Chapter Ninety-Eight

I looked down at the little girl in my arms, with the white, clouded eyes, and knew that I would do anything to protect her. She wasn’t my pup, but that didn’t matter. She was helpless. Nix and Megan surged forward, and I lifted my hand. Claws and black fur flowed down my arms. I held Carly to my chest as footsteps came closer.

I felt my fangs descend, and then Megan, beautiful, smart Megan, tapped into our power, and it too, flowed down my arm. I held my hand out. As the steps came closer, my power sent white, whipping tendrils down my arm, ready to snap out at whoever came around the end of the shelves.

I bent my knees, ready to run. It seemed like time froze, and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I would kill Alpha Vince and Brandon for this little girl, because I had this feeling in the pit of my stomach that if Vince found her like this, he wouldn’t let her go.

He would either take her, or kill her.

And I knew Carl and my mother wouldn’t allow that to happen. So it was them or us, and I chose us. I let the realization settle. And I opened my mouth to scream as the steps rounded the corner.

And Carl and my mother both stood with their mouths dropped open, staring at me.

I felt my arms slump; the adrenaline draining out of me like water. My power and fur receded, and I was left a little shaky. Carly thrashed again, and I held her closer to my chest so I wouldn’t drop her.

“I don’t know what is happening to her.” I looked up at Carl, and he rushed over. “I found her on the floor, but I knew I couldn’t call out for you two.” I held her out to Carl as he got close enough, and I watched as realization hit him square in the face.

He paled and looked back at my mom, and shook his head. “Fuck.”

“What’s wrong?” My mom rushed over and saw her face, and she paled. “Fuck.”

“What is going on?” I looked from Carly’s face and back up to theirs.

“She is a shaman.” My mom looked at me, and I could see she was afraid.

“Okay…” I looked up at Carl. “So is her dad.”

“You don’t understand, baby.” My mom gripped my arms that were still holding Carly. “When Carl came into his power, shamans were accepted, rejoiced even.”

“Okay, so why does that matter?” I looked at Carl. “He’s your age.”

“No, baby. Shamans live longer than most wolves, and there is only one at a time.” My mom looked at Carl.

“What are you saying…” I pointed to them both.

“It means that now that she is coming into her powers, I will…” Tears appeared at the side of his eyes. “I’ll be…” It was like he couldn’t finish the sentence, and my mom laid her hand on his arm.

“It means that Carl is going to die.”

I reeled back. “What? Why?”

Carl swallowed. “Shamans are rare. Something I think you have a little bit of understanding of." His eyes met mine. "But there has to be a balance.”

“Too many would throw the world into chaos,” my mom finished.

“How long?”

Carl shook his head, and a tear fell onto his daughter’s face. “There is no way to tell. She has to come fully into her powers, and the goddess, in her wisdom, gives the current shaman time to train them.”

“So we have time.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat.

“Not enough. She shouldn’t have had her first vision until he came of age.” My mother traced a finger down Carly’s cheek.

“Explain.” I furrowed my brow. “Her eyes…she is in a vision?” My eyes looked at Carl. “You had one earlier too.” He nodded, finally taking his daughter into his arms.

“I did.” Carl hugged his little girl to his chest, and he buried his nose into her hair. “I am so sorry, baby.” His voice caught, and then he hit his knees. I watched as this enormous man, this wolf, broke down.

“Mom.” I looked up, lost only to find her just as lost as I felt.

“We don’t have long.” My mom’s words barely carried over his sobs. “Carl once told me he started having visions when he was sixteen and by eighteen, his grandmother was gone.” She bit her lip. “The earlier the visions start, the more powerful the shaman. The faster they master their powers…”

I felt my mouth drop open. Carly was four or five. Her small body was still flopping around, stuck behind the veil of her vision. “The faster the last shaman dies,” I finished, and she nodded.