by Melissa Haag
Between the images of our group, several desertscape scenes left me worried. While the images clearly displayed the towering pillars of brown-red rocks and barren expanses of long-dry valleys, the main part of the scene remained blurred. Almost as if someone had taken a picture with the camera out of focus.
An array of varying colors made up the center. Only after staring for several moments did I place what I was seeing. A large-scale fight. Why were the people in the image blurred, though?
I shuffled through the images until I reached the bottom layer. On the final screen, swirls of grey covered the pastels of what seemed to be a sunset or sunrise. That was it. There’d been nothing helpful. Nothing that would give me a clue about what we needed to do to make the Judgement. I had to have missed something.
Frowning, I started back through the images again, slower this time. Most of them were of us here at the hotel or in our vehicles. The rest were unfocused stills of a lot of people in a desert setting. Was that it, then? Did that mean we would go from this hotel to the final fight? That we only had a few days, or maybe hours, until the Judgement?
I reached the last image once more. My stomach twisted with fear as I studied the grey swirls. Olivia and Bethi’s warnings rang in my ears. The world would burn, and I was seeing the smoke.
CHARLENE…
It hurt to breathe. To think. I blinked slowly but refused to let go. We needed answers.
Beside me, Michelle leaned back against Emmitt. She seemed to be looking at Jim, but I knew better. Though her body remained in this room, her mind had fled to her white room, searching for the answer to end Blake’s desperate reach for control. And each minute she stayed in there, I could feel my life draining further, just like I could feel Thomas’s concern, his energy, pulsing through our connection. I could feel them all.
My gaze drifted to Olivia. She hadn’t said anything since we’d started. Had she known what I would need to do? What she was asking me to risk? No, she wasn’t asking me to risk anything. I had a choice.
As soon as Michelle had touched her hand to mine, I’d understood why Thomas needed to hold me. Through him, I could pull the energy I needed to sustain the connection with Michelle. Not just his energy, but the energy of every man, woman, and child connected to the Elders through Thomas. A network of power. Of control.
My heart gave a fluttering thump, and I knew I needed to choose now. Take the energy I needed and risk exposing what I could do, or release Michelle and lose the chance for answers about the Judgement we needed to pass? The Judgement that would save the world. There was no real choice.
I opened myself to Thomas and let his energy flow into me. He exhaled suddenly, like I’d punched him, and I opened myself further to those energies that waited just beyond him. In two heartbeats, the ache and exhaustion vanished. I felt ready to run twenty miles and quickly closed myself off.
Thomas’s fingers twitched on my arms, and I waited for the hate and the fear. Instead, love and warmth wrapped around me.
They’ll think it was Isabelle again, he sent me.
I fought not to cry. He understood what I’d done and didn’t care.
I don’t fully understand, but you’re right. I don’t care. I love you, Charlene. And I’ll never stop trying to prove how much. By the time I die, you won’t doubt me.
My heart wanted to burst with what I felt for the man holding me.
Michelle’s fingers twitched in mine before I could answer. This time, she released me. Any lingering strain from keeping her in that white room faded as she looked around, aware of the present.
“What did you see?” Olivia asked.
“A disturbingly large decrease in images. Mostly scenes of us here at the hotel or on the road. Mixed in were scenes of a desertscape. A bunch of people were in those, all grouped close together. I could see the smallest detail of the desert, but everything about the people, who they were, what they were doing, all of it was blurry.”
Our future was blurred? That didn’t sound good.
“Maybe it was blurry because the future is not yet decided,” Jim said.
I watched Olivia and her quietly thoughtful expression. She knew more than she let on, and that worried Winifred because she thought it meant Olivia was going to betray us. I didn’t believe that, though. I knew what it was like to have a secret that couldn’t be shared.
“I’m not sure,” she said finally. “Did you see anything else?” Her gentle, dark gaze shifted to Michelle.
“Just that same desert location. It reminded me of pictures I saw in a magazine of Utah’s desert.”
“You saw nothing else?” she pressed.
“Nope. Just here, the vehicles, and the desert.” She hesitated for a moment. “Wait, there was one other thing that stood out. It was a swirl of grey over the desert, like the whole thing was covered with smoke. A fire maybe.”
Olivia closed her eyes for a brief moment.
“At least, we know we need to go to a desert,” she said when she opened them again. “Just not what we need to do once we get there.”
“Maybe we’ll have the answer by that time,” Jim said. “If you’re only seeing this hotel and driving, it’s clear we’re meant to head to the desert from here. Clay should be well enough to travel in a few hours.”
Michelle shook her head before he finished.
“I know we need to hurry, but we also need time to rest,” she said.
“The longer we sit in one spot, the more we risk everyone. Everything,” he said.
I understood what he was saying, but all we’d been doing was rush around, which hadn’t gotten us any further ahead in this game we seemed to be playing.
