Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

After a few more words, they dropped their arms, ending the group hug.

  “If ever you need us again, all you have to do is call,” Nina said.

  “And how would we do that?” Winona asked.

  “You will know,” Ariana answered.

  Winona and Reagan watched as the three women departed and then turned back toward the wolf family. On the way back, Reagan surveyed the area. Nothing about the particular section of forest reflected what had happened minutes before. A momentous slice of history, but one that wouldn’t be heralded or recorded in recollection or devastation. There weren’t even a few cracked branches on the ground.

  Looking back at her team, Rowan’s gaze drew her in, and she smiled as he closed the distance between them.

  “We should get back to camp,” he said as he put an arm around her.

  Papa came up next. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Something about the way he moved caught her eye, and she focused on him, trying to figure out what her gut was trying to tell her. Then, she saw him wince as he bent to get something.

  “Rowan, why don’t you gather everyone and lead us out? I want to check in with Papa,” she said.

  He nodded.

  Reagan jogged over to Papa. “Hey, how are you holding up?”

  “Pretty good. You?”

  “Not bad, considering. Are you sure you’re okay, you seem—”

  Her cut her off. “Nothing to worry about here.”

  Why did those words worry her even more? She hesitated, but he reiterated his words and moved on. She made a mental note to check on him again once they had settled back into the cave. So many thoughts swirled in her mind. Where would home be? They couldn’t live in caves the rest of their lives. Could she have a normal life going forward? Or would evil rise again?

  Deciding the questions could wait and she deserved to celebrate, she cleared her mind and enjoyed the journey home, which took longer because of Mom’s inability to shift. Reagan offered to shift and carry her mom, but she wanted to walk. Too pumped up to consider sleep, Reagan settled in and enjoyed the slower pace.

  When they arrived, the rest of the team greeted them with cheers before everyone dispersed. Aunt Sarah stood at the front of the line of greeters. Overcome with emotion, Reagan ran to her.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  Aunt Sarah stroked Reagan’s hair and pulled Mom into their embrace. “I’m so sorry about your father.”

  Tears threatened again at the mention of his name. “We lost Lucent and Madeleine, too.” Reagan choked the words out.

  “Oh, no.” Aunt Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth. “I’m so sorry.” She pulled Reagan into a hug. After a moment, Aunt Sarah pulled back and stroked Reagan’s hair. “I can’t imagine how exhausted you are. I think we all need some rest. Susie, why don’t you and Winona bunk in with me. Reagan, of course, you are welcome, too, but I suspect there’s somewhere else you might want to be.” Aunt Sarah leaned close to Reagan and whispered the last part of the sentence. When she pulled away, her aunt gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  Reagan hesitated. Even though she did want to be with Rowan, she felt guilty for leaving her grieving mother.

  “Go,” Mom said, seeming to know her daughter’s inner struggle. “We have the rest of our lives to be together. Your father wanted that desperately, for his family to be back together. He’d be so proud of what you did today.”

  Fighting the threatening tears, Reagan squeezed her mom then sought out Winona, telling her about the evening’s plans. They hugged, and Reagan went in search of Rowan, finding him in his room.

  “Can I come in?” Reagan asked from the doorframe.

  He covered the few feet between them in seconds and pulled her to him as his mouth crashed down on hers. Coming up for a few seconds of air, he bent over and picked her up, kicking the door shut behind him.

  “Please say you’ll stay with me tonight,” he said between kisses.

  “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” she mumbled when his lips left hers for a brief moment.

  Gently, he laid her down on the bed and lowered himself onto her. “I’m going to love you for the rest of your life.”

  It had been a long time since she considered her future beyond the prophecy. Looking into his eyes, she knew she’d share it with him.

  “How about we just start with tonight?”

  ↄↄↄↄↄ

  Waking up in his arms felt right. During the night they’d connected in a way Reagan dreamed about but had never experienced. Sometime in the middle of the night they’d discussed all they’d lost. But they also realized the people who sacrificed their lives would want the ones left to live every moment to its fullest.

  A nagging feeling scratched at her thoughts as she snuggled into Rowan, considering a few more indulgent moments in his arms. Then, she remembered. Papa. She needed to go check on him.

  “I hate to leave,” she said, running her fingers down Rowan’s bare chest. “But I want to go check on Papa. He seemed hurt at the end of the battle.”

  “Okay, I’ll go with you.” Rowan sat up and turned to put his feet onto the ground. “There are some clothes in that dresser. Would you mind throwing me a few things?” he asked.

  “What about me?” She held the sheets to her as she got his clothes.

  “I’m sure something in there will fit you,” he said.

  “Like I’m going to walk around the cave in your clothes. Obvious much?” she said.

  “Got it. I’ll be right back.”

  Within a few minutes, he came back with her clothes and pulled her in close. “I love you. Forever.”

  “I love you, too,” she said.

  Once she was dressed, they made their way to Papa’s room. Seeing him in bed still, she raced over, knowing it couldn’t be good. She laid a hand on his shoulder, but he didn’t respond. She tried shaking him, but still nothing. His skin was on fire, and his forehead shone with sweat.

