KARA/CAROLINE

I punched in the security numbers to the dungeon and sped down the stairs.

Guard Ryan was there at the bottom. "Caroline? What are you doing here?"

"I'm going to heal them," I panted, trying to get past.

He grabbed my wrist. "I'm sorry. I can't let you be down here without Beta William."

I turned to him, momentarily distracted. "Huh? Why not?"

"You do not have proper authority to be down here alone."

What kind of old-fashioned crap was that? "Excuse me? Am I too woman to be down here? Uh, news flash Ryan, I have plenty of authority to be down here." My voice turned belligerent. "I healed like ten of those wolves. And I healed you! Now get your hand off me!" I pulled away.

"I'm going to have to report this Caroline," he threatened softly.

"Report this," I said irritably and touched his arm, sending him falling down to sleep.

I walked on to the center of the room with wolves and men starting to inch up on me. "Tell William if you must but come any closer and you all are taking a nap."

One brown wolf turned eyes to a sleeping Ryan crumpled to the tile floor.

I then let the wolves go out of focus, in favor of the werecreatures. My heart started to race, and my breathing picked up speed. It was time to put my theory into action.

Could I heal with singing instead?

I took off my wedding band and placed it in my pocket. I needed to have an adequate test to see if I needed the ruby too.

And I closed my eyes and brought the song from the depths of my belly, singing Newsies again like I had in the cavern when I felt that energy rage through me.

♪ Now is the time to seize the day,

Stare down the odds and seize the day.

Minute by minute, that's how you win it,

We will find a way, but let us seize the day. ♪

The chattering of the werecreatures in the cages grew, the noise became a roar of buzzing as they paced.

As I continued, they started dropping to the floor one by one, screeching their own song of pain. I loudened like I needed to let them hear over their own yowls.

♪ Courage cannot erase our fear

Courage is when we face our fear! ♪

Power rolled across me and goosebumps danced down my arms with a strong tingling sensation. I could feel the universe coming through me, and I allowed myself open and let it crash into me. I held my arms open and out to my sides, feeling the bolt flow through me strong and rocketing about to all the creatures around me.

William and the others from council made it down to the dungeon floor then, all faces deeply set in wonder as they took in the sight before them.

Some guardian men and wolves bent to a knee under the rush of power surrounding them. Werecreatures in the cells, all perfectly still to their floor. Bones snapping and popping the only sounds backing up my voice.

I held my hand out to William and he took tentative steps to me, placing his hand in mine. When he did I closed my eyes in appreciation. He helped center the flow, though he didn't need to be there, he was tied to me now and everything would always be easier with him near.

♪ Behold the brave battalion that stands side by side

Too few in number and too proud to hide. ♪

William stared around wide eyed, marveling at all the creatures now becoming their human counterpart in each cell. My eyes focused beyond in concentration of the song, bringing it to a close.

♪ Then say to the others who did not follow through

You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you. ♪

When my song stopped there the whole dungeon remained eerily silent. The quiet so much stronger a noise than any the many cages full of howling creatures could have made.

I will fight for you my wolf friends.

We all stared around, each too afraid to break the quiet.

William then looked down to our entwined hands and brows furrowed. He then dug in my own pocket and brought out the wedding ring replacing it on my finger.

"Sorry." I grinned sheepish. "I had to test my theory."

The men and wolves who were kneeling, pushed themselves to a stand then, almost like it pained them to move.

I turned back to where Ryan was as he was sitting up, arms wide to hold himself and staring at me nervously.

I grinned. "Nice nap?"

He stood as if it was hard for him to do too. "Please don't do that again."

"Don't try to stop me." I shrugged then looked to William in annoyance. "Apparently I don't have clearance to be down here?"

My eyes then roved over Eric. "Mr. Alpha would you please update that policy?"

Eric looked to the nearest cage, a bare woman with flames for hair lying lifeless on the floor. "Uh, yeah. She can be down here."

I turned back to Ryan giving him a look that screamed I won that round.

William chuckled under his breath and Guard Aaron came up to him, arm outstretched in a gesture to shake hands. William complied with a grip in his.

Aaron announced, "I'll be the first to say, I'm not getting on your female's bad side, Beta William."

"You're telling me," William sent a wink my way.

I held my hand out to shake his next with a smirk. "You better not Mr. Aaron."

Aaron looked at my hand like I was holding a handful of stinging insects and then swallowed.

"You don't want to see what I can do?" I lifted an eyebrow.

He twisted to Ryan quick then looked me up and down. "I think I've seen enough."

I put my hand down, wondering if I could bring out his wolf by voice instead and was tempted to try it, until Eric finally recalled he was the Alpha and started putting things in motion.

"Guards, get these people upstairs."

A scurry of movement then happened around me, Aaron led the group, most likely very welcoming the distraction from my touch.

Eric studied me, eyes strong. "That's why everyone always feels so empowered after you sing."

