[Hyacinth] We follow him onto a little motorized boat just big enough for the three of us and a small bit of luggage acquired throughout our adventures. At Bash's insistence, we collected not just the basics like clothing and personal care items, but a stuffed animal or two, and a few small souvenirs as well. Over the last week and a half, we had gathered quite a few treasures, all items Bash hoped to share with his Papa when we made it back home. It takes us a moment to get adjusted and find spaces for everyone and everything on the boat, but then we are speeding along on the water and heading away from shore. Bash has never been in a boat before, so he doesn't know what to expect. When the motor starts and we are propelled along the water’s surface, he reaches around me and grabs my waist, holding tightly to my shirt. “How long will it take for us to get there,” I ask Gregory as he steers the boat along on its path. We lost sight of the beach several minutes ago but I have yet t

[Hyacinth] “There is nothing special about me,” I blush. “I have done nothing in my life to deserve such distinction. I have lived most of my adult life as a wolf-less rogue. I take care of those I can, but I have failed just as much as I have succeeded,” I think about those poor cursed humans that Slate killed in his madness. I wasn’t able to save them, I wasn’t able to save him either. “I disagree,” the doctor places his hand on my shoulder. “You are stronger than you realize.” He pauses, watching Bash play. Bash was playing a guessing game where he was reading the minds of the wolves around him. They were all marveling at how well he was doing. “Now tell me a bit about yourself. I feel like I’ve lost track of you since you left the pack. Did you enjoy college? I assumed that is where you went after the ball. I see you found your mate as well, a Crescent Wolf based on your son’s remarkable skills. You must be so proud.” I shake my head ruefully. “You misunderstand. Bash isn’t my

[Ashlynd] “I don’t think this is a good idea, Mother,” I plead one more time. “We need to call the pack leaders and postpone the ball.” "Pft," Tabitha James dismisses me completely as if my panic and fear are completely unwarranted. "The wards will have been properly dug by then and the pack will be ready to show our best side to the world. With all the Alpha and Beta's here, the giant focus will finally have a chance to really...shine," she smirks at her own small joke before becoming serious again. "We cannot cancel." "Is there any way that I can just keep Slate hidden until after you..." “No,” she takes a delicate bite of a finger sandwich. “Not acceptable. We need to keep up appearances or the illusion falls apart. If we want to live openly as we are, we need this spell to work. We need this spell to be successful in controlling the wolf leaders of the West. For the sake of the coven and the freedom of all witch kind,” she dabs on the edges of her red lips right before she pick

[Hyacinth] “ARRGH!” It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. I cannot breathe, I cannot see. Losing control of my body I fall to the ground screaming and shaking. The dance around the bonfire comes to a complete stop. The children all stand, wide-eyed and scared as they watch one of the few adults on the island hurt and in pain. For them, it must feel like the world is falling into chaos. Including Bash, who stares at me, his hands extended, but wanting to help but unable to move. “SLATE!” I scream my mate’s name as my wolf howls in agony. He is gone. Our connection to him is gone. “Oh, Goddess! SLATE!” Gregory scoops me off of the ground. Holding me in his arms he follows Dr. Steven’s instructions, taking me to the medical suite where he lies me down on a padded table. Bash follows, unwilling to let me out of his sight. “Gregory, please hold her arms,” he requests as he turns to me. “Hyacinth, your body is going into separation shock. I need to give you a sedativ

[Hyacinth] My eyes take a moment to adjust to my new knowledge, as she lifts a hand to touch my cheek. How can this old woman living in the woods of a secret island be my mother? My mother, who has been dead for 12 years? It takes me a moment, it has been so long since I have seen my mother that I had forgotten what she looks like. But once I get past the white in her hair and the wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, I can start to see the once-beautiful beta in her smile. It is clear by her appearance that her life has been rough, but there is still enough of her old self there to shine through. Unfortunately knowing that she is my mother doesn’t make this moment any easier. It just leaves me with more questions than answers. Questions like, why didn’t she ever try to come home? When I think of the things that happened over all this time-- Dad marrying Tabitha; my ejection from the pack; my years as a rogue and now all this mess with the witches--I’d be lying if I said that I am