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I kept Pearl pressed against me; each step we took toward potential danger had my instincts screaming at me. My wolf balked at the idea of her being anywhere near a threat, but he also understood that she was our partner, chosen by the Moon Spirit. She was our other half, and we couldn’t keep her in a cage, no matter how badly we wanted to.
Estella stood by the door that led to the cellar built into the hillside. Her wolf was beside her, pressed against her leg, like she was trying to transfer her strength to her human half. I had no idea if they could do that since they were separated.
“Estella,” I greeted, giving her a kind smile. She returned it but it wobbled with nerves. “Deacon says you want to see Ledger?”
“Yes, I…” She trailed off, looking frustrated as she tried to find the words. “I think I can be of help.”
Pearl squeezed my hand, but it wasn’t necessary since I could feel her emotions like they were my own. She thought it was a good idea to include Estella. I wasn’t so sure, but I trusted my mate. Plus, Estella is Tamra’s sister, so her insight might prove to be invaluable.
I took a moment to reorient myself. It had been three days since the attack, not including the time Pearl and I had in the other cabin. I’d spent hours with Ledger, trying to get through to him. He never spoke, and I wondered if he even knew where he was. He didn’t acknowledge my presence in the room or anyone else’s. Freeing him from his mother’s control was the right thing to do, but somehow, along the way, it appeared that Ledger had lost himself.
“I haven’t had much success with him,” I admitted, hating that I didn’t know how to help him. “He’s free from Tamra’s influence, but with it gone, there may not be any Ledger left.”
“Have you tried speaking to his wolf?” Pearl’s brows furrowed with worry and concern.
“I can’t seem to reach him.” I shrugged.
“Interesting,” Estella mused, reaching down and stroking her wolf’s head behind the ears.
I glanced at Deacon, curious to see what his reaction to Estella’s request was, and I wasn’t surprised to see him visibly upset. We hadn’t spoken about whatever this was between the two of them, but he was definitely feeling some sort of way about her. I made a note to speak to him after this, one on one.
Opening my mouth, I intended to ask how Ledger had been since I’d been gone, then I remembered that time had paused here. It had only been a few minutes, but it felt like weeks had passed.
I shook my head in an effort to get it screwed on straight.
‘It’s something we’ll both struggle with for a time.’
Pearl was right. I’d need to explain everything to Deacon eventually, but now wasn’t the time.
“Let’s all go in,” I suggested, dropping her hand and stepping toward the door.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Deacon asked carefully.
“Nothing else has worked so far. Time to mix it up.” I grabbed the door’s handle and pushed it open.
The space was just as I’d left it. The floor was dirt, as were the walls and ceiling with wood support beams. It smelled of earth and stale body odor. Ledger was in the same position he had been in since I put him here. He sat in the corner, his wrists manacled and raised above him. His head lulled on his neck, like he didn’t have the strength to keep it steady. His green eyes were open but distant. It looked like he wasn’t aware of anything going on around him.
A pang of worry stabbed my chest. Did I do this to him? Was this my fault? In trying to save him, had I made whatever Tamra had done worse? Every other wolf seemed to recover perfectly except for him. There had to be more going on.
Everyone squeezed into the small space, the temperature instantly rising a few degrees. Ledger didn’t acknowledge our entrance. He just continued to stare, his eyes glazed and unfocused.
“Ledger?” I asked, speaking firmly, trying to jolt him, but he didn’t react.
I had no clue what else to do. I’d removed the control and freed him, but it didn’t appear like he was free at all. I didn’t know how to help him, and desperation returned in full force. My mind whirled as I tried to come up with something, but my thoughts were interrupted when Pearl stepped to my side. She was a soothing presence, her touch calming the sea of anxiety I was trying to navigate.
‘The Moon Spirit said I could help.’
I had no idea how she was going to do that, but I was willing to give just about anything a shot.
Chapter Twenty
Pearl
Seeing the once-arrogant alpha-apparent slumped in the corner of the cellar, completely vacant, was disconcerting to say the least. Ledger’s usually bright green eyes were now glazed over like he wasn’t seeing anything. He looked lost. He didn’t even acknowledge that we had entered.
“Has he been like this the whole time?” I asked, alarmed at the state of him. Something was not right here.
“Yes, he hasn’t moved even a little bit.” Deacon stood between Estella and Ledger, like he thought the latter would suddenly wake up and attack.
