Amari cut directly through the forest. Stabs and scrapes of branches did not even register in her mind. Fear more than movement labored her breath. How she wished she could fully shift and cover the distance in half the time. Another groan twisted her heart. She adjusted her hold as Nova shifted, twisting away from the pain. The short cut to Diana’s was taking too long, despite the downhill assistance.

  Relief flooded her as glimpses of the grey of the large stacked stones through the branches became more frequent. The ragged edges bit into her thighs as she hinged forward. With a huff, Amari released her hold on Nova to Diana’s waiting arms. Vaulting herself over the waist high stones, she sped after them.

  Gently, Diana laid Nova on the soft couch, arranging the pillows behind her.

  A dull thunk, Amari’s knees hit the rough wooden floor beside the couch. Her fingers against the damp skin, she brushed back the flyaways. “My girl, you’re doing so good.”

  A familiar baritone filtered through the door. Hushed quick conversation preceded the heavy footfalls up the stairs.

  “I brought my full kit.” Orion dropped two bags as he squeezed in by Amari. “DC grab something so we can hang an IV.” He looked at Amari, “Can you handle placing the IV?”

  Amari’s fingers trembled slightly but experience got the needle placed. Secured with lengths of tape, she watched the gray green fade slightly as the pain meds hit.

  “What happened, Amari?” Orion counted beats watching the second hand on the classic watch the family gifted him.

  “I’m not sure. I wasn’t with her.” Amari roughly tapped her fist against the floor. “I let her go off with kids her age. Ones I don’t know. Idiot.”

  “AC, we ran off with plenty of shady people and made it through some….Nova is tough. She will pull through just like we did.” Diana placed a hand on Amari’s shoulder.

  “Her pulse is still a little elevated. Did the kids know anything?” Orion palpated her stomach, ruling out human frailty would perhaps give them a clue.

  “They all had gotten snacks from the festival. But none remember her eating anything.”

  Nova responded in clipped pain-strangled words. “Warned. Human. Food.” Glassy eyes pleaded to be believed.

  Amari held her gaze and nodded. “You did nothing wrong.”

  “Let’s rule out a few things. Diana take Amari to the other room.” Orion dismissed them with a nod.

  “I will be right back, my girl.” Amari slightly resisted the grip under her arms. Eyes never leaving Nova’s as she was pulled back out of the room.

  “My girl?” The door to the dining room barely shut before the question left Diana’s mouth.

  Amari blinked. She had said that, multiple times. The more she thought about it the more real it felt. She pulled out a chair. Despite knowing Nova for less than half a week, something inside her claimed the girl. “Yeah.”

  “Okay. I guess we don’t need that vote anymore.”

  Hope bloomed in Amari’s eyes as she looked at her sister. Not sure where the doubt came from, but the fear had bloomed nearly instantly. What if she had to choose between her family and the young woman that stole into her heart. She smiled at Diana, the years of quiet moments shared. Her sister knew exactly what she needed to hear without any explanation.

  “She’s already one of us.” Diana placed hands on Amari’s shoulders. “We got her.”

  Amari let herself be pulled into the embrace. The spark of doubt was short lived. As always, her family rallied around her. Another thought spread like the icy footprint of a yeti on her chest. “What if she doesn’t choose me back?”

  “We will be there for her regardless.” Diana whispered. “Besides we’re awesome, who wouldn’t want to be part of this?”

  Amari kept an arm around her sister, head leaned against hers. “This is crazy.”

  “Exactly our brand.” Diana jostled Amari, pulling out a chuckle. “Crazy convinced us that a bunch of unwanted teens could be a family as real as flesh and blood.”

  “We got lucky didn’t we?”

  “So did Nova. You’re gonna be a great mom.”

  “Mom?” Amari sank into the waiting chair.

  “Yeah that is kinda what happens when you claim a sixteen year old when you are old enough to be her mom.” Diana chuckled, brows raised.

  “Mom?”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Diana snapped her fingers in front of Amari’s face. “Hey, where’d ya go?”

  “How do you be a mom?” Amari stared, wide-eyed. Her fingers absently playing with a loose puzzle piece.

  Amari’s eyes tracked to the six chairs that fit perfectly around the large surface. The weight of starting the next generation, the future of the Polaris pack settled on her shoulders. She wasn’t ready for this, to be the first, blazing the trail.

  Diana’s face softened. As she sat in her spot to Amari’s right. “Ask Rema, she’s the one that practically raised us.”

  “I don’t know if I will survive if Nova puts me through half of what Rema put up with.” Amari combed her fingertips into her head pressing them firmly into her head.

  “You have what Rema didn’t.”

  Amari tilted her head curiously.

  “More adult backup.” Diana leaned in. The sincerity in her eyes held Amari’s gaze.

  Amari nervously chuckled. “She needs to be okay.”