“I agree with Michelle,” I said. “Winifred is still stitching Clay, and I’m pretty sure Isabelle and Carlos took a beating to keep as many away from us as possible. If we rush into this without everyone healed…”
“We will fail,” Olivia said with a sigh. “How long will it take for everyone to recover?”
“I’ll check with Winifred,” Jim said.
He didn’t move to leave, though, and I knew he was using his new ability to communicate with the other Elders.
My heart broke for him all over again. My baby. My boy. I’d seen the way he’d looked at Olivia. She was meant to be his Mate, and fate had cruelly taken that chance from him. Just like Grey.
GABBY…
Clay didn’t move much as Winifred continued her work. She, Henry, and Sam were the only ones still in the room with us.
Henry watched me from across the room, pity in his gaze. He understood what I was going through better than anyone else. The terror of the moment when I’d felt his pain still gripped me.
A wash of love swept through me, not as comforting as it should have been. If not for all those humans suddenly coming to our aid…
A shaky exhale escaped me.
“Clay will be fine, Gabby,” Sam said.
“Will he?” I asked angrily. “Why are we doing this alone? There were werewolves not far from us. You could have called out to them and asked for help as soon as I told you the Urbat were coming.”
“We don’t want to risk more lives,” Winifred said, not looking up from her work.
“But it’s okay to risk mine and Clay’s and everyone else’s in the group? Why are we less important?”
“You’re not less important,” Sam said firmly.
I ignored him.
“If those humans wouldn’t have shown up, we’d all be dead, and everything we have done would be for nothing. Is that how you want this to end? You expose the existence of werewolves and Urbat to the entire world then die and leave the werewolves without a single leader or Elder?”
Winifred’s stitching paused.
“Because that almost happened. We can’t fight this alone, Winifred,” I said. “I know you heard Olivia say the same things Bethi’s been saying. The world will burn, and humans and werewolves alike will all die anyway if we fail. Who are you really protecting?”
Clay squeezed my hand, and I felt his worry and love brush my mind. He didn’t like it when I talked back to the Elders. Whether they liked what I had to say or not, though, they needed to hear my words.
“How did you know how to call those humans to come to our aid?” Winifred asked when she resumed her stitching.
My frustration boiled. Instead of addressing the real issue, why she didn’t call all the werewolves, she wanted to focus on that?
“I didn’t know. It just happened. I was desperate.” The scene played again in my mind, and I looked down at Clay’s beautiful, furry face. He watched me closely, his warm brown eyes missing nothing. His fingers squeezed my leg gently.
With the last knot tied off, Winifred straightened with a sigh.
“That’s more stitches than I would have liked to put in. But, given the uncertainty of what might happen next, a few extra will hold it better if you need to move.”
My heart sank at her words. More? I didn’t want any more. I wanted to leave and never look back. I wanted a place where Clay and I could hide from the world and just be us.
“Thank you, Winifred,” Clay said. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure you will. If you do need anything, either of you, let me know.”
I nodded numbly and watched her leave. Sam gave us a long look and picked up his bag.
“Henry, grab those pizza boxes. These two could use some quiet time.”
The door closed behind them, and Clay and I found ourselves alone for the first time in a very long time.
“What you’re feeling is killing me,” he said softly.
“I’m sorry.”
“No. I am. I’m sorry you’re suffering because of me.”
“Because of? No. We’re a team. We suffer together.” I leaned over him and gently brushed my lips to his. He tilted his head, giving me better access, and I deepened the kiss.
My heart thrummed excitedly, like it did every time he touched me. Only this time, I understood how close I’d come to never being able to kiss him again. To touch him. To make him mine in every way.
Reaching over him, I gently trailed my fingers down his bare, muscled chest. The hair tickled my fingertips. He groaned and lifted his hands to cup my face, turning a heartfelt kiss into a passionate one that curled my toes.
Clay owned me. He’d wormed his way into my life until he’d become such a part of it I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to live without him again. I poured all that feeling, all the desperation, into our kiss. He growled softly, and I knew he understood.
My head spun when I finally pulled away.
“I don’t want to wait any more,” I whispered. “Life is too short to hesitate.”
He groaned and tried to sit up. The effort ended with a grunt and him on his back next to me.
“Five hours,” he said. “The stitches will be set, then you’re mine.”
I grinned sadly and lay next to him, resting my head on his shoulder. I doubted five hours would be enough to heal what they’d done to him. Not when he’d been holding his insides in with his arm on the way here. His lips were hidden, but I didn’t doubt they were pale, like his exposed arms. He’d lost a lot of blood.
I closed my eyes and sighed.
“Don’t leave me. If something happens where you think you won’t make it, take me with you,” I whispered. “I don’t want to live without you.”
“I love you, Gabrielle Winters. More than you can possibly know.”
Thirteen
JIM…
Everyone watched me as they waited for the decision of the Elders.
“Winifred just finished stitching Clay up. She thinks he will need at least two days to fully heal. She hasn’t yet checked on Isabelle,” I said.
“I think Isabelle is pretty badly bruised and will need a few days, too,” Michelle said. “I’ll use that time to see if I can figure out which desert I saw in those images.”
