Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

  “It’s hard to explain. Usually any highly emotional state makes it easier. Fear. Stress. Worry. For beginners, it’s easier to take a running start and shift on the fly. As you get more experienced, you can shift without as much work.”

  To prove his point, he shifted. He was larger than what she considered a normal-sized wolf. Granted her experience was limited to wolves at the zoo and occasional coyote sightings back home, but he was twice the size of a large dog. His sable hair was gorgeous, and his eyes were a tawny gold. He circled her once. As he came around the second time, he shifted back.

  “See? Nothing to it.”

  Nothing was right. Reagan blushed and turned away at the sight of Rowan’s naked body.

  “Sorry. Forgot to mention that part.”

  When she turned back around, he had a towel wrapped low around his waist. Great, she thought, one more thing to worry about—being naked at the end of every transformation.

  Pushing the thoughts aside, she focused on the task at hand. She wanted to prove herself, to show the pack she was a fast study. She concentrated on the image of a wolf and pranced around the area. Nothing.

  Rowan chuckled.

  Opening her eyes, she saw him covering his mouth. His eyes sparkled. “You think this is funny?”

  “You’re strutting around like a girl in the mall. Think wolf. Let’s try running. I’m going to shift, and you try to keep up.” Rowan took off. Reagan followed on foot, but she quickly lost him. Afraid and all alone in the darkness, she decided to turn around and head back toward the cave. As she changed course, two wolves came up beside her. Neither was Rowan. One nudged her, and then another bared its teeth. Reagan ran faster, feeling the fear and adrenaline escalate. Something nipped at her heels. She pushed herself harder until the world went black.

  “Reagan.” Rowan’s voice penetrated her mind. She tried to sit up, but her head felt heavy and she lay back down.

  “Where am I?”

  “Back in the cave. You passed out after you shifted, so I brought you back here.”

  “Guess I’m not turning out to be much of a wolf.” She thought she said the words in her head without projecting them, but his hand on hers must have amplified their connection.

  “You’ll get it. When you feel up to it, let me know and we’ll try again.” He left the room.

  She allowed herself a few minutes before she ventured out to find him. Anxious to see her mom and Nana again, Reagan didn’t want to waste any time. After a few hours of intense shifting exercises, she was exhausted but seemed to finally have the hang of it. Now, all she wanted was to be surrounded by her family.

  As she and Rowan headed out to meet with Papa, her thoughts turned to Sam. He’d been too quiet since she’d fled the hospital, and she was terrified to consider what that meant. He’d always initiated the conversations before, so she wasn’t sure how much of her thoughts he could read when he wanted to. Was he aware of their plan today? Would he be there? Should she have shared with Papa that she and Sam had communicated? Why hadn’t she shared it? All he’d ever done was help her in a time when she didn’t know who to turn to.

  “Reagan?”

  Rowan’s voice startled her back to the present. “I’m sorry. I’m just freaking out.”

  “I know.”

  “Wait, can you hear my thoughts?”

  Rowan arched his eyebrow and looked at her for a few seconds before responding, “No, but I can read your body language. Why do you ask?”

  “Sam talks to me sometimes.”

  “That’s not unheard of. I realized right away you had the gift. It’s even stronger within bloodlines.”

  “That makes sense because I’ve heard Nana’s voice, too. I thought hers might be a witch thing. But I can hear you, and we aren’t family.”

  Papa shushed them from just ahead, and Reagan refocused on the task at hand. They met up with him after almost two hours of running. As worked up as she was feeling right now, she could only imagine what Papa was going through. He hadn’t seen Nana or his daughters in almost thirty years. Reagan’s pain was from missing them for a lot less time, and it permeated her whole body.

  Then she heard it—tires on gravel. They were here. Or close. She wasn’t sure. Her new wolf senses were unpredictable. She knew what to expect from her normal ears, but wolf ears? From the darkness of the woods, she waited.

  Several stressful minutes later, a dark sedan pulled up to the cabin. Out stepped the three women Reagan most wanted to see in the world and her father. She lurched forward to run to them, but Papa threw out his arm to stop her.

