Page 67 of Mated By the Pack
I hold up my arm and point at my bracelet. “That’s what this is? A piece of The Aether?”
“No, Calla. The Aether is inside you. It’s woven into your soul. When you were taken into The Tangle, it was like a mother finding a lost child she didn’t even know she had,” Silas answers. “And so, an opportunity presented itself. An opportunity to heal the scar. Hope. But it all depends on you.”
I swallow hard, trying to process everything he’s saying. “How does it depend on me? What do I have to do?”
“You are not strong enough to heal the scar yourself, but the fabric of creation is a part of you now,” Silas rasps. “A part that can be passed down to your children and their children. Over time, your bloodline will breathe life back into the world. Enough to heal the scar and The Aether itself.”
“Silas, I…” I blink in confusion. “That’s a lot.”
“I know, but it is the only way,” Silas says. “Through you, the fabric of creation can touch your world again. Reshape it. Give all beings purpose, even hybrids. It will be a new blueprint that brings nature in alignment with the ambition of man. One that allows all beings to prosper rather than suffer.”
“Is that why your brothers have my scent?” I ask. “Because The Aether wants my bloodline to continue?”
“They are your protectors. Your mates. Your disciplinarians, when needed. They are the first to be healed,” Silas says.
“Disciplinarians? Really?” I mutter, my bottom clenching. “They’re certainly taking that job seriously.”
“As I told you before, nothing is predetermined or certain. Hope can be snuffed out as quickly as it appeared,” Silas growls. “And what’s inside you is sacred. It must be protected, even from you.”
“Even from me?” I shake my head. “No wonder the bracelet only helps when it wants to. So that’s it. They’ve been healed by me… by this piece of The Aether inside me. That’s what drew them to me?”
“The connection you have with them goes deeper than that. Older. Almost as ancient as time itself,” Silas says. “But that isn’t what you’re here to see, or learn, and you’ve lingered long enough for this visit.”
I wake up with a gasp. I’m the last to awaken. Everyone else is gathered around the roaring fire. Food is being cooked. There’s conversation and gentle laughter.
But I don’t go to them immediately. I stare at the ceiling, running through everything Silas said. Hope. Healing. The fabric of creation that is supposedly inside me. The bracelet pulses on my wrist, not offering any answers.
“You connect us somehow,” I mutter, rubbing my fingers across the vine. “You’re an extension of The Aether. But I’m still mad at you for tying me up last night.”
The bracelet pulses silently. I sigh, shake my head, and get up. The brothers notice me before anyone else—well, all except for Caleb. He’s not here.
“Good morning, Calla,” Vance says warmly. “I hope you slept well.”
“I rested.” I smile and sit down. “But it looks like I’m late. I’ll eat quickly so we can head out.”
“It’s still early,” Gideon assures me. “Caleb is scouting. The closer we get to Haven North, the less dangerous it will be. It should be a fairly easy journey today.”
“I sure hope so,” Fiona says. “I’m tired of running from things that want to eat me.”
“Me too!” Tansy nods in agreement. “This time tomorrow, we’ll be waking up in our own beds. I can’t wait.”
“It has been a lot,” Nara sighs. “It will be nice to see home again.”
Brenna is silent. I feel a twinge in my stomach, because of her situation. I wish I had more to offer her than a life in the Lower District, but I hope it will be better than slavery. Better than dying in The Tangle and becoming a lost soul—forced to wander aimlessly or spit back out as a twisted vine. Maybe she’ll live long enough to move on when her time is up. I’m not sure how long it will take for The Aether to heal enough to allow it.
Caleb returns, confirms the way is clear for us to begin our journey, and we set off into The Tangle. I pay more attention to the wilderness than my companions, wondering how many generations it will take to heal this scar. Still pondering my last visit to The Aether.
After a mile of traveling, Vance moves closer to me. “You’re staring into The Tangle like I usually do,” he chuckles, gesturing to my bracelet. “But I guess you’re a little more connected to it than I am.”
“Something like that.” I shrug. “You still don’t have my scent? I assume Caleb will be next, but he hasn’t even spoken to me.”
“No, I’m still fine. Caleb bottles it up and lets it fester, unlike the rest of us,” Vance says. “But when he finally gets your scent, he’llhunger for you like the others. It’ll be too powerful to ignore, even for him.”
“Then it will be your turn,” I sigh.
“I’ll be gentle with you, Calla,” Vance says genuinely. “I’ll do my best not to lose control and be too rough, like they have been.”
I blush a little and look down. “It’s okay,” I sigh. “I don’t mind it. They’re not cruel, they’re just needy. It’s… their nature.”
