Chapter 118 Nico #3
“Thank you, Nico. You have no idea how much this means to me and my son. There are dozens of people outside our hideout. It’s safer than our pack lands, but word got out.
The protestors tracked us down. We have to fight off an incursion almost every day.
The police are trying, but… well, you understand. ”
“I do. There’s a large building on our land which we’ll use to house as many as we can. It’s an old Moon Mate ceremony house. It should fit a couple hundred. The plan is to house the men there. The women and children will bunk in homes with members of my pack.”
It had been decades since the building had been used for its intended use.
When my grandfather built it, our pack was the most centrally located in the state, but once a wolf pack was founded south of Kissimmee, it was rarely used for the ceremony.
The pack had kept it clean and usable, though.
It would be more than big enough for our purposes.
“Thank you again, Nico. I’ll let my people know. When can we expect you?”
“We want it to be done as quietly as possible. We also want as few prying eyes as possible. I’m thinking we’ll come to you at around two a.m. Does that work?
I hate to say it, but if your people can pack up any food you have, it would be a big help.
We’re well-stocked on supplies, but not for this many people. ”
“Totally understand. I’ll get the word out. I’ll have everyone pack a small bag of clothes and personal items and whatever food they can carry. I’ll see you tonight.”
Later that afternoon, I found Maddy sitting in the field we used for training, lost in thought.
“How’s it going?” I asked as I settled on the grass beside her.
“Fine. How’d the call with Tiago go?”
“Stoked. He sounded like he was on a razor’s edge. I think the anti-shifter activists near his compound are getting antsy. Looks like we may have done this in the nick of time.”
“Good. And Sinthy has the wards strengthened? I didn’t get to ask you about it when you returned.”
I told her about our walk in the woods, the strange substance she used, and the sensation of ancient power she’d felt.
“So, a pack ruled these lands before?” Maddy asked. “And a witch? Sort of déjà vu, right?”
I nodded. “It is. I keep thinking about what she said. That I should have felt it a long time ago, but I wasn’t fully connected to the land. That’s difficult for a shifter to hear. All we do is commune with nature—at least, I thought we did.”
The sun had tucked itself behind the horizon, and the lands were cast in dark orange light and shadow. I had a sudden urge to go into the woods.
Nudging Maddy, I said, “You wanna go try something?”
“I think I’m still sore from the past three days, but thanks anyway.”
“Not that. I want to see if I can do what Sinthy said. I want to give it a shot.”
A few minutes later, Maddy and I stepped into the small clearing I enjoyed coming to. The woods were almost fully dark now as the moon began to rise. Maddy seemed at peace as she smiled at me. It was a weird, knowing smile.
“I think I can feel what Sinthy’s talking about,” Maddy said. “I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t pointed it out.”
I sighed in irritation. I’d lived on these lands my entire life, and I was only now figuring out their history. I sank to the forest floor and crossed my legs.
“Do what you had me do when I was trying to contact my wolf. But… maybe, instead of looking inward, look outward. At the land? I don’t know. I sound like some new-age hippy,” Maddy said.
Closing my eyes, I did as she said. I cleared my mind and pressed my palms to the ground.
The residual heat from the sun baked into my hands from the pine needles.
The smell of the ocean drifted on the light breeze.
The ocean was dozens of miles away, but I could still smell it.
I slipped into an almost complete trance.
I shoved everything out of my head—all thoughts of the war, of Edemas, Viola, even my pack, and Maddy.
It was just me and the forest. No one else. Two entities, nothing more.
A peace unlike any I’d ever known descended on me.
Now that I was fully open to my land, the earth responded.
Like a wave or clap of thunder, something surged up through the ground and into my fingers.
Images. There were glimpses in my mind. An ancient group of dark-skinned shifters huddling by a fire.
An old crone, tracing symbols of protection on a tree.
An alpha cutting his hand and binding a spell with his blood.
There was power—unfathomable power coursing through me all at once.
It didn’t scare me, though, only filled me with even more calm as the ancient spell’s remnants swirled within me.
My body and mind seemed stronger, but in a way, I couldn’t describe.
When I opened my eyes, the woods looked more colorful and vibrant, as if I could see things that had been hidden before. I didn’t know the world could look so beautiful. I slowly got to my feet and looked at Maddy, who was biting her nails, but her eyes gleamed.
“Did… did you notice anything?” I asked.
Nodding, Maddy said, “That was weird. Maybe your pack lands needed you as much as you needed it. It was like a pressure wave or something. I don’t know how to explain it.”
My legs were shaky as I took her hand and started to walk out of the forest. As we went, I touched the leaves, branches, and needles.
Everything was warmer than it should have been.
Like I could really sense the life inside.
If I had to guess, I would say I now had a much closer relationship with my home than I had before. It thrilled me.
We walked up to my house, the night sky now fully dark. Sinthy sat on the front porch. Her eyes lit up when they fell on, and a wide grin crept across her lips.
“Was I right?”
“Uh, you could say that,” I said.
Sinthy looked out at the woods, then looked back at me. “I think we’re gonna be okay. I’ve got a good feeling.”