  “Let’s give it a second, so they can get inside. I want to make sure everything is safe.” Then he turned to Rowan. “Stay here and communicate to the others. Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets through. Meet us inside when you can guarantee Ricardo and Madeleine are on full alert, along with the rest of the team.”

  When her family was safely inside, she and the others began to move. Each footstep toward the cabin felt like an eternity. She went first, with Papa so close to her they were touching, her shoulder to his upper arm. She edged the door open. Four of the most beautiful faces she’d ever seen turned to her.

  “Oh my God, Reagan!” Mom was the first to get to Reagan, but soon three pairs of arms were wrapped around her.

  She pulled back to see their faces. “I have someone with me you’re going to want to see.” She stepped aside so Papa was in full view.

  If the scene had been in a movie, a bright light would be shining on the women’s faces while time slowed down and heartbreaking music played. Mom and Sarah rushed into Papa’s arms, but Nana seemed rooted in place.

  “It can’t be,” Mom said, tears flowing.

  “Daddy.” Sarah crumbled into him.

  Everyone looked at Nana. Her trance broken, she moved toward Papa. Both girls moved to the side to allow their mother into the hug. Instead, Nana reared back and slapped Papa hard across the face. Aunt Sarah and Mom gasped as Papa’s head jerked to the side.

  Reagan was as shocked as she was proud; she’d wanted to slap him a couple of times, too.

  “I know I’m sorry isn’t enough, but I’ll spend every hour of every day I have left making it up to you,” Papa said, rubbing his jaw.

  Nana hesitated and then flew into his arms.

  Reagan was performing the same action at that very moment into her own father’s arms. Lost in emotion, she didn’t hear the door click.

  “I hate to say this, but we only have so much time before…” Rowan trailed off, but his meaning was clear.

  Papa started moving toward the living room, motioning for Nana and his daughters to follow. “Ladies, we don’t have much time. You’re all in danger.”

  How and why questions started erupting from several directions.

  “Guys, we can’t answer everything now, but here’s the gist: Papa survived, there’s a prophecy, Sam is alive but not safe, and everything is about to go to Hell,” Reagan said, wasting no time being subtle.

  Papa gave her a deadpan stare.

  “Reagan always did have a way of getting to the nitty gritty,” her father said.

  She rolled her eyes at her dad, but she realized just how much she missed normal teenage moments—even things like her parents annoying her. She turned back to her mom. “We have to know more about Cheveyo.”

  Mom looked first at her parents, and then her eyes settled on her husband. Her head fell toward her chest. “It was such a hard time for me. I wanted so desperately to have a baby.” Dad came over and put his arms around her, and she continued, “I remember going to meet with him, but the details of what he did are fuzzy.”

  “Oh, Susie. Why didn’t you come to me? I would never have let you go to him. He’s—” Nana said.

  “You know why I couldn’t come to you. I blamed you for Dad’s death,” Mom said, looking at her father. “Or what I thought was Dad’s death. I’m so confused. All I wanted was my own family, to make up for everything I thought I’d lost. W
hen I couldn’t have a baby, I went to Sarah first.”

  Nana shot a look at Sarah. “Why didn’t you come to me?”

  “I was helping my sister. She was in so much pain about Dad and—”

  “Ladies, it’s all well and good that you guys are finally talking through things. I’ve missed it so much, and I hope it’ll continue. But we have limited time. We need to find Cheveyo. Sam’s life, and Reagan’s, depend on it,” Papa said.

  “Jed’s right. We need to know how to find him. We have a few leads, but anything you can tell us about your meeting will help.”

  Papa paced the entire time Rowan was talking. Reagan noted Papa always did this when he was thinking or frustrated. She wondered if he paced as a wolf. Oh my God, I’m sitting in a room with my family and wondering how my supposedly dead grandfather acts as a wolf! She wasn’t sure if she’d ever get used to any of this.

  Hearing her mother speaking brought Reagan back to the conversation mid-way. “… and Steve didn’t know anything about it.”

