Page 9 of Bound By the Moon

“Um, I’m not sure if there was a direct correlationwith that. I mean, my abilities were already on an incline at thatpoint.”

“I suppose so,” Serena added. “I feel as though weshould call my sister in on this. She would know better than anyonehow to handle this type of situation.”

“We had a witch help before, when we were still inRomania.” Natalia looked nervous as she mentioned this, because ithad clearly been left out of their story.

Evan turned toward me, “We told you that Nat goteverything under control for a while before we came back this way,and that a witch named Layla helped with that.” Serena turned to methen, with a questioning look as if the name Layla should meansomething to me. I had honestly forgotten her name when I retoldEvan and Natlia’s story to her. Evan continued talking though, so Iturned my attention back to him. “Well, we ran into the witch whilewe were trying to figure out what was triggering the episodes withNat, and the witch happened to see her in action.”

“Could you please describe this witch, Layla to me?”Serena asked.

“Oh, yes. Layla was a beautiful little thing, allsilvery blond, like moving moonbeams. Her eyes were captivating,like liquid silver. She was a vision.”

Serena chuckled at Natalia’s description. “I’m suremy sister would be amused by your recollection of herappearance.”

“You’re sister?” I questioned, but then the memorysnapped into place. “Sophia mentioned Layla when…” I let thereminder of my time spent as Sophia’s prisoner drift away before itbrought up worse memories for me.

“Indeed.” Serena started, but then focused back onNatalia. “Layla’s specialty is with the dead and dying. She canhelp usher spirits to the beyond, and there was a time when shecould help bring them back as well. While I am certain she helpedfigure out a way to manage your episodes, my other sister, Gwynwould be a wiser consult. Her abilities lie in the realm of nature.She makes things grow, and live. That sounds more in line with theabilities you’ve shown.”

“How long will it be before we can get Gwyn here, ifshe agrees to come at all?” I asked.

“I have no doubt that Gwyn will agree to see them.She doesn’t reside too terribly far from here, a day or two atmost.” Serena rose from her seat. “I need to go see Avery, and lethim know that I will have to stay on with your pack for a whilelonger.” She searched me out then, trying to convey something withher eyes. “You may call Sierra to bring your daughter back homenow. Natalia is of no danger to her. I can promise you that much.”Serena smiled and didn’t wait for a reply before leaving my house,on her way to find Avery.

“That wasn’t really very helpful.” Evanmuttered.

“Not really. Except that Serena wouldn’t have toldme I could have the baby around you guys if she thought there was adanger. I suppose she knows a little more than she’s letting onright now. Maybe, she’s just going to wait for Gwyn to get here toexplain everything.”

“Maybe.” Evan echoed. “So, are you going to call mylovely niece back so I can spend some time with her, or what?”

I smiled at that. “I would love to, but first, Ineed to take care of a couple things.” When Evan appeared to behurt by my putting him off, I had no choice but to tell him thetruth. “While Willow is off with Sierra and Ashley, it gives me theperfect opportunity to go find out what everyone is keeping fromme.” I explained how all the girls who were going missing weresimilar in appearance to me these days.

“They don’t think someone is trying to find you, tobleed you dry for some reason do they?” Evan asked, concern obviousin his voice.

“I know I’m worried about it, and everyone seems tolike to meet when it’s most inconvenient for me to show up. I justneed to figure out for sure what everyone knows, and what they’reguessing.”

“Well, I will go with you then. Hell, if you want,maybe we can put Natalia’s mind mojo to the test, and have herconvince everyone that they want to tell you the absolute truth.”Evan winked at me, letting me know his suggestion was only a joke,but Natalia missed the gesture and blanched at the suggestion.

“I do not think that would be wise, Evan.” Shescolded him.

“Neither do I,” I reassured her. “Although, when youlearn to control it, maybe we will be able to find a way to put ourweirdo wonder-twin powers together and activate them.” I laughed,Evan caught on to the cartoon reference as well, but Natalia stillseemed a bit lost. “Evan can explain later. I was just beingfunny.”

The three of us took off then, headed towards myparents’ house where Avery was, no doubt, still meeting with myfather. When we got there my mom let us in, and walked with us backto my father’s office. I felt her calming influence, and guessed atwhat would happen next.

“Ah, Jessica, we were just wrapping up.” My fatherstood to and shook Evan’s hand as he came through the door, andwhile he was a tad apprehensive, he also shook Natalia’s.

“Really? Well, since you’re both still here, wouldyou mind filling me in on what I missed?” My father and Averyglanced at one another, each looking away guiltily, in the end.“Seriously? So, I give birth to a baby, and suddenly I’m toofragile to know the truth?” My voice raised as my mother also ampedup her gift to try to calm me. It wouldn’t work this time though.I’d had enough. “I am the same woman who has been kidnapped, twice.I’ve been shot, poked, prodded, drugged, and had a slew of othernasty things happen to me over the past couple years. In betweenall of that, I have proven myself time and again. I have not givenin, given up, or walked away. I have not huddled in a ball in acorner to cry myself to sleep at night. I’m here, and all I ask isthat you respect me, and if not me, you damn well need to startrespecting my position, because if anyone out there saw youtreating me this way they would think I have no strength of my ownto stand on. Every damn good thing I have done for the packs willgo out the window if any of them gets one whiff that you think I’mnot up to handling things.” I was yelling at them by the end, and Ialso felt like the only person in my corner was Evan, who stoodwith his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, grinning like afool. I turned to him them. “What’s so damn amusing?”

“I just forgot how feisty you can get.” He chuckled,and then turned to Natalia. “We need to give them some privacy,because I think Jess made her point, and they won’t discussanything with us here.” Evan winked at me as he left. Under hisbreath he added, “go get ‘em tiger!”

I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped me.Part of it was thanks to the built up tension, the other part wasbecause I had missed my friendship with Evan. I forgot how easy ithad been to laugh with him before. There was yet another thing toput on my to-do list. Make time for the people in my life I didn’tseem to see as much anymore.

“So, where do we stand now?” I asked as I took aseat.

“Jessie-girl, do we really need to do this rightnow?” My father looked around as if some other phantom had strolledinto his office with me. “Where is Willow, anyway?”

“She’s fine. She’s with Ashley and Sierra right now.I’m not here to talk about my daughter though. Right now I’mJessica-the White Wolf Ruler, not Mommy Jessica, it’s about timeeveryone started recognizing the difference. No one bothers to talkdown to the new daddies out there.” I was on a tangent now, andthere would be no stopping me. “I mean, where’s Mikael right now?Oh yeah, he’s off with Asi, running patrols, trying to see if hecan catch these assholes. But where’s Jess? She’s being tucked awayin a glass case because she had a baby. STOP! Just stop! I’m thesame old me.”

Avery just stared at me while I saw a smile breakfree on my dad’s face. “You’re right, Jessie-girl. I just don’tknow how to be any different. If you remember correctly, I gave upleading the pack to be a dad.”

“I know that, and I appreciate it, but no one elsecan be the White Wolf. There’s not like an application process,there’s just me.”

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