"Where do I even start?" The woman says, moving to sit on a small boulder between two trees.

"the beginning is always a good place," I joke. moving to sit with my back against a tree.

The woman smiles softly but shakes her head.

"Who's beginning? Yours? Mine?" she shrugs her delicate shoulders as she looks to the sky, "The one before me? The one before her?"

"I don't understand."

"My point is that all of us have one unanswered question. Where did this power actually come from? You've got it from me. I got it from another. She got it from someone else. No one knows where it started or why." more questions than answers popped into my head and I tried not to let my frustration show.

"I know what you're thinking because I remember being in your shoes many years ago. It didn't make sense and honestly, some parts never will. Have you discovered your powers?" Her fingers lace together as she looks at me like how my school teachers would look at me.

They knew the answers and they would watch me with patience as they waited for me to get there.

"I can see colors around people. I think mates will have matching colors," I think about my dad and Asher both with their different shades of red around them.

Even Dylan and Jaclyn had the same shade of blue.

"Correct, the colors you see are the mate bonds waiting to form. As the gift develops, lonely or desperate wolves will come to you and your mate for guidance or a second chance," the woman nods thoughtfully, "anything else?"

Reed's call is closer this time, pulling my attention away before I can answer the question.

"Is he going to find us?" the woman asked gently, her eyes staring off into the distance where the call came from.

"I don't know," I whisper, my gaze dropping to my feet. I honestly don't know if I want him to find us or not.

I want to share this with him as he has the gift too. But it was mine to have first. And Reed seems to think that I will go to shadow wolves with him without a thought to Moonstone.

Maybe finding out what all this power and circumstances mean will make my choice clearer.

"Where is your mate?" I ask suddenly, remembering that she said she would go to him.

The woman takes a deep breath, her fingers lacing together in her lap as she watches a squirrel run passed us.

"He's been gone for many years now," I can hear the sadness in her voice even though she doesn't show it, "The locket is a blessing, but has a curse attached too. I can't go until I've passed the power on completely."

My fingers reach for the locket but only find my skin. I got so used to wearing it, that I didn't even realize it wasn't on anymore.

"I tried to give it to another once, but she was killed before -"

"Killed? He wasn't her mate was he?" Harley's story comes to the forefront of my mind.

He had said his grandfather was mated to a wolf who was chosen. I didn't think anything of it, but it would make sense, especially considering he wouldn't bite over my mark. He said that would kill me and the locket would go back. I didn't realize then but he said it with such certainty as if he knew from experience and not just a guess.

"I didn't warn her, I didn't think to-" She nods solemnly taking a steady breath, "So I needed you to be extra careful. I needed you to be my savior," her eyes glass over and for the first time, I could see the tears building, "I needed you to free me. It's been so long that I've been without him."

I felt my own tears fall down my cheek and my heart hurt for her. Harley had said the last time the locket was around, was his grandfather. I could only guess at how many years it has actually been. Being away from Reed during all this felt like madness and it was only days.

Years would have felt like slow torture.

I close my eyes as more tears fall, thinking of Reed. Suddenly our problems seem so small in comparison. Does it really matter which pack we live in as long as we're together? Both packs would have excellent leadership regardless, with a peace treaty with the other.

"Aspen?" the woman and I both look behind me at the hesitant voice.

Reed's chest is heaving with labored breath, his hair stuck to the sweat on his forehead as his eyes jumped wildly from me to the woman and back. I moved before he could say anything, launching myself into his arms but he caught me with ease.

"I was so worried," he whispered, nuzzling his face into my neck as he held me a little tighter.

"I'm sorry," I pressed a kiss to his sweaty shoulder, just enjoying the feel of his arms around me.

"Welcome, Reed. I wasn't sure if Aspen was going to let you find us or not," I felt Reed's head snap up like he forgot there was another person with me and I slowly untangle myself from him.

His hand stays on my hip, our sides pressed tightly together. He's sending me a message, he's not letting me go again, not that I'd want him to.

"Who are you?"I could hear Alpha Reed in his voice and I turned and slapped his shoulder lightly.

He may be upset with me for running (again) but he doesn't need to be rude. Especially to a woman who was obviously crying.

"I gave Aspen the locket,"

"You gave her that cursed piece of shit?!" he growled out, his eyes darkening and fingers digging into my flesh.

His anger in nearly tangible and any other wolf would be terrified at the intimidating Alpha looking at them like they're a rabbit in the wolf's path. However, the woman looks unaffected as she wipes her tears with her fingers, standing to face the two of us.

"Yes," she says simply, clasping her hands in front of her, "But no need to worry. There is only one curse left to it now, and it's one that she hopefully won't have to face for a lifetime," the woman's eyes met mine and I know all the things she's not saying.

One day, I will lose Reed and it will be my responsibility to pass on the locket - the power - before I can join him in whatever comes after this life. My curse to live without him for however long it will take.

As much as I thought it impossible, Reed's arms tighten around me as he looks defensively at the woman.

"For now, Reed, it's a gift. One that only you and Aspen have in this world," she steps forward, her hands reaching out and lifting both our chins, "and the happiness you will bring to those who need it most, will outweigh the weight of the past.

"The worst for you is over, Reed. Only happiness lay ahead of you, don't waste a minute of it, for it will be gone too soon." She leans forward and presses a kiss to his cheek before looping her arm through mine, "Walk with me a moment, we'll stay within sight of your mate."

"Aspen?" I can't tell if Reed's voice is a warning or a plea but I look back at him and nod my head once, giving him a soft smile to try and ease his mind.

"What happens now?" I ask, finally voicing the one thought that has been going through my head like a carousel.

The woman sighs, her eyes sweeping over the trees surrounding us, before landing on Reed a few feet behind us.

"Now, you go back home and live your life," her eyes meet mine and she smiles softly, "You learn and grow from what's happened the last few weeks. You develop and challenge yourself to master the gift I have given you. You have the power to help, comfort and protect those who need it. You are stronger now and even an Alpha can't stand against the power of your wolf, even him." she nods her head to where Reed is still standing, poised to rush over here in an instant if he had to.

My mind reels to take in all the information she is giving me. Trying to figure out exactly what it means.

"Don't doubt yourself. I didn't just choose you at random, just as you won't choose the next one at random. It's something you were destined for, just as I was and just as the next will be. You'll know it when you feel it."

"Thank you," I don't know when the tears started filling my eyes, but I couldn't stop them from falling down my cheeks.

The woman reached out and grabbed my face between her hands, her thumbs wiping away my tears as they fell.

"No, Aspen. Thank you," She leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

With one last look at Reed, she stepped through the trees and a second later, disappeared from sight.

A sense of peace washed over me as I stared after where she had gone. She's finally going to be with her mate again. Fresh tears rolled down my face, but they were tears of happiness at the reunited mates. I turned to face Reed, who had moved to stand behind me, the heat from his body warming my own.

Without missing a beat, his lips pressed gently against my own, the salt from my tears flavoring the kiss as I wrapped my arms around him. I clung to him, committing to memory every detail from how his skin feels under my fingers to the way his own hands hold me firmly yet delicately at the same time.

Someday, many years from now, I'll live for these memories. Using them to push myself forward when I'm sure I'll want nothing more than to drown in them. But that is a long way off and for now, I just want to make the memories and not focus on what they'll mean eventually.

"Take me home, please," I whispered against his lips.

I laughed as he quickly swiped his arms under my legs, sweeping me into his arms bridal style as he walked through the woods back to the house.