The door opened, and I jumped at the sudden sound of Idrissa’s sharp voice. She stepped inside, not even bothering to shut the door behind her. The moment she spotted my mother, her expression became a glare.

  “I’ll be right out,” I said, but Idrissa smiled sweetly.

  “I bet you will, but since the enemy is inside these walls, so am I. What kind of beta would I be if I left you to deal with the riff-raff on your own?”

  I didn’t even bother to argue. Honestly, she’d lasted a lot longer than I’d expected before showing up here.

  “Where’s Isaac?” I asked.

  “How should I know?” she asked.

  “He’s the same level of nosy you are,” I said. “Which means he’s either outside waiting for you to report back or he’s on his way.”

  “He’ll be here in five,” she said in a tone that managed not to sound even a little bit busted for how right I’d been.

  Silas shook his head. “You good?” he asked me.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m out of here.” He walked out before my mother could stop him.

  Besides, Idrissa wasn’t going to allow her to get a word in just yet.

  “So,” my best friend said. “You’re Claudia Archer.”

  “Lawson,” she corrected.

  “Nope,” Idrissa said, popping the “p” noisily. “You don’t get to claim that name. Not when you’ve done nothing but harm to this pack.”

  “Idrissa,” I said.

  “No, it’s all right,” my mother said—and then to Idrissa, “You’re Ash’s beta.”

  “That’s right.” Idrissa lifted her chin. “I’m here to protect her from any and all threats. Foreign and domestic.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “I see. Well, I believe we’ve just neutralized any threats to Ash, haven’t we?” My mother looked pointedly at me.

  Idrissa eyed me. “What’s she talking about?”

  “The magic,” I said and then quickly explained what we’d just done.

  “And that’s it?” Idrissa looked skeptical. “Just like that, you can control it? No more earthquakes?”

  “Earthquakes?” My mother sounded startled.

  “It’s not about controlling the magic,” I said. “I got my wolf back, and that means I can feel the pack again. And hopefully, Kai can too.”

  “Huh. Well, don’t rule out the effectiveness of a good natural disaster,” Idrissa said. She looked back at my mom. “This one giving you any trouble?”

  “Not any more than I expected.”

  “You ready?” she asked. “We should get moving if we’re going to cover all that ground today.”

  “Yeah. I’ve gotten all I can from this place,” I said.

  “Are you sure we should bring her with us?” Idrissa asked. “She’ll slow us down.”

  “We can’t spare the bodies to watch her,” I said.

  “Load up the prisoner,” Idrissa called through the open door. “We’re moving out.”

  “Aw, hell naw.” Isaac came barreling through the door, nearly knocking me on my ass.

  “What’s wrong?” I demanded.

  “You are wrong,” he said. “I can’t believe you were about to just march this woman out to battle without letting me interrogate her first.”

  “Isaac, there’s no need—”

  “Hush, child. I will determine need.” He whirled on my mother with all the presence of an Inquisitor. “Claudia Archer Lawson.”

  “We stripped the Lawson part,” Idrissa put in. “You missed that part. It’s a whole thing.”

  Isaac blinked at her and then turned back to my mother. “Claudia Archer,” he began again. “Do you deny the fact that you knowingly and willfully cursed the pack of Ridley Falls and stripped your own people of their magic in order to avoid dealing with your ex-boo thang and thus burdening your daughter—”

  “Children,” Idrissa corrected.

  Isaac glared at her.

  “Don’t forget Silas,” she insisted.

  He sighed. “Children,” he amended, “with the responsibility of fixing it all for you later.”

  He fell silent, clearly waiting for a reply.

  My mother glanced at me. I shrugged because, really, you have to pick your battles. And this was not the one for me.

  “Answer the question,” Idrissa said.

  “Um, I don’t deny the curse,” my mother began uncertainly, “but I didn’t mean for—”

  “Good. Guilty as charged,” Isaac announced. “Your sentencing will begin with the first step in Avoiders Anonymous by making amends. Have you apologized to Ash and Silas for ruining their childhoods?”

