Page 44 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“Hey, you ok?” Graham asked.

I quickly straightened, turning with a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”

His eyes were uncertain. “You were amazing last night, Alia.”

A gentle warmth spread in my soul. “Thanks,” I said, shifting my feet awkwardly.

“Would you…”

“Yes?” I prompted him to continue.

“Would you like me to walk you home? After… ya know, everything?” His cheeks were tinged with red, and I found it somewhat adorable. My mind flashed back to strong, sure arms and aneedso deep it squeezed my heart like a paper press, butGraham was here and now. I’d likely never see that odd werewolf again. Good riddance.

“Sure,” I said.

His eyes lit up. “Oh, and here’s you a water and jerky. I didn’t see you eat or drink anything last night.”

My stomach rumbled, and I put a hand to it, my cheeks heating.

He chuckled. “Seems I was right.”

“Thanks,” I said.

“Alia!” the frantic scream pierced through the hall and made my hair stand on end.

I slammed the door open to see my sister shaking on the bed; her needs were slicing through me as her life teetered on a precipice.

“Place a leather between her teeth. Keep her alive until I get back,” I ordered through clenched teeth.

Rey took a step forward. “Alia, don’t you dare leave us?—”

I ran to the window and jumped, landing and rolling as I hit the dirt road outside my sister’s home. I had to meet Ran. It was Anna’s only chance.

Numbness overwhelmed everything else. Nothing mattered. I knew my sister would die without me, but I couldn’t stand around and watch her suffer.

Ran screeched to a halt before me, in the middle of the street. What the heck was she doing? She could be killed if she remained here and someone saw her.

Saddlebag,she said.

She tossed her head as I ran to her side, pulling out the swirling mage stone and then running back to my sister.

Get out of sight. NOW!I nearly screamed at her inside my brain.

Take care of your sister, Two-Legs. I’ll take care of me.

I couldn’t spare a moment for her, knowing every second counted. A mage stone couldn’t bring someone back from death.

I slid into Anna’s home, quite literally. My elbow and shin took the brunt of the impact as I slammed into the wall. There was no pain. The stairs seemed to go on forever until I was suddenly in her room.

Anna was still.

I came to her head, pressing the stone to her chest and hitting the part which activated the stone.

“Come on! WORK!” I shouted, pressing the stone again. It stayed gray with the gentle swirls of writing no one knew how to read. It should be bright.

The healer felt for a pulse in her wrist. “You may be?—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” I growled, my hand on a blade.

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