“You need to come home. We need every single powerful ally we can get, Kira. The rogues have been escalating rather quickly. If you’re as powerful as he is, you are needed.”
“I can’t, Mom. We are in the middle of our own situation right now and I have to save Hephaestus’ hammer before the entire world ends,” Kira says softly.
“What?” She plants her hands on her hips. “We need you, Kira. You’re not going to help your actual family?”
“Not yet,” Kira says. “You won’t need me for a while and we are walking into our own war right now. If I don’t help get the hammer, the entire world and multiple realms attached to it will fall.”
“But we need you.”
“With all due respect, ma’am, we have been saving the world several times over the last few months, and this is the final task. We need Kira’s help or it won’t just be your family dying but everything,” I say.
“And while I understand your viewpoint, I still must insist my daughter come home immediately to help her family.” Her mother glares at me.
“Mom,” Kelsey says. “Kira’s a badass and is needed to save the world.”
“No, we need her here more. Someone else can help you save the world or whatever you think is such a big deal.” Kira’s mom shakes her head.
“You only want me home because I have access to more power,” Kira says. “Wow, Mom. What happened to you?”
“That is not the only reason I want you home, but you have a duty to your family to help us when we need you.”
“After I’m done here, we might have another conversation about me coming home to help, but I have to do this. I’m the only one who can help my father. I have to do this.” Kira clenches her hands into fists.
“We gave you everything and you won’t help us when we need you?” her mother says with a glare.
“You’ve never needed me. I was always a disappointment because I don’t have a wolf. Now that you know I have more power, I’m important? You want to run my life now that I have value, Mother?”
“Mom?” Kelsey nudges her arm. “Tell her that she’s wrong, that you’re not doing this because she’s more powerful and it’s because you love her and want her to be safe.”
My heart breaks a little more for my friend. Her species really values strength above all else and her own mother thought she was weak. Should we even involve ourselves in the shifter war? Thousands will die but maybe they have brought it upon themselves after the way they have treated my friend.
“You know what? We were friends with Kira before we ever needed her help saving the world. Before she was dosed with extra power. The fact that you only want her home is because you say you need her strength tells me everything I need to know about you. End the call, Kira. You don’t need this bullshit. You have us now.” I wave a hand.
“If I go home now and leave this to others, the whole world will burn, Mom. I have to do this, and then maybe I’ll come home to help with the inevitable shifter war.” Kira leans back into Draven.
She doesn’t understand. She can’t understand. If Kira leaves, we can’t complete our mission and everything will burn.
8
“You okay?” I ask Kira.
“Yup, totally fine. I always kind of wondered about my mom and stepdad, but they were never like the rest of the pack.” Kira shrugs.
Raven bumps her shoulder with Kira’s. “Your sister is pretty fucking cool if not a little too excited.”
“Yeah, I never knew that Kelsey got into fights because of me. That was a shock.” She stands from the couch. “You get what you need, Grant?”
“Yeah, I got it but now I’m wondering if I even want an alliance with those people.” He shakes his head.
“They are something else,” I agree. “I’m sorry, Kira. You don’t need them, though. You have us forever.”
Kira turns to Grant with a sigh. “Don’t make any hasty decisions about forming an alliance with them, okay? I may be finding out that they always thought I was weak for the first time in my life, but they aren’t terrible people. You guys all need to band together to defeat this rogue and his allies.”
“You’re right. I don’t have to like them as people to side with them on this.” Grant nods.
“If that’s it, we need to go. I want to get through Arizona today if at all possible. We still have a battle we’re going to be late for. I don’t want to miss it entirely.” I hold out a hand for Grant and he shakes it.
“Yeah, you guys stay safe, and I’ll send some of my wolves to the academy.” Grant shakes my hand.
