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SARITA ARRIVED AT HER aunt’s home just before noon and sat in the bedroom designated as hers whenever she visited. She stared at the various maps on the wall without really seeing them. Red, yellow and green lines zig-zagged with matching colored pins highlighting various cities she’d visited in her quest to be cured. Halas had been a surprise. Sarita sensed the woman spoke truthfully, but she’d sensed the same from the other specialists.

Her thoughts refused to settle. Her normally laser focus shattered as her heart lurched in her chest. Itching increased whenever she became distressed or overly excited. She searched for her gloves.

Where was David? How could he be missing? It wasn’t like him to disappear like this. Especially without telling her or his den-mates. Hearing footsteps, she slipped the gloves into her pocket and took a sip from her water bottle.

Aunt Piamitsu, Pia for short, knocked and stuck her head in the door. “Got a moment?”

Sarita nodded and sat up as she walked in. Dressed in an oversized coral top and jeans, her pregnant aunt smiled at her. A cream-colored band pulled her hair back, highlighting her cute heart-shaped face.

“Are you going or staying?” her father’s only sister asked. Gray eyes, similar to Sarita’s gazed down into hers.

The answer weighed heavy on her chest. The past few months Sarita had gone back and forth in her mind. The risk of contagion weighed heavily on her. 

Renee’s wedding loomed in the distance and Sarita still hadn’t given her parents an answer. Renee was disappointed and took it personally that Sarita hadn’t agreed to be in the wedding, which led to all kinds of questions. Questions she wasn’t ready to answer. Now, with David’s disappearance, she wasn’t sure.

She released a long breath. “I think I’m going.” She shared the absence of David for the past three days with her aunt.

“Honey, I’m sorry. I know how you feel about him, don’t give up, there’s probably a good reason he’s not responding.” Her aunt cupped her cheeks and smiled.

Sarita would never be a touchy-feely person outside of her immediate family but understood other people needed to extend comfort in that manner.

“That’s not it.” She shook her head. “I can’t get through to him. It’s like I’m blocked or something. Something’s wrong.” She couldn’t imagine or accept him deliberately avoiding her. He wasn’t that way. No matter how much they disagreed with her choices, he wasn’t petty enough to block her like this.

“Blocked? That is strange.”

Sarita nodded. Halas implied the High Priestess would get in touch with her but didn’t say when or where. But she couldn’t wait around, finding David was more important. She tugged on her ear and closed her eyes, searching for him. “He’s in northern Canada,” she murmured.

“Why? What’s up there?” her aunt asked.

“He’s doing work for his father.” Sarita hadn’t told anyone about La Patron’s expansion plans. She figured they’d all find out when everything happened.

“We’ll be leaving next week, we’d love for you to come with us if you’re not going to the wedding.” Sarita heard the hope in her Aunt’s voice. She hated disappointing people, but it always seemed to happen. Even if she wasn’t going to the wedding, she wouldn’t head to the French Rivera with dark lines all over her body.

If she didn’t hear from David or Jackie soon, she’d be flying to Canada to find him. “Thanks, Aunt Pia. I’m pretty sure I’ll be at the wedding. Mom and Dad are expecting me. Plus I haven’t seen Kayden and Wyatt in years. Mom says they’re big like dad and the best fighters at the school.”

Aunt Pia laughed. “Of course, a mother would believe that.”

“No. They’ve won tournaments. Mom says they’ve got lots of trophies and she’s running out of places to put them.” Sarita missed her younger brothers and couldn’t wait to see them again. They talked once or twice a month on video messaging but that wasn’t the same as being with them.

“They’re handsome boys. I heard Niall asked Hawke to allow them to spend some time with him when they visit Alpha Barticus later this month. Do you think Hawke will let them see his ancestral home? See where we were born and grew up?”

Sarita met her aunt’s inquisitive gaze and hoped she answered her correctly. Her father rarely discussed his past, and when he did it was never flattering. His memories were so different from his den mates it was hard to believe they shared the same mam and sire. Pia had been sent away to live with a relative when her brothers, Alpha Lorenzo and later, Alpha Jireh defended their Pack against Alpha challenges. Both were killed, leaving the family shattered. Pia remained in a remote area and led a sheltered life. Niall had gone to college, while Hawke had been sold into slavery. The three, Hawke, Niall and Pia were all left of the once great, and powerful Alpha Hiram’s den.

