Chapter 11

T he rest of that conversation in the kitchen of Alpha Mortlock's house went about as well as you can imagine. Lots of shouting and cursing had ensued. Killian had nearly started a fight with Alex, who was furious at the thought of me going back to the Shadow Realm. Not because Killian wanted me to go, but because Alex was trying to throw his weight around, demanding that Killian he had to stop me from going. Macho bullshit, which wound up an already tense Killian. Garett was trying to find out why I wanted to go back but kept being interrupted. Seb had just looked worried and sat back, watching the whole argument with a frown on his face. In the end, it was Eric who alleviated the whole situation.

"Ari, why do you need to go back?" Eric calmly asked. The others were still wary of him and his powers, so they paid him a wary respect that they don't seem to show to each other, treating each other more like brothers.

I then had to explain about the coin necklace the stranger made of light had given me in the Shadow Realm. The necklace that I had kept a secret until now. This had only started another argument. Nobody trusted the stranger, especially with my safety. They didn't trust or understand his motives .

Eventually, I'd convinced them that I was going.

Well, it was more of a, ‘I'm going and you can't stop me,' but they know why I have to do it. I need to master these powers. I've been fought over, tortured, and abused for this power my whole life, and I've been running from it. I'm tired of it. I need to embrace this side of me, like I've embraced my wolf, if I'm to ever be free of the shadow that's been hanging over me my whole life.

They wanted me to wait until tomorrow before I went back to the Shadow Realm, but I don't see any point in putting it off, not when waiting could mean that another supernatural gets taken.

We're gathered in my room, with my guys and Eric around me, ready if I need them. This is more for their comfort than mine, since when I'm in the Shadow Realm, they won't be able to help me, but they can care for my physical body. I don't plan on being there long, but as we learnt from last time, time works differently there.

Walking up to my desk, I open the drawer and pull out the necklace that was given to me, placing it around my neck. I turn to look at the guys, there's no point in dragging this out, and I can already feel the pull of the Shadow Realm calling me. It's been getting louder and louder over the last few days, but I've managed to chase away the shadows. Now, I look inside myself at the light, which is holding the shadows at bay. Sending out a quiet call for help, I hope the stranger made of light hears my call and finds me in the Shadow Realm.

"Here goes nothing. I'll see you soon," I call out with a confident smile, before I shutter out the light inside me.

I'm instantly dragged away with a ripping sensation, and a cry of pain leaves my lips as I land in the Shadow Realm with a bang. I can still hear Garett shouting my name and Killian's roar of agony as I was ripped away, and they ring in my ears.

"Well that was dramatic. It seems to be a talent of yours," a familiar voice greets me.

My eyes fly open, and I see the stranger made of light standing above me. Although I can't see his features properly, I get the distinct impression that he's smiling at me.

"You came." It's not a question, but he nods anyway.

"You called, so I came." He holds his hand out towards me and helps me to my feet.

I look around and see that the Shadow Realm hasn't changed at all since I was last here, and the feeling of nothingness falls upon me, causing me to shudder.

"I don't miss being here." I wrap my arms around myself. It's not cold, but my memories of being trapped here fill my mind, and I miss the physical comforts of having my guys with me. "Nothing has changed."

"Well, that's not true now, is it?" he says with a nod to my chest, where a golden thread leaves my torso and trails behind me. I look at it with a frown until I feel a tug. Killian.

"The bond," I exclaim with clarity as I look back up at my guide. We'd theorised that the bond was the reason I kept finding myself back in the real world before, and now I guess we know for real.

"I think that bond, even though it was only half formed, was the only reason you lasted here so long on your own without training. You should always be able to find your way back now if you ever get lost in the shadows again."

We walk together in silence for a while as I take in the revelations of the day. He seems happy just to walk quietly and let me sort my thoughts. I look up at the stranger again.

"Who are you? I keep calling you the ‘stranger made of light' in my head, but I can't keep calling you that. Yoda perhaps?" I joke, and I get that feeling that he's smiling again, despite me not being able to see his features.

"Hm, I like the idea of being Yoda, your wise and ancient teacher. Although, perhaps less of the ancient part, young student." I snort out a laugh at his joke, loving that he gets my Star Wars reference. "You may call me Em." I raise my eyebrows, not expecting that to be his name, but nod in agreement.

"Okay…Em," I begin, sorting through the list of questions in my mind. "You said I would come back here, how did you know?" He snorts at my question, his impression of an all-knowing, benevolent teacher disappearing in a moment.

"Because you have no idea how to use your powers. Sooner or later, you'd get into trouble and end up back here again. I told you to return here and call me because you need to learn to master your powers. You're incredibly powerful, but there are not enough Shadowborn around anymore to teach you, which is why I offered."

I come to a stop and stare at him in shock, the implications of what he's saying astounds me, although it probably shouldn't, given the circumstances.

