Intuition

In the days that passed, Bastian had been trying to get the tea from Rose. His adoptive mother was willing to give it to him but Jim, her husband, was skeptical. He thought for sure that Bastian wasn’t going to consume the tea himself.

His adoptive son had been planning and he wanted no part in it for him or his mate. Bastian, being ever persistent, had to go to see them and convince them to give it to him. Onyx had remained by Eve’s side and while Bastian was away, she’d delivered another one of the Luna’s notes to the mailbox for her.

However, a few days before the half moon, the Shadow pack Alpha arrived back at the cabin. He, Onyx, and Eve gathered in the kitchen as he brewed a pot. The steam of the creeping sedum tea smelled bitter, like living greenery.

“I feel like I’m repeating myself.” Eve rubbed her eyes tiredly. “I hate repeating myself.”

“You’re over explaining because you aren’t being reasonable, Evie.” Bastian replied as he sat at the table across from her.

“I am not.” She shook her head firmly. “I don’t want to drink that tea with my link closed. We don’t know what it will do to it. I told you what happened with the monkshood.”

“And I told you, this is different.” He crossed his arms with an amused grin.

“I don’t care. I won’t drink it. And I don’t exactly trust you not to put it in my food, so I’ll have to eat only what I kill. Which would be fine, were it not for all the wolves hunting on your territory.” Eve explained again.

“You’ll starve. You’re basically threatening me with a hunger strike. I don’t like ultimatums.” Bastian became suddenly serious and his voice dropped an octave.

“Okay... Let’s de-escalate a little.” Onyx sat forward, interjecting.

They looked at her, both were clearly frustrated and steadfast in their opinions.

“Bas, you’re still in the StarLight mindlink. So, you could feel every impulse Evie sent out anyway.” The teenager reasoned.

“Not to Flint.” He spat the name angrily. “They have a different link. A stronger one.”

“Well, theoretically, Evie could open her link to the pack and leave her connection to his wolf closed.” She pondered.

The Luna looked at her, alarmed. The whole point of her current gambit was to get in touch with Flint. Without her link to him, their wolves still wouldn’t be able to talk to one another. She could call the pack to her, but not without alerting Bastian. With every passing moment, her plan was failing.

“I would feel it, if she opened it...” He thought aloud as the pot on the stove started whistling loudly.

He stood and grabbed the pot, placing it on the table on top of an flat, oven mitt. He brought a bear shaped bottle of honey and a coffee mug with him as he retook his seat.

“Okay, Evie. I’m also a little curious to officially meet your wolf, so I’ll let you open the link. But there are conditions.” He began pouring tea into the mug.

“One, at no time are you open your link to Flint. If you do, I think we both know what I’ll do.” He dripped some honey into the tea and cast a sideling glace at Onyx. “Two, at no time are you try to contact your pack. If you do-”

He slid her the tea he’d prepared for her.

“We both know, I’ll act before they can get to you all the way out here.” Bastian caught her eyes. “Do you agree?”

“Under protest.” Eve replied in an even tone.

If this is what we can get, for now... We have to take it. She reasoned internally.

It may be an inch now. Until we take a mile. Her wolf was eager to feel the pack again.

“What protest?” Bastian probed.

“I don’t like being under a microscope.” She shrugged.

“We know, Evie.” Onyx whispered.

“Okay. Deal.” Eve again met his dark, jovial eyes.

Bastian beamed and extended his hand. The Luna took it and again, she felt the thrum of static running up her arm. She quickly broke off the handshake and held the mug. She closed her eyes and felt the link in her mind.

It had been closed for so long that the wall between her mind and StarLight felt thick and hard. The power inside her was rising to fill her chest in anticipation. As her wolf burst through it, she felt Flint’s wolf in the space beside her. She couldn’t reach for him, as much as she craved to. She was nearer, but unable to connect.

It was like a slow torture until she finally felt the pack flow into her mind with ease. This stream quickly became a tsunami of emotions Eve struggled to contain. The power amplified everything, rehashing the time she’d missed.

She stood from her chair, holding her skull. Bastian and Onyx worriedly jumped to their feet as she fell to her knees. Panic. Nervousness. Anxiety. Fear. Uncertainty. Uncertainty about Flint. Trust in Graham. Fear of Clark. Clark. Clark’s death was overwhelming. It was all so very overwhelming.

“Evie?!” Bastian’s voice was drowned out by the screaming emotions inside her.

In the midst of all that, she felt her anchor. Her stability. Her mate. She focused on him. Through everything he had been afraid for her, searching for her nonstop, missing her constantly. These were her emotions in a mirror. They helped to carry her through the burst of power.

Bastian lifted Eve and carried her upstairs to her room. Onyx grabbed the mug off the table and followed her brother anxiously. When he lay the Luna on her bed, she felt calmer. The power had receded leaving exhaustion in it’s wake. She was oddly content now that she could sense her pack and their Alpha. Her wolf felt less alone.

She was also nervous. Eve now had to drink the tea that could be her temporary savior, or her downfall. She missed Flint. He would have helped her make this decision, if he’d been able. Still, she felt certain about the deal she’d made. She would do anything to save her pup from Bastian’s plans. Even trusting the enemy.

“Evie...” Bastian brushed the hair out of her face.

“Back up, Bas.” She sat up and leaned on the wall beside him. “I’m okay.”

“Here.” Onyx handed her the hot mug.

Eve looked at the liquid skeptically for a moment before steeling her nerves. She drank the entire thing in just a few gulps before handing the cup to the male beside her.

“How do you feel?” Onyx asked curiously.

“Tired. So far, just tired.” Eve answered.

“Get some sleep.” The teenager nodded. “Come on, Bas.”

He stood as his sister left before closing the door and turning off the light. He laid down beside the Luna, leaving a few inches between them.

“Why are you still here?” She asked sleepily.

“I want to watch you tonight. You wolfed out last time I stayed and this is your first dose of creeping sedum.” He rolled onto his side to look at her face.

Eve sighed and closed her eyes tighter. She could feel his gaze on her but she was too tired, and uncomfortable, to meet his attentive, dark eyes.

Sleep now, lovely. Bastian’s wolf reached into her mind.

It was early evening and she had already been sapped of her strength by the power within her. Eve barely had enough time to contemplate the sound of the animal’s voice before she fell asleep. It was rough but oddly playful and deep. He was clearly powerful, like a true Alpha. Of that, the Luna was certain.