Page 79 of Tattered Bonds

“I’m not exactly sure”—Heather sat on the hard ground—“but I’m going to take an educated guess that we arenotin Kansas anymore. And since I can’t sense Kale at all, it seems he hasn’t joined us in this sauna.”

“You’re quite observant for someone who cannot see,” Andora remarked.

Jewel pushed herself up from the dirt-covered ground and felt a body moving next to her. She turned and saw that the twisted version of her mother had traveled with them to wherever Celise had sent her and the others. Her stomach coiled as she looked at what felt like a distorted remnant of her mother’s soul. It was all her fault. The mantra of her entire life would be those words.

“Heather,” Fane spoke up, “you’re here with me, Andora, Jewel, and some sort of apparition of her mother. I have no idea where we are, but you’re right—your mate isn’t here, nor are mine or Jewel’s.”

Heather sighed. “Damn. Couldn’t we have at least gotten Zara, Kara, Myanin, or even Jen for some entertainment? No offense, but you’re all intense and, for lack of a better word, boring.”

“You have the strongest alpha in history, the Sprite Queen, and a genius healer with you,” Andora pointed out, “and you’re concerned about being entertained?”

Heather picked up a rock and skipped it across the ground. “If we’re stuck in a place that feels like hell, and probably looks like it too, with no idea how long we’ll be here, then yes, I’m interested in having something to take my mind off things. Laughing is good for the soul and keeps up endorphins and stuff.Ask the genius. She knows.” Heather turned her head in Jewel’s general direction. “What do you say, healer? Am I right?”

“Not to burst your bubble, Heather,” Jewel began, “but considering I’m the reason we’re in this situation, I’m not the genius you all thought I was.” Her head dropped as bile rose in her throat. “I don’t know who I am anymore, or who I’ve become. What I do know is I made foolish, selfish decisions because I wanted my mother back, even though it was the wrong thing to do. And now I have this … thing with me. I was cruel and unloving to my mate. I disregarded the pack and those I love. I’m the reason we’re separated from our mates. I wish more than anything that my death—my blood and life force—would fix it all. In my afterlife, I could atone for my sins, even if it meant being separated from the Great Luna and all her goodness. I’m no help to you. If anything, I’m a liability.”

The silence felt like the loudest shout of condemnation in Jewel’s mind. It was all that she deserved.

“Damn,” Heather muttered. “That was a lot more than bursting my bubble. Next time, maybe just dial it down to ‘I’m kind of short on facts right now.’ Simple and way less ‘let’s un-alive ourselves’ vibe.”

Jewel ignored the healer, who usually entertained her, and tried to avoid looking at her mother. She stared at the ground, willing it to open up and swallow her. Then gentle fingers touched her chin and lifted her head. Fane was staring down at her, his blue eyes glowing with his wolf.

“Every single person we love has caused us pain in various ways. It’s the nature of our free will to choose between right and wrong.” His deep voice was undeservingly gentle. “You’re no different from any of us, and you’re not loved any less because of your choices. Every person who showed up for you today did so of their own free will. They did it because they will forgive you. They’ll pick you up when you fall and help guide you back tothe narrow path, where doing the right thing is so much harder than doing the easy thing. They do this because they love you, because you’re pack, and because you belong to the Great Luna. Ultimately, it’s Her judgment that matters.

“The greatest act of evil you could commit now is to not forgive yourself or give your pack the chance to forgive you. Ending your life is not the answer. It never will be. Do you understand, Jewel Black?”

Tears streamed down her face as she looked up into the face of a man, an alpha, who truly loved every member of his pack—even her. She took a deep breath and nodded.

“Good,” the wolf in him growled in approval. “Now we’ll figure out where we are, find a way out, and”—he glanced at the blind healer in the group—“make sure Heather is entertained along the way.”

Heather grinned. “From the moment I saw you, I knew you’d be a great alpha.” She snorted and stood up. “I crack myself up. Maybe this is my opportunity to prove I’m my own entertainment. Damn, that sucks. Only boring people are here to witness my rise to greatness.”

“Yes, I’m sure the disappointment is crushing.” Andora rolled her eyes.

Jewel walked over to Heather and took her hand, placing it on her arm.

“Is your creeper mom still attached to you?”

“Yes.”

Heather nodded. “Cool. Maybe she’ll appreciate my entertainment. I’m completely fine with dead people finding me funny.”

Jewel didn’t bother to tell the other healer that her mother didn’t seem to exhibit any emotions. She simply began walking, following Fane, praying to the Great Luna that this wouldn’t be the end of their time in this life. She prayed with everything inher that, like Fane said, all those she loved, including Dalton, would be given the chance to choose to forgive her. Everything she did from this moment on would be for her mate and for her pack.