Page 45 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

The healer froze as if he saw a tiger hidden in the woods. He slowly stepped back, his hands upraised.

My eyes darted back to my sister. “Please,” I whispered as I put my forehead to hers. “Fight!” I said. “Come back to us. Come back to me. What am I to do with Jacob and his little infatuations without you there to tease him with me? What about little Fina and Jess? They need their momma; their auntie will never do for long. Please, sis. Please,” I whimpered.

I closed my eyes, one tear dribbling from my cheek to land on her nose. A bright light flashed and my eyes popped open to see the stone glowing so brightly it was hard to look at.

A deep breath filled my lungs. Anna’s needs assailed me.

And I was never so happy to feel thoseneedsor hear her wheeze.

Graham walked me home,but I could hardly speak. My lungs felt tight and my soul felt scoured. I just wanted to be alone.

Especially knowing I had to face Mom and the rest of them when I got home.

Mom raced out the door, staring at my face. “How is she?” she whispered.

“She’s ok,” I said, smiling.

Mom crumpled. Her shoulders bowed, her face seemed to age before my eyes, and she grew pale. She swayed. Graham caught her before she hit the ground.

I wanted to fall into a ball and cry.

“Help me get her into the house, please,” I said, my voice emotionless.

Graham looked at me with concern, but he gripped under Mom’s arms and I got her feet. We sat her on the rug before the fireplace, and I turned her head to make certain her tongue didn’t choke her.

Dad came down the stairs, his face pale but his jaw strong. “Is she… ?”

“Anna’s fine, Dad,” I said. He leaned against the rail, the only weakness he would allow.

“Fina and Jess?” I asked, even as I opened my satchel and retrieved the Aconite.

“Abed,” Dad said. “What can I do?”

“Heat up some water. She’ll need valerian and hops when she wakes.”

“Will do,” he said. He came by where I knelt beside Mom. He leaned down and kissed my hair. “Proud of you, kiddo.”

I clenched my teeth so I wouldn’t cry. “Thanks, Dad.”

He nodded and went to get the water boiling.

A few minutes later, Mom woke up with a headache. She was disoriented and kept asking about Anna, to which I always said she was fine.

I walked Graham out. "I think I love you," he said, wringing his hat in his hands.

I stared at him. I opened and closed my mouth, then opened it again.

His smile was sad. "And I think I know you don't love me. Friends?" he said at last.

I smiled. "Friends," I said, sticking out my hand.

We shook on it, and with a sad smile he left.

I glanced back at the house, but I couldn't go in there. Not yet. I went to the woods.

Ran came, nuzzling my chest and lapping at my face.

And I sat on a log with Ran’s nose resting on my ear and her warm breath rustling my hair while I stared at a spider spinning its web in a willow tree.

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