  “You were supposed to be watching over her! That was our deal. How did she end up going to this guy without you knowing?” Papa’s voice boomed and his face turned a deep shade of crimson. One side of his face was darker than the other, a reminder of Nana’s welcoming slap. He loomed over his son-in-law, shoving a finger into Steve’s chest.

  “I had to have a job. I couldn’t watch her twenty-four hours a day. I knew she was frustrated about not getting pregnant. I went to every fertility appointment I could. I thought that’s how we ended up getting pregnant with Reagan. This is the first I’m hearing about this Chevy guy.”

  Mom stood up, edging her way between the two men, and turned to her husband. “I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you’d get angry. I thought you hated all the witch stuff as much as I did. And I was desperate. I wanted a baby. You were so happy when I told you I was pregnant, it seemed irrelevant then. Please forgive me.” She reached for her husband, but he stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, causing her to crumble into the nearest chair.

  “Again, we really need—” Rowan started.

  “Let’s start at the most obvious point,” Nana said. “How did you even know about this guy? I don’t remember ever talking about him, except one time to Sarah.” Nana barely finished the last syllable of her daughter’s name before she turned to Sarah, “Please tell me it wasn’t you.”

  Sarah was crying, bent over with her head in her hands. “Susie was so desperate. I should’ve come to you, but I wanted to help her. I wanted my sister back. I remember you mentioning his power. You never said he was dangerous. If anything, you seemed to respect him and think quite highly of him.”

  “Any person with that much power can be dangerous. But, yes, I’ve always respected him and even sought him out in my younger years.” Nana was wringing her hands as she spoke.

  Papa shot her a look, his eyebrow arched.

  Reagan felt like she was back in the therapist’s office in Boulder. As much as she wanted to know more and see her family heal, she knew there were bigger issues at hand. She walked over and took her mom’s hands, kneeling down to be at eye level.

  “We don’t blame you,” Reagan said. “I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t fought to have me. But I need to save Sam, and Papa seems to think this guy understands the prophecy more than anyone else.”

  “What prophecy?” Mom asked.

  Reagan wanted to know the details more than anyone. It was obvious Nana hadn’t shared anything with her daughter. Reagan, along with everyone else, turned to Papa. He started to open his mouth when a loud howl shook the room. Reagan felt it in her bones.

  “It’s Rafe. He’s close. Sasha and Ricardo are trying to divert him by running the other way. Madeleine is standing outside, along with our other friends. We need to go!” Rowan was already pulling Reagan to the door.

  “Rafe? I thought…”

  Mom’s words were lost as Papa started barking orders to Rowan. “You and Madeleine get Reagan back to safety. I’m going to make sure my family gets back home.” He turned to Nana. “Can you find out where Cheveyo is now?”

  “I can try.”

  “Okay, I’m going with you guys. Reagan, you go with Rowan. Quickly.”

  Reagan was almost to the door when she heard her mom’s cry. “Wait! Can I have a few seconds with my daughter?”

  Rowan looked from Susie to Papa and then to Reagan. “We just don’t have time.”

  “Please?” Reagan and her mom queried at the same moment.

  “I’ll be right outside. If you aren’t out there in one minute, I will come in and get you,” Rowan said.

  Papa and Nana were clinging to each other, and Sarah joined in. Reagan’s father stood to the side. Her heart almost burst seeing him standing there all alone.

  “I can’t believe you’re leaving again,” Mom said between sobs.

  Reagan could feel tears burning at the back of her eyes. She pushed them away. There was no time for crying. “I know. It’ll all be over soon, and Sam and I will be home.” She could only hope her mom believed the words more than Reagan did.

  “Nana and Sarah are staying with us right now.”

  “That’s wonderful. I only wish I could be there, too.” Papa cleared his throat, and Reagan knew her time was almost up. “I love you, Mom. I hope you know that.”

  “And I love you. Here,” Mom said as she reached for Reagan’s hand. “I brought this for you. Nana made you a new one. Please wear it always.”

