Chapter Twenty

A glowing green orb that shone like the sun. I walked closer to it, and I could see the orb was pulsing. With every step closer, I could feel my pounding heartbeat, and my heart was in time with the orb.

“What are you?”

Nix and Megan walked out and sat beside me. “This is your power. This is the center of your soul. Your power that runs through your body comes from this orb. Your entire being is in sync with this piece of you.” Megan nudged against my hand.

“Megan and I are a part of you, but separate. We are our own souls that share your body and mind. But this part of you would still be here if we weren’t. It is woven into your very soul—your human soul. This is your gran’s legacy for you, the very power that ran in her veins, your father’s veins, and now yours. It will pass to you pups and beyond.” Nix leaned forward.

“If werewolves were to even die off, your line would continue to hold power.” Megan followed suit and leaned toward the orb. Ribbons of power floated out and stroked each of their faces.

“This is me?” I held up a hand and waited for the ribbon that was slowly coming forward. This couldn’t be me.

“Yes.” Both wolves answered at once.

The ribbon pulled back before it reached out to me, and the orb grew dim. “What’s wrong?”

“You are not ready for it.” Megan got up and walked back into the darkness.

“You do not believe yet.” Nix bumped against me, then got up and walked away. “When you truly believe in yourself and your power, it will come to you. For now, sit and observe. Open yourself to the possibilities. Open yourself to you.” Her voice faded, and once again, I was alone in the dark with the flashing orb, but the light was fading.

“I did this.” I was saddened by the fading light, and I didn’t know why.

Everything faded away, and I opened my eyes to the clearing. I was once again alone. Always alone.

“Never alone, granddaughter. I am here, watching over you always, in this lifetime and your last. Open yourself up to the possibilities and believe in yourself. You are stronger than you know.”

Her voice faded, and the clearing grew still. There was a soft drop of water on my leg, and I looked up to the sky, expecting to see clouds, but the sky was blue and clear. I realized I was crying. I wiped my face as a second tear fell. “What is going on?” I wiped my face again, but I couldn’t stop the flood of tears that kept coming. “Why am I crying?”

I got up and made my way out of the clearing as sobs racked my body. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t stop the tears. I wasn’t hurt; I wasn’t sad.

“Why can’t I stop?” I dropped to my knees and keeled over. I stayed like that until I felt my father’s arms wrap around me. “Why can’t I stop?”

“When you doubt the power inside of you, something that is woven into your very core, you hurt yourself, like you shoved a dagger into your heart. It is a soul wound, and it hurts. The crying will pass.”

“How do you know?” I looked up at my father, but I couldn’t see him clearly through the veil of tears.

“Because I was where you are once upon a time. I did the same thing.” My father shook his head. “I am surprised, though. I thought this would take you longer.”

Chapter Twenty

“Grandmother helped me. She said you were stupid to put me in the clearing without teaching me anything, as she had taught you how to dive inside yourself before she sent you in there.”

My father froze mid-step. “My grandmother?”

“Yes. She guided me on how to dive into myself, so I could see my wolv-”

Megan’s soft voice interrupted me. I know he is your father, but don’t tell him you have two wolves yet. Come to terms and figure out why you have the two of us. You can tell him when you have answers. I corrected myself. “Wolf.”

A tear fell from his eye onto me. “She was always a meddler, that woman. Even before I met my mate, she told me I was going to have to make a hard decision, and when I needed counsel, to find her here. She never came to me like she did you, but I heard her voice inside my head, guiding me to what I should do. ‘One pup is better than none, and you can always have more than once the truth comes to light.’ I miss her.”

“I know.” I hugged my father tighter, and then we headed back.