Page 125 of Shifting Spirits

She looks past me, and her face pales. The house is pretty terrifying in the dark, with those storm clouds looming and rumbling, and the sharp cracks of lightning that keep striking the ground around it.

“That’s the haunted mansion?” she asks.

“Got it in one,” I tell her. “There used to be a door, but it broke before my pack were pulled inside by invisible hands, or something.”

“I’m sorry, that must have been scary.”

I shrug. “It wasn’t fun, but luckily Rachel got me out of the reach of whatever it was so I could call you guys. We seriously need backup here.”

She nods. “You called Cheryl?”

“She said she’d be right here. She knows roughly where the house is.”

“Right. She lived in this town with Rachel.”

We stand around in silence, staring up at the house with its localized weather.

I hear footsteps after a few minutes and I turn to see Cheryl in her usual witchy looking splendour, coming right toward me. She’s brought her Beta with her tonight, and she’s wearing dark purple on her lips. It’s a striking look against her pale skin. She has big, dark eyes and a stare that’s a little unnerving. Her Alpha energy is unmistakable.

“Has anyone tried to get in contact with someone inside the house?” Cheryl asks.

“Um, like by phone?” I ask, wondering why I hadn’t thought of that.

“Or using magic?” she asks.

“Um, I don’t know a spell to contact someone like that,” Amanda admits.

“Hey,” Noah says, nodding at me.

Her blond mate has typical Beta energy. He’s here as Cheryl’s backup, and to keep her safe at her Alpha mate’s request, most likely.

“Okay,” Cheryl says. “Try your phone, Carter. I’ll try establishing a mental link.”

“A mental link?” I ask, my eyes widening.

“There’s a spell that can let us read each other’s minds so we can communicate across distances or in private.”

Holy shit. That special connection I have with Rachel. Could it have something to do with her magic?

Maybe we really can have it all the time. That would be amazing.

I dial Rachel’s number. The phone rings. And rings.

I give up and try Adrian’s phone. Same thing.

Silas’ phone goes straight to voicemail.

“Nothing,” I mutter, putting the phone in my pocket.

Cheryl looks like she’s still concentrating. She’s chanting something inside her head that I can’t quite make out the words for. Clearly, she’s still casting her spell.

Amanda shrugs at me. She’s rubbing her arm, having anxious thoughts about Rachel and wishing she could do something to help.

We stand there quietly for a few minutes until Cheryl lets out a sigh.

“I’m not getting through. I think something’s blocking me.”

“This place feels weird,” Amanda says. “We’ll probably have to go into the house to be useful.”

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