The Secrets of the Panther

IZZY

My mind was clear, but moments earlier, my whole body had reacted to something. It felt like my body and mind were trying to reach out to something, but it wasn’t there.

I remember falling asleep, but suddenly my body had a mind of its own. I felt lost and falling down a rabbit hole, but I couldn’t find where I was, only in complete darkness.

I came to calmness after a few moments and was sent into a deep slumber. My body was resting, something I never thought I would have for a while.

I stirred more, but I could feel movement behind me. I’m so peaceful, but I move, but I’m cushioned between two bodies or something. I moved my hand to the front of me, and I could sense that there was a small body as one leg was draped over my leg. I moved my hand behind me, but it went to something hard. I move slightly, but I slowly open my eyes.

“Izzy,” I heard, and I turned around to stare at the blurry face behind me. “Izzy.” I blinked a few times to get the blurriness away, and I instantly felt safe when the face came into focus.

I cleared my throat and moved, but I couldn’t. I looked and noticed the small body had snuggled into me. Her scent hit me hard, but I couldn’t help but feel safe and loved. I glanced back at Blake and gave him a small smile. “I’m ok,” I said, my voice sounding groggy.

Blake stared at me, concern written all over his face.

What the hell happened?

Something was flowing through me, but I glanced back to see Puna staring at me. Something was off with us, but then it hit me. We had our power back. I could feel my power flowing like water running out of a tap.

“What happened?” I asked her.

Puna looked at me and cocks her head to the side. “You don’t remember?” she asked. I shook my head at her.

“Izzy,” whispers Blake, and I pull back and look at him. The concern was still written over his face. “Please talk to me,” he said.

I stared at him.

How the hell was I going to explain something I can’t remember?

I could feel Puna push forward and was upfront with me as we stared at Blake. His eyes widen.

“Puna,” he says. “Your eyes are bright green.”

“We needed our power back,” we say to him. “Baby needed help, and Izzy was exhausted too.”

Puna moved back slightly, and I looked back at her. “The baby needed help,” I asked, sounding concerned.

Puna nodded.

“I don’t know why,” she said. “I could feel the need for the power to return to us. Not only that, you were not getting any sleep; you needed to rest.”

I stared at her for a few moments, but looked back at Blake, who had a blank expression on his face.

I sighed and moved to a sitting position on the bed. I glanced around and realized that it was dark. How long have I been sleeping? I thought. I moved back and leaned against the headboard.

Blake comes back and moves to a sitting position. He faces me and takes my hand in his. “I just mind linked the pack doctor,” he said. “He believes he has some news that might explain how you feel.”

I nodded at him, but I said nothing.

Blake gently caresses my knuckles with his thumb. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

My power was back, but it was calmer than expected. I could feel Blake’s eyes on me as I watched Allie sleep beside me.

“She didn’t want to leave your side,” he whispers.

I looked back at him and frowned. “How long was I sleeping for?” I asked.

Blake looked at the clock. “Izzy, you fell asleep twenty-four hours ago,” he said. “Allie and I have been with you ever since.”

My eyes went wide, but before I could ask more questions, there was a knock at the door, and in walked the pack doctor with Luna Lauren, Alpha Derek, and Kat.

“Izzy,” says Kat. She looked like she had been crying. I stared at each of them; they all looked concerned. I turned to look at the pack doctor. “Why the hell did I need my power back?” I asked him.

The pack doctor was about to answer me, but someone behind them spoke. “You needed it to recharge,” said Lena as she came to the front. She glanced at the pack doctor, who gave her an odd look.

“Sorry, doc,” she said as she looked at him but turned to me. Lena smiled. “Izzy, the baby you are carrying, needed the extra support,” she said.

I furrow my eyebrows at her. “What does that mean?” I asked.

Lena looked at me but glanced to the side. I couldn’t help but look to where she was looking, too. There, staring back at me, was Allie.

When the hell did she wake up?

