Page 90 of Curses and Casualties
“Looks like that old picture you hung in your dorm room,” Jason says quietly. “The one with the meadow and purple mountains.”
I bump his shoulder. “This is better. The grass is louder.”
“Louder?”
“Wolf hearing. When Ryan and I shift, we run through those trees and I swear the sound gets under your skin, not just in your ears.” I pull him closer to the edge where the wind is strong. “You should try running sometime. Not the shifting part, but running until your troubles disappear. Almost as good.”
Jason stares at the shifting colors in the waterfall. Finally he says, “I get it now.”
“Get what?”
“Why you haven’t come home. This place...” He shakes his head, laughing. “You belong here, Georgie. Really belong, in a way I’ve never seen before.”
It shouldn’t mean so much to hear that, but it does. My vision blurs and I have to wipe my eyes. “Thanks for understanding.”
We stand together in comfortable silence, wind stirring the grass, voices carrying up from the pack below. For one perfect heartbeat, the future feels like something to want instead of fear.
By the time we make it back to the cabin, the sun is sliding toward the mountains and my stomach is growling again. Ryan’s in the kitchen working magic with leftover roast and fresh vegetables.
“So what happens now?” Jason asks, settling back at our table. “Long-term, I mean. You can’t just hide up here forever.”
“We’re not hiding,” I say. “We’re building something new. But you’re right—eventually we’ll have to engage with the outside world more.”
“The Supernatural Council is still out there,” Ryan adds, not looking up from his cooking. “They’re regrouping, trying toreassert control. Some days we get diplomatic overtures. Other days it’s barely veiled threats.”
“Sounds familiar,” Jason says dryly. “Politics is politics, even with werewolves.”
“The difference is, we have something they want now,” I explain. “Our bond changed the rules. Magic flows freely again, which means new Soul Bonds are forming. The old ways of controlling power don’t work anymore.”
“That’s got to terrify them.”
“Probably why they haven’t made any overt moves yet,” Ryan says, bringing over plates piled high with food. “They’re still figuring out how to fight us without starting a supernatural war.”
Jason whistles low. “Heavy responsibility.”
“Every day,” I agree. “But worth it. For the first time, wolves are having cubs again. Young witches don’t have to hide their power. Even some of the vampire clans are reaching out for alliance discussions.”
“You’re changing the world.”
“The world was ready to change,” Ryan corrects. “We just helped it along.”
The afternoon passes too quickly. Jason has stories from home—Dad finally thinking about retirement, Mom’s terrible but beloved watercolor paintings, neighborhood gossip that makes me homesick in the best way.
But as the sun sinks lower, reality intrudes. Jason glances at his watch and sighs.
“I should head back soon. Don’t want to navigate mountain roads in the dark.”
My chest tightens. “I wish you could stay longer.”
“Me too. But this was perfect, Georgie. Seeing you here, seeing you happy...” He reaches across to squeeze my hand. “I’m proud of you. Both of you.”
We walk him to his car as the first stars appear. The hug he gives me is fierce and long.
“Come back anytime,” I tell him, meaning every word. “You’re always welcome.”
“Even during full moons?” he teases.
“You can definitely come then. Just be warned—we get a little intense.”
