Chapter 99: S'mores

"Think of us as your promotion team," Sylvia smiled warmly and placed a hand on August's arm.

"Thank you, Sylvia," she replied.

'True Luna.' The words Greta spoke hung in the air. What did that mean exactly? Part of August wanted to swell with pride at the thought that such an entitlement belonged to her, but there was so much pressure that accompanied it. She had no idea how to be a Luna.

"Well, like I said, I'll know more tomorrow. It's possible I won't have the opportunity to leave right away. I don't want to seem too eager," Graeme said, still swaying uneasily in the thought of leaving August—even with everyone's reassurances.

Everything would have to align perfectly in order for him to feel comfortable. But the alyko definitely needed to know about the map, and he had a feeling that if he could get Penelope to speak with him, she would have just as much helpful information for him as he had for her.

"Is there another way to find out if August has been tagged as an alyko for this stupid map?" Sam asked.

"I could just ask Zoe," Graeme offered.

"Is there any way you could play at being unsure about August? Like you're buying into all of this mess? Maybe they will offer more information if you seem… wary of her," Greta suggested.

Graeme squeezed August's shoulders. The thought of questioning the validity of their partnership, even if it were an act, felt like a betrayal of her.

"It's just a thought," Greta added, noticing the tension that crept into the lines of her brother's face.

"Don't you think the pack would catch wind of Graeme expressing his doubts and begin to question August as well?" Sylvia thought aloud. "That could backfire horribly."

"Hmm. Maybe," Greta answered.

"I just won't use the abilities for anything until we know more," August shrugged.

"How do we even know what constitutes as these abilities that light up on the map?" Sam asked. "Is it when she can see people's thoughts? When she uses the energy around her to manifest something powerful in herself like when she overpowered Marius? I mean… We really don't even know that much."

A muscle feathered in Graeme's jaw. Sam was right. It could be something that seemed relatively benign that she didn't even know she was doing.

"I'm sure I can at least figure that much out," Greta sighed and opened up the folder with the Physics research again. "I'll be in the loft reading."

"Do you want company?" August asked.

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Greta glanced at her with a smile. "Sure. I'll probably need to read aloud to be able to work this stuff out in my mind anyway. Maybe you can help me." Both the girls rose from the table, and Graeme's hands dropped to his sides from their resting place on August's shoulders. "Plus, you get to see the loft," Greta winked.

"Would you two like to make s'mores for everyone?" Sylvia suggested to the boys as she gathered the dishes from the table.

Sam chuckled and turned to Graeme for an answer.

"Who can turn down s'mores? We need to talk anyway," Graeme rubbed the bristly hair on his chin.

"You know where the firewood is," Sylvia said as she started the sink.

She smiled to herself as she began washing the dishes. Seeing the boys around the fire again would bring back memories of when they were young. She wished David could be here to see Graeme return with his mate. The hope David had lost was slowly returning.

Sylvia never thought she would be living without her mate. David had been so strong and vital. She had imagined they would grow old and die together holding hands on the front porch or something equally as ideal. When you're young, the future stretches out indefinitely toward a rosy horizon. But reality is much different. She sighed and placed a plate on the drying rack.

When Derek and Genevieve were killed, David was overcome with guilt. He was the Beta. He believed he should have been there. He should have known a threat was looming, but everyone was blindsided by their deaths. It had taken place so close to pack land, as well—just beyond the Grimm where the Maine wilderness becomes dotted with beautiful lakes. No one would have anticipated an attack that close to home.

Afterwards, David had taken a backseat to the council. The elders seemed poised to fill the Hallowell's absence while everyone else was still flailing in grief. And then the alyko were killed. Sylvia recalled the terror of that day when they were dragged from their homes.

Whispers had been carrying the belief that the alyko had plotted against the Alpha and Luna. Part of what bolstered this suspicion was precisely the fact that the deaths occurred so close to pack land and seemingly out of nowhere. And why would strays congregate and attack? It had to have been orchestrated by a third party.

Three days passed after Derek and Genevieve were killed before the alyko were sought out by the council. There was no trial. No defense. They were dragged into Maggie's home on the border of pack land, and the house was set ablaze. Perhaps just as horrifying as the screams of the alyko were the shouts of pack members who surrounded the house, their anger and hatred rising with the flames that licked the dark sky.

The remains of Maggie's home resembled what was left of the spirit of this place. What was once a large family had become an unsteady structure—a ruins overgrown with the greenery of time rather than rebuilt.

David couldn't bring himself to return to the council after that. He aged so quickly—the purpose he had been called for suddenly obscured by a cascade of senseless deaths. Sylvia felt it like a boulder weighing him down further and further with each day that passed, and she couldn't help him. She couldn't pull him out. He just… withered away.

Sylvia gripped the counter as the wave of that familiar absence crested over her. She expected to die with David, but as was the case with many mothers who lost their mates, Sylvia felt the bond with her child too acutely to be swept away. Her beautiful son was still here—the life she and David had created by their union and been gifted by the Moon Goddess—and she made herself strong for him.

Reiki had been a blessing. She sensed the world in a new way, and she was able to help others in the pack who had also been hurting. And eventually Sam discovered Greta was his mate, Sylvia opened her shop, she and Greta began working together to help pack members who needed it… the bitter cold of a long emotional winter seemed to finally be warming into a new spring.

And now she would get to witness the new growth that would come to bloom and strengthen around them now that Graeme had returned with his mate.

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