  It was similar to the first necklace Nana had given Reagan, an Algiz engraved on a pendant hanging on a chain. But this necklace was gold, not silver like the original. She put it on and hugged her mom. “Thank you.”

  Reagan pulled away and went over to say her other goodbyes. First, she gave her dad a quick hug and told him she loved him. Then, the same for Aunt Sarah. Reagan wasn’t sure she could keep it together once she saw Nana’s outstretched arms.

  “I’m so glad you, Mom, and Aunt Sarah are back together. I only wish I was there, too.”

  “You will be. I know it. And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it happens.” Reagan felt heat coming from her necklace and looked down to find Nana’s hand on it. “There, that’ll help.”

  Papa came up and gently took Nana by the arm. “It’s time.”

  As he pulled her away, she leaned in and whispered to Reagan, “Wear it always. It’ll help you. Your gut will tell you who to trust. Listen to it.”

  As if on cue, Rowan opened the door and pulled her out. Madeleine was standing there. If looks could kill, Reagan knew she’d already be dead. Fear seized her when she heard the howl again. She wanted to curl up into a ball, wish it all away, get in the car, and go home with her family.

  “Don’t run, Reagan. We just want to talk.”

  It was Sam.

  “Wait!” Reagan grabbed Rowan and pulled him back. Not realizing her own strength, she almost sent him flying into the cabin.

  Madeleine was in Reagan’s face in a flash. “Don’t you ever touch him!”

  She bent over and helped him get up, ignoring Madeleine and her obvious claim of ownership. “Sam just asked us to stay. He says they just want to talk.”

  Squealing tires alerted Reagan to the fact that Papa had taken off with everyone else. She couldn’t even ask him what to do.

  “The time for talking is done,” Madeleine said. “Let’s go. Now!”

  Rowan simply gave one up and down nod of his head and put his hand out.

  “Not now, Sam. But soon; I promise.”

  She only hoped he got the message. No way did she want him to think she was abandoning him or not trusting him. But she didn’t trust Rafe. She grabbed Rowan’s hand.

  “Tala, you know how to do this. Just feel it,” he whispered into her ear.

  He hadn’t called her that since the hospital. Taking a deep breath, she let the feelings of transforming register. While attending shifting boot camp with Rowan, she’d focused on the te
chnique and the ability to push the pain away. The more she practiced, the less intense the pain became. Just like communicating with Sam and Nana, it was all about focus. Although the full moon amplified the wolves’ powers, as Reagan had been taught during her marathon training, some of them needed the night orb’s power to even transform. She and most of the werewolves she’d met in their clan didn’t need the moon to make the change. Good thing, because it was a mere sliver at the moment.

  She closed her eyes and focused, the same way she had in her training sessions. It was like allowing an uncontrollable energy to take over her body. There was a sharp pain, but it was quick, manageable, and followed by a calming release. Her body felt stronger and faster. Instincts took over, and she could see the path back to the cave. At one point, she felt a burning sensation near her neck. She ignored the pain and continued forward. Today was not the day she wanted to reminisce with Rafe. Or Sam.

  When she escaped the hospital, she simply ran. In her human form, she could run faster than most. But for pure speed and power, Rowan told her she had to transform. Fear was a great motivator to make sure it worked. Fear and anger. She wanted more time with her family, but she was terrified of what could happen if Rafe got his claws into them. And Sam. She lost him once. No way could she survive it again.

  With the blur of trees behind them, they arrived back at the cave entrance. Reagan shifted back to human form. Terrified the others weren’t safe, she reached out to Papa. She hadn’t tried connecting with him before, so she concentrated on his face. Nana’s face made its way into her thoughts as well.

  “Are you safe?” She repeated it several times, focusing with such intent that her head started aching.

  “Yes.” Both Nana and Papa’s voices echoed back.

  “I’m getting good at this.”

  “Good at what?”

  Reagan didn’t realize she’d spoken out loud or that Rowan was so close. She also didn’t remember someone draping a blanket over her. No matter how many times she transformed, she’d never get used to this part of it. She looked at the ground, determined not to meet Rowan’s stare.