15. NEPHELINE

15

NEPHELINE

I sit up slowly, my fingers brushing against the soft fabric of the couch, and I feel it—the crackle of magic dancing across my skin. It tingles along my fingertips, like something waking up for the first time.

Everything feels different.

I flex my fingers, watching as faint tendrils of light shimmer and fade with the movement. It’s beautiful and unsettling all at once and I can’t make sense of it. One moment, I was lost in the thought of Locke, desperate to find him. The next, I was consumed by… this .

I glance up, my chest tightening as I take in their expressions. Mateo, usually so composed, looks like he’s seeing me for the first time. Asani’s gaze is filled with curiosity, while Remi’s is soft with concern. River’s stoic mask is still in place, but even he can’t hide the flicker of awe in his eyes.

And then there’s Maverick.

He’s kneeling close, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that makes my stomach twist.

“What happened?” I ask as I find my voice again.

No one answers immediately. The room feels too still, the only sound is the faint crackle of the fire. Finally, Darius moves, stepping forward with something small and delicate in his hands.

“Here,” he says softly, holding out a small mirror.

I hesitate before taking it, my fingers brushing against his as I lift it to my face. The reflection staring back at me is… alien. Familiar yet foreign, like looking at someone I should know but don’t.

My hair is no longer the vibrant color I’ve known my entire life. It’s white, like freshly fallen snow, with strands of sapphire, crimson, and black woven through it. The colors catch the light, shimmering faintly with a life of their own. The contrast against my tanned skin is striking, almost unnatural, but it’s the eyes that stop me cold.

They’re deep, endless, like staring into the midnight sky. The faint glimmer of starlight shifts in their depths, giving them an otherworldly quality that sends a shiver down my spine. I lower the mirror slowly, my hands trembling as I look back at them. “This isn’t me,” I say, though my voice lacks conviction. “I don’t—this isn’t who I am.”

Maverick reaches out, his fingers brushing against my cheek in a way that makes my heart skip. “It’s who you’ve always been,” he says quietly. “The magic has started to manifest, to change you. It’s been there all along, Nepheline. Growing. It’s been showing in your wolf’s coat for a while. Now, it’s showing here too.”

I blink, trying to process his words. My wolf’s coat—white with streaks of black and red and then sapphire after I met Darius. The colors that marked me as different, even before I understood what that difference meant.

“Why now?” I ask, my voice cracking slightly.

“I’m not sure,” he admits, his voice low. “It could be the stress. Everything you’ve been carrying, everything you’ve been through… Or maybe it’s the pieces finally falling into place. The magic knows what it’s doing, even if we don’t.”

I let out a slow breath, my fingers curling into the soft fabric of the couch beneath me. His words aren’t comforting, not really. But they’re honest and that counts for something.

“I don’t have time to figure this out,” I push out. “We need to find Locke. He’s out there and if Ilara’s vision is right, there’s something… something keeping him from coming home. Something bigger than us.”

River finally speaks, adding his two cents even as I stare back into the mirror, wondering who I’m seeing in my reflection. “There are still super wolves out there,” he says. “The ones Silas and Enzo experimented on before he lost control. They’re stronger, faster, smarter and more dangerous than anything we’ve dealt with before.”

Asani nods, his arms crossed as he leans against the wall. “I have something that will neutralize the wolves if we can get close enough,” he says. “But that’s the problem—we have to find them first. And that won’t be easy.”

I glance at him, remembering the conversations we’ve had, the details he’s shared about Silas’s experiments. “You said the wolves we’ve found so far were the defective ones,” I say, my voice softer now. “The ones who didn’t take to the serum. But the others… the actual super wolves like Kylan and Calista…” I trail off, my stomach twisting at the thought of them.

“They’ll be much harder to track down,” Asani finishes for me, his tone grim.

The mention of Kylan and Calista sends a chill through the room, the memory of their power, their cruelty, hanging heavy in the air. They weren’t just wolves—they were weapons, created to destroy anything in their path.

Asani exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “It’ll be even more difficult if someone is leading them,” he says. “If there’s someone out there who’s managed to rally the super wolves, to give them direction… we’re not just dealing with scattered remnants of the pack of the Forbidden. We’re dealing with an army and Locke might be caught in the middle of it.”

