chapter twenty-four
They left at first light and made it to the glade a couple hours after midday, where they were met by Emerson, Jager, Palmer, and Garrick.
Emerson ran up to Jordan and threw her arms around her in a bone-bruising hug. “Thank the mighty moon!” she cried.
Jordan squeezed her back. When she pulled away, she saw Garrick clap a hand on Raider’s shoulder and grin proudly. “Good job, son.”
Palmer came over and gave her a quick hug. “Happy to see you unharmed.”
As Aden lay David’s body on the ground, Jager made a strangled sound in the back of his throat, limped over, and hung his head.
“Where’s Sydney?” Sasha asked.
“Why?” Palmer wanted to know.
“Because she’s responsible for this,” Jordan ground out.
After she revealed the truth behind David’s disappearance and her own capture, Palmer’s face paled. He gripped his neck, his eyes turning glassy as he stared, unfocused, into thin air. “After she heard that Elsie was performing a location spell to find you she disappeared. I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning,” he said numbly.
“Then we’ll hunt her down,” Emerson said.
Jager clapped his hands together to get everyone’s attention.
“As soon as she’s found, I want her brought straight to me. She is not to be questioned until she stands before council. We will announce our decision to the rest of the pack afterwards.”
Palmer gave a slight appreciative nod.
“I can do a location spell if someone has a piece of her clothing,” Elsie offered.
“No need,” Emerson ground out between her teeth. “My wolf will find the evil little bitch.” She flexed her fingers as though they were already claws.
“Emmy, don’t hurt her,” Palmer warned.
Emerson threw her hair back with a violent jerk, as though ripping the skin off a deer. “You mean don’t hurt her the way she hurt me?” she snapped. “Now I know who tried to poison me. Amber saw her by my bowl of stew the night before I fell ill. I didn’t think it could possibly be her, but this confirms it. Sydney tried to kill me then tried to get rid of Jordan for good.” Emerson smacked a fist into her palm. “She better hope I don’t find her first.” With that, Emerson stormed off.
“Someone better go with her,” Aden warned.
“I will,” Jordan said.
Aden grimaced. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I’ll shadow Emerson,” Sasha said in a rush of words that followed her as she went after the blond shifter.
As their group dispersed, Jordan followed her own lead.
“You don’t have to search for her,” Raider said, joining her side.
“I want to.”
He gave a slight nod. “Where are we headed?”
“The Forest of the Ancestors.” With her eyes locked straight ahead, Jordan picked up her pace.
Even at midday, the dense canopies looming over the burial forest kept it damp, chilly, and dark.
Jordan shivered as they walked deeper into those haunting woods. Eyes and ears open, she and Raider didn’t speak as they searched behind tree trunks and thick overhead branches that lent themselves to climbing.
They had a plan to first search in human form. Jordan expected to find Sydney crouched beneath their mother’s tree or hovering in the branches, and she wanted to be able to pull her down.
Before completing their first sweep of the forest, a snarl and scream made Jordan’s heart leap into her throat.
Jordan and Raider raced through the woods, jumping over rocks and whipping through bushes, following the sound to a spot in the woods where a crude shelter had been built with branches over two large logs. Beside the shelter, Wolfrik had the hem of Sydney’s dress between his teeth.
Wide-eyed, Sydney looked at Jordan and screamed, “Jordan, help me.”
When Jordan looked at her, she felt nothing—not vengeance nor the blinding anger Emerson had expressed. She felt neither of those emotions, and she certainly didn’t feel mercy. The moment Sydney had left her in that net, she’d become dead to her.
Wolfrik growled, and Sydney gave an alarmed cry.
Raider took a cautious step toward them. “Wolfrik, she needs to stand before council.”
The color drained from Sydney’s face, and she went very still.
Wolfrik didn’t release her skirt as his body shuddered into his shift. When the transformation was complete, his teeth still clamped over Sydney’s dress. He spit it out and stood, arms folding over his chest as he did. “You’ve been a very naughty girl, Sydney.”
She lifted her head and looked up at him with widening eyes. “It was an accident,” she said. “David and I just wanted to do a little exploring.”
“David’s dead!” Wolfrik snarled.
Sydney’s mouth gaped open seconds before she threw her head into her hands and sobbed.
Wolfrik’s lips drew back in disgust. “We should put her out of her misery,” he said, looking between Raider and Jordan.
“That’s not how we do things, and that’s not your call,” Raider said.
Wolfrik grunted. “Council’s gone soft. Maybe I should join.”
“Too late,” Raider said.
“I want to know why you did it,” Jordan said, aiming a cool gaze at Sydney.
Her sister looked up, teary-eyed, though no wet streaks left her eyes. Her lower lip trembled, but no words came forth.
Wolfrik made a gruff, gurgling sound of disgust from the back of his throat before grabbing Sydney by the arm.
“It doesn’t matter why. It’s time she answered for her crimes.”
