Chapter Thirty-Two
Skylar Cathal
Sunlight peeked over the ridgeline of the surrounding mountains to the east.
The fresh layer of snow atop the daunting peaks reflected the rays of gold and yellow, mixed with a warming orange glow.
I treasured watching the sunrise. I believed it was a gift from the Mother herself, granting us the blessing of a new day.
A fresh breath of life with the sparking hope of what was to come.
As we neared the roaring sounds of the waterfall, I felt a surge of strength swell within me. My animal surged to the surface, her presence echoing through me with every step I took across the pristine blanket of snow.
“Slow,” I commanded, reducing our speed to a walk.
I reached for the alpha’s dagger belted at my hip, memorizing how the cold steel felt against the tips of my fingers. The chill from the crisp morning swirled around us, daring to freeze our breath from the labored journey.
“Up ahead,” Shaw said to all of us as Rhea and Talon protectively leaped to either side of me and Neera. “He’s along the rocks, near the falls. I can smell him. His scent is strongest over there.”
I nodded, unafraid of what I needed to do next.
My shoulder brushed against Shaw as he scanned the rocks, searching for any other signs of danger.
“If you need me to step in—”
“I’ll be fine, Shaw,” I said, speaking only into his mind.
He turned his head to look at me, bright eyes shining against the shadow of his animal’s fur as he sat down, flipping his tail side to side.
I reached out and grasped Neera’s hand. “I’ll bring him back.”
“I know.” Neera sighed, holding back her tears. “I just… We can’t lose him, too, Sky.”
“We won’t,” I answered with a firm tone. I clutched her hand once more before letting it go. “Guard Neera,” I told Rhea and Talon, who nodded in understanding. “If it comes to it, take her to safety, and leave me behind.”
Rhea released a small whine, followed by Talon’s bark of understanding.
I approached the falls, the sound of the pounding waters drowning out the noise of my boots against the loosened rocks along the riverbed. The trees bent over the bank provided essential cover, allowing me time to scan the tranquil pool and large boulders near the base of the falls.
The cascading waters raced over the top of the ledge, almost fifty feet above, before crashing down with enough force to pound massive rocks into rubble. I fought to forget loving memories of this place, focusing solely on the task at hand… Rescuing my uncle.
“Where are you, Magnus?” I muttered to myself. I know you’re here somewhere.
My heart skipped a beat when I felt a familiar brush of power toward the top of the falls.
The familiar knock of Shaw’s presence brushed against my mind, but I pushed him away. I didn’t need his help with this. If I acknowledged his presence, he would take it as a sign to jump in and interfere.
The large head of a ferocious grizzly bear looked down at me. The rich, solid, deep russet color of his coat was paired with the Cathal green eyes that I memorized as a small child. His sheer size alone confirmed that this was Magnus.
I held out my palms, trying to make myself seem smaller, projecting that I meant no harm.
I had never encountered a shifter lost to their animal form.
It was rare, an urban myth parents used as threats to ensure we fell in line and behaved, or else, when we grew up, our animals would take over and never let us go.
“Magnus,” I bellowed over the roar of the crashing waters cascading over the falls.
The bear turned and looked at me momentarily before returning to foraging, oblivious to my call. A pain of grief shot through me as I questioned if we had lost him completely.
“Magnus!” I yelled, with a push of my magic, gaining his attention. “It’s me, Skylar.”
The bear’s long claws clicked over the edge as he peered down the cliff face. I searched his eyes for any hint of my uncle still dwelling beneath. In one powerful movement, he launched from the rocks, bounding down the falls to land across from me.
Still, to this day, it amazed me how quick and agile Magnus was in his bear form. Standing on all fours, his shoulder was taller than my stature, and when he raised up onto his hind legs, he towered over everything in his path.
His magic pulsed, and I desperately reached to cling to it. The bear shook his head from side to side, clearly agitated as he clawed at the loose rubble, pushing against the link I was attempting to create through our minds.
“Don’t fight it,” I said across the waters separating us. “Magnus, come back to us. We need you.”
The bear grunted and roared, his agitation rising as my proximity to him narrowed. Inside, my animal was cautious, urging me to be patient. I stalked to my uncle’s side, biding my time. My animal was ready to send me a boost of magic to help forge a connection to the human residing within.
“Father,” Neera’s plea echoed from behind, but unfortunately, it only seemed to make matters worse.
The bear reared up on his hind legs and released a massive roar, baring his teeth and turning his gaze on the wolves and panther waiting behind me. He saw them now and knew I hadn’t come alone.
Shit, this was not the plan.
“Take her away,” I commanded Rhea and Talon. “He’s seeing this as a threat to his territory. Move Neera back now!”
“Skylar—” Neera began.
