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Lola’s eyes closed as she concentrated on the magic within her. A gentle wave of energy emanated from her, and Lucille’s tense muscles relaxed ever so slightly. Encouraged, Lola continued to focus, and suddenly, there was a glimmer of recognition in Lucille’s eyes.
“Ridge?” She sounded so small, so scared. My heart leaped with hope, but it was short-lived.
Aunt Lucille’s body convulsed, then contorted and twisted as she transformed into her wolf, her snarls filling the room. She made a sudden, aggressive movement towards Lola, teeth exposed and ready to attack.
Ridge’s clothes shredded into pieces as he effortlessly shifted into his wolf form. Without hesitation, he launched himself at his aunt, sending them both crashing to the floor, using his body weight to pin her down, the room echoing with Ridge’s powerful growl.
I grabbed Lola’s arm, feeling her tense muscles, and pulled her back from the chaotic scene unfolding before us. We had no time to leave the room as nurses rushed in to sedate Lucille. As soon as Lucille returned to her human form, the staff sprang into action. They efficiently redressed her and gently guided her back into bed, where they secured her with shifter-proof restraints. Her chest rose and fell with labored breaths.
Ridge’s muscles rippled and contorted as he shifted back. He quickly searched through a drawer in Lucille’s dresser and found a set of clothes he’d left here for emergencies. While he gotdressed, the staff made sure Lucille was comfortable, then left us alone with her once more.
Ridge’s grief and disappointment was written all over his face. “I thought we were getting through to her.”
I wrapped my arm around his waist. “Let’s hear what Lola has to say first.” I glanced across the room at her. “We’re not giving up yet, right?”
“No,” Lola agreed. “That was just my first attempt.” She’d regained most of her composure—her clenched fists had loosened, and her posture was more relaxed.
Lola’s courage impressed the hell out of me. She hadn’t been exposed to shifters for long, but she’d remained by my side even after witnessing Lucille’s feral side. I could still scent her fear, but she hadn’t fled or shut down completely.
Before she continued, she focused on brushing off her pants, as if trying to find the right words. “When I cast the spell, I connected with Lucille. I could feel the intensity of her mourning and the rawness of her pain. It’s like an unbreakable chain tying her to this feral state.”
“Is there anything you can do?” Ridge asked, desperation in his eyes.
“I’m not sure if it’s completely curable, but I think I can work with her to become more lucid, bit by bit,” Lola said, her voice steady. “But I’ll need to approach this in a different way. There needs to be more of a ritualistic approach combined with some psychology, if you’re willing to let me try.”
“Whatever it takes to help her,” Ridge said.
“Thank you, Lola,” I said, my admiration for her growing by the minute. “You’re really going above and beyond for us.”
“Helping others is a big part of why I chose to be a psychiatrist. When I discovered my ancestors were witches and moved here to research them, I didn’t believe they were truly magical witches. Learning it was all real…I really wanted to learnmagic. I knew I’d be able to help so many more people in ways I’d never dreamed possible.” She gave a wistful sigh. “Seeing the love and support you two have for each other and how important the pack is to you...it’s inspiring. I want to do everything I can to help.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I’ve been able to reunite Zander with his wolf, but seeing Lucille suffer like this tonight…” Lola’s shoulders slumped as she turned to look out the passenger window, her sigh conveying the depth of her sadness for Lucille. “If I can help Lucille regain some of her sanity, maybe going forward, I can do something to help other feral wolves.”
“Let’s make a plan, then,” Ridge said, and I could hear the heartfelt gratitude in his voice. “We won’t give up on Lucille, no matter what it takes.”
Chapter 44
Ridge
“I’ll keep thinking about how I can help Lucille, Ridge,” Lola said to me as I pulled up to her place. She stifled a yawn; she was probably exhausted from the magic she had expelled. It was hard to remember she was so new to magic and the supernatural when she’d accomplished so much in such a short time.
“Thank you, Lola,” I said. “I appreciate it.” For the first time since hearing her prognosis, I felt a glimmer of hope for my aunt.
The truck door closed with a heavy thud. We watched as Lola let herself into the building and shut the door behind her.
Tori’s hand was warm and comforting in mine, a reminder that she had been with me every step of the way. “Thank you for being so good to me and my aunt,” I told her. Lucille’s all the family I have left.” After everything we’d faced, Tori was still by my side, helping me protect the last member of my family.
Tori’s hazel eyes locked onto mine, her expression tender. “Lucille is going to be my family, too, Ridge. We’re getting married, remember?” A teasing smile played on her lips, and I chuckled at her lighthearted tone.
“Of course, I remember,” I said. How could I forget? I couldn’t wait for this woman to be mine in every way possible. I leaned in to press my lips against hers. The kiss was soft andsweet, a promise of our future. There was a rumble of longing from my inner wolf, yet a lingering thread of unease remained. We still hadn’t claimed our mate properly.
Tori’s arms wound around my neck, pulling me closer. “Ridge,” she sighed, her breath warm and inviting against my mouth. Our lips collided in a passionate kiss, our tongues warring with an intense and fiery hunger. Heat pooled low in my gut, threatening to consume us both. But this wasn’t the time or place for such things, and we reluctantly broke apart.
“Sorry,” I said, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. I cleared my throat, trying to regain control of myself. “Anyway, about Lucille—” I began, only for Tori to cut me off.
“Let’s not worry about that right now. She’s safe, and Lola is working on it. That’s what matters most.”
I nodded. Still, I worried. Worry came with the title of alpha.
I glanced around at the small town that had become our sanctuary. It was quiet now, but the tension that had been building ever since the hunters had first infiltrated Blackwood still permeated the air. Things were only going to get worse, and the weight of protecting my pack, my friends, and, more importantly, my family fell squarely on my shoulders.
