Chapter Eight

The next couple of weeks brought many changes for Brinnah. Everett taught her how to retract her ears and she couldn't believe how round and smooth they were. Several times a day she'd run her fingertips over them in a type of self-soothing gesture.

After her second day of following Savannah around, Everett picked her up and presented a brand-new cell phone. She'd never been allowed to have one in the Moondust Pack, and the gift brought tears to her eyes. Everett helped her add apps and even signed up her up for an Instagram account. Then she went around the forest, took many photos of flora and fauna, and uploaded them to her site.

Life with Everett fell into an easy routine. He would drop her off at Savannah's and then head to work. In the evening, after he collected her, they would go home to eat dinner and then go for a run in the woods. They'd love each other by the pond or when they went home. Every moment spent with Everett was wonderful.

Brinnah absorbed all the information Savannah taught her, and she started to feel like they were friends. The only crinkle in her world was the continued thread still present that linked her to Vadin. The distance made the rejection not hurt as much as before, but the absence of the enchantress was starting to wear thin. Esmeralda kept telling her to be patient, but even that was irritating.

Her cell gave a cute little jingle, and she answered quickly. "Everett?"

"Hey, sweetheart, I'm going to be a little late."

"That's okay. I can walk to the diner, see if Esmeralda has heard anything."

"You sure you'll be okay?"

"Positive. Love you."

"I love you too," she replied and ended the call with a smile on her face.

"Everything okay?" Savannah asked.

Her head shot up. "Oh, it's great. That was Everett letting me know he was running behind."

"Would you like me to stay with you?"

She shook her head, smiling. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll be fine. I'm going to head to the diner."

"Well, if you're sure."

"I am," she said, suddenly nervous. "I really appreciate you. I've never had an opportunity like this before, and I wanted to show you my thanks. Hold on."

She rushed in the back where her backpack rested and pulled out the cookies she baked. Rejoining Savannah, she held out the tin.

"What's this?" Savannah asked.

"I took over Everett's kitchen last night," she replied, grinning. "It's not much, I know—"

Savannah rushed over to give her a hug. "Thank you, Brinnah. You've become very important to me. These past few weeks, I've learned how special your heart is." She opened the tin and bit into one, giving a loud yum. Brinnah was happy her cookies were a hit. "These are so good!"

Brinnah clapped her hands. "I'm glad you like them. My friends loved them."

Sadness hit her and she had to swallow down her tears.

"Your friends?"

She nodded. "From my old pack."

They exited the shop and Brinnah waited until after Savannah locked up.

"You've never told me where you're from."

"I'm from a pack up north," she said. "Called Moondust."

"Moondust?" Savannah cocked her head, frowning.

"Not a great place, and even worse memories, except for my friends I left behind. I wish I could bring them here." She sighed and shook her head. "I hope one day they can be free like me."

"Why did you leave?"

"I was moon-fated to a man who didn't want me," she replied softly. "He rejected me. Humiliated me in front of everyone. My alpha gave me an abstract permission to leave."

She wouldn't say anything about finding an enchantress to break the bond. It was possible Esmeralda would never be able to connect with her.

"And Everett?"

"Everett says we're mates." She shrugged. "We're taking one day at a time."

Savannah smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, and Brinnah knew she understood the situation without a full-blown explanation.

"Sure you'll be okay to walk to the diner?"

Brinnah smiled. "Yep. I'm good."

"Okay," Savannah replied and patted her shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow."

The town was closing for the night. People were headed home for dinner and to be with their loved ones. She waved to them, and when they smiled and waved back, she felt like a proper part of the community.

A growl suddenly vibrated through the air, causing the hair on the back of her neck to rise. The few people that remained backed up, looking for the source, and a moment later, a big black wolf came from between two buildings. His ears were low, his muzzle pulled up to show his sharp teeth as he snarled. Brinnah knew exactly who the wolf was because the mating thread pulsed between them.

Fear filled her and she took a step back, although she knew there wasn't anywhere she could run before the wolf could devour her. Vadin was here, and his intentions flowed through the bond. He came to kill her, to rend her to pieces, and sever the bond once and for all.

Suddenly, everything around them came to a screeching halt. The scared people on the sidewalk stood frozen. Sound, and even the light, cool breeze had stopped. Vadin stopped growling to spin around until his attention caught something behind her, and Brinnah turned. Savannah walked toward them, her modern human clothes transforming into a white, one-shoulder Grecian-type dress. Brinnah's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"You're the enchantress?" she asked in disbelief.

"I am," Savannah replied.

"I've been looking for you."

"I know."

"If you knew, why didn't you say something?"

Before Savannah could reply, Vadin's wolf growled and charged, running full tilt toward her. Brinnah stumbled back, throwing up her arms, but just as he braced himself to pounce, he froze, just like everything else in their weird little bubble.

"Bad wolf," Savannah said. Looking at Brinnah, she asked, "You wish to be free of this bond, right?"

