Shay lifted his head as if he’d heard my thoughts. But when he turned, I realized that he’d recognized my scent. The thought made my skin hum and I found myself running to meet him, casting the dark-haired girl a menacing look as I pushed past her.

“Calla!” Shay said, reaching for me. “Are you all right?”

My heart was beating too fast and I could barely catch my breath. I’d been afraid I might not see him again. That neither of us would live through this ordeal.

I started to nod just as my legs gave out, but Shay was there. His arms caught my waist as I collapsed. I clung to him, knowing that he was as strong as I was now. I could crush him in my grip without fear that I might hurt him. Shay tightened his arms around me and I pressed closer. One of his hands came up and cradled my head against his chest, his lips brushing the crown of my hair.

Shay. Shay. I took a deep breath. His scent, the scent of spring, warm and hopeful as the sunlight that filled this place, poured through me.

Burying my fingers in his hair, I pulled his face to mine. I could taste his surprise, sweet and bright, when I kissed him. The sweetness turned to warmth, then heat as his mouth trailed over my cheek.

“Calla,” he whispered, catching my earlobe in his teeth—a wolfish gesture that made me nuzzle his neck affectionately. Mine. He is mine.

“It was killing me that I couldn’t be with you,” he said, pulling back so he could look at me. “God, it’s good to see you.”

Connor whistled, and the girl’s curious gaze sparkled with mischief. Despite my relief at Shay’s presence, I silently cursed the momentary lapse in caution. I should know better. This wasn’t a private reunion. Our every move was being observed. I’d missed Shay, every ounce of my being ached with wanting to touch him from the moment I laid eyes on him, but I didn’t need the Searchers to know that. I forced steadiness into my muscles, wriggling out of his embrace.

“I’m fine, Shay,” I said, trying to ignore the wrench of loss I felt now that he wasn’t holding me. “For the most part. A little confused.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Monroe said, coming toward us. “Shay, I trust you’re well.”

“I’m better now,” he said, not taking his eyes off me. My toes curled as he ignored my attempt to distance myself and pulled me back into an embrace.

“I’m pleased that Calla has made a full recovery too,” Monroe said. “It would have been tragic if we’d lost her.”

I barked out a harsh laugh. “Lost me? I seem to remember being shot by him.” Ethan didn’t flinch when I threw an accusing glare his way before looking back at Monroe. “And that you knocked me out.”

He nodded, offering an apologetic smile. “We needed to know more about who you werebefore we knew if you could be an ally.”

I cast him a suspicious glance.

“And we did everything in our power to ensure that you recovered swiftly.”

This time it was Shay who snorted. “Yeah, like I have any reason to trust your healers.”

I turned in his arms to look at him. “Healers?”

My memories of the time between the battle at Rowan Estate and waking here were jumbled at best, terrifying at worst. It was obvious something had healed me, but I didn’t remember when my wounds had been treated.

“I don’t know what they did to you.” He shot an angry look at Monroe, who shrugged.

“The bolts kept her under for a long time,” Monroe said. “That’s what they’re designed to do. Our healers made sure all the toxins were removed from her blood. There shouldn’t be any lingering effects.”

I howled, struggling across the floor to his side. Each step was agony. The crossbow bolts still protruded from my chest. The blood in my lungs was slowly drowning me.

When I reached him, I shifted forms, buried my hands in his fur, and shook his shoulders.

“Shay! Shay!” Even as I clung to him, I could feel strength ebbing from my limbs.

“Enchanted bolts; hope you’re enjoying the ride.” Ethan’s gravel-rough voice drew my eyes to the side. He had the crossbow trained on me once more. “Are you the one who turned him?”

My chest was on fire, my vision blurred. I nodded and slumped to the floor, rolling alongside Shay.

My fingers flew to my chest again, which had tightened at the memory, at the thought of bolts piercing my flesh. Kept me under?

“How long?” I whispered.

“What?” Shay had put his hand over mine, curling my fingers in his own.

“How long was I out?” I asked. “How long since we left Vail?”

“About a week,” he said.

A week. In some ways it didn’t sound like much time at all. But when I thought of what could have happened to my pack in a week, what could have happened to them in a matter of hours once my flight from the union had been discovered, it sounded like an eternity.

And Ren. What had they done to him? He’d lied so we could escape the pursuing Bane pack, and there was no way the Keepers hadn’t discovered that treachery.

I trembled and Shay tightened his grip on me, but in my mind I was in the arms of someone else.

Ren’s voice seemed to come from right behind me.

“I don’t know how to believe you. Any of this. What else is there? This is who we are.”

“That doesn’t make it right. You know I wouldn’t abandon my pack unless I had to,” I said quietly. “Unless it was the only way to help them.”