“That also gives Bethi time to keep dreaming of her answers. Let’s hope it’s enough,” Olivia said.
I glanced at Mom’s pale, worried face again. Dad still held her tight. Remembering the last time Michelle had touched her, I knew she probably wanted to rest. Michelle looked like she could use some time alone with Emmitt, too. At least, that’s what I told myself as I tried to ignore the burning need I had to touch Olivia. To spend time alone with her again.
“I’ll walk Olivia back to our room,” I said, holding out my hand.
Olivia glanced at it for a long moment before hesitantly reaching for it. Her cool fingers felt so fragile in mine. I carefully wrapped my hand around hers and gave a light reassuring squeeze. She’d just stood when Winifred walked into the room.
Winifred took one look at us and scowled.
“I don’t think that’s a wise idea.”
“Why not?” I asked. “I’m fine, now, aren’t I?”
Olivia made a small sound almost like a laugh, and I realized that I’d just asked why again. I almost grinned, but Winifred looked anything but amused as she continued to study me.
“At this moment, perhaps,” Winifred said, angering me. “But I’m worried you’ll make a mistake. We can’t afford to lose you to your stubbornness.”
Mom reached up to clasp Dad’s hand, and I wanted to growl in frustration at Winifred. I understood her concern; but I wasn’t Sam and Olivia wasn’t Winifred. We were different. Thrown together because of a different set of circumstances. Winifred knew that. But it didn’t change why she worried. She cared because she loved me. She loved all of us. How could I argue with that?
“Winifred, I saw them in the white room,” Michelle said, coming to my rescue. “He is going to spend time with her. They’ll even stay together in the same room overnight. Those images weren’t blurry.”
A surge of joy tried surfacing, and my chest cramped with pain. I quickly told myself my joy was because I’d have more time to learn about Olivia which would only help assure the safety of my people. That thought helped suppress the blossoming pain.
Olivia wasn’t as quick to stifle her reaction. Her fingers twitched in mine. I glanced at her, noting the flush rising to her cheeks.
“Excuse me,” she said softly. “I need to lay down for a bit.”
She pulled her hand from mine and started for the door. It opened before she reached it. Sam and Henry stood in the hall. Winifred went to Henry and took the pizza boxes he held.
“Thought we’d bring some of these here since this is where most of you are,” Sam said.
“Henry, can you walk Olivia to her room?” Winifred asked.
A growl almost rose at the idea of the pup around her. The pain in my chest hit me hard. Winifred noticed my wince because her gaze had never left me, not even when talking to Henry.
“Yes, Nana,” Henry said. Olivia moved toward him. He politely held out his arm and wrapped Olivia’s hand around it.
Everyone in the room watched me as they left.
“Are you hungry, Jim?” Winifred asked, holding out a box.
Hungry? Yes. But not for the pizza. Another pain hit me between the ribs.
“You’re not being smart about this,” Winifred said. “I don’t care what Michelle said. You shouldn’t spend any more time with Olivia than necessary.”
“I think we’ll just take that box and run,” Emmitt said, sliding out from behind Michelle. She stood, took the box from Winifred, and led the way out.
Just Winifred, Sam, Mom, Dad, and I remained in the room. They all watched me with varying degrees of concern.
I absently scratched my chest and sighed. At what point would they stop looking at me like a run-away pup? At what point would they trust that I truly did have the best interest of the pack and our people at heart?
“You told me to listen to my heart, and I am. With both ears. There’s a reason fate made her my Mate. We just don’t know why, yet. If I don’t spend time with her, how will we ever learn?”
“And, it has to be something important if Mic
helle saw him staying in the same room with her,” Mom added.
I winked at Mom. She might not be happy that I’d found Olivia after taking the oath, but she had wanted me to find a Mate since the first time I stole Dad’s car to hang out in town with human girls.
Winifred sighed.
“Just be careful.” She stepped aside and waved me out of the room. I quickly left and caught up with Henry just as he left Olivia’s room.
He took one look at me and shook his head.
“You look like you want to cuff me when I didn’t even do anything. I thought ‘be nice, but don’t trust’ was meant for her, not me,” he said.
“Sorry, Henry. I’m trying.”
I put my hand on the door, impatient to join her.
“I know. Good luck. And don’t forget what you told me,” he said before he walked away.
Don’t trust. I didn’t. Not blindly anyway. But I was starting to believe that Olivia was telling the truth. If Blake saw her as a tool like the rest of the girls and there was no true caring between the pair of them, she would have every reason to keep her emotions buried. Other than hiding those, she didn’t seem to be hiding anything else.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
OLIVIA…
My heart still wanted to race when Jim walked with purpose into the room. That Michelle had seen the two of us spending time together shouldn’t have shocked me. That was the reason for my time here, after all. Yet, hearing we would spend the night together did worry me. Everything rode on how carefully I proceeded, now. I couldn’t fail. Not now. Not this close.
