Page 45 of Wolf Bound

Esme’s face falls as she looks at us. “I told Addison fourteen years ago it would be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse those spells. Her memories, I’m certain are lost forever.”

“I’m not worried about my memories.” I step forward. “As far as I’m concerned, the person those memories belonged to died with my parents that night, and if I’m honest, I think it’s best I don’t get those memories back. I don’tneedthose back. But Ineedmy wolf unbound.”

“I’m running out of time,” Ryker tells Esme, and I wince when he says the words. When Avery said them, it was easy not to believe her, but now Ryker is admitting that he’s feeling the consequences of not having a mate.

“How long do you have?” Esme’s voice is full of sorrow as she questions Ryker.

Ryker pauses before answering. “Not long, a couple months, maybe?”

“You’ve been feeling this way for a while?”

“Yes, it started about six months ago,” he tells us. “I thought there was no hope, I figured I would take out as many rogues as I could along the way then take myself out before I turned.”

“You were going to kill yourself?” I choke out, my stomach lurching as I speak.

“I couldn’t let myself turn into one of those monsters, and now I can’t have you watch me turn into one…”

“So, that’s still your plan?” I recoil when he reaches for me. “If I can’t shift, you’re going to kill yourself?” The vibrating feeling in my chest returns, and my heart rate increases, pounding hard in my chest.

“Pru…”

“Don’t! I did not—” I pause, shaking my head. “We did not go through all we went through to have you kill yourself if I can’t shift. That isn’t an option.” I whirl around to face Esme. “You better tell us what we can do, because I’ve spent fourteen years thinking I was missing something, and now I’m not going to watch that something take his own life.”

“It would appear your wolf isn’t as bound as we had originally thought…” Esme breathes, her obsidian eyes scanning me.

“What? Why do you say that?”

“Pru, your eyes are glowing, and we can feel your power,” Ryker tells me, a proud look on his face.

“Mypower?” I repeat.

“Yes, every wolf has power,” Esme explains, “and it would appear you’re a very powerful wolf. Which is why your wolf has been able to break through the spell I bound her with. It’s not surprising considering Archer and Genevieve were both very strong alphas. Bothbornalphas if I remember correctly.”

“What’s a born alpha?”

Ryker steps in and clarifies for me. “A born alpha is a wolf who was born with a large amount of power. Versus an alpha who gains his or her power by moving up the pack rank, like my dad and mom. They weren’t born as alphas, but they acquired the power after they became alphas of the pack.”

“So, if my parents were both alphas…” I gulp. “That means I’m an alpha too?”

“You will be once we can get your wolf out.” Ryker smiles at me. “You’re going to be an amazing wolf.”

“Well, that’s only if she can work some literal magic and reverse what she’s done.” I give Esme a look of desperation. “So, can you? Can you help me? Helpus?” I correct myself.

“There’s only one thing I can think of, and if it doesn’t work, I don’t know what else we can do.” Esme shakes her head. “I’ll reach out to the other high priestesses across the country and see what they say.”

“Thank you,” I sigh, feeling the tightness in my chest relax. “Sorry. That was…that wasn’t me.”

“It’s quite alright. You’ve certainly been through an ordeal lately.” Esme pats my shoulder as she passes me. “In the past, when your wolf has surfaced like that, has it been during emotionally charged moments like this?”

“Well,” Ryker starts, “the first time we felt her power was after I kissed someone in front of her.” Ryker holds his hands up in defense when Esme’s dark gaze narrows at him. “Whoa, hey! Don’t look at me like that. She didn’t believe me when I said she wouldn’t be okay with me being with someone else. So to get the point across, I kissed Avery…”

“He didn’tjustkiss her either,” I mutter under my breath before I can stop myself. I wince and look up at him. “Sorry,” I tell him quickly before looking back at Esme. “It happened yesterday, too, when I had aminor confrontationwith Avery. It resulted in her falling in the pool,” I say, refusing to look at Ryker when I feel his gaze on me. I thought Avery would have told him by now, but it would seem not.

“Other than your eyes and your power surfacing, are there any other wolf characteristics you’ve experienced?” Esme asks, not commenting on the whole Avery situation.

“She ran faster than anyone I’ve ever seen the other day,” Ryker offers.

“I moved pretty fast yesterday too when Avery drew her claws on me,” I elaborate with a shrug.

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