Brinnah nodded. "The High Luna made a mistake."

"The High Luna doesn't make mistakes. There are fated mates for a reason."

"What if…" Brinnah decided to use Everett's theory. "What if the High Luna gave me a false mate? What if I had a true mate out there, but I'd never meet him unless I left the pack lands? So, maybe she conspired to get me on this journey. To find Everett."

Savannah cocked her head. "Interesting. You think Everett is your true moon-fated mate?"

"I do," she whispered. "Because I love him."

"I see," Savannah said

She waved her hand and Brinnah felt every muscle in her body seize up. As she walked up to her, she gave a come-here motion and the black wolf levitated through the air to stand next to Brinnah. Then he transformed back into a man. Savannah raised an eyebrow and she conjured him clothing.

"Unfortunately, the only way to sever a moon-blessed mating is for one of you to die." In her hands, two wicked-looking blades appeared. She looked at Vadin. "Not having her near you was driving you mad, wasn't it? That's why you don't reject a moon-fated mate. A mate brings you power. A mate settles your soul. Remember, wolf, that you've done this to yourself."

Savannah raised her hands, the deadly knives gleaming in the sunlight, and plunged them into her and Vadin's chest. Directly into their hearts. Pain engulfed her, but she couldn't move to try to help herself. All she could do was watch as the life in Vadin's eyes faded, just as she knew her own life quickly ebbed away.

How could Savannah kill her? The betrayal burned through her soul. Tears welled up in her eyes and trickled down her cheeks as a bright light engulfed her. Then she was free, but she was no longer in Sheridan, Colorado. She had no idea where she was.

At least she could move.

"What the hell?" Vadin growled.

She looked at him briefly before turning to Savannah. "Where are we?"

"You're on the astral plane."

"You killed me," she accused.

"I didn't kill you," Savannah refuted. "I stabbed you with an astral knife."

"You stab someone in the heart, you fucking die!" Vadin snapped.

Brinnah took a deep, fortifying breath. "Why am I on the astral plane?"

"This is a way station for you both to determine if you want to pay the price."

"I'll pay!" Vadin snapped. "How fucking much?"

Savannah raised an eyebrow. "This isn't about money. It's something you must give up because there must be balance in the magical world."

"Then fuck, yeah," he said. "Whatever it is, I'll pay."

"Brinnah," Savannah addressed. "Your friends, or Everett. You can only have one."

Brinnah blinked, tears springing to her eyes. Kadie and Maggie. Her dream of bringing them to Sheridan crumbled. It broke her heart that she'd never see them again, but there was no hesitation in her choice.

"Everett," she said softly. "I want him."

Savannah stared into her eyes, finding the truth, and nodded. "Well, then. The only thing left for you to do is to return."

She snapped her fingers, and Brinnah's eyes opened. She was back in Sheridan with people staring wide-eyed.

"Brinnah!" Everett cried, hugging her.

A crowd had gathered and Savannah stood off to the side, head tilted. Their eyes met and the enchantress placed her index finger on her lips and gave a shush sign. Brinnah nodded, instantly understanding. Savannah's secret wasn't hers to tell. She might be angry at Savannah for not warning her, but she would never betray her trust. A groan brought her gaze around and she saw Vadin sit up.

"What the fuck?" he asked. He slapped his hand over his heart. "It's gone. Holy shit, it's gone! I don't feel you anymore! Thank fuck! I came here ready to kill you, but now that thread is gone."

Brinnah put her hand over her heart, mimicking him. Relief poured through her. "You're right. I don't feel it."

"Wait. Something's different…" His words trailed off as he frowned. "I don't feel normal. Something's wrong."

Alpha Jericho and Beta Ledger marched over to him. Even from here Brinnah could feel the power of the alpha and beta wolf, the two men a force to be reckoned with.

"You entered the Sheridan Pack territory without permission," Jericho growled. "This could be considered an act of war. Why are you here?"

"I came to sever the mating bond," he replied. "But … something isn't right."

"You'll be escorted off pack lands, Omega. If you ever return, I will put you down before you can blink."

"Omega?" Vadin shook his head. "No, I'm a sentinel. I'm third in rank!"

Jericho shook his head. "I can smell your status. You're definitely an omega."

Brinnah glanced at Savannah, who raised an eyebrow, and she knew. Just as she had to give up her friends, Vadin lost his rank within the pack.

"Ledger," Jericho addressed his beta. "Take a few men and march this one out of our territory. I will go lenient on you this time. If you return, tell your alpha to expect me and my wolves in open hostility."

Ledger gave an understanding nod. "Ridge. Tiber. With me."

The small circle of shifters watched as Vadin was led away. He screamed the entire time that he was not an omega. Fitting, she thought. Brinnah saw Esmeralda nod toward Savannah. So, the diner owner knew all along who the enchantress was, and kept quiet about it. Sometime soon, at least not for the next few days, she was going to have a talk with both of them, but right now, all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around Everett and not let go.

So, she did exactly that.