AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, yeah. As soon as I got out of there, the wolf… retreated.”
“Maybe this isn't the best environment for you so soon after dealing with Eli.” I smoothed down her hair. “If I were you, I’d go back inside to apologise. Give them space if they need it, but for your peace of mind, you need to try to make amends. I’m not saying this as a pack member. I’m saying this as somebody who cares about you. You want to keep them as friends, so work for it.”
“I’m so embarrassed. How am I supposed to be around people if I snap so easily?”
“You’re doing good, Margo. We all need reminders sometimes. If that was Victor, things would’ve been way worse. You don’t have anything to prove.”
“I wanted everything to go perfectly. With the harbingers, with my life. I wanted to do everything right.” She gave me a pained look. “I thought you and I would get closer once I became more like you, but we’ve barely spent time with each other.”
“Yeah, well.” I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. “Honestly, I’ve been keeping out of the way. Everybody acting like the harbingers are gone for good bothers me. We’ve no reason to believe that, but I didn’t want to burst your bubble either.” I gestured towards the shed. “We always have to stay vigilant.”
“I get it.” She clucked her tongue. “I’ve been a little bigheaded, but doesn’t it feel good to win at something sometimes? It’s hard to let go of that.”
“It’s not always about winning,” I explained. “That’s the mentality that provokes the wolf. Always trying to be in first place is why people like us snap. You see the way it is between Nathan and Jeremy. They rub each other up the wrong way because there’s a rivalry. Let’s not, Margo.”
She looked hurt. “I did get a bit carried away, but it’s not like you to be such a downer either. What’s with that?”
“I’m worried,” I admitted. “About you, about the future, about all kinds of things. There’s a lot more at stake than there used to be, and I have way more to lose. Everything’s changing. Even us.” I held her gaze. “You still haven’t told me what happened that day with Eli, what you saw.”
Her eyes grew wide. “Vira told you?”
“She wanted you to tell me. I wanted that, too, but you still haven’t said a word. Why?”
“I wasn’t sure.” Her shoulders sagged as though all of the restless energy had left her body. “I didn’t want to worry everyone. They all seemed so excited.”
“What did you see that would worry everyone?”
“I’m seeing death differently since I shifted. I mean, Ireallysee it now. Like I can touch it. What I thought were hands clawing at Eli turned out to be what I think are spirits. Real spirits of real people. I could be wrong, but I got the sense he was using them to boost his power.”
“Spirits make him stronger,” I said, stunned. “But where did they come from?”
“They’re attached to him, somehow. They reminded me a little of Byron’s father, but they seem trapped with Eli. I have no idea why.”
Several thoughts collided in my head. “Margo, you already helped a spirit pass on.”
“So?”
“So if you can do that for these spirits, Eli won’t have them to draw on for power.”
“I could take away his strength.” Her eyes widened as the realisation struck her. “Why the hell didn’t I think of that?” Then she shook her head. “But this is different. Jakob wanted to move on. I’m not sure how I can help these people, how I can get close enough to Eli to even try.”
“We’ll talk to Amelia about it. She might have an idea. For now, deal with Chloe and Emma.”
“Will you come with me when I apologise?” she asked. “In case I screw that up.”
“You won’t screw it up.” I held her hands. “I know how well you’re doing. A little setback doesn’t change everything. So let’s go in there and make up with the girls before they get a chance to dwell on it too much.”
She hugged me. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.” She lifted her chin to kiss me, but when she wrapped herself more tightly around me to deepen the kiss, I carefully broke away. The hurt in her eyes was easy to see. “Are you—“
I silenced her words with a gentle kiss before she could get the wrong idea. I held her hands while I explained. “I miss you, too, Margo, but I know what it’s like when the energy overtakes us. So do you. You’ve seen how the pack gets after a run. I don’t want you to get carried away by that magic in the air and regret anything later.” I held her gaze, hoping she saw my sincerity. “I don’t want to be a mistake you made.”
“Are you sure that’s what it is?” she asked. “You can be honest if how you feel has changed.”
I kissed her again, this time for too long, and when we broke apart, panting, she stared at me. “How is it so easy for you to consider everything that might happen?”
I shrugged. “I’m a planner. Reliable, remember?”
“I’m glad I have you on my side.” She braced herself. “I should deal with my actual mistakes.”
