By the time I was done, his heart was at least beating normally, and I could breathe a little easier within his arms.

  “So, what now? We go after Moira?” Charlie asked, glancing between me and Beatrix. “Andie can just suck the life out of the crazy bitch, and we can all go home.”

  I shuddered at the thought of killing someone, but it was a real possibility that I needed to consider—and soon, if things started going in the right direction.

  Beatrix shook her head. “Now, we keep what happened here today to ourselves and we revisit our plan. Only when Andie feels comfortable with her new abilities and when we understand the workings of Moira’s coven will we go to New Orleans and face her together.”

  Foster finally pulled back from me and jerked his head toward Beatrix. “You know where she is?”

  “I do and that’s my secret to keep until we’re all ready as a team. The only way we win is by working together and making sure we’re all mentally and physically prepared.”

  I expected Foster to try to bite her head off—with his words or possibly even literally—but he merely nodded and kept me flush against his side.

  Charlie smiled at me, still keeping her distance, likely to keep Foster calm. “I’m glad you’re okay. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” My chest tightened at Charlie’s words. While I’d already known she loved me, it wasn’t something we’d ever said when we parted ways for the day.

  When she and Beatrix teleported away, I looked up at Foster. “I feel like I should be sorry for whatever happened while I was gone.”

  His touch became gentle, and his eyes were finally returning to their normal blue. “Your body rose into the air and shattered into tiny pieces that floated within the three stones for hours. My wolf had to force a shift to keep me from leaping inside with you. Beatrix swore you were fine, but I thought you were dead. I couldn’t feel you, and I…”

  “I’m so sorry, Foster,” I muttered before wrapping my arms around him. “I didn’t know. The book…”

  “Told us what we needed to know. It’s okay. I can see that now, but I couldn’t before. All that matters is that you’re back and you’re safe.” His words soothed some of my guilt, but not all of it.

  I just hoped this was the last time either of us had to feel this way.

  20

  ANDIE

  Eight days had passed painfully fast. Every hour closer to the deadline we were up against—thanks to the amount of potion left for Foster—made my skin crawl, but that wasn’t the only thing.

  The energy inside me was a constant battle. If I lost too much focus, I latched on to the nearest person and tugged on their magic, ever so slowly, sometimes not noticing until they couldn’t stand on their own any longer.

  Thankfully, only Charlie and Ava had been subject to that mishap, and they weren’t holding my actions against me, but still… I didn’t like knowing that I was harming people without realizing it.

  Today was a better day, though. I was beginning to understand the energy better and know when to feed my inner beast in order to prevent that part of me from lashing out at my friends and family.

  Feeding a part of myself sounded insane, but that was how I looked at the syphon ability. And doing so wasn’t all that much of a hardship.

  I was sitting in the forest beyond the cottages and pressing my palms to the Earth, calling on nature’s energy and soothing the jagged edges of the voids inside myself.

  Beatrix assured me that this wouldn’t be an issue when I got my born-magic back, but until then, I’d at least found a moderate solution that didn’t require everyone except for Foster to stay away from me.

  With our bond, I still pulled on our connection, but thanks to the potion from Beatrix, Foster said there was nothing draining that he could feel between the two of us any longer.

  We’d both grown exponentially tired of the barriers between us that were necessary to keep him safe, though. Waiting out the next eleven days wasn’t ideal, and I hoped to be going after Moira sooner rather than later.

  After an hour of becoming one with Mother Earth, I teleported myself back to the house, ready for another day of grueling training.

  Only, when I arrived, Charlie and Foster were inside the house, not dressed for combat practice.

  “What’s going on?” I asked when I closed the door behind me.

  Charlie looked up at me from the couch. “I was just making fun of Foster. Nothing new.”

  I glanced down at her skinny jeans and bright-yellow tank top, then raised a brow. “Are we training today?”

  She nodded at Foster, who was already walking toward me. “Ask the big guy.”

  His arms wrapped around me, and he placed a kiss on my forehead. “Good morning in the woods?”

  I nodded. “It’s getting easier every time I’m out there.”

  He squeezed my hand. “Good. Holden invited us out to the pack, and I told him we’d come as soon as you were done if you were feeling up to it. We haven’t been there all week.”

  “You mean, I haven’t been there all week. Is there something wrong?” I asked, glancing between my mate and best friend.

  Charlie answered first. “Nope. When I heard Foster on the phone while I was waiting for you, I thought a day off would do you some good. Things seem to be getting easier, and it’s better if you don’t overwork yourself. Let’s go have some fun. My time at the pack before was too short.”

  She waggled her brows, and I peeked up at Foster. “You said she could come?”

  He shrugged. “She started to whine when I first said no, and I knew you’d enjoy having her around, so I told her it was fine.”

  “You realize she’s going to hit on Mack, right?” I pressed, hoping he was fully aware of what I already was.

  “The beta and your best friend are of no concern to me. You are all I care about. Plus, Gemma might have asked Holden to call me.”

  Excitement immediately filled me. “Did she have her baby?” I squealed, feeling bad I hadn’t thought to check on her since the night of the new moon.

