14. REMI

14

REMI

The cool air settles over my skin, the warmth of Mateo and Asani’s wolf pressed against me like a protective cocoon. Asani’s fur brushes against my arm, while Mateo’s steady breaths tickle the back of my neck. I lay between them, staring up at the reds and oranges that stretch endlessly above us as the sun rises. The world feels still, the tension from earlier fading into the quiet comfort of the moment.

River stands a few feet away, his broad frame silhouetted against the faint glow of the packlands’ veil in the distance. He’s scanning the darkened forest, always vigilant. He’s Mateo’s true guard, the one who keeps us all safe, even when the rest of us let our guards down.

A grin tugs at my lips as I prop myself up on my elbows, watching him. “You know, you’re allowed to relax sometimes,” I tease.

River glances at me, his expression softening just slightly. “Someone has to make sure we’re not ambushed while you’re out here playing pillow fort.”

I laugh, the sound light but genuine, and crawl out from between Mateo and Asani. The cool grass brushes against my knees as I make my way over to River, settling beside him with a quiet sigh. For a moment, neither of us speaks. The silence is comfortable, filled only by the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird call.

“It’s been a hell of a few months,” I finally say.

“That’s an understatement.”

I let out a shaky breath, leaning back on my hands. “I still can’t believe she’s here. Alive. There were nights when I thought…” My voice trails off, the memory too raw to finish.

“When you thought we’d never see her again,” River finishes for me.

I nod, my throat tightening. “And now? Now it’s like she’s more alive than she ever was before. Stronger. Fiercer. But it’s terrifying, too. Like we’re always one breath away from losing her again.”

River shifts beside me, his hand coming to rest lightly on my shoulder. “We won’t lose her,” he says, his voice filled with quiet conviction. “Not again.”

His words should comfort me, but they don’t. Instead, a sudden pang of disappointment hits me square in the chest, sharp and unexpected. It’s followed almost immediately by a surge of fury so intense it steals my breath.

Something is wrong.

I sit up straighter, my heart pounding as I reach out through the mindlink.

Nepheline?

Nothing.

The silence is deafening, the bond that should hum with her presence eerily quiet. I try again, my pulse racing.

Sunshine, are you there?

Still nothing.

Then, I hear Darius’s voice.

Come home.

The words are soft but urgent, carrying through the mindlink like a beacon. I’m on my feet before I even realize I’ve moved, the urgency in Darius’s voice lighting a fire under my skin. “Something’s wrong,” I cry.

River doesn’t ask questions. He’s already moving, his hand brushing against mine briefly as he shifts into his wolf, his dark coat blending seamlessly with the shadows. Mateo and Asani are awake now, their sharp eyes fixed on me as I explain quickly. “Darius. He said, ‘come home.’ I can’t reach Nepheline through the link.”

Mateo curses under his breath, his jaw tightening as he shifts without another word. Asani follows, his wolf form bristling with tension.

And then we run.

The forest blurs around us, the cool night air whipping against my skin as I push myself harder, faster. My wolf is clawing at the edges of my control, desperate to truly break free, but I keep it at bay. Not yet. Not until I know what’s waiting for us. The pack house comes into view, its familiar shape illuminated by the faint glow of the rising sun. My chest tightens as we approach, the bond still quiet, still wrong.

The sharp sound of wood scraping against metal catches my ears, and I see her—Nepheline—at the back door, yanking it open with a growl that echoes into the night. She’s barefoot, her hair wild, and her eyes flashing red as she steps outside.

I dart forward, my wolf moving on instinct, and shift mid-stride. My arms wrap around her, pulling her against me before she can take another step. She snarls, her body rigid in my hold. Her nails—more claw than nail now—dig into my skin, and her breath comes in sharp, uneven bursts.

“Sunshine,” I murmur, my voice soft but steady as I tighten my grip. “What’s going on?”

Her head snaps toward me, her glowing red eyes locking with mine. For a moment, I see something feral, something untamed and dangerous. But then she exhales sharply, her body trembling as she slowly leans into me, her wolf retreating just enough for her to sag in my arms.

I glance over my shoulder at Mateo and Asani, who are already shifting back. River follows, his gaze darting between Nepheline and Darius, who stands in the doorway, his expression dark with worry.

“She’s too close to the surface,” I say as I pull her against my chest. Her body is tense, her breaths shallow, the faint rumble of her growl vibrating against me. “What the hell happened?”

Darius steps forward, his hand resting lightly on Nepheline’s shoulder as he meets my gaze. “Victoria came by,” he sighs. “She and Ilara shared a vision. Locke might still be alive. And he might be with the wolves lingering in the pack of the Forbidden.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Locke. Her brother. The one she lost. The one she’s spent months grieving. I glance down at Nepheline, her face pressed against my chest, her nails still digging into my skin. “That’s what this is about?” I ask, my voice softening.

Darius nods, his expression heavy. “It’s more than that. Victoria came, demanding that Nepheline rethink the ruling that new wolves would be let in if they could get through the veil.” He trails off, his gaze flicking to Nepheline, who lets out another low growl.

