Chapter 262

I looked up at Toya in the doorway, confused. “What?”

She pointed to my leg. “You’re bleeding, and it hasn’t healed yet. Why aren’t you healing?” I looked down at my leg and saw the blood pouring from a minor cut.

I furrowed my brow. “I don’t know.” I looked back at her and shrugged. “I was talking to my wolves and got distracted.”

Now it was her turn to furrow her brow. “Get out so I can stop the bleeding.”

I waved her off. “Give me a few minutes to finish, and then I will come out.”

“Amy, just come out now.”

“Okay, Mom.” I rolled my eyes. “Out.” I pointed, and she shook her head as she closed the door. Pushy woman.

I finished my shower, including finishing my shaving, and got out. It was bleeding faster than I thought possible, and I didn’t know why. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my leg and walked out, leaving a bloody footprint with every step.

At least you have wood floors in here. Could you imagine the damage if it was carpet? Megan sighed as Nix choked out a laugh.

“Do you guys know why I’m not healing?”

Both wolves shook their heads. No. There is no reason for you not to be healing. Nix came closer. We are weak, but not so weak that our healing is stunted.

I made it to the living room and hovered at the edge. “I really like my carpet here, guys. Can you come treat this in the dining room?” Toya and Wendy both jumped up and followed me back around the wall. I sat down and propped my leg up on a second chair.

“So…healing?” Toya crouched next to me and unwrapped the towel.

“Nix and Megan both said there is no reason I shouldn’t be healing.”

Toya cursed under her breath. “I was really hoping it would be something simple, like your wolves were too tired.”

Wendy laughed as she handed Toya gauze to clean up my cut. “Is it ever that simple with Amy?”

Toya snapped her head up, sending her braids flying. “Is it magic?”

I thought about it and decided to check. I opened to my magic, and I could feel both my wolves sigh as magic rushed through us. I could feel our magic actually feeding them. Sometimes we give to nature, and sometimes it gives back. My father’s words came back to me, and I sat in the chair. Tears sprang to my eyes. I missed him. I missed Ronnie and Cass. I haven’t contacted them in months.

Focus. Nix’s voice made me jump. Her soft chuckle settled me. Focus on the wound, see if there is any magic that is blocking our healing. Then we can think about our family.

She was right. So I focused my magic on the cut on my leg. But there was nothing. No magic, no chains, no ill intent coming from the wound. It was clean. I opened my eyes and shook my head. “It’s clear.”

“What’s wrong?” Wendy handed me a tissue. I looked up in surprise. “You’re crying.”

I wiped at my eyes. “Thanks. I was just thinking about my dad. We haven’t talked in a long time, and I just miss him. Them. I usually spend the summer there, but now…”

Both my friends nodded. “If it’s not your wolves, and not your magic, what else could it be?” Toya huffed as she started wrapping the wound.

I raised a shoulder. “We are just as confused as you.”

Toya finished and cleaned up. Wendy screamed out. “Oh!” And then she ran from the room.

I looked down at Toya, and she looked at me. “What was that?”

Toya smiled. “She had an idea.”

“Oh.” I started to chuckle. “How have I missed this reaction?”

“She usually only has surprise ideas in the middle of the night, and I see her sprinting down the hallway past my door.” She snorted as Wendy slid into the room, phone in hand. “What are you doing?”

She held up a finger as she typed away for a bit. “Research.” She kept typing, and then she started reading, her eyes darting back and forth, reading whatever was on her screen. “I fucking knew it.”

Both Toya and I grinned and looked at each other again, then turned back to her. “What?”

“It’s the kudzu.” She looked up from her phone.

“What?” I rubbed at my temples. Already over this kudzu bullshit.

Wendy held up her finger again. “Kudzu, when ingested, puts a lot of strain on the wolf. It would weaken them. As it’s thought, the strength of the wolf correlates with their ability to get pregnant. If kudzu has to be used on a strong luna as an example, is it assumed that the wolf is actively rejecting the pregnancy? The kudzu induces a heat and weakens the wolf so they can’t fight the implantation. The weakness that follows lasts about two weeks if not addressed, so be careful if you choose this method for impregnation.”