  “Papa?” she repeated the word several times, the volume of her plea growing in intensity.

  Then, she noticed blood on the sheets near his right hip. She pulled them back. His skin, red and raised, looked like he’d suffered some kind of chemical burn. As she examined his body, a slight movement drew her attention back to his face.

  “Jackie, is that you?” he said.

  “No, Papa. It’s not Nana. It’s me, Reagan,” she said. “What happened?”

  His eyes fluttered, but he seemed too weak for further speech. Desperate, Reagan asked Rowan to get Winona, Aunt Sarah, and Mom, and he ran from the room.

  “Stay with us, Papa,” Reagan said. “Please.”

  “Let me examine the injury,” Aunt Sarah said, startling Reagan who hadn’t heard them come into the room.

  She showed Aunt Sarah Papa’s side.

  “I’m just not sure,” she said, shaking her head.

  “Let’s see what we can find out,” Winona said, placing her hand on Papa’s chest and putting her other one out for Reagan to grab.

  She did the same, and they closed their eyes and searched Papa’s memory. Reagan saw him jump into the clearing and immediately wince in pain when she grabbed him. Then, she saw him look down for the brief second when the angel sword grazed his side.

  Reagan’s hand flew to her mouth, breaking the connection. “Oh, God. No. I did this,” she said, pushing away from the bed. “Is there anything we can do?” Reagan asked after explaining to Aunt Sarah what had had happened.

  “We could call Cecilia and see.”

  “Reagan,” Winona said, placing her arm around her daughter. “This wasn’t your fault. You kept him from falling into Hell. It was an accident.”

  Unable to process anything, she went back to Papa’s side. “Papa?”

  “Nana.” He barely squeaked out the word.

  “No, it’s…” she started to say but then realized he didn’t mistake her for Nana; he wanted her.

  Before Reagan could consider what to do next, she saw her sister
come around to the side of the bed and place both her hands on Papa’s chest. Realizing she was trying to heal him, Reagan joined in.

  “No!” he yelled.

  Winona and Reagan stepped back.

  “I know what you’re trying to do,” he said, opening his eyes. “And I appreciate it, especially since you’ve given me back just enough strength to tell you all how much I love you. But, it’s time for me to go.”

  “No, Papa. I can’t lose you, too,” Reagan said.

  “I’ve seen my mission through, and I had the chance to get time with my daughters again and my wonderful grandchildren. But I need Nana now.” His gaze seemed to search the room. “Rowan.”

  Rowan stepped closer.

  “You know how I feel about you, son. The pack will need you. I know you’ll do right by them as their leader.”

  Struggling to draw in more air, Papa turned his attention back to Reagan. “It’s time.” He reached out to Mom, and she and Aunt Sarah stepped closer to the bed and covered his hand with their own. “I love you.”

  Mom pressed her cheek to his, tears streaming down her face. “Tell Mom we love her.”

  “We’ll look out for all our girls,” he said.

  Reagan had to lean in close to hear him.

  Silence filled the room, broken up only by a soft sniffle here and there. Reagan stood, pushing her shoulders back, trying to be brave for him and his choice.

  “Can you call her?” He struggled to push out each word.

  A soft tingling shot up Reagan’s arm, as if a silk scarf had fluttered against her skin.

  “There’s no need to call. I’m already here.”

  Reagan felt a slight breeze, sensing Nana’s presence before a soft light began to shine at Papa’s head. He smiled and lifted his hand toward the light; then it dropped, and he took one last breath and was gone, the grin still on his face.

  Winona reached over and pushed his eyelids down.

  Turning into Rowan’s chest for comfort, Reagan let the dam of tears burst forward as her mom and Aunt Sarah sobbed over Papa’s body. Mom and Aunt Sarah collapsed onto his body. For several minutes, the room shook with heaving bodies.

  “You know,” Mom said, wiping tears away. “It’s where he wanted to be. I’m going to miss him…” Her hand flew to her mouth as she choked back a few sobs, and then she continued. “But he’s with Mom, and maybe he’ll be a comfort to your father until I can join him.”

  At seventeen, Reagan knew death way too intimately. Rowan’s hand caressed her back while her mom spoke. Knowing he needed to inform the pack, she titled her head toward the door so he would follow.

  “You should go tell everyone.”

  “I don’t want to leave you,” he said.

  “I appreciate that so much, but I’ll be here when you get back.”

  He kissed her forehead, lingering there for a moment before stepping out of the room.

  She stepped out into the hallway and watched as he walked away, knowing he would be the new pack leader, a thought that both concerned and comforted her. He’d been preparing for the role most of his life, but she worried about what new evils they might face going forward.

  “No matter what happens, we’ll tackle each challenge as a family. Speaking of which, someone should go get Sam and Jessica. I don’t want them to find out with the group,” Mom said.

  Aunt Sarah offered to tell them and hurried off.

  Mom took Reagan and Winona’s hands. “We’re together now. Something Papa always wanted and fought for every day since he gave up his family for this war. But we have something nobody can ever take from us.”

  “Faith,” Reagan and Winona said in unison.

  “Yes. And with faith, we shall fight,” Mom said, pulling them into a hug.

