Page 6 of Soul Fated

Evelyn crossed her arms over her chest and stared at me. "Callista, you agreed to let us help you. And now you're refusing to listen to our advice. You have to trust us."

"I do trust you," I whispered, my voice breaking. "But this is?—”

“Lana will be here to pick you up at four. Be ready." Evelyn stared at me, unblinking, daring me to argue. She glanced down at my bag on the floor behind me. “Oddly, it seems like you might already be prepped for this.”

I opened my mouth, but the words fizzled on my tongue. Evelyn stepped inside and hugged me again, then turned and walked away with Rowan, leaving me standing in the doorway with my heart racing and my mind spinning.

I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, my chest heaving with shallow breaths. I collapsed onto the floor, pressing my back against the cool wood. My body trembled, and my breaths came in short, ragged gasps.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my racing heart. How had I gotten here? How had I let myself become so isolated? I thought back to all the times I'd canceled plans, made excuses, retreated into my own world. I’d cried wolf too many times.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I couldn't blame Evelyn and Rowan for not understanding. They didn't know the terror that gripped me every night, the darkness that whispered in my ear.

They didn't know about the dream.

I shuddered, the memory of it flashing before my eyes. The forest. The shadows.

My breath hitched, and I forced myself to open my eyes. The sun streamed through the windows, casting dappled patterns on the floor. The house was silent, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the mantel. I glanced up. Ten thirty-two.

I pressed my hand to my arm, feeling the bandage beneath my shirt. The wound no longer ached as it had in my bedroom. It felt... satisfied. Like it knew it was getting what it wanted. I shivered, my skin prickling with unease.

I pushed myself to my feet, my legs shaky. I wasn’t getting out of this. The only way I’d get far enough away to avoid Evelyn or Lana finding me was if I got in my truck, and that wasn’t an option. Or…I could tell her.

Also not an option.

I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a cloth, wetting it under the faucet. I scrubbed. I loaded the dishwasher. I used a toothbrush on the sink.

Once I finished cleaning the kitchen, I moved on to the living room, dusting the shelves and vacuuming the rug. The house was spotless by the time I was done, but the knot of anxiety in my stomach hadn't loosened.

I grabbed my hiking backpack and double-checked that I had a change of clothes, a water bottle, some snacks, and toiletries. Only one night. I felt like I’d strapped in on a roller coaster, and the ride was about to start. Maybe there was a reason I was supposed to go there. Maybe the dream wasn’t from the shadows…maybe it was from my wolf? Maybe she was trying to tell me something? Trying to help me heal?

I set the bag back by the door and pulled out my laptop. I had to find something to occupy my mind. I searched relics, occult dangers, dark magic, and daggers like I had a thousand times before, hoping for anything I could sink my teeth into.

The results were the same as they had been the last time I'd searched. Legends of cursed blades and stories of ancient rituals. I skimmed the pages, my frustration growing. I needed something concrete. Something that would help me understand what I was dealing with.

Instead, I found different versions of the stories we’d heard as kids about powerful packs and cursed alphas. I scrolled…and scrolled and scrolled, stopping briefly on one blog post called The Shadow Pack: Legends of British Columbia that at least had some gorgeous images of the coast. I clicked on the link, my eyes scanning the text.

The Shadow Pack was tasked with protecting the shifters that guarded the veil between the living world and the Shadow Realm, a place where souls lingered, and dark magic thrived. They were entrusted with the knowledge of ancient rituals that could either protect the world from the forces of darkness or unleash them upon?—

I jumped, sending my laptop to the rug as a fist pounded on the door, and I glanced at the clock. Four. My blood ran cold.

“Just a second!” I hastily scribbled a note for Blake and Celeste, grabbed my gear, and opened the door.

Lana stood there, her expression unreadable."Ready?" She wore a fitted black leather jacket and pants.

I crossed my arms over my chest, my skin prickling. “I don’t need a babysitter.” Especially one that looked like Lara Croft.

Lana raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. “Good. Because I’m shit at changing diapers.”

Chapter

Four

Kael

It didn't look like much from the outside, but I'd been on the road long enough to know not to judge a gas station by its peeling paint and questionable signage. It was all about the selection of energy drinks. I needed high caffeine and a lot of it. With my wolf metabolism, six energy drinks was the bare minimum for a two-hour drive.

I pulled up to the pump and unscrewed my gas cap, the smell of gasoline mixing with the crisp northern air. The nozzle clicked as I started to fill the tank, and I glanced around, taking in the scene.

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