Page 31 of Fool Moon First Aid

Brody jumps back in. “The comet forged a bond between humans and animals as it passed overhead. It bestowed upon humans the ability to transform, to connect with the animal they resonated with.”

“Even chipmunks?” Ava asks, a playful spark lighting up her eyes.

“Oh, absolutely. Every creature,” I assure her, nudging her playfully, her smile brightening the room. “They say, in that magical moment under the comet’s ethereal glow, humans and animals really saw each other for the first time. Like, they actually looked through each other’s eyes, understanding and connecting in a way they never had before.”

“The spiritkin,” she whispers, her voice tinged with wonder as she leans back, her silhouette framed by the warm kitchen lights.

Brody’s knife deftly chops the lavender. “That night, the comet wove a spellbinding bond between humans and animals. It was a cosmic gift—granting humans the power to shape-shift into their spirit animals.”

“And that’s how the first shifters came to be,” I add, my voice hushed, almost reverent. Sharing this secret history with Ava feels monumental, but it’s a risk I know we have to take for her.

“That’s incredible,” she murmurs, her eyes glittering with awe and disbelief.

“There’s more,” Brody says, his voice now heavy with the weight of centuries past. He’s serious, the playful chef persona gone as he stirs the lavender into the saucepan.

“The legacy.” I let out a sigh, feeling the history and responsibility settle on my shoulders.

Ethan’s whisper cuts through our bond, insistent and grave. Leave nothing out.

“These first shifters,” Brody says as he adjusts the flame under the saucepan, the lavender syrup beginning to bubble and hiss, “became guardians of nature. We’re talking about receiving the strength, agility, and instincts of our animal brethren.”

“There’s a price, isn’t there?” Ava’s voice cut through the narrative, sharp and clear.

Her question hangs in the air, dense and charged. We exchange glances, each of us aware of the gravity of what we’re about to reveal. This is the moment of truth, where we open the door to the darker, more complex layers of our existence to Ava, and there’s no going back.

“We must never go against nature,” I tell her, my voice trying to match the seriousness of one of those old-school nature documentaries. “Otherwise, one shift could be our last.” I let that sink in, watching her eyes widen like saucers.

“Wait.” Ava’s eyes practically do a cartoonish bug out. “Are you telling me that if you guys mess with Mother Nature, you might get stuck as wolves?”

I nod. “Yeah, there are those of us who have totally lost it, becoming more animal than human. Imagine forgetting your favorite pizza topping or how to use a smartphone!”

“The gift to shift is sacred in our communities,” Brody adds, his voice serious.

“Oh, right! Bonds and all that jazz.” I spring back into the conversation.

“Well,” Brody interjects, “a pack is different than our clan. Clan Hughes includes all the shifters in Mystic Falls who swore an allegiance for protection to the alpha. A pack is something else, something special. It’s us, our small found family, that we choose to spend our life with. With that bond, we can communicate telepathically.” He taps his temple for emphasis.

Understanding dawns on Ava.

“Wolves have squad goals, so do bears. We figured it’s safer to hang in groups—packs, if you will,” I tack on.

“Because of the hunters,” Ava deduces, her brain ticking faster than a clock in a time travel movie. “Okay, so why is Ethan mad at me for saying some words from a website?”

“Tons of reasons,” I say, feeling my blood start to simmer like a pot on the stove. “Those words are the secret sauce, and not for just anyone’s ears. Who sent you that website?”

“Eloise,” she replies, her forehead wrinkling. “She set me up.”

“Did she mention how she stumbled upon it?” Brody asks, handing Ava her mocktail of lemonade. From here, it smells amazing. I make a mental note that it is her favorite.

“No, she just left it open on my phone.” Ava’s nose wrinkles again—a gesture I’m learning means she’s puzzled or concerned. “I can ask her.”

“Tomorrow,” I decide, finally caving and taking her hand. It’s like holding a live wire, a jolt of electricity zapping right through me, assuring me she is my fated mate.

“Okay, but why is Ethan so angry?” She leaves her hand in mine, turning to look at me full-on, her eyes a mix of inquisitiveness and defiance. She’s going to drive Ethan insane, and I can’t wait to watch.

“It’s all about balance, like a cosmic teeter-totter,” I explain, tracing the lines on her palm. “We’ve been Earth’s guardians for ages, and when the comet made its grand reentrance, we got an upgrade—it gifted us mates.”

Her eyes twinkle, giving a classic bring it on vibe. “Mates? Like, soulmates?”

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