I opened myself up as I sat down and sent out a call. "Sorry it took so long.” I sighed as I sat down next to her.


    "You were busy." Carl''s voice was sad, and as I looked over, both he and my grandmother looked worried. "But you are here


    now."


    "I didn''t expect both of you." I sighed.


    "Daddy." Carly called as she jumped up, but I grabbed her.


    "He''s not really here, baby, remember? You can''t touch him." She trembled and then she sat back down. They settled across from


    us with the grave between us.


    "I forgot." She looked at him. "I miss you, daddy."


    "And I miss you too, baby." He leaned over, then need to touch his daughter too much. "I heard every time you prayed to me." His eyes softened. "And I want you to know, baby. That if you want to call Amy mom, or if at any time Amy gets a mate and you want to call him dad, your mother and I won''t mind. We will always be your mommy and daddy." The tears in his eyes were full of


    love. 1


    Carly looked at me and I smiled down at her. "You don''t have to call me or my mate anything you don''t want to. I won''t mind. I''ll still love you either way." I kissed her head.


    "Carl?" My grandmother turned to him and he nodded. "Darling. You and I have to talk." She nodded behind us. "Carl will sit


    with Carly for a bit."


    I kissed Carly again. "I''ll be close if anything happens." I stood and walked away from the two, speaking low at the grave. I turned to find my grandmother beside me. "What''s wrong?"


    "I know you are thinking of finding the Lycans, but that isn''t for you to do." She looked back at the grave. "That is destined for


    someone else."


    "But." I looked at Carly. "She is so young."


    "And it will wait until she is ready. You have other things to worry about."


    I nodded. "I have a n for Vince, but I don''t know who this Garith is." My grandmother paled. "You know something."


    She nodded, but she held up her hand. "Talk to your father, talk to yourputer friend. Make a n. They are worried about you and you will need them." There was something else she wanted to say. She leaned over and kissed me. "Your father... he needs to confess some things to you. Some secrets will shift your entire world, and the view of people you have had. Be open to it." She kissed me. "And be ready to be your true self. Full, unhindered, and wild." She pulled back and cupped my face. I closed my eyes, trying to feel her hands, but there was nothing but the wind. "You are going to make an amazing leader one day."


    Iughed. "I am no leader."


    +15 Bonus


    She nced back at the grave. "Leave the Lycans for the Shaman. She has her own fate to figure out. Focus on the men who are


    trying to take over the world." Then she was gone. I turned and walked back to the grave.


    "Your nan gone already?" I nodded to Carl. "You had all of us worried for a few days there, girlie.” His eyes danced to Carly. "We


    could only watch and hope you got out."


    I smiled. “I wouldn''t leave our girl." I winked at him and hugged Carly to my side.


    He sighed and smiled. "Thank you. For everything so far, and everything toe." He stood and looked at his daughter. "I love


    you, baby."


    "I love you too, daddy." She turned to me. "He can''t stay?" I could hear the hope


    in her voice, and it broke me.


    I shook my head. "I don''t have that power, my love." She nodded and turned back, but Carl was already gone. I watched her


    dete a little.


    "I miss him so much." A tear fell, and I pulled her into myp.


    “I know.” I hugged her. “You are going to miss him every day of your life." I pulled back to look down at her. "Some days it will be


    easy, a flicker of love in your heart and a tiny piece of you calling for him. And some days, the ground will shift out from under


    your feet and your entire body will ache with your love for him. The need to see him will make your bones ache." I ran a hand


    down her head. "Grief is something that changes you forever. But I will say, the longer you go, the easier dayse more and


    more, and the bad days, they feel easier to deal with when theye farther apart."


    "You lost someone you loved." She wasn''t asking. She could tell I knew the feeling.


    I nodded. "I lost my pup." I smiled at her and I could feel the tears in my eyes. "You make it easier to deal with, though. The days


    that are bad, you make them a little lighter." I stood with her and she wiggled down.


    "You make my days easier, too." She smiled up at me.


    Toya stepped out of the back door. "It''s dinnertime."