Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Aster
I can’t stop the knot in my stomach from tightening when we step onto Adalwulf pack lands. Noah didn’t want me to come, and we argued over whether I’d be safe, but I assured him I would be, and there was no way for me to explain how to get there without taking him myself.
We stopped at a mountain convenience store on the way to buy me some clothes. All they had were touristy souvenir gear, so I’m looking campy in a pair of sweatpants, a sweatshirt with a wolf howling at the moon, and a pair of soft leather moccasins.
I smell the familiar scents. Pack should feel like safety, like home. The only time I felt that was when Liora was raising me. She was a true caretaker, and her gentle strength is the only kindness I’ve known.
I owe her.
Beside me, Noah is silent. His expression is closed off in hawk-like focus.
We argued fiercely about whether I was allowed to come with him on this mission.
He thought he could infiltrate Moon Hollow without my help.
In the end, I pointed out that even if he could get to Liora, her first reaction would be fear of a strange male.
I could help bridge an introduction and make their meeting easier.
He didn’t like it, but he agreed. I can tell he’s got a lot of complicated feelings about meeting his mother for the first time. I can’t imagine what he’s going through, knowing his mother gave him up to save him, but chose to stay with the pack that wants him dead.
Noah sends up two scouting drones. By watching the screens for them and my intuition, we’re able to bypass the guards without too many close calls. Once or twice, we catch a whiff of a patrol and crouch down to wait, but no one discovers us.
It helped that I chose our point of entry.
We hiked up Moon Rise, a giant bluff overlooking pack land–the guards are lazy and rarely patrol up this way.
Moon Hollow lies in the valley at the foot of Moon Rise.
We’re deep in the forest, surrounded by ancient trees.
I sense the spirits of this land watching us as we sneak down the hill and head to a secluded spot Liora loves.
It’s her favorite spot to rest and meditate, and my intuition tells me that she’ll make an appearance there.
If any guards come upon us, we’ll have to run. But this part of pack lands is so remote, I’m hoping we don’t run into anyone. Or if we do, Noah’s drones or my visions will warn us.
The danger is our scent. Mine isn’t so much an issue as Noah’s. The place we’re headed is coated in my scent, but one whiff of a strange wolf like Noah, and the residents of Moon Hollow will alert the guards.
I did what I could to mask both our scents.
Back at the cabin, I gathered lots of wintergreen leaves and crushed them to release their minty-fresh scent.
We stuffed them in our pockets just before we stepped on Adalwulf land.
The plant is known as Eastern teaberry and is plentiful in the forests here, especially in the groves ringing around Moon Hollow.
Oma used the fertile soil around the Hollow as an extensive garden and ordered the devout to tend it.
I extended the garden up the wooded slopes.
There are secret spots where I’ve planted sweet woodruff and American ginseng, and that’s where we’re headed now.
Liora is the only one I trusted to tend to the herbs when I’m not able to, and she usually makes the rounds around this time of day.
We make it to the base of the cliff, and for a moment, the sense of the land swirls around me, making me dizzy. There are benevolent spirits here but also darkness. A death place.
Noah starts to lead us on a well-worn path, and it jerks me from my stupor.
No. I tap my index and middle finger to my thumb to sign.
Stop. Noah taught me a few ASL signs, so we could quickly communicate, but I don’t know how to sign, “That way leads to The Celestial Cradle, the sacred clearing where the Alpha Rites will take place under the Blood Moon.” My pained expression and tense posture probably say it all.
He nods and lands the drones in trees where they can recharge with solar, then pockets the controller he’s using to pilot the drones, so he can take my hand.
His fingers flex around mine, and warmth rushes up my arm.
Just his touch is grounding and healing.
I lean into him for a second, smelling amber and pine sap under the sharp scent of the wintergreen leaves.
Then I lead him off the worn path and head towards Liora’s favorite gardening spot, a place where she likes to sit and meditate after her gardening chores.
With Noah at my side, my tension swirls away. I know these lands like the back of my hand. And fate is guiding us. The Grandmothers require this trip; I can feel it.
For once, my actions and my visions are aligned.
Today is warmer than it has been. In the shady patches there’s still snow on the ground, but it feels like spring is around the corner.
Purple crocuses and native violets peek out from under the oak leaves, the first flowers that promise more to come.