  Foster nodded, fighting his own grin. “She wants you to meet her son.”

  I glanced at Charlie. “Are you good with visiting a friend with me before we go to the pack house? I’m sure Mack won’t mind.”

  The last bit was meant to be a joke, but honestly, I wasn’t sure it was.

  Charlie was up and off the couch before I’d finished asking. “Let’s go. I already told Beatrix we were taking today off, and she agreed it would be good for you to be around more wolf shifters to see how your syphon ability reacts.”

  I chuckled. “So, in her eyes, I’m still training. Got it.”

  Foster nudged me toward the hallway. “Go get dressed and we’ll be ready to go whenever you are. I’ll let Holden know all three of us will be there soon.”

  I pushed up onto my toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  When I tried to dart off, he grasped my hand and pulled me back for a real kiss that had Charlie gagging. “Oh, come on. Can’t I go one day without seeing the two of you eating each other’s faces off?”

  Foster looked over at her. “Sure, if you can go one day without coming over to our house.”

  Charlie scoffed as I headed for the bedroom to quickly change. She’d never stay away, even for a day. At least, not until she had her own reasons to be distracted.

  Within minutes, I was changed into loose jeans and a black tank top since it was warmer than normal out. I headed back to the living room, but I didn’t see Charlie. “Where’d she go?”

  Foster shrugged. “Charlie decided to wait outside.”

  I sighed. “I swear, the two of you were meant to be brother and sister.”

  He intertwined his fingers with mine and kissed the back of my hand. “In a way, we are, since you consider her the sister you never had.”

  He wasn’t wrong about that. Charlie was so much more than my best friend, and she always would be.

  We went outside to find Charlie balancing on a rock, humming to herself and not seeming to have a care in the world.

  She met my stare and grinned while hopping gracefully off the rock. “Ready?”

  I nodded and laughed. “You know, if I tried to do that, I’d probably break a bone.”

  “Want to give it a try?” Charlie joked.

  Foster grumbled and I shook my head. “Not today.”

  I opened a portal this time since I hadn’t quite accomplished teleporting with multiple people and we stepped through, arriving in front of the pack house.

  There were three shifters walking by, and they all froze at our sudden appearance until they noticed Foster’s glower. Then they scampered off without another word.

  My fist quickly found Foster’s ribs. “That was rude.”

  “So is staring. Are you going to punch them as well?” he countered. I couldn’t really argue, though the wolves had every right to be curious after all the shit that had been happening.

  The front door opened, and Mack practically pushed Holden out of the way when he rushed forward to greet us. Or more accurately, Charlie. An action that had me raising a brow at the beta.

  Holden merely shook his head and continued forward.

  Mack slowed his pace and stroked his fingers over the beard he was attempting to grow.

  “Charlie Wildes. It’s a pleasure to see you in our pack again,” he said with a slight bow of his head.

  She smirked. “I see you did some asking around.”

  He looked her up and down and returned her saucy grin. “Of course, I did. I need to know who’s going to be visiting my pack.”

  Holden cut dark eyes to Mack. “Your pack? Watch your words, Beta. You don’t want to say the wrong thing and have Charlie find out that you sing in the shower to nineties boybands every morning.”

  Oh, how I adored this alpha.

  Mack’s jaw tightened, and he stood straighter, keeping his mouth shut. Charlie, however, was covering her mouth in a weak attempt to silence the laughter.

  “Right. Well, how about we give Charlie a tour and make our way to Gemma’s?” I suggested when the men just stood there.

  Holden glanced at me. “I was hoping to chat with you and Foster for a minute. Do you have time to do that? Charlie can join us.”

  Charlie opened her mouth before I even had the chance to think of my answer. “Mack can give me a tour and the three of you can talk privately.”

  She was a woman who knew what she wanted.

  Mack, on the other hand, was fighting a grin when he looked to his alpha for permission.

  Holden sighed. “That’s fine, but stay close. I’m sure Andie would like to know where her guest is when we’re done.”

  Mack nodded once. “Of course, Alpha. Let me know when you’re finished, and we’ll be waiting on the back porch.”

  Charlie hugged me. “I love you for bringing me here.”

  “I hope I still love you when we leave. Be good.”

  Foster made a rumbling noise behind us. Yeah, Charlie would be whatever she wanted, and I had a feeling Mack wasn’t going to encourage “good” behavior.

  The beta held his hand out, gesturing for Charlie to join him, and she did so with a skip in her step and a wide smile on her face.

  Holden narrowed his eyes on me. “If this ends badly, I will hold you accountable. Regardless of how much I like you.”

  “She’s harmless.” My grin slipped. “Mostly.”

  “Right. Well, let’s get inside.” The alpha turned around, and I looked up at Foster.

  “That was okay, right?” I asked quietly. “Encouraging Charlie to spend time with Mack?”

  Foster nodded. “He would have said more if it weren’t. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure they’ll tire of each other’s company soon enough.”

  Oh, poor Foster. If he thought that, he had another thing coming. Outside of them not being fated mates, Charlie and Mack were a perfect match.

