when I was just a child.

"Thank you," I said, clasping it in my hands. "Thank you so much."

Caelan growled by the door. "Livia, it’s time to go."