Page 43 of Soul Bound

“Did she?” I cock my head. “Then I’m sure she also told you I have no idea how I did it.”

Noah looks to his mate then back at me. “Do you think you could do it again? On a human this time?”

It takes me a minute to understand what he’s asking in not so many words. And then it clicks, and I freeze.

Oh. Oh no.

14

Winslow

Ifeel sick to my stomach.

This man is asking me if I can bring his mate back to life after she succumbs to whatever illness is growing in her. “I’m not sure how my gift works. The thing that happened with the raven might have been a total fluke. I’ve been talking to Esme, and she’s not even sure how I did it. Bringing someone back from the dead usually takes a complex spell and some pretty dark magic—not to mention a sacrifice most people wouldn’t be willing to make. Or necromancer powers, but since they’ve been extinct for hundreds of years, I clearly couldn’t be one.”

“The sacrifice, what if someone was willing to make it?” He sounds almost desperate and I can sympathize. She’s his mate—his everything and the prospect of losing her must be unbearable.

I guess that’s the downside to finding the person you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with. There are no guarantees that things will work out, there is always the possibility you could lose them. Nothing in life is certain, and nothing is forever. What a sad reality.

“Noah. Stop,” Addison says softly, placing her frail hand on his arm.

“No, Addie!” he snaps at her harshly. “What if I was willing to make the sacrifice?” he presses farther.

I look the man in the eyes and sigh heavily, “The sacrifice would be killing the person you love most in the world in exchange for the life you want to bring back. A life for a life. That’s how it works.” I found the spell in a black leather-bound grimoire hidden in the back of Esme’s bookshelf. She doesn’t know I found the book of dark magic spells. I also don’t plan on telling her. “The woman you love the most in the world is the one who’s dying, the spell wouldn’t work for you.”

“There have to be other spells,” he insists, his large hand reaches out and grips my forearm.Hard. Addison and now Pruitt try to get him to stop. My free hand is shaking at my side now—adrenaline buzzing inside of me.

“Dark magic takes a toll on the witch practicing it. It corrupts them, turning them into something they’re not. That’s a sacrificeI’mnot willing to make.” I place my shaky hand over the one that holds me. “I don’t know what it’s like to lose someone you love. I’m not sure I can even comprehend what love really is, but I can imagine it feels like your world is ending at the prospect of her leaving you. And I can’t apologize enough for what you’re about to go through. Death is never easy on the living, but Icanpromise you something.” I look to Addison, who now has tears in her eyes. “I can promise you I’ll be there for you when you’re on the other side. I’ll help you find peace; I’ll be there for you as long as you need me to be before you decide it’s time to move on. That’s what I can do for you.”

She gives me a watery smile. “And that’s enough.”

Noah’s hand slips away from my arm, and he stumbles back. He rubs his face with his hands. I know he’s fighting his own tears. I look around the room and find everyone is staring at us, the girls all have tears running down their faces and the men’s faces are emotionless like they’re trying hard to put on brave faces. And they’re all staring at me.

This was not the first impression I wanted to make on these people. For some reason I wanted Ranger’s parents to like me, and now I feel like they’re looking at me like I’m a monster for refusing to help Addison.Correction—I’m notrefusingto help her. I just don’t think Ican.

“I’m sorry,” I say softly to no one in particular. I back away from Noah and Addison, who are now embracing each other. I need to get some air, so I start backing up in the direction of the back glass sliding door I know is somewhere behind me. I don’t stop to explain where I’m going or that I plan to be right back.

I just pull open the door when my hand hits the cool glass, and dash outside.

Like Pru’s house, the Weylyn’s home sits on the lake and their backyard is tiered. The first level is a patio, outdoor sofas and chairs are situated around a fire pit. I fly down the steps that lead to the bottom, toward the dock and boathouse. I pass by a large rectangular pool on the third level, lounge chairs sit off to the side.

Finally reaching the bottom level, I run across the thick manicured lawn. At the last minute, I decide to head off into the tree line past the boathouse, the desire to be completely alone driving me.

I slip between the trees, weaving my way through the forest. The light from the sun cuts through the treetops, providing me light to see where I’m going. I don’t want to go too far and get lost. When I come to a big fir tree with moss starting to cross on its trunk, I lean against it and steady myself. I’m overcome with emotion, the biggest one being guilt. I feel guilty I’m not able to help Noah and Addison. They look at each other the way Pru and Ryker look at each other. Pure love. There’s nothing complicated between them, just pure, simple adoration. That kind of love is rare. It’s so special and I understand Noah’s desperation to preserve it.

Wolf shifters are lucky they have mates. The idea that someone out there is made specifically for you, that they were put on this earth for you is a gift. Humans are lucky if they find a person they are willing to spend their lives with, it usually takes a couple of broken hearts before they find that person. And even then, the relationships take work and there’s always the possibility the person will leave you—decide you’re not meant for them.

Wolf shifters don’t have to worry about that kind of thing when it comes to their mates. Their mate would never leave them because leaving would mean leaving behind a piece of their selves—a piece of their heart and soul.

That’s a kind of love everyone should be jealous of.

The kind of love anyone would be incredibly lucky to have.

The sound of a stick cracking behind me breaks me from my thoughts. I twist around the tree and find Ranger standing there. His hands tucked into the front pockets of his faded, low-rise jeans. For the first time, I pay attention to the fact he’s wearing a baseball cap backward today. That combined with his five o’clock shadow, he’s looking hot as fuck. But I’m still mad at him so I force the part of me that wants to rub up against him shamelessly, down.

“What are you doing out here?” His voice is gruff when he finally speaks. He must see something written across my face because he takes a step closer. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

I shove away from the tree I was leaning on. “I’m fine,” I snap. “I don’t know why you’re acting like you care. You’ve done an excellent job of avoiding me for the past couple of weeks.”

---