Chapter 379

A pin could drop. That’s how quiet the room was when I looked at Shelly. But she just stood there, hand hanging loosely by her side, staring down at me. “What did you say?”

I took a deep breath. “Sit down and listen to the full story. I will ignore the fact you hit me because you are emotional and worried about your child. But make no mistake. I am an alpha wolf and I will not suffer disrespect so easily.”

She stumbled back a step and sank down, Rick grabbing her hands and flashing me an awkward, apologetic smile. “What were you saying?” Shelly looked at him with a tiny bit of hurt in her eyes, but Rick just kissed her. “Let her speak. This isn’t her fault, babe.”

Abby sighed and pushed up to her knees. She was face to face with her mom. “I know you're worried, and you don’t understand, but Amy is the only reason I’m still alive.”

Shelly stared down at her daughter and a tear slipped out. “I’m sorry.” Her eyes flicked up to me. “I’m so sorry. I just…”

“I know, and it’s okay. Protecting your child is your first instinct and believe me, I understand the instinct. Rick can explain once you get away.” I looked back down at Abby. “How long has Abby had the mark?”

Rick looked like he was thinking, but it was Shelly that answered. “She was five, she had just started school, and her class needed physicals. She came home with the brand and Vince explained it was a new vaccine for a sickness going around. Why?”

My eyes snapped to hers. “I’ll explain in a moment.” I could tell she wanted to rip my head off, but I pushed on. “When we got there, my wolf wrapped her up, and felt how weak she was. Her fur was patchy, and she couldn’t even lift her head. I didn’t know she had even manifested yet, but there she was, small, shivering and weak.” I heard Alannah whine, but I pushed through it. “I picked up Nala, and held her close, trying to figure out how bad the damage was.”

Rick furrowed his brow. “Nala? Who is that?”

“My wolf daddy.” Abby smiled. “She is amazing, and even though she is sick, like me, she’s beautiful.” She turned to look at me. “You were right.”

“What do you mean?”

“You said that sick people can be beautiful, and I said you were wrong. But you were right.” She closed her eyes. “Even sick… Nala was stunning.” Her eyes looked at me and smiled.

“She was.” I booped her nose. “When I first cut Abby, my intent was to heal the cut, so she wouldn’t get sicker. But my magic took over, healing as much damage as it could, strengthening her, even as my wolf drew me into her inner sanctum.”

Rick looked at his daughter. “She looks healthier.”

I nodded. “So when I held Nala, my magic did the same. But Nix, my wolf, was right. Nala had taken on so much of the damage, she had less than a day left. And maybe Abby would have survived losing her wolf, but…”

Shelly gasped. “But she probably wouldn’t have, because she is so weak.”

I nodded. “Exactly.” I rubbed her head. “So I pushed my magic into her. It took a bit, but eventually she perked up. She was still too small, too young to speak to us, but she opened her eyes and stood on her own legs.”

Abby smiled widely. “She was amazing.”

I winked. “I bought them a week.” I looked at Rick and Shelly, and they both gasped.

“No, it’s too soon.” Shelly grabbed Abby to her chest and started crying.

“A week?”

I nodded. “Then you guys will have to come back, and I will have to do this again.” Shelly snapped her head at me.

“Do this again? Save her again?”

I nodded. “I’m not buying you a couple days just so you can say goodbye.” She looked at Rick and, for the first time since we started talking about Nala, hope started to grow.

“What are you buying a couple days for then?” Ternen, who I forgot was even there he was so quiet, asked.

“I’m buying time to get us closer to our deadline. I’m going to drag Abby and Nala as far as I can so I can get the supplies to free them. I’m also going to see if there is any way I can save the other kids, because I refuse to allow Vince to control these parents by poisoning their children.” I looked around the room. “Because it isn’t just Abby…it's every pup with that brand.” I allowed the words to settle in before I stood. “Now, before we go down to dinner, I have somewhere I want to show you, but I have to get a vow from Shelly, and then I have to add you to the spell.”

Shelly nodded. “If you will save my girl, I will follow you into hell.” She bowed.

I stood and held out my hand to Shelly to help her up. “I doubt we are going to hell, but war, we are definitely going to war.”