Here and there are bundles of thin green leaves.
The daffodils haven’t bloomed yet, but they will soon.
We come to the little grove Liora and I love. There’s a flat rock here that’s perfect for sitting and listening to the birds singing in the beech trees above a thick carpet of sweet woodruff. A stream runs past us, sweet clean water that takes on the grassy vanilla flavor of the woodland herb.
The sun is starting to set. Liora should come on her evening walk soon. I lead Noah to the rock and climb on it. His brow furrows, but he settles beside me. I turn my face, so he can clearly see my lips, and whisper, “Liora usually takes an evening walk. We’ll wait for her here.”
He nods.
The rock chills my butt and legs at first, but I close my eyes and start to meditate. Beside me, Noah’s aura is a turbulent storm. There’s still plenty of the cool blue and soothing gray, but more darkness, with lightning flashes of red. He’s in turmoil.
I rest a hand on his arm, lending him a little of my calm.
Noah lifts his head and sniffs a few moments before I detect the sound of soft footfalls and sense a wave of grief coming towards us.
Liora.
I still haven’t caught her scent. Noah’s sense of smell must be incredible.
He’s gone rigid beside me. I nod at him. He doesn’t get up, so I stay by his side. Liora approaches us with her arms full of herbs and her head down, like she’s lost in her thoughts. She’s alone, as I’d hoped.
“Liora,” I say softly, to get her attention.
Her head jerks up, and she stifles a gasp, her gaze riveting to Noah.
He still doesn’t move. There’s no expression on his face–he’s gone completely wooden.
“Liora…this is Noah.”
Her arms fall to her side, and she drops the herbs.
The leaves flutter in a cascade to her feet.
“Noah,” she whispers. She touches her chest and then brings her index and thumb in front of her forehead and makes a cradling motion with her arms with her eyebrows raised. Maybe it’s the sign for “my baby”?
I don’t know how or when she learned ASL. Fate, it breaks my heart. She must’ve hoped she’d meet him again one day and prepared for that possibility.
Noah is stone-faced, staring down at the petite woman who looks so like him. They have the same dark blue eyes and sun-streaked sandy hair.
Liora’s lip trembles, and her eyes grow glassy, like she’s holding back tears. Noah still hasn’t moved. “Why are you here?”
I open my mouth to explain, but before I can, Noah signs as he says, “I want to know why you abandoned me.”
Noah
I’ve waited so long for this moment. To meet the mother who sent me away.
And now I’m here, and my whole body is awash with hot and cold sensations.
Nan always told me Liora was a sweet, loving person.
She insisted that her daughter, who came from a powerful alpha bloodline and could’ve been a pack luna, was sucked into a cult that degraded her, brainwashed by them.
She told me my mother loved me. I used to look at her photograph and imagine her tucking me in at night and singing me to sleep.
But I don’t understand–if she loved me, why would she give me up?
Liora winces. I can’t think of her as my mother, not yet.
“My son,” she signs fluidly as she speaks, “I did not abandon you. I would never abandon you.” She emphasizes never. “I had to give you up to save your life.”
Why didn’t you come with me? If this place is so terrible, why did you stay? I sign. I shouldn’t be asking these questions. I need to stick to the plan and convince her to leave, so Aster and I can get her out before we’re all discovered and killed.
Instead, I’m rehashing the past. But I can’t help it. I have to know.
I was afraid, Liora signs. I was young and powerless, and I knew if I disappeared with you, the pack would hunt us both down. This way, I could sell the lie that I’d lost you. Because I did lose you. And I grieved. There are tears shining in her eyes now.
I harden my heart, even though I want to go to her. I feel too conflicted. There are too many emotions bubbling up in my body.
I sense Aster stepping close to my side. All the times I imagined reuniting with my long-lost mother, I never imagined I’d have my mate by my side, but I’m glad she’s here. Her sweet scent steadies me, lends me strength.
Now’s your chance. I came to get you out.
No, she signs, and even though Nan warned me she wouldn’t come, I feel it like a blow to the chest. A second abandonment.
But then she adds, I want to. But I can’t.
Oriana. She fingerspells a name I don’t know, tears her gaze away from me, and looks to Aster.
Speaking and signing, she says to Aster, “The Warden has her. She’s locked in the tower now. They all are.”
“All the females for the ritual?” Aster asks.