by E Hall
“I think fate had something to do with that.”
“I was trying to approach breaking the curse from every angle because I didn’t know what would work—and we still have work to do. In the meantime, enjoy what you have now. Friends, a pack, a fiancé—”
I rush into his arms, overwhelmed by the cold. “And family.”
He hugs me back.
“If you had to do it over again, would you have traded your physical form for the truth?”
My father smooths my hair. “Absolutely. I’m only sorry Pepper had to endure that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I feared that because of your tri-magical status, the cursebreaker might be you. Only a magical that is pure of heart can take in a curse and dissolve it before it can be broken. Dragons are the best option, but at the time I didn’t believe there were any left. Pepper is the strongest magical I’ve seen in an age.”
I feel pale. “She had to endure the curse?”
He nods. “She took on all the pain the curse caused to every individual who was harmed or lost their life. She experienced it, dissolved it—of course, the Klave helped because it fought against evil with the truth. Only the most powerful can go through that and not let it consume them, turn them, come alive in them as an extension of the curse.”
“And what is the truth?”
My dad looks at me tenderly. “Love. Love is always the truth. Pepper knows that in the depths of her being—and I have a feeling you do too, Kenna.”
I try to digest what my father is telling me, but scent woods and wolf. “Hey, you ready to get going?” Corbin asks, poking his head into the room.
“Yeah, coming.”
“Don’t worry, Kenna. You’re strong too,” my dad says as I turn to leave.
I had no idea Pepper took on the pain of the curse. But I only hope my father is right because I don’t think this is over. I believe we’ll be seeing Melchior again.
Chapter 10
Corbin
For a moment, Kenna’s expression ripples like something troubles her, but I’m guessing it has a lot to do with the new arrangement—her father is a ghost, her brother and best friend are in love, and that same best friend is a dragon.
Kenna inhabits her wolf as if they’ve been together forever, but I have to remind myself that she was raised in the human world and she still possesses a fae within.
Everything that’s gone on must blow her mind. Surely, she needs some time to process and get her bearings. This is one reason why I’m spoiling her rotten for Christmas and all the days leading up to it.
She’s in for an enormous surprise, which is why I can’t wait another second to get back to HQ. Plus, my wolf desperately needs a run.
Kenna gives her dad a wave, and he fades through the wall as we exit the secret room.
“Do you think you’ll ever get used to that?” I ask when we’re in the hallway.
“I sure hope so.” Her tone is slightly grave.
“Everything okay?” I ask, firming her upper arms under my hands.
Distress streaks across her brow and she exhales. “Yeah. My dad was just telling me about Pepper. She was the cursebreaker and to do it, she had to endure all the pain caused by the curse.”
I nod. “As they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?”
We walk again and are nearly to the door that exits to the front porch.
“But I had no idea. I thought she just said some magic words and cracked the Klave open. Corbin, this magical world is intense. What if something had happened to Pepper?”
My sentiments exactly, but with a slight variation: what if something had happened to Kenna? When she leaped off the pirate ship, I thought my life was over. According to Greyson, losing all hope is part of what happens among the ghost pirates; they siphon it from all living beings.
I meet Kenna’s eyes. “Pepper also healed all that pain. That’s the power of her dragon. But I get what you mean. Which is why we need to plan an epic honeymoon.”
We step onto the rickety front porch of the Victorian mansion where everyone gathers to say goodbye.
“What was that about a honeymoon?” Pepper waggles her eyebrows.
Jackie taps the rotten floorboard with her shoe. “Never mind that. Here’s another item to add to the to-do list. Do you think we’ll get it done in time for the wedding?”
My eyes widen. “Get what done?”
Kenna grips my arm, gazes up at me, and says, “Since we had the sealing ceremony at the wolf Headquarters, I thought it would be nice to have the wedding here.”
I look around at the broken trim, the chipped paint, and the general disrepair on the grounds. “I do owe you a gate repair.”