Sydney whimpered when Wolfrik jerked her forward.
“Let’s go,” he ordered. “The council can’t wait to condemn you.”
Once it got out that they’d found Sydney and brought her to Jager’s hut to be guarded, Sasha fetched the rest of the council. They gathered at Jager’s hut to determine the shifter’s punishment. Several shifters outside of council were asked to stand witness, including Jordan, Camilla, Aden, and Wolfrik.
Jordan could barely look at Sydney as the proceedings began. Since locating her in the Forest of the Ancestors, she’d collected herself. There wasn’t so much as a tremble in the girl’s thin arms, nor a tear in her eyes. Looking at her made Jordan feel hollow, as though she were staring into an abyss. Emerson didn’t take her eyes off Sydney. She watched her the way a hawk watches a mouse, waiting for the perfect moment to swoop in and crush her bones. Camilla kept shaking her head, muttering, “I can’t believe she’d do this,” over and over again.
There wasn’t a drop of compassion in Jager’s eyes as he locked Sydney in his steely gaze.
“A pack member is dead because of your actions,” Jager said with cool contempt. “David is gone. Do you understand? Did you see what they did to him? Did you look at his body?”
Finally, tears sprang to Sydney’s eyes, and her chin trembled. She inched over to Palmer’s side, but he stared at the ground, seeming to have the same trouble Jordan was having looking at her.
“You leave me no choice but to recommend the council banish you from Wolf Hollow immediately.”
Camilla gasped, gripping her cheeks between her hands.
“You can’t do that,” Sydney cried. “Put me on probation. You put Garrick and Zackary on probation. You have to put me on probation.” She said the word over and over as though if she said it enough times Jager would relent.
Ignoring her, Jager looked into the collected faces of the council members who stood in a group by Sydney. Raider’s arms were folded, and Ford mimicked his stance.
Heidi wrung her fingers—she was the only council member who was visibly shaken, which made sense, Jordan thought, as she was the only mother present. “What Sydney did is inexcusable, but banishment…” Heidi’s voice trailed off. She looked at Jager with widening eyes. “A young shifter on her own out there—it’s a death sentence.”
“The same she bestowed upon David,” Jager answered, his jaw set, no trace of pity in his weathered face.
“I don’t see that we have any other choice,” Sasha said. Her tone was simply matter-of-fact.
Aden lifted his hand.
Jager coughed. “Yes, Aden?”
Lowering his hand, Aden stepped forward and addressed the council. “I could take her to Glenn Meadows and see if they would take her into their pack… on probation.”
Palmer looked up and smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Aden. That is a generous offer—one I support.”
“I support it, as well,” Heidi said.
Sasha tapped her fingers against her leg. “They would have to know every detail of why she is banished from Wolf Hollow.”
Raider cleared his throat. “I think Sydney’s sisters have the right to vote—even those not on council.” He looked at Jordan.
Emerson scoffed, though she was on the council already. “No, no way,” she said, folding her arms over her chest. “What’s to stop her from poisoning one of their pack members or luring one of them away from the pack one day just because she feels like it?” Emerson’s eyes flashed with malice. Her glare turned steely and cold.
Sydney choked back a sob. “Emmy, I never meant to hurt anyone.”
“Save your breath. You’re dead to me.” Emerson bit out the words.
Sydney sobbed, her chest heaving. Tears leaked down her face, which she buried in her hands. Acting on some deeply buried paternal instinct, Palmer put his arm around her then jerked away as though remembering her treachery.
“Jordan?” Raider said.
She shook her head to clear it. How many times had Raider said her name? Two? Three?
He studied her expression with furrowed brows. “Is there anything you want to say?”
Everything went quiet. Too quiet. She didn’t want the attention. She didn’t want to speak. “I have nothing to say,” Jordan said barely above a whisper.
Emerson saved her from elaborating. “This is bullshit,” she snarled. “There’s only one clear choice here, and that’s banishment. Stop looking at her like she’s a little girl who didn’t know any better. Take another look at David then make your decision, the only right one—banishment, plain and simple.”
Palmer hung his head.
“I’m open to Aden’s suggestion so long as the Glenn Meadows shifters are made aware of everything leading to her expulsion from the hollow,” Sasha said.
“Fine, let’s take a vote,” Jager said. “Jordan and Camilla are welcome to vote with the council. All in favor of banishing Sydney from Wolf Hollow, but allowing Aden to take her to Glenn Meadows and see if they have a place for her, raise your hands.”
Palmer, Heidi, Sasha, Camilla, and Aden raised their hands.
“Those in favor of banishment without aid, raise your hands.”
Jager, Emerson, Ford, and Raider raised their hands.
Five against four. If Jordan put her hand in the air, she could bring the vote to a tie and potentially condemn Sydney to a life alone—however long that lasted. If she kept her arms firmly locked around her chest, Sydney would get a second chance at pack life if the Glenn Meadows shifters were willing to take her in.