I push myself to my feet, the magic still crackling faintly across my skin as I pace the room. “Then we have to find them. All of them. The super wolves, their leader, whoever or whatever is behind this and we need to bring Locke home before it’s too late.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” River muses, a hint of amusement in his expression.

I pause, mulling over the several impossible options. “Asani mentioned there were other wolves, ones that never wanted to be in the pack of the Forbidden. Hell, Darius has told us a few stories as well. We invite them in and get everything they know. And if it’s not enough, we keep hunting until we find someone who can help us.”

Asani sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not going to be easy, precious. The super wolves are dangerous enough on their own but if someone is coordinating them, pulling the strings…” He shakes his head, his jaw tightening. “We’ll be walking into a war.”

I start pacing the living room, my bare feet brushing against the cool floorboards, the hum of magic still faintly prickling at my skin. My mates are scattered around the room, each of them watching me with varying degrees of concern. “Who could possibly be doing this?” I ask, finally breaking the silence. “Who’s strong enough to keep that pack together after everything we’ve been through? Silas is dead. I felt it. We all did.”

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Asani says, his voice laced with frustration. “When I suggested bringing in stragglers from the pack of the Forbidden, I thought we’d find wolves looking for a home. Ones who’d submit to the pack that overtook theirs. But there’s been nothing. Not a single wolf.”

His words send a chill through me and I stop pacing to look at him. “Nothing?”

He shakes his head, his gaze locking with mine. “Nothing. It doesn’t make sense. Packs don’t just disappear. There should have been survivors. Wolves who’d submit, who’d follow the new Alpha. Darius has told us about wolves that were forced into submission. Instead, it’s like they’re being kept hidden. Kept together. Someone’s making sure they don’t scatter.”

“Silas is dead,” I say again, more to myself than anyone else. “And you were supposed to be the true Alpha of that pack. So, who’s doing it? Who’s keeping them together?”

Asani’s lips press into a thin line, his gaze dropping for a moment before he meets my eyes again. “I don’t know who,” he says quietly. “But I know there’s someone. I can feel it.”

“Feel it?” I echo, my stomach twisting at his words.

He nods, stepping forward and crossing the room until he’s standing just a few feet away. “I grew up with them, Nepheline. That pack was in my blood, my bones. Sure, I wasn’t even ten before Ilsa stole me away but that connection was still there. When we tore it apart, some part of me felt like it was tearing as well.” He pauses, his expression darkening. “I still feel it. Faint, but it’s there. A call to a pack that should be dead.”

Mateo leans forward in his chair, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studies Asani. “That means there’s another Alpha,” he growls.

Asani nods, his shoulders tense. “Exactly. Someone strong enough to take Silas’s place. Someone who’s keeping them together and keeping them hidden.”

I let out a slow breath, turning to face them. “We’re going to need all the help we can get.” An exaggerated sigh falls from my lips as I flop back onto the couch, curling up in Darius’ lap. “Which means sucking it up and working with Victoria. Whatever’s coming, we can’t face it alone.”

No one argues though I can feel their reluctance. It’s the same reluctance I feel, but there’s no way around it. If there’s another Alpha out there, one strong enough to hold the pack of the Forbidden together, we’re going to need every advantage we can get.

“I’m going to start training,” I announce, turning toward the door. “If this magic is going to keep changing me, I need to know how to use it. I can’t be a liability.”

I take a step toward the door, but before I can reach it, River is there, his hand closing gently around my wrist. His touch is soft but firm.

“Maybe you should stay inside for now,” he teases, leading back into the living room. “At least until we know the full extent of what’s happening to your body. Just to make sure you’re okay.”

I open my mouth to argue, but something in his expression gives me pause. He’s not trying to control me—he’s worried. And that worry isn’t just for me. It’s for the pack, for all of us.

“I’m fine,” I say, though the words lack the conviction I want them to have.

“Let us make sure,” River replies, his tone leaving no room for argument.

From the corner of the room, Asani smirks, his sharp gaze flicking between us. “I can do a thorough examination later if you’d like.” He springs a wolfish grin, desire filling the bond. My body responds immediately, my scent sweetening, each of my mates leaning forward.

A frustrated groan leaves my lips as I throw my hands up in the air and then march up the stairs, hoping that I can sleep off whatever is happening to me. I make it three steps before I return to the living room and drag Darius with me. Everyone bursts out laughing as I throw them the middle finger.