Page 143 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

Riding through the trees with the moon high overhead was ethereal. Pools of water from recent rainfall became shimmering mirrors dancing with moonlight. Leaves were pulled from the boughs by the wind as fall became more apparent with each passing day. Owls hooted, wolves called for their kin, and a unicorn bugled its cry from somewhere further in. I held my hands out to the sides and tipped my chin to the sky, closing my eyes and breathing in the sweet scent of peace.

Shen dashed a mere hundred feet from the edge of my tribe before a cave maw opened before us. Shen barked and bioluminescent moss lit up, shimmering with a gentle purpleand blue and gold light. Each species of moss was a different color and twining in spirals on the walls were like living, glowing carpet.

He walked inside, his steps certain but languid as he turned his head so he could watch me gape at the glow.

A soft, consistent splash came from further within. The cavern was about the size of a large home, and on the far side was a sparkling pool of water.

Water spilled from an opening near the ceiling, glimmering in multi-colored streams. It almost seemed like the northern lights were in the water.

I slid down from Shen’s back, running a hand over the walls and the luminescent moss that almost seemed to lean into my touch.

“I know this cave, Shen. And it was nothing like this,” I said.

When I glanced back, Shen was standing there holding a cloak and a small blade. His hands were stark white where they gripped the sheath of the blade and kneaded the dark cloak.

“I—I had the dryad help when you asked the first time. I panicked… I wanted this to be special, to give you something memorable. Your sister helped me find your favorite colors, fashioned after the waterfall you… uhm…”

My arms wrapping around his waist and my face smacked into his chest, stopped his rambling. He made this. For me. “Thank you, Wolfie. It's beautiful.”

Shen relaxed as he wrapped his arms around me, careful not to poke me with the sheathed blades. “Good,” he said, such relief in his voice that I struggled to hold in a laugh.

“Wait. These… are for you,” he said, his eyes crinkling with a nervous smile.

He held out the cloak and the blade. I took the blade first, easing it from the sheath to see a stiletto with swirls of dark andlight metals. The handle was made of ray leather, which was easy to grip and didn’t get too slick when bloody.

“Shen,” I gasped.

“It is a twin for the blade you stole,” he said with an ornery grin.

“But this one… it’s blade heavy.”

“I had the weight adjusted to what you prefer since you enjoy throwing knives so much,” he said with a wink.

I choked on a laugh, remembering the time I skewered his cloak to the wall after diving over that cliff and nearly dying. “Shen… this is…” I had no words. He had taken note of what I preferred in blades. I hadn’t even known it was possible to change the weight of blades. That had to have cost a fortune.

I grabbed the cloak, glancing up at him with a single brow raised. It seemed to just be a cloak…

“It is spelled. Put it beneath your Red hood and it will protect you,” he explained. “Some things can still get through it with enough force, but it will help. It is also resistant to fire.”

“Shen, this is too much. I didn’t get you anything?—”

He put a finger to my lips. “Alia, you are my gift for a lifetime. You are enough.”

My bottom lip trembled. I had no words. And he seemed to understand that as he helped me put on the cloak and strap the stiletto to my hip, opposite its twin that still clung to my thigh.

“I wish I had my old cloak,” I said, keeping busy straightening out the leathers around my new blade.

But when I glanced up…

My fingers reached out and touched the red fabric Shen held in his hands. I traced a mended rip in the fabric that matched the scar near my kidney. That wound had nearly taken my life after a mage’s guard had gotten lucky years ago.

“You do now,” Shen said, holding up the cloak. I realized then that the stitching of the rip had been made into a work of art. Amassive brown and green willow tree started at the base of the cloak and ended above the shoulders. And on either should were my bonds—a werewolf on one side and a dragon on the other. I could see my sister’s love threaded in every stitch.

He helped me put it on and I smiled. The Red hood I had been wearing was nothing compared to this one. Holding it once more since it was torn felt like welcoming back an old friend. This fabric and I had seen so much together. It felt right to have it back now at the dawning of a new age.

“Are you ready?” he whispered, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine. I nodded.

He leaned down, his lips brushing the curve of my neck where my shoulder met my neck. “The Mark of the Mate is typically placed here.” I shivered at the feel of his warm breath over sensitive skin. “But this is your choice. Where would you like it?”

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