"Wait, you're Shadowborn? How did I not know about you? I thought all the Shadowborn were dead." He stops in his tracks and turns back to look at me, and I get the distinct impression he's rolling his eyes at me.

"How do you think I got here or knew so much about your powers?" He sighs, as if what he's going to say next pains him, and takes a seat on the ground, gesturing for me to sit beside to him. "You're not the only Shadowborn, but the rest of us are in hiding. We didn't know that you existed. The Shadow Pack kept you hidden from us, and for that, we're sorry, we would not have let them subject you to those kinds of torture if we had known."

There are more Shadowborn, a whole group of them by the sound of it. The information is overwhelming, but hope starts to bloom inside me. If I can find them, they can train me to control my powers, make sure I'm not dangerous but a formidable opponent not to be messed with. I turn to Em, but he's already shaking his head.

"Where are you in the real world? I'll come find you and train with you…" My voice trails off, and I narrow my eyes at him. "You're not going to help me? "

"The others won't take the risk to meet you. You have some dangerous people after you, not just the Shadow Pack, and they've worked for centuries to stay hidden. Once things have settled down, perhaps then…" He trails off as he sees my cloudy expression.

They find out about me, give me a spiel about how they wish they'd known about me, would've helped me, and when they can actually help me, they won't take the risk. Won't risk their safety. Bullshit.

"Ari. I want to help you, I'm willing to help you, but I'm somewhere where you can't get to me. I'm not free to wander around as I wish, which is why I am meeting you here like this." I look away, contemplating whether or not to believe him, when I feel a hand on my knee. I look up and see that Em has dimmed his light enough where I can almost see his expression through the brightness. It looks full of regret.

"When the time is right, I will tell you where I am. Remember that trust goes both ways." I narrow my eyes at him as I mull this over. I'm putting a lot on the line here, but I have to trust that he isn't going to sell me out. I don't think he's doing this just out the kindness of his heart, there has to be something he's getting out of this, but I don't have much of an option and he's right—I need to learn, and there's no one else to teach me. I let out a sigh and nod, I guess that's the best I'm going to get out of him.

"Okay, Yoda, what's the first lesson?"

For what feels like five days, but must have only been about an hour, I work with Em on calling my shadow powers to the surface. Other than the time where I killed Alpha Black and the fight with Marcus at Moon River Pack, when I've used my shadow powers, they have taken over my whole body, enveloping me completely in shadow. Em has been trying to teach me to control it, making only certain parts of my body disappear. It's hard work, and I'm get frustrated that I'm finding it so difficult.

"Aarh! Why don't I get this?" I cry out as I force my body to reappear in front of Em, who's giving off a distinctly amused attitude. "Well I'm glad you're finding this entertaining," I snarl. Frustratingly, this is supposed to be easier in the Shadow Realm, and while I seem to have no problem calling my power forth here, controlling it seems to be the issue. No surprise there, control of my powers has always been my issue.

"Okay, Ari, that's enough for today. Try and practice calling the shadows in the real world as well. When you're ready to meet with me again, just wear the necklace and call out to me. I'll be here," he says before he disappears in a flash of light so bright, I have to close my eyes.

I slump to the ground with a sigh, what a day. Right, I guess I better try and get back home. Anxiety swirls in my stomach at the thought of being stuck here again, but I focus on what Em said, that as long as I'm bonded to Killian, I'll always have a way home. I focus on the golden line and tug, and at the same time, I find the light within me and will it to flare to life, banishing away the shadows.

I slam back into my body and cry out in shock. I look around and see that I'm in my bed, in a puppy pile of all my guys, and even Garett is curled up next to me. They are all shielding their eyes, as if I brought my light back with me.

"What the fuck?" someone mutters.

"Ari, you're back." Killian's rich voice rolls over me, and he nuzzles into my neck, the other guys call out my name softly and try to get closer to me. I glance over at the alarm clock and see it's one am.

"How long was I gone for?" I'm almost afraid to ask, but I need to know.

"You left yesterday afternoon, so you've been gone for about nine hours," Seb tells me, his hand rubbing up and down my leg, his voice groggy with sleep as he settles his head back on my hip.

"Anyone want to talk about the fact that Ari was a human flashlight just now, or deal with it in the morning?" Alex mutters .

"In the morning," come several replies, which brings a small smile to my lips. Garett sits up slightly and runs his eyes over me, checking if I'm okay.

"Are you okay?" he asks, and I just smile, then lean forward to press a kiss to his lips gently. He makes a happy grumble in his chest and returns the kiss.

"I'm going to take that as a yes." He winks at me before laying back down, pulling my back against his chest.

I know that in the morning, we'll need to deal with everything going on and what I learnt in the Shadow Realm, but for now, with my guys surrounding me, I feel safe and fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.