Page 16 of Collar Me Crazy
"How did you change his mind?"
"I didn't. I just refused to let his fear make my decisions for me." Cora picked up a bundle of dried chamomile and began separating the flowers. "Eventually he realized that pushing me away was hurting both of us more than taking the risk of letting me stay."
"But what if he's right?" Sonya's hands stilled on the red thread. "What if I really am safer staying away from him?"
Katniss said gently, "If safe was your priority, you wouldn't have driven halfway across the state following visions that led you to a supernatural town full of alpha shifters."
"Fair point."
"Besides," Freya added, "some things are worth the risk. The question is whether you think Ryker is one of them."
Before Sonya could answer, another vision flooded her present awareness.
Hollow Oak at night, but wrong. The streetlights flickered and died while shadows poured through gaps in reality like water through torn fabric. The Veil, usually invisible, became visible as it shredded apart in long, ragged strips. Magic bled out of the town in luminous streams, leaving buildings dark and lifeless.
People running, screaming, their supernatural abilities failing as the protective barriers collapsed. The seven mated couples fighting desperately to hold the pieces together, but their combined power wasn't enough.
In the center of it all, a figure she couldn't quite see clearly, standing alone while chaos raged around them.
"Sonya!" Cora's voice dragged her back to the present. Strong hands gripped her shoulders, steadying her as the apothecary came back into focus. "Are you okay?"
"The Veil," she gasped, her throat raw like she'd been screaming. "It's going to break. Soon."
"What did you see?" Freya demanded, her usual gentle demeanor replaced by sharp urgency.
"The town under attack, but not from outside. From something that's been feeding on the magical energy here." Sonya pressed her hands to her temples, trying to process the flood of images. "The seven mate bonds aren't stabilizing the magic. They're overloading it, creating too much power in one place."
"And you think Ryker's connected to this somehow?" Katniss asked.
"I know he is. The question is whether he's the solution or the catalyst." Sonya looked up at the three women surrounding her, seeing her own fear reflected in their faces.
"How long do you think we have?"
Sonya shrugged, unable to tell the time in the chaotic flashes of scenery.
"Based on what I've been seeing in the protection wards?" Freya bit her lip, calculating. "Weeks, maybe. A month at most before something gives way."
"Then we need to figure this out fast." Sonya stood, her mind already racing ahead to possibilities and plans. "Because if my visions are right, Hollow Oak doesn't have time for Ryker to work through his issues at his own pace."
"What do you need us to do?" Cora asked, and Sonya felt a rush of gratitude for the immediate, unquestioned support.
"Help me understand what we're really dealing with. The history, the magic, the connections between everything." She looked around at their determined faces. "And maybe help mefigure out how to convince a terrified alpha wolf that sometimes the greatest danger is doing nothing at all."
"Now that," Katniss said with a fierce grin, "sounds like a challenge worth taking on."
10
RYKER
The emergency call came through just as the first snowflakes started falling. Ryker was in the middle of checking on the dryad's healing grove when his phone buzzed with Miriam's number.
"We've got a problem," she said without preamble. "Group of college hikers went off-trail this morning near your area. They were supposed to check in an hour ago, and with this weather moving in..."
Ryker looked up at the darkening sky, where heavy clouds promised more than just a light dusting. November in the mountains could turn deadly fast, especially for inexperienced hikers who didn't understand how quickly conditions could change.
"How many?"
"Four kids, early twenties. They told their professor they were exploring the old mining trails past Moonmirror Lake." Miriam's tone carried the worry of someone who'd seen too many rescue operations over the years. "Search and rescue's mobilizing, but you're closest to that area."