Greyson appears and gives me a mock-sharp look.
I hold up my hands in surrender. “It’s not like Kenna had a key. We had to get through somehow.”
“Picture it repaired and decorated with twinkling white lights, along with black and silver—Pack Hjalmor colors.” With a sweep of her hand, Kenna paints the picture for us.
I nod. “I guess I can get behind that.”
“If you or anyone from the pack wants to volunteer their help...” Jackie hints.
“Plus, there is a ballroom,” Clove says, eyeing Pepper fondly.
“That would require that we dance.” Pepper shrugs like it’s not part of her repertoire.
“We’ll practice,” Clove replies.
“Us too.” I wink at Kenna, recalling the barn dance over the summer.
“The sound of all this work makes me want to get busy planning the honeymoon,” Kenna mutters.
“Where are you guys going?” Pepper asks.
I turn to Kenna. “Take your pick. Wherever your heart desires.”
She glances at the broad dale covered in a thin layer of snow stained with patches of dead grass. The sky is steely. Altogether, it’s a bleak picture.
She smirks. “Somewhere warm? Tropical?” She glances down at her feet. “Where my toes won’t freeze.”
“Hmm. I’d like to be somewhere off the grid.”
“I like the sound of that,” Clove says.
“Me too,” Pepper adds.
“You could all use a vacation,” Jackie says.
“I would not object,” Pepper says.
“You should come with us,” Kenna says. Concern or pity or something I can’t quite read flitters across her face. She turns to me. “Right? They should come. It’ll be so fun.”
“Sure,” I agree, but the word trails off my tongue. I’m not entirely sold on having her brother and a dragon along for the ride.
Based on our earlier conversation, I’m guessing she’s feeling bad about what Pepper had to go through, but it’s part of Pepper’s abilities as a dragon.
She screeches. “Seriously? We wouldn’t want to intrude, but I’ve never left Concordia. My dad has been all over the world, and I’ve heard all about his travels.”
“Will you have to ask his permission?” I ask, hoping maybe we can find a way around this.
“He won’t mind. He’ll be so happy, but I’ll ask him anyway. He’s coming home for Christmas. I’m eighteen now so I’m free to go wherever.” She bounces on her toes.
“When was your birthday?” Kenna asks.
“A few days ago.”
“And we didn’t have a party?”
She shrugs nonchalantly. “You know, a few other things were going on. Like saving the world. Anyway, I’m not huge on the day. My mom didn’t make it when she gave birth to me so...” Pepper’s voice falls away.
“We’ll celebrate when we’re in—” Kenna cuts herself off, looking at me. “How about Hawaii?”
“That sounds perfect,” Pepper says.
“What do you think, Clove?” I ask. He’s been quiet, but that’s not unusual.
“I have limited experience around humans, but I’m willing to give it a shot. The curse brought out my shadow. Now that it’s gone, I suppose I could use some sunsh
ine.” He fights a smile like he’s still getting used to what that feels like.
Kenna beams as though hearing her brother say that made her very happy. It’s then I realize that this is what she’s always wanted—family. She never truly had it before. Her and Jackie are close, but it’s different. All along, I’ve had the pack. They’re family. If it means something to my mate for all of us to be together then I’ll go along with it.
“When is your birthday, Clove?” Kenna asks.
“Fae don’t measure birthdays the same way humans do, but you could say it’s on the winter solstice. That’s coming up.”
“You’re both December, babies.” Kenna’s smile never fails to make my heart flutter all over the place. “We’ll celebrate then.” She nudges me.
I clear my throat. “If you’d like to come to HQ, we have a winter solstice bonfire. It would be great if you joined. There will be cake.” It’s taking a lot of effort to like Clove after everything he did, but I’m doing it for Kenna.
“Thanks,” Clove says with a prim nod.
“As long as you don’t mind the cold. Brr. Getting back to the topic of sunnier destinations, I’ve always wanted to try surfing,” Kenna says.
