Chapter 26

Feeling Laila growing weaker, I still couldn’t help but procrastinate getting ready. Sarah insisted we hurry, the beasts within me unable to be contained by me alone. Secretly I didn’t want to contain them anymore.

I could feel each of them now. The strong and powerful bear watching over me protectively. The mischievous and flirtatious tiger, with a borderline obsession with Alpha Colton. Lastly my poor wolf, her spirit broken by Blaine’s rejection, her heart aching for her mate's acceptance.

They did nothing to fill the void of Laila’s absence. Begrudgingly I picked up the pace and found myself downstairs moments later.

Standing before Alpha Colton and Beat Lucas, I felt uncomfortably underdressed. Alpha Colton wearing a three-piece light blueish grey suit, Beta Lucas in a two-piece black suit.

Alpha Colton opened the front door, leading the way out to the car. Beta Lucas stood with his arm stretched out signaling for me to follow.

“You’re both going?” I asked.

Alpha Colton stopped, turning back to me with a grin as the rear window of the car rolled down. Willow waved her arm enthusiastically out the window and I could see Sarah’s round face beside her. I sighed as Willow moved over making room for me to slide in next to her.

Opening the door and squeezing in next to Willow I leaned forward resting my elbows on the center console. “Is it really necessary for all of you to come with me?” Plopping my head down in my palms on the U shape my hands made. I tapped my left fingers against my cheek.

Alpha Colton gave me the side eye as he started the car. “Considering what happened last time you’re not suggesting I let you go anywhere without Beta Lucas.” He raised his eyebrows at me before returning his attention to the front windshield.

“Besides,” Willow chimed in, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me back into my seat. “You shredded the last dress I picked out for the party so you’re going to need a new one.” She beamed.

“Party?” I said questioningly.

Beta Lucas scowled. “Vanessa’s birthday party is this weekend.”

“But no one likes Vanessa.” I said, wondering why this had anything to do with me.

“She comes from a very predominant family, and they have requested all unmated wolves to attend.” Sarah said in a mocking tone.

“Ha!” I exclaimed, “I’m not a wolf, so I don’t have to go.”

“You are blood bound to an Alpha; it is expected you attend.” Alpha Colton growled.

My wolf whimpered softly. “That wasn’t my choice and I have a mate he didn’t want me.” I snapped.

Everyone in the car growled at me, crossing my arms I turned and stared out the window. Feeling outnumbered I was content to stew in my own misery, but Sarah wasn’t having that.

“Do you know how to pull on your spirits dear?” She asked kindly.

Continuing to watch the trees go by as we pulled away, I felt bad not answering her. Eventually I gave in. “Spirits?” I said in a questioning tone.

“The animals within you. They aren’t physical beings like you and I or even our wolves. There are many legends on how Druids came to be but unfortunately without your parents to pass your history down to you all I can tell you is what might be. The legend of the bear for instance. They say a werewolf stumbled on an injured bear in the forest, his leg mangled and twisted. The werewolf could have easily killed the bear in his condition or just left him to die, but he didn’t. He fed and guarded the bear until it had recovered. They roamed as companions until the bears life was coming to an end. Before it died it gave the werewolf it’s spirit to call forth when needed.” Sarah is an exuberant storyteller, whispering some words while almost screaming others. Her hands moving wildly as she spoke, she had a way of pulling you into her story.

“And my tiger?” I ask excitedly. Now looking like a child, wife eyed and focused.

“Ah yes! The Arctic tiger, no doubt your healer spirit.” She paused.

I thought I may burst waiting.

“Said to have been found floating on a sheet of ice by a shipwrecked Druid pirate. Both weak and starving they huddle together for warmth, the Druid using her bear to catch fish to feed them until they were rescued.”

“A Druid pirate woman!” I exclaimed, rolling back in my seat with a smile. “Are there other? Spirits, I mean?”

“On rare occasion, I have heard of but never seen myself. One supposedly could turn into an anaconda and another a buffalo but again all hear say.” Sarah said. Stilling back in her seat heavily as if telling me all this had somehow been draining.

A few minutes of silence passed before I remembered she had asked a question. “I don’t know how they get here; they just are. I don’t pull on them, as you said. I just…. I don’t know” Feeling disappointed that I didn’t have an answer.

“You do, you just don’t know how to yet. Usually, they are triggered by your emotions, acting like a distress signal calling them forward.”

Just then I remembered her slapping me outside Beta Lucas’s bedroom and the overwhelming anger I felt when she said they hunted my kind. I felt my bear moving closer, I could feel it’s breath on my face. Closing my eyes, I reached my hand out to touch it.

The violent jerking and screams coming from the car like voices in the wind as I ran my fingers through her fur. Her dark amber eyes looking into mine, we could see each other soul.

Snapping out of it as the car slammed to a stop and I was thrown into the back of the driver's seat.

As I looked around everyone was standing outside of the car screaming, at one another and at me. Only then did I feel the stuffing of the seat sticking to my hand. Looking down at my hand then up at the seat. The headrest was completely gone, the back of the seat shredded, and my window was busted. Broken glass, shreds of fabric and seat stuffing everywhere.