1 closed my eyes in disbelief. "Is that bad?" Toya leaned over and whispered. I just nodded.


    "This isn''t the end. The goddess has a n." I told her and I hoped it helped a little with the pain of everything she was dealing with. "She wouldn''t do this to you unless there was a reason."


    "I know. And I think this is the reason." She whispered, her voice growing lower.


    "Why?"


    "Because everyday Vincemands me toe to the pack house. To sit next to him and Derek."


    "What the fuck?" Wendy''s eye grew wide. "That''s torture.


    is


    Lynn sniffled and, for the first time, I could hear how much this was killing her. "It is. But only because he refuses to ept my rejection. Even though my wolf has epted her fate and is trying her best to recoup, he won''t let the link die. He calls to us, every night. And makes use stand next to him every day. The bond on my side i shattered, but my wolf is still in pain." Lynn took a deep breath. "Anyway, I didn''t call you toin."


    "It''s okay if you did." I offered.


    "Thank you Amy. I really appreciate it." I could hear her kick something. "And I might start taking that offer. But back to Vince and Brandon."


    "How was he there?" I leaned closer to the phone. "The king ordered all students to stay on campus."


    ''Did he actuallymand you?" Her voice held a question


    I looked at Wendy and Toya and both shook their heads. "No."


    "Unless the king actuallymanded each of you personally, then it wouldn''t


    stick. Even if he did a massmand, a little known fact is that even massmands wear off eventually, depending on how many wolves are there. Obviously the king has more power, so it wouldst longer, but a couple thousand people, over a couple of months, it would wear off for sure."


    "But why would he risk going home?"


    "The kudzu. He came to grab the kudzu. Which is why I am out in the middle of the forest at two in the morning, warning you."


    I sat frozen. "He got it for me?" Both Wnedy and Toya growled.


    "I overheard a small snippet. He thinks that if he can get yo would mate him to keep your reputation."


    Iughed. "Like he cares about my reputation"


    to go into heat, he can get you pregnant and then you


    "He doesn''t, but he knows you do." She huffed out a breath "Brandon came and grabbed the kudza. But it was Vince that sent warning bells off in my head."


    "What do you mean?"


    "When Brandon was here, Vince pulled him aside. I overheard a little of their conversation. This is the n for Brandon to mate you, but it''s also the n for Vince to get his hands on your dad''s money and packnds. "A growl ripped from my throat. The first in months.


    How dare they? Nix''s voice was soft but livid.


    They will suffer. Megan''s voice sounded rabid. She was ready to kill them.


    I closed my eyes and felt the tears fall. You guys are back. Give me a minute.


    "I will keep an eye out and not drink or eat anything he gives me." I offered, distracted now.


    "Good." There was a snap in the distance. "I have to go, but I will let you know what else I catch."


    "Okay. Thank you for warning, me. And Lynn?"**


    "Yeah?"


    "I''ll exinter, but I need you to know that our pack is okay."


    "Swear it." Her voice was a little desperate.


    "I swear it. And Lynn, protect my mom."


    "With my life." Then she was gone.


    "Amy? Are you okay?" Wendy wiped the tears from my face


    "Nix and Megan. They are back." I closed my eyes and ran to the edge of my forest, where my wolves were waiting for me. I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around them. Their bodies had grown too thin. "Are you okay?"


    Nix shivered as she ced her head on my shoulder. "Tired. But alive."


    "Exhausted." Megan agreed as she curled up at my knees, cing her head on my knees. "I''m sorry."


    "Why are you sorry?" I whispered as I slipped my fingers into her coat.


    "I couldn''t tell you." She closed her eyes.


    "That''s on me, little one." Nix wavered as she copsed next to Megan. "Imanded your silence, and we could have died. I would have died if you hadn''t supported me."


    "Never do that again." My words held anger. I didn''t know felt until that moment. "You jeopardized everything. Your lives, my life, everything."


    Nix huffed. "I know. I''m sorry."


    "We are a team. We work together." I leaned over my two wolves and whispered my truth. "I thought you hated me. I thought you turned on me...I thought you left me." I could feel the panic those words induced in me.


    "Never, Amy. I would never abandon you."


    "Me either." My two wolves fell asleep at my feet, and for the first time in a long time, I felt whole.