Chapter 489

I stayed where I was for a long time, staring at Thane’s body, my body trembling with rage. How fucking dare he. Thane was a good wolf.

Clarke is dead, Nix’s voice was low and murderous. When we get control of the pack, we will make sure all the wolves that blindly supported Vince will be dead, along with him. Nix looked at me. We have to go. My rage intensified until I screamed. Nix came to my side, pressed me to the ground, and lay on top of me. Amy, calm down until we get back to the cabin. If we’re stupid about this, Vince will trail us back to Carly.

That snapped me out of my anger. No matter how furious I was, I wouldn’t risk our pup. He killed Thane.

Nix nodded. Yes, but we have people to protect, and the goddess—or our grandmother—holding us here suggests we face more than Vince and his trackers. Nix pushed herself up. He said "others are," meaning the Brotherhood is here.

More reason to kill them all, I interjected, but she shook her head. You aren’t seeing this clearly, and I understand. You were friends with Thane. I liked Thorn, his wolf. Killing high-ranking wolves might seem like a good idea now, but we can’t keep getting lucky. They probably have Verity with them, too. We can’t fight magic and wolves simultaneously. I scoffed. Not without backup. She looked at me. Let’s stick to the plan. Head to our father’s pack, remove the rogue threat, and then get in position for Vince and his Brotherhood.

I stared at her longer than I should have. Megan decided for both of us. She slipped from the log and took a winding path back to the cabin. We masked our scent and froze every few seconds, just in case someone was nearby. I cast a spell creating Megan lookalikes and sent them in every direction.

We spotted a wolf in the distance and took cover under a bush. I wanted to scream my frustration, but Megan and Nix kept me in check. Why am I struggling so much? My words were a soft whisper, but Nix heard me.

Our heat is approaching, so our emotions are running high. Nix nuzzled my shoulder.

Why aren’t you and Megan more affected? My anger simmered beneath the surface.

She recoiled as if I’d slapped her. You’ve locked us out.

What? I shook my head. That’s not true… I trailed off, because honestly, I don’t even remember shutting them off.

Megan agreed. Yeah, you’re keeping everything locked up tight. You have been since the bees.

Nix settled beside me, resting her head on my lap. You did. You did your best to spare us pain, which, while appreciated, wasn’t necessary. I know you did it so we could focus on Rick’s wolf. But you shut the door between us, and you’ve been bottling everything up.

We know you’re trying to protect us. But this is becoming a problem. You’re dealing with all the frustration and anger preceding a heat, but you’re doing it alone.

Nix rolled over and looked up. Let us back in, Amy. We can handle this burden together, instead of apart. I stared at my wolf for a few seconds before closing my eyes and searching for the door. Nix snorted. Get up.

I snapped my eyes open. What?

Get up. Nix nudged my side. You’re thinking as if you’re fronting, but you’re already here in your mind. Closing your eyes to visualize something doesn’t work if you’re already present. Get up. She nudged me again, and I stood. Follow me.

We started jogging. She ran through the trees, past the clearing with my magic, to the far side. I looked around. Where are we?

This is deeper inside you. You passed by here in the dark when you met Megan and your magic, when they lived hidden from you. She ran a little farther and stopped beside an ornate door. The filigree molding was out of place here in my mind. Fancy, isn’t it?

What the hell is a random door doing here? And why does it look like this?

Nix snorted. You don’t recognize the door? I shook my head. When we were about three or four, our father took us to the King’s palace. Rowan was a teenager who hated us, but this is a door from there. You fell in love with it. Nix looked at me. Now open it.

I stepped forward, wrapped my fingers around the knob, and pushed it open.

Chapter 490