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“Thank you, Clare. That would be great.” Then he said to me, “See you in a bit,” and he and Liam headed to the woods.
Mom stopped her perplexed look at me. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I shrugged, making a naïve face.
“Then where are they going? There isn’t much time left; it’s going to be dark soon.”
“They’re only going for a run.” James gave her a reassuring smile. “It shouldn’t take long.”
Mom rolled her eyes. “Wolves,” she muttered, walking back into the house.
I watched Finn and Liam disappear behind the trees, then went closer to the barn and looked at the drawing of the bracelet in the open grimoire sitting on the big stump.
“You’re worried about him, aren’t you?” James shook the spray can in his hand.
“Yeah, I am.”
“You shouldn’t be.” He crouched next to the unfinished symbol he had been painting. “He’s one of our strongest. He knows what he’s doing.”
“It’s just . . . A month ago, he was living a normal life, and now . . . This is all because of me.”
“Don’t be silly. If I had someone who . . . You see, it’s in our nature to protect someone we care about at any cost.”
“What about you and Liam? Why would you put yourself at such risk?”
“For the same reason. Finn is our friend, and we care about him a lot. And of course, we care about you too. You still don’t understand how special you are, do you?” He peeled his eyes from the symbol and looked at me. “It’s our honor to protect you, Spencer.”
“You mean that Great Alpha thing?” I chortled. “I don’t even know what it really means.”
“You will when the time comes.”
“You meanif.Ifthe time comes.”
“Spencer,” he started.
But I stopped him.
“I’m sorry, James.” I felt bad for putting him on spot like that. It wasn’t his job to make me feel better or give me hope. He was already doing everything he could to help, despite the danger he was putting himself into. I gave him a warm look. “I just want Finn to come back soon so I could have a little time with him before . . . you know? I just want him with me.”
“I get it. And he wants it too.” James grinned. “Believe me, I know. Here,” he pointed at the symbol in the grimoire, the one Liam left unfinished. “Keep yourself busy. It’ll make the time go faster.”
“I love your haircut, by the way,” I grinned back at him, changing the subject.
“Cool, right?” He chuckled, brushing his palm over the shaved temple in a funny, artistic way.
“Oh ya. It’s the coolest.” I shook the spray can and crouched next to the half-painted symbol on the ground.
* * *
“Thanks,” I said to James after we finished the circle.
“I think it’s big enough.” He looked satisfied as he examined the symbols. “And Liam and I will watch you in case you try to get out.”
I looked at my paint-covered hands. “I’ll go wash.”
“Yeah, me too.”
James started toward the house. I threw a searching look back at the woods before following him. Once inside, I stopped by the kitchen first to tell Mom that the circle was ready.
