Her words hit exactly as she had planned. I turned and sprinted from the cells with her laughter following me. My mind was spinning, Garith’s words so easily forgotten in the moment, but now crystallized in my mind. They were attacking the cabin. My mom, my pup. I let out a growl that built in my throat as my mind went through worst-case scenarios.

Please don’t let them be hurt. I prayed to the moon goddess as Rowan and the girls trailed after me. I headed towards the forest, but it was Toya’s voice that cut through my panic. “Amy!” she screamed in a way that had my legs stumbling, and the spiral I was in froze.

I stopped instantly, and my friends crowded around me. “What?”

Toya stepped in front of me. “You are panicking, and I understand. Your mom and your pup are in that cabin.” Her words mimicked my own thoughts just seconds before. I felt my body tense to keep running, but her hand shot out. “But you aren’t thinking clearly. We need a plan. A way to get there.” I stared at the trees for a second before I pivoted and started running toward the pack house, and the streets beyond it. “Amy!” she called after me, but I kept running. I was stupid.

“Where are you going?” Rowan caught up to me.

“To my closet.” He stumbled a step but followed me without question.

I ran to the house I used to live in and slammed my power outward, shattering the spells I had in place as I barreled through the door. I ran up the stairs, shattering the next spell. Rowan followed me, trusting me. “Shouldn’t we be getting into a car or something?”

Toya laughed behind him. “Or something.” I ripped the closet door open and ran to the back of the closet.

I slammed the last door open and stepped into darkness. I heard a few sniffles as I stumbled through the closet and opened the far door. Light swept through the closet at the cabin, and Carly and Abby screamed. I whirled to find the two pups hidden behind my clothes. “Baby girl?” I dropped to the ground and pushed the clothes away from the two shivering pups. “What’s wrong?”

Carly launched herself into my arms. Abby followed behind her. I was wrapped in four tiny arms as they cried. “They surrounded the cabin. Nana Ainsley told us to hide up here.”

I pulled back and wiped their faces. “You are okay. Stay here. Close the doors, and if anyone comes near here that isn’t us, go through the door and shut it. Do you understand?”

Carly nodded and slid her back against the wall again. Abby hiccuped as she stared at me. “Please save my mommy and daddy.”

“What do you mean, sweetheart? They should be safe in the cabin.” I looked at everyone before my eyes landed on Carly.

Her eyes were white, and I knew she was having a vision. “You must hurry. The world is about to break. If you can’t defeat the darkness and weave anew, then all is lost. The shaman is vulnerable, and if she is found before you are ready, then all wolf kind will be at the precipice of extinction. The humans circle, ready to follow the clues. Be wary of death wrapped in love.” Her eyes cleared, and a single tear escaped. “Mama Amy. I’m scared.” I pulled her back to me and hugged her.

“It’s going to be okay, baby girl. I got you.” I pulled back so I could run my hand through her hair. “Do you believe me?” Carly nodded. I turned to Abby. “I promise I will do everything I can to make sure that everyone is safe. Okay?” Abby wiped the tears streaming down her face, and she gave me a tight nod. “Okay. Get back against the wall and remember what I said. If anyone that isn’t us, or anyone from the cabin comes up here, you run, okay?” I kissed both of them. “As long as I am alive, I will find you.” I took a second to cast a tracking spell on them both. “This is temporary, but I promise after all of this is done. I will make something more permanent. I will always find you.” Worry pooled in my stomach as I stood and pulled the clothes back over them. Then I turned, everyone following me down the stairs. I was halfway down the stairs when I felt it. I screamed as my body felt as if it was being ripped apart, and I fell the rest of the way down the stairs.

“Amy!” I slammed into the front door as snarls reached my ears. Rowan rushed to my side, but I waved him off. “What happened?”

Carly’s words echoed in my ears. “The world is about to break.” I looked up in horror as I heard a scream rip through the air. “The shield shattered.”