“You’ve never expressed interest in that,” Jackie counters.
“Well, it’s something new. I didn’t realize I always wanted to be a wolf shifter and yet here we are.” She laughs.
“Deep down, I think you did know.” I wink.
“Surfing in Hawaii sounds amazing,” Pepper says.
“And the water and air are much warmer,” Jackie adds when Kenna shivers.
“I’d be happy to read in a hammock,” Clove says.
“Long, lazy aloha afternoons,” I add.
“Coconuts,” Pepper says.
“Hiking.”
“Rainbows.”
“Pineapples.”
“And you guys. That’s what would make it special,” Kenna says.
I was right. “Well, for now, we have some terrain to cover. Ready to shift?” I ask.
We say another goodbye.
I summon my wolf. Even before I shift, Kenna transforms into her wolf with rippling dark reddish fur. She breaks into a run, kicking up snow as she tears across the dale.
My bones crack, split, and morph. Fur grows, claws spread, ears appear, and my tail extends. I give a quick yip and take off, chasing my mate.
Shifter, there isn’t enough room in my brain to hold everything that’s gone on in the last few days. As I run across the ground toward the fields, I let it all go. Primal instincts and sensations replace my thoughts. I feel freer than I have in a long time.
I sense Kenna slow down ahead of me. I pick up my pace to catch up. She must know I’m behind her, but she doesn’t pick up speed when I pounce and tackle her to the ground.
We roll in the light layer of snow, growling playfully, nipping, and nuzzling. I meet her smoky gray wolf eyes. Her gaze holds mine—only something two Alpha wolves would ever dare do.
Then she tosses me and takes the dominant position before I gnash my teeth. Soon we’re tumbling, rolling, wrestling, and not caring that it’s cold as we did in physical form.
Kenna gets to her feet, leaps, and then rockets ahead, following the scent back to Headquarters.
A shadow crosses the nearby trees, but I don’t care. These woods and world are safe now. Melchior learned his lesson. My mate is here, and we’re sealed. Nothing can stop us now.
By the time we get back to Polaris, it’s late afternoon. If I had fingers, I’d cross them, hoping her gift is ready for when we get into the driveway.
Kenna trots by my side as the lodge comes into view. I scent the familiar wolves of my pack. The trails have been groomed recently and are clear of snow. Now that it’s December, our outdoor chores change to match the season. Snowing, plowing, and de-icing among others.
We shift when we approach the cabana that the wolves use to get dressed after being on a run. Everyone has their own clothing and keeps an outfit in their personal cubby. On the trails, we have various places where we stash clothing should we need to shift. The primal creatures in us are pretty comfortable with our bodies with or without coverings, but we’re respectful of human norms.
Kenna emerges from the female side wearing a pair of jeans with a few tears and a cowl neck sweater. She scrunches the neck up as if she’s chilly.
Wolves are typically on the warmer side, but she’s cold lately. Must be the fae in her.
I wrap my arm close and say, “Hey, before we head inside, I have something to show you.”
Parked in the center of the otherwise empty driveway is a limited-edition Jeep Wrangler Willys. It’s the original in a smoky gray shade to match her eyes. A giant red bow sits on the roof.
Kenna’s hands grip the neck of her sweater tighter. Her gaze jerks to me.
“Countdown to Christmas, day number ten,” I say, kissing her on the cheek and dangling the keys in front of her face.
“For me?”
I nod. “All yours. It’s no Rhonda the Honda, but I figure we’ll have some fun off-roading.”
She runs toward it and wraps her arms around the hood. “I love it, Corbin. It’s perfect.”
“Wait until you see the interior. I got the complete upgrade package.”
But she doesn’t hear me. She’s already in the driver’s seat.
Chapter 11
Kenna
Corbin jumps in the passenger side of the Jeep. He smiles like a kid on Christmas morning, which says a lot about him because he’s the one who’s doing the gift-giving and not the receiving.
