Chapter 20

 

I woke up early and watched the sun rise slowly over the farmlands. Reaching beams touched the alfalfa and corn in shades of deep meadow green and sunflower orange. A part of my soul belonged to this land, to the fields I had worked at Dad’s side, to the mountains in the distance and the playful breeze that brought with it the scent of morning dew and rich soil.

I took a deep breath and held it, memorizing the way the fresh air filled me completely and cleared the remnants of sleep from my mind. I let it out slowly.

Footsteps sounded behind me. I recognized them and nodded.

“Time to go,” Jaze said quietly. I turned back to see my parents waiting by the helicopter, their arms around each other and accepting expressions on their faces. Gem poked her head out of the chopper. She waved at me excitedly.

I took one last look at the fields bathed in early morning light, then crossed to my family. A part of me belonged to the fields, but the girl who shared my soul watched me with dancing blue eyes and a heart-stopping smile. As I waved farewell to my parents, her hand slipped into mine. I watched the farms fade away in the distance and felt the rightness of it all. I was a werewolf, and though the future was uncertain, I would face it with the love of my life, my Gem.