"What?" I asked.

"It's always been words in passing, but when we sang on that stairwell, I had so many people tell me that our singing was just heavenly. They got tingles or felt lighter all day. I just told them singing always causes endorphins, but it was deeper than that. Wasn't it? It's how you sing. It's more than just music."

I looked to a crack in the tile below his feet and shrugged. "Is it?"

"You told William you took lessons as a child," Eric supposed.

William's shoulders flattened and he nodded. "Her grandfather's book spoke of healers finding their token as a child." He then smirked at me. "When I asked what sang to you, I wasn't meaning your literal voice, sweetheart."

Everyone laughed.

The air was then quiet for a moment as we watched wolves shift human and start taking bodies up the stairs to the hospital wing.

When the guards had left, and only us from council and a few unconscious forms still filling the cells were left, Eric stepped closer to me. "I went to help Alpha David after your rescue. We got the rest of the werecreatures out of the cavern. All were in various forms of being healed. Some completely, some half or even between. We thought it was just that you went through them before you got captured. But that wasn't it was it?"

"Some were already healed?" My head shook softly. "No. I hadn't even finished healing myself before we all got hit with that smoke."

He nodded to the floor, fingers combing through his beard in thought. "I should have put that together when you told the story earlier. Your song on the table. When you broke your wrists. That was it, wasn't it?"

I shrugged, trying to recall. "I think I remember the creatures getting louder. It didn't mean anything to me at the time either."

He smiled and patted my shoulder.

"Alpha David has been helping them. When the fully healed one's wake, he'll get them rides back to their respective packs. The less healed will need your help eventually."

I turned to William, ready to hear him complain that I needed to rest.

He sighed and pulled me into his arms, topping my hair with a kiss. "Whenever you're ready to sweetheart. I won't stand in the way of your mission."

I giggled, pulling away just enough to look up at him. "Mission?"

"Yes, mission. Moon Goddess sent you here to heal these men. I can't dictate when you feel good enough to heal anymore."

I leaned up and gave him a quick peck. "I'll still take it easy, as I'm learning too."

"Thank you," he bent to rub his nose over mine.

I pulled away giggling and Jeremy stepped up, finally not part of the silent crowd. "Who would have thought that tough guy William would be giving out Eskimo kisses? It's disgusting if you ask me."

William's arm came out to push him away. "No one is asking." Jerkoff, he added silently.

"Hey," I complained. "Don't be rude."

"You heard that?" His bright blues caught on mine. "I keep forgetting I can't always keep you out either."

The line of guards came back to the dungeon for the rest of the healed men and women. I turned to Jeremy. "How are Max and Elaina?"

Will's arms came around my center, pulling my back against his chest.

"They're good. I convinced Elaina to get medical attention too, so she's in the bed next to Max. She remarried last year, so maybe it was good that Dan never got back there. They both would have been devastated. Mr. Hall came in from Fremont late last night after her. He's there with the both of them."

Smiling, I gave a slow nod. "That's good. I'm glad they have Max back."

He sighed. "Yeah. And that kid was ecstatic to see his new dad. Dan would have been really happy that his family was being taken care of at least."

"Of course he would have."

As the last of the guards left again, I turned back to Will. "Does this mean I can heal Melvin now? He can go to trial?"

He shook his head. "They'd still know it was you."

"I wouldn't even be touching him."

"We wouldn't be able to get anywhere near him."

"We say we're family and want to say goodbye," I offered.

"Won't work. They wouldn't let visitors. Seriously Love, he's only got days left. We wouldn't be able to get to him. Let's just let him die and have Moon Goddess take care of him in the afterlife."

My jaw clenched.

I would find a way.

Tarin came up on us, trying to delicately disrupt. "I may have an idea."

I turned to her expectantly.

"How far can your voice reach?"

I looked to an empty cell, wondering myself. "Not sure."

"You two could go to DOSS's headquarters and ask for a marriage certificate."

Eric nodded at the suggestion, adding his thoughts. "You two have to get registered anyway. It's a good excuse. You go there, sign the paperwork and she sings. Maybe he'd hear."

William frowned. "That building has thirteen floors. There's no way he'd hear her."

Tarin made air quotes. "Hit the intercom, on accident?"

Eric smiled. "That could work."

William growled. "Maybe she'd heal everyone in the building. Wouldn't that look a little suspicious?"

Jeremy hit his arm. "Ah, come on Willyboy. You just said you wouldn't stand in the way of her mission. Maybe it's her mission to heal the monster too. Let him pay for what he did to us."

William grit his teeth, but he didn't argue.

"It's as good of plan as any." Jeremy continued, "and hey, maybe you guys walk up and his window is open. You just sing to him from outside and don't even have to go in. It could happen."

I considered the possibility and looked expectantly to William.

He sighed and brought me back into his arms. "I won't stand in the way of your mission."