  My mother frowned. “I, uh, don’t think—”

  “Right. Something easier,” he said.

  He stepped back and motioned through the open doorway to someone I hadn’t noticed before. “Come in,” he called. And then, turning to my mother, said, “Have you ever seen The Christmas Carol?”

  “I—Yes.”

  “Good. This is the ghost of friendship past. Mom?”

  We all turned as Amberly Close stepped inside the already-crowded space.

  “Hello, Claudia,” she said quietly.

  “Amberly.” My mother stared at her former friend, clearly at a loss.

  “Mom, she’s all yours,” Isaac said. “We’ll see you at the meeting point in the morning?”

  “We’ll be there,” Amberly said.

  “Ash, Dris, let’s give them some space.”

  I didn’t have a chance to argue before my overbearing—but also amazing—friends shoved me out into the sunshine and closed the door behind us.

  “I can’t ask your mom to babysit,” I began, but Isaac waved me off.

  “Yes, you can,” he said.

  “Do you think it’s okay?” I asked.

  “What?” Isaac looked truly confused by the question.

  “Your mom didn’t look thrilled to be here.”

  “No one’s thrilled,” Isaac said dryly. “But you aren’t the only one she abandoned, and I figured if things go… the way they’re going, it’s only fair to give Mom a chance at some closure too.”

  “Isaac, that’s nice of you,” Idrissa said, “but I’m not sure closure is even possible. It’s been twenty years.”

  “Of course, it’s possible,” he scoffed. “I mean, Mom’ll give her hell at first, but then they’ll make up. It’s just how it works. Tell her, Ash.”

  I stared at him, silent.

  “Not you too,” he groaned.

  “How can you just make it sound so easy?” I asked. “She abandoned me and then stuck me with her problems because she didn’t want to deal with them. And I’m supposed to just forgive her?” I snapped my fingers. “Like that?”

  “Well… yeah. I mean, she’s your mom. How many moms do you have?”

  I didn’t answer.

  Was it really that simple?

  It definitely didn’t feel simple.

  “We need to get moving,” Idrissa said into the silence. “I’m going to check in with Corbin and make sure we’re coordinating with the scouting teams.” She started to walk away and then stopped. “You two play nice.”

  Then she strode away.

  “I’m on your side,” Isaac said quietly.

  “I know that,” I told him.

  “Holding onto this grudge will only hurt you more.”

  I sighed. “I know that too.”

  He hesitated and then grabbed my arm, pulling me toward where the others were gathering for one final briefing before we put everything into motion.

  “Silver lining, though,” he added.

  “What’s that?”

  “You and Silas finally have a really good reason for all the bickering.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  An hour later, I shoved the truck door closed and then reached into the pickup’s bed and grabbed my bag. Slinging it over my shoulder, I turned to see Kai watching me from the tailgate. Dusk had gathered, casting Kai’s face into shadows. But I didn’t need to look hard to see the concern there.

  “What?” I asked.

  “That thing you did with your mom earlier… I feel different.”

  I gripped my bag tighter. “Different like calmer or different like you might Hulk out on me again?”

  His lips quirked. “The first one.”

  I exhaled in relief at that.

  He didn’t move though, only continued studying me.

  “You’re making me nervous,” I joked.

  “I’m just trying to figure out if you’re okay,” he admitted.

  “Of course I’m not okay,” I said. “Are you?”

  He snorted and muttered something before moving to help Presley with the cooler.

  Idrissa walked up from where she and Isaac had parked behind us. She looped her arm through mine and offered a twisted smile.

  “I think our standards for ‘okay’ are about as low as Isaac’s when it comes to choosing romantic partners.”

  I tried—and failed—to hold back a laugh.

  Isaac straightened from where he’d been bent over the trunk of their car.

  “Why do you always think insulting me will cheer her up?” he demanded.