  We entered the house and headed toward Holden’s office on the first floor. He had wide windows on the back wall that were tinted, keeping prying eyes out of his business. The wood walls and floors extended into this room as well, but the ceiling was a cream color, bringing much-needed light into the room.

  Holden’s desk was at the center of the room, and he was leaning back in the black leather chair by the time we entered. “Have a seat.”

  Foster pulled the cushioned chair out for me first and only sat beside me once I was comfortable.

  Holden steepled his fingers beneath his chin. “How are you feeling, Andie?”

  “Much better today,” I answered. “While it’s not a simple task to keep things in check, it’s all getting easier. I spend a lot of time outside to help with that, connecting with the Earth’s energy instead of those around me.”

  The alpha looked to Foster. “And your bond? Do you still require the walls to be up in order to protect the wolf spirit?”

  Foster’s brow creased. “No offense, but how is that relevant?”

  Holden leaned forward. “Your wolf is part of my pack. I don’t mean to pry, but you’ve told me about the timeline, and I’m not sitting idly by, waiting for your wolf to die.”

  I flinched hearing his blunt words. Foster and I had avoided most conversations about his wolf unless it was checking on how he was doing. As long as there was nothing to immediately worry about, then I preferred ignoring the fact that he could die in eleven days and the only reason we hadn’t acted to solve that problem was because of me.

  “We’ve been doing everything we can on our end to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Foster said gruffly.

  “As have I. I’ve reached out to some of the other packs and have news to share that the two of you and Beatrix might find resourceful,” Holden said, relaxing back into his seat.

  “And what would that be?” Foster asked hesitantly.

  “Moira’s remaining family members? One is indeed her sister. And the other? He’s her soulmate, not her blood relation—and he’s dying.”

  My eyes widened, and I looked at Foster, blinking rapidly and trying to keep my heart from racing out of my chest.

  Moira had been right. We were more alike than I’d realized, because if she wanted my magic to save her soulmate, then I was going to have to disappoint her.

  Because I needed it for the same damn reason.

  21

  FOSTER

  Heavy air within the room pressed down on me, but I fought back. This wasn’t terrible news. Though, judging by Andie’s grip on the chair she sat in, she thought it was.

  “Moira will do anything to save her soulmate. Just like I would,” she said, her voice filled with certainty.

  I reached for her arms. “Yes, and we’re going to win.”

  “But at what cost?” Andie asked me with wide eyes. “We’re supposed to kill her just because she’s trying to save the one she loves more than her own life?”

  Shit. I hadn’t thought of it like that.

  “We don’t necessarily have to kill her,” Holden said.

  My eyes met his and I shook my head. “She won’t stop until she is stopped. We can’t be naïve enough to think otherwise. Not after all she’s done. Do we know what’s wrong with this soulmate of hers?”

  Holden frowned. “No, not yet, but I’m working on it. Maybe he can be saved, and Moira can be…rehabilitated.”

  That was a thought to consider for a utopian life, but that wasn’t the world we lived in.

  Andie looked at me. “I need to tell Beatrix. She has to know as soon as possible.”

  The door opened before I could respond, and in walked Piper. Her auburn hair rested over her shoulders, and her pale-green eyes appraised the room. She hadn’t been around the pack much lately. Holden said she had things to do in town at their other ventures, but I had a feeling he just wanted her as far away from potential threats as possible.

  “Alpha, I’m here to go over the books,” she said, then she nodded at me and Andie.

  My mate glanced between the two of them, then at me, but stayed quiet, even though I could tell she had a question.

  “Please, wait right outside. I’m almost done here,” Holden said, standing from his chair.

  Piper nodded and backed out of the door.

  Andie pointed at Holden, then behind us. “She’s your…”

  Holden grinned proudly. “My daughter, but she prefers not to be addressed as such when we’re handling pack business. She wants to pave her own way amongst the shifters, and I respect her wishes.”

  Andie let out a breath. “Wow, that’s impressive and admirable. Unsurprising that she’s your daughter.”

  Holden chuckled. “Is that a compliment, Andie?”

  She grinned. “Yes, it would be. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make a call.” Andie looked up at me and squeezed my hand. “I’ll wait out front for you?”

  I stood to give her a quick kiss. “I’ll be there soon.”

  “Actually, head to the back deck if you want to find your friend,” Holden said before Andie left the room.

  She nodded, and my eyes watched every move my mate made until she closed the door behind her. When I turned back around, Holden was watching me.

  “Do you have something to tell me?” he asked with a raised brow.

  “Do you have something to ask me?” I countered.

  He gestured to the chair. “Why don’t you sit for a minute longer?”

  I sighed. “Your daughter is waiting.”

  “And she’ll keep waiting. This is important.” His sharp tone left no room for negotiation. “Your wolf. How is he? Are Beatrix’s potions still helping like before?”

  I nodded. “He’s still quiet, but he says he’s better. I trust him to tell me if something is wrong that I can’t sense.”

  I would tell you, I promise, my wolf confirmed.

  “Very well. I just wanted to make sure there was nothing more we needed to worry about besides this deadline of when the potions run out. Your alpha power is still strong, so that’s reassuring.” He twisted in his chair and kept staring at me.