“I have to think of something spectacular to get you for Christmas.”
Amusement floats in his eyes. “That’s not how it works. It makes me happy to make you happy.”
“My love language isn’t exactly material items, but I am very happy right now. I’ve never had my own car.”
“What is your love language?” I ask.
“Time with you.”
“That’s perfect. Let’s take this bad boy for a spin.” I tap the dashboard.
For a moment my mind wanders to the last times. The last time I went to high school, lived at home, wasn’t a magical, but now it’s filling in with first times. First time shifting, first time being in love, first time having wheels that are all my own.
I lean over the center console and give Corbin a big, juicy kiss.
“First kiss in the Jeep,” I whisper.
“What?” he asks, confused.
In the vehicle’s quiet’s cabin, I tell him about the last times, but add in about the first times too.
“I like the idea of first times together. We’re going to have a lot of those...first Christmas together, first New Year’s, first time getting married...”
I wiggle my fingers, reminding him about the ring. Don’t get me wrong, the rock that’s actually the Wolf Jewel was more than enough, but the part of me that grew up with human customs wants to make our union official.
Delight lights Corbin’s eyes. So far, his countdown to Christmas surprises have blown me out of the water. I’m certain he has something up his sleeve.
Adjusting the rearview mirror, I catch my wide-eyed look. I blink a few times. “This gift is outrageous. Yesterday, you gave me Chapstick.”
“And the day before that, all the doughnuts you can eat.”
“I can’t imagine what tomorrow will bring.”
He snaps his fingers. “I have to keep you on your toes. Or you have to keep your toes on the accelerator. Let’s see what this puppy can do.”
I turn the key in the ignition. The engine roars to life.
“Head out to the trails beyond the lake. There are some good areas to off-road.”
Shifting into gear, we roll across the dirt roads that lead to the massive pack land. The Montmartres Mountains loom to the left. My thoughts snag on Pepper and her dragon. She was the cursebreaker, and she is the peacekeeper. But I can’t expect her to retrieve the scepter
on her own. She’s strong, but she’ll need our help.
We solved one of the puzzles, we can do it again. First, I have to get through Christmas and my wedding. I hate to think about it that way, rushing through what are supposed to be special times in my life, but my worry grows the louder the fae song gets in my head. The only respite is when I shift into my wolf. Maybe, being around the rest of the pack will quiet the nagging hum down.
I hope.
After we traverse the trails, go up and down hills, and give the new Jeep a solid workout, I cut the engine along the ridgeline.
Corbin and I are both quiet a moment, watching the day fade with the sunset. Eventually, lights blink on inside the lodge and lanterns flicker to life along the trails. Beyond, in the homes and shops in Polaris, the lights twinkle like distant stars.
“Looking out across the pack lands repeatedly shows me how I’m part of something more, something bigger. When I get too far into my head, I tend to think I’m all alone,” I say at a whisper.
“Look up and you’ll remember that you’re very much connected.” His voice is low and rough.
The Dog Star rises in the sky.
“And if you look over here, you’ll remember that you’re very much a part of me,” Corbin says.
“You’re right,” I say, turning to him.
Without another thought, he closes the space between us.
Our lips meet.
His press against mine.
I give back.
His hands grip the nape of my neck.
Mine cup his jaw.
It’s tender. Fierce. Sweet. Starved. It’s us coming together. The kiss is that kind that quiets the buzzing and chaos in my mind.
The kiss deepens, widens, explodes like a star, a supernova. It doesn’t stop until my stomach growls with actual hunger.
“We should do something about that,” Corbin says, slowly drawing away.
“It’s pasta night.”
“After that run, I could use some carbs.”
“That’s my girl. Pasta is the best kind of fuel.”
“I was talking about dessert, but I’ll eat pasta too.” I wink as I head back down the hill and to the lodge.