Page 85 of Curses and Casualties
I smile, thinking of my old life, my research, the humans who have no idea magic exists all around them. “They’re part of this world too, even if they don’t know it yet. The magic we released tonight will awaken dormant abilities, call forth bonds that were suppressed. But we don’t force it. We don’t hunt them or hide from them. We coexist as we always have. And we prepare to welcome those who need our guidance.”
A murmur runs through the assembled wolves. Some nod, understanding. Others look uncertain, even frightened. Change is never easy, especially when it upends everything you’ve been taught to believe.
“There will be growing pains,” Amara adds, addressing the group. “Other packs, other Elders who won’t accept this new reality. They’ll try to restore the old ways through force. You’ll need to be ready.”
“We will be,” Ryan says, and I feel his conviction through our bond. “But we won’t become what we fought to destroy. We defend ourselves, we protect the innocent, but we don’t conquer. We don’t rule through fear.”
Jules pulls back from Magnus with a gasp, her face pale but triumphant. “He’ll live,” she announces, and Scarlett’s sob of relief echoes through the pack bond. “Weak for a while, but the internal bleeding has stopped. The mate bond will do the rest.”
A commotion at the crater’s edge draws our attention. Owen, followed by a small group of humans carrying medical supplies, is carefully making his way down the rocky slope.
“Ryan!” my brother-in-law calls out, relief in his voice. “Thank god you’re alive. When we saw the mountain explode...” He reaches us and immediately starts checking Ryan for injuries, his medic training taking over. “Are you hurt? Either of you? That light show was visible for miles.”
“We’re fine,” Ryan assures him, but he submits to Owen’s examination. “Better than fine, actually. How did you get here so fast?”
“Started driving the moment the mountain lit up like a Christmas tree,” Owen explains, shining a penlight in Ryan’s eyes to check for concussion. “Figured you might need medical support, and I wasn’t wrong.” He glances around at the wounded. “This is going to keep me busy for a while.”
As Owen begins triaging injuries, assisted by the human volunteers he brought, I’m struck by how natural it looks. Humans and wolves working together, no fear or hostility, just people helping people.
“This is how it should be,” I murmur to Ryan.
“This is how it will be,” he corrects. “Starting now.”
The eastern sky is beginning to lighten, the supermoon fading as dawn approaches. Around us, the work of rebuilding begins. Not just the physical damage—though there’s plenty of that—but the fundamental structure of how supernatural beings interact with each other and the world.
It won’t be easy. There will be setbacks, resistance, those who cling to the old ways of power and control. But as I look around at the faces in the crater—hopeful, determined, ready to build something better—I know we’ve planted seeds that will grow into something beautiful.
“So what’s our first move?” Ethan asks, joining our impromptu leadership circle. “Other packs will have felt the magic shift. They’ll come to investigate, and not all of them will be friendly.”
“We prepare,” Ryan says. “We consolidate our people, establish safe zones for those who want to join us. We reach out to allies like the Úlfhéðnar, build a network of support.”
“And we document everything,” I add, my academic mind already spinning. “The ritual, the bond, what we’ve learnedabout magic and heartstones. If something happens to us, others need to be able to continue this work.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to you,” Scarlett says fiercely, from Magnus’s side. “We won’t let it.”
“That’s what family does,” Ethan says. “We protect each other.”
The word hits me with unexpected force. Family. Not just Ryan and me, bound by magic and love, but all of us. Scarlett and Magnus, figuring their way back to each other. Ethan, loyal and brave and steadfast. Caspian, who risked everything for his daughter and for us. Owen, who followed us into danger without question. Even Amara and the witches, Jules and the others who’ve thrown their lot in with ours.
We’re not just a pack anymore. We’re something more.
As the sun crests the horizon, bathing the crater in golden light, I feel the future spreading out before us like an uncharted map. There will be adventures, challenges, moments of joy and sorrow and everything in between.
But we’ll face them together.
The world might be waking up, but we’re going to help it learn to dream again.
Chapter 32
Georgia
“Morning, love.” Ryan’s voice rumbles against my neck, rough with sleep and something hungrier.
I stretch like a cat in his arms, feeling Luna purr with contentment beneath my skin. “Morning, heart.” When I turn to face him, those ice-blue eyes still make my stomach flip. “Sleep well?”
“Always with you.” His hand traces lazy circles on my bare hip, each touch sending sparks through our bond. “Though Kane’s getting restless. Full moon tonight.”
Luna practically claws at my ribs in response. “Luna too. She’s panting to run until our paws bleed, then claim our mate under open sky.”