“Jord,” Emerson hissed, eyes stretching with impatience.
Eyes unfocused, Jordan shook her head.
“Why?” she asked Sydney, finding her voice, giving her sister one last chance to explain herself. “Just tell me why you did it.”
Sydney came into focus—her face a blank canvas as though she, too, were perplexed. Then her eyes seemed to clear and a brief flash of understanding flickered over the surface. “You and Emmy always ignored me.”
Thorny branches twisted down Jordan’s spine and scraped her gut. “So, you decided you’d punish us?” she asked incredulously.
Sydney hung her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She stared at the ground as though she, too, didn’t want to gaze inside herself for too long.
It’s like she’d been born without compassion. Jordan certainly could feel none for her. Having to live that way—without emotion or empathy—might be awful, but after everything Jordan had been through, she couldn’t dredge up any feelings for Sydney. She couldn’t feel beyond the empty hollow of nothingness.
“It is not for me to decide her fate. I accept the majority vote.”
“I don’t.” When Emerson snarled it sounded as though she’d partially shifted and her wolf wanted blood. “And I hope the Glenn Meadows shifters have enough sense to send her away.”
“Emmy—” Palmer said.
Even Jordan’s mouth hung ajar. She’d never heard such seething tones from Emerson.
Emerson pointed a finger at Sydney. “She poisoned me for no other reason than being a psychopath.”
“Emmy, please,” Palmer said. “You’re okay now. We’ll send her away.”
Emerson stopped prowling and went still. Her face turned red, and her eyes narrowed before her voice exploded around them. “I could have died! And I would have if I hadn’t gotten help. We could have lost Jordan forever.”
Blond hair flew back as Emerson stormed out of the clearing, leaving everyone momentarily speechless.
Jager cleared his throat. “Majority vote wins. Aden will take Sydney to Glenn Meadows and speak with their elders about taking the girl into their pack. It is now up to another tribe to decide her fate.” Eyes cloudy with age sank into Jager’s wrinkled face with displeasure. He’d voted against sending Sydney to Glenn Meadows. It didn’t surprise Jordan that he was the type who’d want to take care of problem shifters himself, not pass them on to another pack.
Palmer began to speak next. Jordan didn’t stay to listen. She felt no need to say goodbye to Sydney. Instead, she hurried after Emerson.
The forest trail greeted Jordan like an old friend. She jogged then broke into a full run until she caught sight of blond hair shimmering against the sea of green.
“Emmy!”
Emerson whipped around, face still contorted in rage. Jordan caught her breath and stopped in front of her sister.
“It makes me sick, what she did.” Emerson’s fingers balled into fists. “Father has no idea Elsie helped me shift or that I would have died otherwise. Sydney’s worse than a vulhena. I bet even those abominations wouldn’t kill one of their own. Our own sister.” She sucked air in through her teeth.
“I can’t. I just can’t begin to comprehend it.” Jordan shook her head.
“She’s like a mad wolf in human form—no reason or thought.” Emerson jammed a finger against her temple. “Remember how jealous she was growing up? She always hated how close we were to Mom and to each other. I bet she hated how close we were to Raider, too.” A low growl rose up Emmy’s throat. “She was right about one thing. There’s something wrong with her. Very wrong.” Emerson’s lips pulled back, revealing clenched teeth. “At least I don’t have to ever look at her again. If only I could forget about her—erase her from my mind for good, as if she never existed.”
“Time will help.” Jordan didn’t know what else to say. It wasn’t much, but it was the truth. The pain of losing their mother never went away, but with time it had become a dull ache rather than a fist beating her chest relentlessly. Only time had eased the loss. No words in the human language could help. No howl from her wolf’s lips could chase away the heartache. Betrayal wasn’t loss, but the emotions ran as deep. Blinding, blistering, all-consuming anguish or, in Emmy’s case, anger.
Emerson flexed her jaw and flared her nostrils. “No,” she said. “No amount of time will erase the memory of what she did.”
Emerson took off, arms pumping, legs flashing through the forest, and blond hair billowing at her back before Jordan had a chance to say another word.
She would have run after her, but she’d noticed Raider leaning against a nearby tree watching them, and the pull to her future mate was stronger than the bond of sisterhood. It was sad. It was beautiful. It was life.
Hopefully Emerson would find comfort in Gina’s arms and learn to let go of Sydney’s betrayal.
Raider pushed away from the tree and walked to Jordan. “She okay?”
“I think she will be eventually.”
“Are you?”
The concern in Raider’s eyes melted her heart. There was so much love and tenderness in his gaze, all edged in passion, need, and possession. He made her ache with desire to embrace every moment they had together. This shifter was hers. Jordan didn’t need time to heal her. She’d never felt happier.
“I am.” She smiled.
She was home. She was free. And she’d found her mate.