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I believed him. In the few days Seff and I had been together, I’d found something with him I’d never found with Tillman—trust. There was never a need to hide from Seff. The mantra I’d adopted ofsay nothinghad not once crossed my mind. The techniques I'd used to keep my anxiety from blowing up into a full-blown panic attack—if I used them, it was only a couple of times, and Seff had never been the cause.
Through my sorrow and uncertainty of the future, mysakana’sunwavering love filled me with hope and happiness.
I sighed and raised the tea to my lips. Small sips were all I could do.
And as I’d done so many times over the last two days, I focused inside and reached for my bond with Seff. The connection we shared was a tightly wound rope, strong and sure, and I grabbed onto it with my entire being.
He was close. Much closer than before. His energy had shifted to something other than excitement. He was still tracking the twins, but something was not right. Whatever he felt prickled the hair on the back of my neck and made my stomach tighten into an uncomfortable knot.
A high-pitched howl sounded off outside.
Nereida.
My breath caught in my lungs and my heart pounded wildly.
One more brief howl.
The tea slipped from my grasp. The heavy mug made a thud as it hit the thick rug beneath my feet. Tea splashed against my ankles and registered in the back of my mind, but I didn’t care. After throwing off my bulky sweater and shoving down my jeans, I shifted into my wolf form and ran. The icy air didn’t penetrate my thick undercoat as I sprinted outside and onto the wooden walkway.
My parents stood in their open doorway, staring off into the woods.
Another far-away howl drifted across the dark, snowy forest, answering Nereida's call.
Seff.
Two small, dark brown wolves bounded up and down through the drifts, running as fast as their little legs would carry them. I jumped off the walkway and raced across the frozen ground. In their excitement, Arteisma and Nereida plowed into me, knocking me off my feet and onto my back. I tried to corral them, but they wiggled and squirmed and spun in happy circles, yipping and whining.
They’re safe. They’re home.
“I bet that was a hell of an adventure,” said my dad from a few feet away as Arteisma and Nereida bounced around at my sides.
Arteisma shifted into her human form and exclaimed, “It was!”
My mom's voice came from behind me. "Here, let's wrap you two up. And, dear gods, you both need a good hot bath."
“Did Viveca bring you back?” Dad asked with a slightly suspicious growl in his voice.
“No,” said Nereida. “Viveca is a liar.”
“She said she was taking us to visit her cousins,” Arteisma said. “But she was acting weird, and she didn’t smell right.”
“We stole her phone and sneaked away last night when she was in the bathroom. We tried to call you, but you didn't answer.” I looked to see a contrite look on Nereida's face.
I shifted to my human form and wrapped my arms around her and Arteisma and the warm, bulky blankets my mom had draped around them. Their sweet scents filled my nose as tears trailed down my cheeks.
I sniffled and asked, “How did you find your way home?”
Before either twin could answer, my dad let off a deep, vicious growl. “Sonofabitch.”
A scent I hadn’t smelled in over five years hit my nose—dry grass and old, worn leather.
The wolf inside me snarled.
Einar Ulven stood alone at the tree line.
My canines lengthened as the human part of me disappeared into the background. In the next moment, I was on my feet, shoving the twins behind me. I seized my Breeder form, welcoming my dark, wild side and letting it take me over. Every muscle in my body stretched as my bones grew in length and width. A thick white coat covered every inch of my skin. Flexing my fingers, I snapped out my long, lethal claws. I curled my lips and set my deadly canines on full display. A vicious growl vibrated through my chest and out of my mouth.
They are mine.