  “I mean…look at her.” Idrissa motioned to me, and Isaac’s eyes narrowed as he took in my poorly hidden smile.

  He scowled.

  “No fighting tonight,” Kai said as he and Presley lifted the cooler and began carrying it toward the woods.

  “Yeah, I thought we were supposed to be bonding,” Presley added.

  Idrissa grinned at him. “Clearly, you don’t have siblings.”

  “Not that I know of,” he said with a wink aimed at me.

  I groaned.

  “Pres, your mom and I have something to tell you,” Silas deadpanned.

  Idrissa’s eyes widened, and my mouth fell open.

  Isaac cackled, and then, after another beat of silence, we all dissolved into laughter.

  “Holy shit,” Isaac called, hurrying after Silas as we all headed for the trees. “Was that a joke?” He looked at me and then Idrissa. “Did Silas Hale just tell an actual joke?”

  “If you have to ask,” was Silas’ only reply as he marched past.

  “Wow, it really is the end of the world,” Isaac said to himself.

  Inside the trees, we fell into a single file line as we wound our way to the boundary line. Dusk turned to night as the sunlight faded and the evening insects began their songs. And despite the fact that we were readying for possible war, I couldn’t remember when I’d been happier.

  The magic had finally settled enough that I felt like me again. Or as close as I’d ever get with so much power running through my veins. My wolf strained to have her turn on the outside, but it wasn’t as difficult keeping control of either—not after that integration work I’d done with my mother.

  My mother.

  I shook off thoughts of her, determined to focus on enjoying tonight as much as possible. Sure, we were out here laying traps that might end up seriously injuring someone come tomorrow but I was with my friends. I wasn’t going to cause an earthquake. And my mate wasn’t going to bite anyone’s head off. Sometimes, it was the little things.

  “We’re here,” Kai announced as he and Presley stopped and set the cooler on the ground. We all gathered beside them, dropping our gear and taking stock of the area.

  The boundary line was unrecognizable in this part of the forest, thanks to the rough terrain, but my wolf had the sense of when to halt. A quick look at the others and I knew theirs did too. Still, it wasn’t our innate sense of land that marked this spot. Town was miles off, and I knew of at least four other direct routes from the hex’s camp to Ridley Falls. But Kai was right. We were here.

  I could smell them.

  “You were right, Ash,” Presley said with his lip curled in disgust. “Cohen’s dickheads were definitely here. It smells like asshole.”

  “And how do you know what asshole smells like?” Silas shot back.

  Presley punched Silas in the arm, and Isaac snickered.

  “Let’s just get this done,” Kai said.

  “Do you have somewhere else to be?” Idrissa asked.

  He glanced at me. “Some of us prefer to spend our nights differently.”

  Idrissa didn’t reply and I gave her a knowing look to which she gave me the finger.

  We made camp, and after settling in with our supplies, we broke off into groups and got to work. Idrissa ended up with me, which hadn’t been my plan, but it took all of five minutes to realize it was definitely hers. She’d left Adan in charge of the team we’d sent to watch the actual meeting location, which was probably more about ambushing me without distractions than it was about guarding an empty clearing.

  “So,” she said as we laid a bear trap and then covered it with leaves and brush, “How weird is it knowing your mom had sex with Silas’ dad before yours?”

  “Wow,” I said. “Not as weird as hearing you say it all out loud like that.”

  “Just trying to help.”

  I glanced over. “Gee, thanks.”

  She grinned. “Normalize your mother having multiple sexual partners.”

  “Eww. Normalize shutting up about my mom’s sex life. Here. Hold this.”

  I handed her the end of the tripwire I’d unwound. Together, we began securing it to the gap between trees where I’d found evidence of Cohen’s little spies who’d come before us.

  “You don’t think they’re out here now, do you?”

  I looked up to find Idrissa staring off into the darkness.

  “No,” I said, drawing her curious gaze back to mine.

  “How can you be sure?” she asked.