  “We will do everything we can. I will go check in with the Alpha King, see if he knows of anything new that affects Mutares.” In one smooth motion, Diana turned towards the back door and pushed in her chair. “Go be with your girl.”

  “Hey did you ever catch up with that girl?”

  Amari turned in the hospital corridor towards the ICU nurses station. The older nurse smiled genuinely. “I did.

  “Everything good?” Knowing eyes sparkled above a hopeful smile.

  “Yes. She is safe at my sister’s.” Amari nodded back.

  The past twenty four hours had been a nightmare. Nova had tossed and turned on the couch as whatever was in her system fought to stay. Amari stretched her lower side, the recliner didn’t offer the best night of sleep.

  “That’s good dear. She’s a sweet girl, just needed the right person to come along and help her out.”

  Amari lifted the manila folder she held as a goodbye. Not officially on the clock yet, but no one needed to know the truth. Clipped within the folder were a set of dates and vague details. Orion failed to gather the names of all the most recent Mutares, but he had gathered suspicious calls from dispatch for what they called animal attacks.

  Casually Amari walked to the end of the hall. A beep rang out as she swiped her badge to enter the records room. The outer walls were lined with colorful folders, hard copies of patient records should the electronic ones become inaccessible. She smiles politely to the records keeper. Apparent boredom neutralized her face as she locked down her nerves. The first hurdle was tackled.

  Quick taps on the space bar, the computer screen lit up. Guilt halted her hand. Every professional bone in her body screamed this was wrong. Her teeth pulled at her lip, a metallic taste poured onto her tongue. HIPPA was near sacred, to wantonly disregard it and steal patient information left a queasiness inside her.

  “You are not stealing under your own authority.” Ruac’s voice filled her mind.

  Amari paused, shifting inward to her mental forest where the comforting image of Ruac waited. “I am glad you are here.”

  “I am never far.” The corner of his mouth pulled up, like a loving parent gently reminding their child. “Your wolf called out to me in your distress.”

  “Everything within me says this is wrong.” Amari knelt before him, hands twisting in her lap.

  “If you were doing this of your own volition, it would be.” Ruac lowered his head to her level. “But I gave your brother authority to investigate and delegate tasks to his team to figure out what is happening in the area. I am afraid there is a cascade, someone accidentally turned someone and they are out in the wind not realizing they are changing others. We need to know if this is a fluke or planned. Your job as my emissary wouldn’t be necessary if these accidents weren’t happening.

  “Furthermore, this is to the benefit of everyone. Humans do not need packless wolves transitioning in the middle of town. And these wolves, my wolves, need to have a choice. I do not want them pulled fully into this world without their consent. I want them to be able to choose for themselves to allow the transition.” Ruac raised his brows in question.

  “I understand. I am grateful I had that choice and you patiently helped me through the process. I don’t want human or wolf to be harmed.” Amari felt bolstered.

  Her eyes focused on the screen. She assigned the filtered dates plus a few weeks, perhaps this had been going on longer than they realized. The list filled the screen, it was more than she thought. Better safe than sorry, she printed the whole thing. Tucked in the folder, she texted Orion a snapshot. “Got the list. We got our work cut out for us. We may need to pull in Max and Elias.”

  “Hey, you okay? You missed turnover.” Amy laid on her folded arms on the high countertop.

  “Lots on my mind, I was just running late.” Amari pulled her bag over the folder, pushing both into the corner of the desk.

  “Anything you want to talk about? I am a great listener.”

  The chipperness of youth that could survive on minimal hours of sleep grated on Amari. She breathed deep and slowly released it, fixing a smile on her face. “I appreciate the offer. My life just changed once again and I am still wrapping my head around it.”

  “I get it.” Amy rapidly seasawed the pen between her fingers against the desk. Her eyes lit up. “Hey, how’s that girl doing? The one you checked on?”

  “Great. I kinda adopted her? Or at least she is staying with me.” Amari scratched her brow. Despite the misgivings, the corner of her lip pulled up.

  “That is great. I think you would make a great guardian.”

  “Yeah she is at my sister’s house at the moment.” Amari dropped her chin in her palm. “I need to figure out furniture and stuff.”

  “I can ask around. If that would help?”

  “I would appreciate that.” Amari nodded as the doors opened. A rough looking man walked in holding a towel to his hand. Amari grabbed a clipboard and stood. “Good evening sir. My name is Amari and I will be accessing you this evening. What has brought you in?”

  “Nothing major, but I figured you’d have the supplies to patch this up real quick so I can get back on the road.”

  “You drive a truck? And came in willingly? On your own?” Amari glanced over her shoulder to Amy and grimaced.

  “Yes, Ma’am. I think a splint would do the trick. Ya got that right?” He nodded and smiled.

  “How about you come back with me and we can get a set of vitals and see if we can get you fixed up.” Amari gestured with the clipboard. She followed close behind, arms ready.