  Even with the salty wetness clinging to Reagan’s face, she felt hope. Of course, it helped to have even more angels on their side.

  Five Years Later

  “It came!” Rowan yelled.

  Reagan raced to the front door and grabbed the package, but he snatched it back and held it above his head.

  “Not without a kiss.” He smirked.

  Shaking her head, she took a step into him, pressed her body to his, and tilted her head back. She stayed there a moment, teasing, before she reached up to kiss him. Losing herself in the feeling of his lips on hers, and knowing she always would, she felt a tug on her pant leg.

  “Mama.”

  She twisted to pick up Jackie just as her twin sister Maddie ran into the room, chanting over and over again, “Dada.”

  Rowan swooped up the giggling girl. “How’s my sweetie?” She nuzzled into his neck and rubbed her eyes. “Should we give Mommy the package? I think it’s about naptime.”

  Just then, the doorbell rang. Rowan turned and opened the door, and Aunt Sarah rushed in.

  “So, did it come?”

  “Yes, just now. But we haven’t opened it yet. Rowan won’t even hand it over.” Reagan managed the words even as her toddler rammed her fingers into Reagan’s mouth.

  “Let me call your mom and sister. They’re going to want to be here for this.” Pulling out a phone, Aunt Sarah cooed at Jackie, pulling her from her daddy’s arms. “You wanna see Aunt Winny and Nana, don’t you?” Before Sarah took a step, she swiped the package from Rowan as both girls started a chorus of Winny and Nana, turning the names into a melody.

  Walking off with Jackie, Aunt Sarah chattered away on the phone as Reagan put a struggling Maddie on the ground. Ever since Aunt Sarah uttered their names, the girl kept throwing her body weight forward, her arms stretched out in the direction of her sister.

  “Oh my, what are we going to do when this one comes along?” Reagan said, rubbing her belly.

  “Love him.”

  “We don’t know if it’s a him.”

  “I have a strong feeling it’s a little Jed in there,” Rowan said, joining his hand with hers.

  Without warning, the door flung open. “I got the text, and I was in the area,” Winona announced.

  Maddie came running back into the room, squealing. Bending to one knee, Winona opened her arms and laughed as her mini-me ran into them. “So where is it? I can’t wait to see it,” she said, standing with Maddie.

  “Your mother will be here in five minutes,” Aunt Sarah announced from the other room before Reagan could answer.

  Chuckling, Rowan shook his head. “I swear, we might as well still live in the cave.”

  “What about the pack?” Reagan asked, since Rowan had brought up the cave. “What do they think of all of this?”

  Rowan’s smile faded. “You know how a few, although a very few, feel about this.”

  Placing an arm around her shoulder, Winona squeezed. “They just don’t want anyone coming after us again. I think a few thought you started this as some kind of therapy, not a four-book deal.”

  When she’d started writing, it had been a coping mechanism, a nifty term she’d learned years before when she’d seen a therapist after her brother died. A way to deal with the loss and pain. But it ended up a tribute to the people who’d given their lives to make the world a safe place for her children.

  Recalling the events of her life, the books had poured out of her, and Rowan encouraged her to send them to an agent. Six months later, with a lot of effort and some luck, she landed one. Then, after countless publishing house rejections, a subsidiary of Harper Teen picked up her books. The Tala Prophecy series.

  As she followed everyone into the kitchen, she heard the door open and shut again.

  “I’m here. Sam and Jessica said they’d stop by after dinner but to start without them,” Mom said. When she entered the room, both girls danced around, showing off for their Nana.

  “Okay, here goes nothing.”

  Reagan ripped open the top of the envelope. Sensing everyone looking at her, she slowed her movements.

  “Just open it. This is the first one. I want to see it,” Mom said.

  With shaking fingers, she r
eached into the package and pulled the book out. Wolf eyes stared back at her. More memories came flooding back, especially of the final battle, as she passed the book around for everyone to see.

  Chasing Memories. How it all began. She’d known the title of her book the moment she’d begun writing it.

  In her mind, Reagan remembered the dedication she couldn’t write, but the one etched on her heart.

  For Nana, Cheveyo, Amélie, Sasha, Dad, Lucent, Madeleine, and Papa. For all you gave so that others could have.

  If you loved this book, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased it from! It would mean a great deal to the author.

  About the Author

  Tia Silverthorne Bach has been married to her college sweetheart for twenty years, has three beautiful girls, and adores living in sunny California. Her daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She believes in fairy tales and happy endings and is an avid reader and rabid grammar hound.

  She is an award-winning, multi-genre author and an Editor for Indie Books Gone Wild. From an early age, she escaped into books and believes they can be the source of healing and strength. If she’s not writing, you can find her on the tennis court, at the movies, reading a good book, or spooning Jif peanut butter right out of the jar.

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  Other books by Tia Bach:

  Fractured Glass: A Novel Anthology

  7: The Seven Deadly Sins

  Heart Chatter – Depression Cookies Book 1

  2011 Readers Favorite Book Awards, Silver Realistic Fiction and Finalist Chick Lit

  2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist Chick Lit

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