  I shrugged. “Cohen’s ego. I saw his face when he dropped my mother in that street. He thinks he beat us.”

  Idrissa didn’t answer, and we finished installing the tripwire in silence.

  When we’d finished, I caught her arm before she headed back to camp to meet the others. “Hey, I need a favor.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “If something happens to me—”

  “Whoa, nothing’s going to happen, boss.”

  “If something happens to me,” I said again, “Lead the pack for me.”

  “What about Kai?”

  I shut my eyes against the images that came unbidden, thanks to her question.

  “If something happens to me, Kai won’t be able to do it. You know that.”

  She didn’t argue. I had a feeling if anyone understood the dark side of Kai like I did, it was Idrissa.

  “Okay,” she said finally. “But if something happens to you, I’m going to murder your ass.”

  “Deal. Come on.”

  The others were already there when we arrived back at the camp. A stack of logs had been set out near the stone pit, and a fire crackled inside it. The flames cast an orange glow against the night sky. Isaac and Presley sat beside each other, locked in a game of dominos. Kai sat across from them, shaking his head as Isaac argued with Presley about whether a black dot was part of the domino or a bug Presley had just smashed. I dropped down beside Kai and looked around.

  “Where’s Silas?” I asked.

  “He went for a run. Said he’d do perimeter duty first.”

  Hmm.

  I bumped his shoulder, lowering my voice. “All set?”

  He nodded, and the firelight reflected in his dark eyes as he said, “Everything’s in place.”

  “How can we know Cohen’s guys will come through here?” Isaac asked.

  “Because we’re going to make sure they can’t come through anywhere else,” I told him, reaching for the bag at Kai’s feet.

  The work wasn’t nearly done yet.

  It was only just beginning.

  None of us slept that night. My wolf didn’t mind. Whenever exhaustion became more overwhelming than my focus, I slipped away and went for a run. Checking the traps we’d already laid. Keeping watch on the boundary line to make sure Cohen’s men didn’t show up too early.

  This was an integral part of the plan; making sure Cohen’s backup never arrived.

  It was also the most free I’d felt in months.

  Kai joined me for a run. Idrissa for another. Isaac tagged along for a third. It wasn’t until Presley showed up for the last one that I realized they’d coordinated their babysitting efforts.

  “You drew the short straw this time?” I asked as Presley and I shifted back to two legs. The sun had just begun to rise, lightening the trees around us to gray-lit shadows.

  “Straw?”

  “Don’t play dumb. I know they sent you to babysit me.”

  “No one sent me,” he scoffed.

  I rolled my eyes. “Is it because you think I’m going to run off or you think the magic might still be in charge?”

  “Do I have to pick one?”

  I laughed. “Fair enough. So, are you ready for this?”

  “To kick Cohen’s ass so hard he never sits down again?” Presley snorted. “I was born fucking ready for this, Your Highness.”

  I stopped and faced him, searching his smug expression for the real truth. “We’ll risk the people we care about most before it’s over. Are you ready for that?”

  Presley stopped walking. He looked at me, and some of the bluster left his eyes. “No one’s ever ready for that,” he said quietly. “But we risk more if we don’t.”

  The wisdom, more than the words, surprised me. So, when he turned and headed for camp, I let him go before following slowly, wondering when Presley had become the “wise” part of a wise-ass.

  He was right, though, and it was time. For our freedom, for the future of our pack, we’d risk it all.

  Back at camp, I was surprised to see Silas had joined us. He’d been absent most of the night, and if I hadn’t already trusted him with my life, I would have wondered if he’d simply deserted us again. But now he stood over the fire, and beside him was a woman I’d never seen before. She was aged far beyond anyone I’d ever met before. The soft wrinkles and lines had faded into a papery texture that made her look fragile. However, considering the magic rolling off her, I knew she was anything but.

  The sight of a stranger among us on a night like this one was enough to make me take up a defensive stance. But Kai stood and reached for my hand. “It’s okay,” he said. “She’s a friend.”