My Secret, My Bully, My Mates by Miss L

I wake up to a finger stroking my cheek and someone is playing with my ponytail. I take a deep breath in, they are all still here with me. I sit up and look out the window. It doesn't look any different than when we were here the other day. It's a clearing similar to the one behind the packhouse that the students use, but the twenty foot circular patch of wolfsbane lies in wait. The tall plants are deceivingly beautiful with their long pointed leaves scaling up each stalk meeting up to brilliant purple trumpet shaped blooms. Even with the pointy leaves the plant looks soft and unassuming as it sways in the breeze blowing off the ocean a few miles away.

"Gentry needs us, are you ready?" Cam asks softly.

we climb out of the truck.

and my dad make a second circle behind them. For the first time I wish that Gwen was here in this mess too, but she is helping with all of our pack members in the Royal pack. Gentry and Elena motion us forward and I see stones and bundles of different herbs on the ground all around the circle. We walk up and Gentry positions me

at all times, you will be tied to her and any movement can harm

I am not here and I am actually okay with the whole thing. I am trying to tune her out. If I don't have to say anything or repeat anything then I

just stare at the unassuming wolfsbane and as I do I see the magic floating around it. The protections cast on it are purple like the flowers. But instead of a bubble like I saw on the packhouse it is like a mist or more like dust particles floating around. Little motes you can see when the sun hits them just right. Each lazy mote just sways with the flowers, not floating up or down, just hovering through the plants. I can feel my eyelids getting