“No, Neera,” I said, taking my eyes off Magnus. “Go with Rhea and Talon.”
“No, Skylar— Watch out!” Neera screamed as Magnus charged through the river, heading straight for me.
I pivoted and dove to my left, leaping over a boulder to avoid the swipe of his massive claws that would have easily shredded my flesh to pieces.
In a flash, a large figure challenging Magnus’s size and strength leaped from the cover of the trees and slammed into his frame, forcing him backward into the shallows along the river.
Shaw was leaner than Magnus, but my friend had his own set of lethal teeth and claws to combat his larger foe.
“Shaw!” Neera screamed as he stood between me and Magnus, baring his teeth and matching my uncle’s roar with his own.
I reached out to Shaw’s mind. “Don’t hurt him.”
“Are we sure there’s any Magnus left in there, Sky?”
“I’m positive there is,” I spat back.
“Really? ’Cause the Magnus I knew would never harm you or Neera. And he just tried to kill you.”
“Tried,” I corrected as I joined Shaw along the riverbank.
“Skylar,” he warned.
“I’ve got this,” I answered, patting his shoulder as I entered the river. “Stay here,” I commanded this time, using my alpha powers.
His ears twitched. I could tell he was not pleased, but he would obey. He had no choice but to follow my command as his alpha.
“Magnus,” I said aloud, searching for the well of power I used to force Gilen to submit, when I forced the basilisk to bend to my will.
The bear’s jade eyes locked with mine, and I swear I saw a flash of something sparking in them. A lifeline. A sign that there was more to this creature, that there was a human soul buried beneath the animal standing before me.
“Magnus,” I boomed, power laced with my words. “Shift.”
The bear staggered, trying to fight against my command. I boldly stepped closer to the creature, pushing a wave of power around him. “Shift,” I commanded once more.
There was a green shimmer of magic hovering over the back of the bear’s shoulder hump. It trickled along its forelegs and across the rest of its body. Magnus was fighting me, but it wouldn’t last. I was the true alpha of the Solace pack, and I was going to bring my uncle back.
“Magnus. Shift!” I roared, putting everything I had into this command.
The bear moved onto the opposing riverbank, collapsing onto the ground. The animal roared, the ground shook, and the waters rippled out in waves with a burst of magic. Its stare locked with mine, and then, I felt it.
In a flash, the body of a man appeared across the riverbank.
“Release Neera,” I told Talon and Rhea.
“Father!” Neera screamed as she raced past me through the river, unhooking a cloak from around her shoulders and draping it over Magnus.
Rhea and Talon joined Shaw behind me as I slowly crossed the shallow river.
Wading through the water, my heart raced as fast as a hummingbird’s wings, and my limbs felt like they were jolted with a bolt of lightning from the sky.
The power humming through me was remarkable yet foreign.
I would need to learn to control this magic, and with time, I knew I would.
But, like always, time never seemed to be on my side.
“Father?” Neera said between sobs. “It’s us. Neera and Sky.” Her gentle touch migrated in soft circles across Magnus’s back as he sat up and clutched the cloak around him.
“Magnus,” I said as I knelt before my uncle.
His eyes snapped open to meet my gaze. The forest-green tint was vivid and sparkling with a storm of emotions.
I could feel the depths of his sorrow through his stare, and it stole the breath from my lungs.
The agonizing pain of losing his mate threatened to swallow him whole, yet… another emotion began to take hold.
A swell of pride breathed life into his features as his stare softened at the corners, a sheen of wetness coating his eyes as he blinked. He granted me a hint of a smile as he tilted his head and lowered his gaze.
“Alpha,” Magnus said before raising his head to meet me.
“You can still just call me Sky,” I teased as a beaming smile crossed my face.
“Sky,” Magnus whispered as he smiled.
Neera and I leaped into his embrace, his arms encircling and pulling us tightly to his chest. I could barely breathe, but I didn’t care. Magnus was back. I’d brought my uncle back.
“My daughters,” Magnus said softly, keeping his hold tight around us. “Thank you for never giving up on me. And thank you for saving me.”
I pulled back, tilting my head to look upon the face of the male who raised me. “You would never give up on me.” I sighed. “So, I would never give up on you. I love you, Magnus.”
“I love you, Skylar.” He closed his eyes and reached out to give me another hug. “And you, Neera,” he said, kissing her brow. “I love you both so much.”
Having Neera and Magnus reunited was magical, and yet, there was a tinge of loss from the missing piece of our family that I knew would never disappear. I only hoped it would be easier to swallow as time passed.
“All right, what else have I missed?” Magnus asked. “You’re our alpha now?”
“It appears that way,” I said, moving my hand to the dagger strapped at my hip. “Let’s catch you up on the journey back home,” I said as we rose to our feet. “Solace awaits.”