Chapter 16

Steam rolls off the glistening pool, beautiful purple petals dotting the surface with sprigs of lavender and other various herbs melding together to make the perfect recipe for calm and healing. It smells amazing "It feels amazing, doesn't it? The air?" Penny says, releasing a satisfied groan. Then she moves around me with a plush navy robe and a set of slippers. She sets them on a chair near the steps of the water ar much."

"Is everyone allowed to use them?" I ask her, and she shakes her head.

"Yes, but this one is for the alpha family's personal use. We all have one in our own homes, but without all the marble and ornate gold displays. Also, much smaller, like ten person bath, not 200 person pool." She gives me an amused wink.

"I see." I mutter, moving over to the chair and slipping off my shoes.

Penny apparently figured

out my clothing size and sorted out a bikini for me. Not that I'm not grateful, but this might be more revealing than the underwear I own. I'm not quite comfortable in my skin, so I wait for her to give me a nod as

I release a nervous sigh and undress down to my suit before taking one last look at the untouched water. It's amazing how much it just looks like it will heal me. So I step in, dipping my toes into it first as heat s "Healing water, my ass," I mutter to myself. "More like boiled Colette soup with how hot that is." I bite my bottom lip, groaning in lead

up before I gently step down onto the first step, holding my breath to keep from letting out a squeal.

The liquid burns my skin, the oils and herbs latching onto my flesh as I step down one more and then another. until I am fully in the pool. I bend my knees, allowing the water up to my n*ck as I exhale in relief, Every Achey muscle seems to meld with the water, feeling like it is just an extension of me. It almost tickles, the way it swirls around my skin and draws out my pain with something as simple as heat and medic herbs.

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Chapter 16

I reach up and pull my hair out of its elastic band and tilt my head back, submerging it up to my hairline as a satisfied gasp dances past my lips and I smile. My wolf is happy. Each moment leads to more relaxa washes away.

For a second I feel the pull to put my head under the water, but my stomach tightens in fear and I decide to give myself a little more time. The last time my head was fully submerged was in my nightmare state. at least not at this precise moment.

Instead, I move to the stairs and sit, resting my head on one of the upper steps as a sort of anchor, then I allow my b*dy to float up. My b*dy is weightless, my mind free as my eyes fall closed and my wolf pran Since being here, since losing Grady, she has done nothing but hide, only doing what she must to keep me aware of her presence. It felt like we were no longer in sync- well, for years really, but now, she has allowed me back in. Her presence growing stronger by the second. And my heart and soul feel at ease.

I hum in the large room, my voice echoing back to me. I've never had an affinity for music, but it feels natural to sing when

been. My mind wanders

suffocating. I sit up, my hand on my throat as

legs wet and warm grounding me in knowing I am still physically in the healing waters. But mentally, visually, I am lost and scared. I drop lowe There are no green

one of legends told,

love, in the

mate cries out in the

other must always

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Emergency calls onlyMDE

Chapter 16

cry in their time of

come to me, my

come complete your soul,

mate is calling

mate is

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as tears stream down her face. I reach out, remembering this is all in my mind. Her eyes turn to

of my dying mother bleeds from my mind like a memory fading, the thought

eyes, blinking at the steam, my consciousness back in the now. The words of her song resound in my mind. That was no

me. How? I don't know how, but I know

the truth.

how hard I tried,

an image I thought was made up or thought was

My

water, is replaced with a

to leave this room. It feels. sacred now. Like a connection between

through the room as it makes me feel closer to her. I sing it on repeat, familiarizing myself with the tune

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