Chapter 39

Sarah POV

Chloe was curled up in a chair, sleeping soundly. I had finally gotten him to go for a sink bath and a change of clothes, and Hans had known better than to pack a suit. He was wearing clean chinos and a dark blue Henley.

We both looked up as someone entered the room. Agent Travis nodded at me gravely, walked quietly past Chloe, and stood in front of Zane, who rose from his chair to face him.

“We’ve searched the grounds thoroughly,” he reported, his voice low. “He’s gone, and it looks like he got in over a fence with a malfunctioning proximity sensor, which we’re having replaced and augmented.

“So, he just wandered onto the grounds, then?” Zane didn’t look convinced.

“Maybe,” Travis said. “Maybe not. For now, I want you and your family to engage in some security protocols, including beefing up our on-site personnel and keeping you all protected when you go out in public.”

“Is that code for bodyguards?” I asked, keeping my tone down as well as I joined them.

“Just for a while. It’s good you’re homeschooling the children for now.” He gave me a somewhat wan smile. “We’re going to do everything we can to keep you all safe.”

“I appreciate that,” I said, turning as the door opened again and two very fit betas walked inside and stood there, obviously on guard.

“Mike and Danielle,” Travis said by way of introduction. “Just try to ignore them, unless they give you an order, of course.”

“Of course,” I murmured. This was my life now, and I had no reason to resent anything that would protect the girls and Zane.

Travis turned his head slightly, and I knew he was listening to the earpiece he was wearing. “Yes,” he said into his wrist. “Let them through.”

He looked at Zane. “An acolyte from the Luna Temple has arrived, along with a priest. They’re here to see if they can help Grace awaken her wolf.”

“She’s too young for that,” I said automatically, then winced. It was up to Zane to say things like that. I sent him a look of apology, but he just shook his head to show he didn’t mind.

“If they think it’s worth a try, I won’t object,” Zane said, but there was no hope in his voice.

The term “awaken the wolf” referred to a werewolf’s first physical transformation, which happened during puberty. That transformation altered the body on a molecular level, and even otherwise fatal injuries could be healed during the process. But Grace was only five.

To use a human term, it was a “Hail Mary” at best.

Mike and Daniele moved to the doors and opened them. A moment later, an acolyte came in, followed by a man in white robes and a blue sash. To my surprise, the acolyte was dressed all in silver. As Oracles cannot leave the temple grounds, I had assumed their assistants would be dressed in some sort of toned-down version of their white robes.

The acolyte bowed slightly to Zane. “Alpha,” she murmured. Then she looked at me. “Goddess-mother Sarah.”

I noticed her Kenyan accent. “Yes, hello.”

“I am Ophuna. I have been sent to see if the little one can rouse her wolf.” She held her hands out, and I put mine in them. Her dark skin was incredibly soft.

“I draw upon your strength and love to reach her,” she said. Then she let go of me, offered her hands to Zane, and then repeated herself. “May I touch Chloe?”

Zane nodded.

She walked over to a still-sleeping Chloe and placed a hand on her head. For a moment, she was as still as a statue, and then she nodded and looked at her companion. The priest bowed to us all generally and then led her through the Emergency Department doors. I assumed someone had warned the doctors she was coming.

“We did manage to get some video footage of the attack,” Travis said. He looked at me and Zane solemnly. “I don’t recommend you watch it.”

“I don’t need to,” Zane said, which seemed to mean something special to Travis, who just nodded to us both and left the room. Mike and Danielle stayed where they were.

Zane swayed suddenly on his feet. I held his arm and helped him sit in the uncomfortable chair.

“Are you all right?” I asked, thinking the shock of the whole thing was starting to wear off.

“I can feel it.”

“What?”

“I can feel her using my life energy.” He looked at me with a hint of wonder. “I can feel Grace here with us, as though she were in the room.”

“Is she getting stronger?” I asked, watching in some wonder of my own at the way his eyes darkened and grew somewhat fierce. Was he about to transform?

“I hear the acolyte calling on Grace’s wolf,” he said, his voice raw and deep. “I hear her calling for the pack to rise within her and give her power.”

He chuckled suddenly. “I feel the desire to sing to the moon, a plea for my daughter. I hear the Luna Temple call for Luna to empower Grace.”

“Is Grace answering? Do you hear anything from her?”

“She’s so far away,” he whispered. “She’s lost.” He looked into my eyes, and I felt like I was falling.

“Call to her,” I said, though I had no idea what I was doing. “Tell her to come home.”

He nodded and closed his eyes. I realized I had taken his hand in mine. Several minutes passed in near-total silence.

“Grace!” Chloe shouted, springing up out of her chair. She looked around the room and then ran to me and Zane. “Grace is up!”

The Emergency Department doors swung open, and the doctor, somewhat wide-eyed, rushed in. “Please, come with me,” she said.

The five of us—including the bodyguards—followed her down a corridor with emergency rooms to each side. A door marked Quarantine stood wide open, and we all but ran through.

Grace was sitting up in bed, her hands in the acolyte’s, her eyes shining. She turned to look at us as we entered, and then Zane was running to her side. The acolyte let go of her hands in time for Zane to gather her up in his arms.

“Daddy, my wolf spoke to me,” she said happily. “She said I’m strong enough.”

I looked at the people from the temple. The priest took pity on me and explained, “She transformed partially, an incredible feat for someone so young. She has healed herself.

For the first time that day, I cried, bursting into unflattering tears as I moved to the bed and took one of Grace’s hands in my own. Chloe wedged herself in between us and put her hands on the blanket over Grace’s legs. For a long moment, we just all held each other.

I couldn’t help it. As soon as Zane moved back a bit I looked Grace over. The horrible wounds were gone from her face and hands. There was a faintly pink scar on her neck that looked like a bite mark, but when I asked if it hurt, she shook her head.

“Thank you,” Zane told his daughter, kissing her hand and then holding it next to his heart. “Thank you so very, very much.”