Without another word, I guide her toward the living room. The others follow, silent but watchful, their presence a steadying force around us. I sit down on the couch, pulling Nepheline into my lap and wrapping my arms around her. “What’s wrong with her?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I glance at Darius.

Before he can answer, Nepheline lets out another guttural growl, her head tilting back as her eyes flash red again. The sound is raw, almost painful, and it cuts through me like a blade.

And then, silence.

Her body stills, her breathing slowing as her head drops against my shoulder. I can feel her trembling, her wolf retreating just enough to give her some semblance of control.

“She’s overwhelmed,” Darius says finally, his voice soft but steady. “Between Victoria’s visit, Ilara’s vision, and the possibility of Locke being alive… it’s too much. Her wolf is trying to take over to protect her.”

I nod, cradling Nepheline closer to my chest. Her hair brushes against my cheek, and I press a soft kiss to the top of her head. “It’s okay, sunshine,” I murmur, my voice gentle. “I’ve got you.”

She doesn’t respond, but her body relaxes just slightly, her fingers loosening their grip on my skin.

Mateo steps forward, his expression hard but filled with concern. “We need to find Locke,” he says, his voice firm. “If he’s alive, if he’s with the pack of the Forbidden, we need to get to him before they can use him.”

The silence in the room is heavy, so thick it feels like we’re all holding our breath, waiting for something to snap. Nepheline is still in my arms, her breathing slowing but her body trembling as if she’s holding back something that might consume her entirely.

Maverick moves first, his steps soft as he kneels at the edge of the couch. His hand reaches out, his fingers brushing through her hair with a tenderness that sends a shiver down my spine. He leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, and murmurs words so quiet I almost miss them.

“Release it,” he purrs. “Let it consume you, kitten. I’ll take your pain. Let me carry it for you.”

His words hang in the air, their weight pressing down on all of us. Darius shifts slightly, his brows furrowed in concern, while Mateo leans forward, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. Asani is standing just behind the couch, his sharp eyes flicking between Maverick and Nepheline as if he’s trying to piece together the puzzle we’re all staring at.

“What’s happening?” Asani finally asks, his voice breaking the silence.

Mateo shakes his head, his gaze fixed on Nepheline. “I don’t know,” he murmurs, his tone edged with uncertainty.

But I don’t move, don’t speak. My eyes are locked on her, on the way her body seems to relax beneath Maverick’s touch, the way her breathing evens out just a bit more.

And then the magic bursts.

It’s like a wave crashing over us, a pulse of energy that radiates from her in every direction. It fills the room, saturating the air with something raw, something untamed. It’s warmth and hunger and desire all at once, so powerful it leaves me gasping for breath.

The bonds hum with her magic, her emotions flooding into me like a tidal wave. I feel her pain, her longing, her strength. My gaze snaps to her as the room is bathed in a faint, shimmering light and then I see it.

Her hair begins to shift, the strands bleeding into white, as though her wolf is stepping forward and leaving its mark on her human form. Strands of sapphire, crimson, and black weave through the white, catching the light like threads of moonlight, blood, and shadow.

When her eyes flutter open, I feel my heart stop.

They’re no longer the eyes I know, no longer the warm, fiery gaze of the woman who’s held us together for so long. They’re deeper now, darker—like staring into the midnight sky, endless and full of mysteries I can’t begin to understand. Maverick exhales softly, his voice filled with awe as he murmurs, “It’s finally begun. The Luna has returned to the packlands.”

The words send a chill through me and I glance at Mateo, whose sharp intake of breath is audible in the quiet. He sits forward, his hands gripping his knees, his eyes wide with something I can only describe as shock.

“I’ve heard of the legend,” Mateo whispers, his voice shaking slightly. “But that’s all it was. A legend. The Luna doesn’t exist.”

“What legend?” I ask, my voice rough as I try to process what’s happening.

Mateo doesn’t answer immediately. His gaze remains fixed on Nepheline, his expression a mix of disbelief and reverence. “ The Luna —she’s the embodiment of the packlands. The connection between the wolves and the magic that binds us. It’s said that when she returns, the packlands will be reborn.”

Nepheline blinks slowly, her midnight eyes scanning the room before settling on me. “What does that mean?” she asks, her voice soft but filled with a quiet strength that wasn’t there before.

“It means,” Maverick says, his voice steady as he kneels closer, “that you’re more than just our Luna. You’re the heart of the packlands. And whatever’s coming… you’re the one who will decide its fate.”

I swallow hard, my arms tightening around her as my chest tightens with a mix of emotions I can’t begin to unravel. Fear, awe, love—all of it tangling together in a way that makes it impossible to speak. Nepheline looks at each of us, her gaze lingering on Mateo, then Maverick, then me. Finally, she exhales, her body relaxing completely in my arms as she rests her head against my chest.

“I don’t know what any of this means,” she whispers, her voice trembling slightly. “But if I’m going to be this… Luna, then I need all of you with me. I can’t do this alone.”

“You won’t ever be alone,” I say firmly, my voice breaking through the silence.