Allie was staring at me, but she cocks her head to the side. She placed her hand on my belly and smiled. “Baby sister needed help because she is like us,” she said and looked up at me.

I stared at her, but it clicked.

“The baby has power too,” I said as I glanced at Lena.

Lena nodded. “It seems we have a powerful alpha in the making,” she said.

I glanced at Blake, who was staring at me. I couldn’t help but search his face, but he wasn’t giving me anything.

“Blake,” I whispered.

Blake opens his mouth. “Izzy,” he says. “It’s ok; we will deal with whatever comes. We are a family. All of us will help.”

Blake leaned into me and kissed my head.

“We have another Allie on our hands, but we can train the cub and Allie when the time comes. We need to know what kind of power they both have, but with the help from Lena, maybe we can prepare for anything.” I said as I closed my eyes and glanced at Puna, who was nodding.

I looked back at Lena, who was watching me. “I have to ask, though,” I said. “Is there an amulet for the baby’s power, too?”

Lena stared at me and nodded. “I can make one,” she said. I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at her. “While you were asleep, I went through that diary, and the back page states what I need to make the amulet. It will take time, but I think I can get one ready by the time the baby is old enough.”

I nodded and glanced at Blake.

Blake smiled. “We are doing this as a family,” he said.

I looked down toward Allie, who was staring at my stomach. “You ok, Angel?” I asked her.

Allie looked at me but never moved her hand.

“Baby sister is happy,” she says.

I stared at her.

How the hell does she know? I thought, but this has to do with her power. But we took it away, so how could she know certain things?

I glanced at Lena, who was watching Allie.

Lena looked at me. “I think Allie might have some foresight in her,” she said. “It will explain certain things she has been saying to us lately.”

I glanced back at Allie, who looked back at me, confused.

“What’s the matter Angel?” asked Blake, who now has moved to the top of the bed. He placed his arm around me, but I could tell he was looking at Allie.

Everyone was staring at her.

“I think…” she said, but stopped. Her eyes glistened with tears, but she closed them.

I move quickly and place her in my lap. Allie moved into me but sniffled.

“Allie,” I asked. “What’s wrong?”

Allie pulled back and looked at me; a tear slipped down her face. I wiped it with my finger as she looked at Blake and me. “I don’t want to go,” she said and returned to me.

I glanced back at Lena, who shrugged at me. I wonder what the hell Allie saw that would make her tear up like that; I thought.

Puna was close by, but she wasn’t doing anything. She was trying to figure out what was going on with Allie.

Someone cleared their throat, and I looked up to see the pack doctor walking over to the edge of the bed.

“Luna, I would like to check your vitals,” he said. “If everything is ok, you can move around, and we can keep a closer eye on you.”

I nodded.

Blake moved out of the way, but Allie stayed on my lap.

After the pack doctor checked my vitals and told us everything was fine. “I will check on you once a week Luna,” he said. “Until the baby comes. We can also monitor your health, but I believe you have a healthy baby on the way.”

I gave him a small smile as he turned and left the room.

Everyone was glad and stayed only for a few minutes. Once they left, it was just the three of us once again.

Allie was sleeping, so Blake placed her by the side of me. He climbed into bed on the other side and wrapped me in his arms. “We will get through all this,” he said. “We will monitor the baby.”

I said nothing.

“Allie has foresight,” he said. “She might see certain things before they happen.” I looked over my shoulder at him. “I wonder what she saw to make her cry?” I asked.

Blake stared at me. “I don’t know, but maybe she can tell us when she is ready,” he said.

I nodded.

I snuggled back down and moved into him. His heat cascaded over me, which drew me into slumber.

I could feel a kiss planted on my head as he placed his arm around me and drew Allie into me.

Both of their scents consumed me, and I was back to sleep. I don’t know what the future holds for my children, but knowing that both of my children have power is scary.

Allie has a mysterious power that we don’t know about, but what will our baby have?

I knew I needed answers, but I also knew I needed to protect my children, too.