“Probably. Mom wants them to know both parts of their history. Dad will most likely go along with it. He’ll send security or either come himself.” Sarita shrugged. With her dad, she’d learned not to second guess him. He hadn’t pushed when she wanted to remain abroad, even though she knew he missed her and wanted her close. Later she learned he’d contacted her aunt and uncle to make sure they kept an eye on her in addition to Alpha Barticus, her mom’s dad.

Pia released a long breath and shook her head. “Our family, den, needs to move forward. I want my pups to know their uncles, have relationships with their cousins. Be friends.” She ran her hand through her short, thick auburn curls and looked at her rounded stomach. “This one’s the start of a new generation, and I want things done right.” She patted and then rubbed her distended belly, something she did often.

“I’m sure things will work out,” Sarita said absently, her thoughts returning to David’s disappearance.

“Your mind is elsewhere. I’ll leave you to it.” Her aunt backed out, leaving Sarita alone with her thoughts. Standing she moved closer to the map and shook her head. It was no use. As long as David was missing, she couldn’t focus.

“Jackie?”

“Sarita?” Jackie said a few seconds later.

“Have you found David?”

“Yes. He fell down a cave in the Torngat Mountains. He’s trapped.”

Sarita’s heart clenched. Jackie talked to David and he hadn’t reached out or responded to her? That hurt. Curious about his condition, Sarita pressed for more information and learned the three only found David through their litter-mate connection. No one, not even La Patron had been able to reach him otherwise. That bit of knowledge eased the pain of rejection in her gut.

“Does anyone have the exact location where he fell?” Sarita tried locating him again. Nothing. Whatever happened to David, he would need her help.

“Daddy probably does. Are you going to Canada?” Jackie sounded hesitant. Not that Sarita blamed her. In the past few years, Sarita hadn’t been a good friend. Once the vines appeared on her skin and she learned they were contagious, she had disappeared without explanation and only remained in contact with David and her family.

“Yes. I need to help find him.” She didn’t add she may be the only person who could, worse she had no idea why she believed that.

“Contact Hawke or Asia, ask them to get the information. Daddy doesn’t want any of us to go. But I think Adam’s leaving for Canada tonight to help search. If he goes, Quinn and I’ll be going too. You won’t be alone.”

Sarita didn’t fear being alone, but she didn’t share that either. No one other than David fully understood what was going on with her and her need to find a cure for this disease.

“Thanks, I’ll contact Daddy when I’m at the airport.” Sarita started packing.

Jackie chuckled. “He won’t be able to stop you by then. Glad you haven’t changed. Hopefully, I’ll see you there.” She paused. “Are you coming to the wedding?”

“Yes, I’ll be there. Renee’s my sister, I couldn’t miss her big day.” Sarita made up her mind to attend the wedding. She’d wear a high-necked dress or heavy makeup on the lines. She prayed everything would be alright.

“Great, just so you know, we ordered your dress. You’re in the wedding.”

Touched, tears filled Sarita’s eyes before she joined Jackie’s laughter. It felt good. She hadn’t really given her old life much thought since the day she learned of her disease. Maybe that had been a mistake, one of many. Perhaps she should’ve returned to the compound for guidance. Fear kept her from the people she loved. Everyone except David. He refused to accept her answers and pressed until she shared everything.

That day, David wept with her and became her confidant during those difficult times. He’d been so upset when he learned she tried to cut the lines out of her skin, he had threatened to hunt her down and bring her home if she didn’t stop. She never told him how she’d used bleach, and even fire to get rid of the vines with no success. Thinking of those days hurt. In addition to loving him, she owed him for her sanity.

Sarita made a flight reservation rather than contacting her grandfather, Alpha Barticus, to use his private jet to Canada. He’d have too many questions and she didn’t have answers she wanted to share. So far, Kim helped her keep her condition a secret by vetting the specialists before telling Sarita about them. Otherwise, her grandparents would insist she stay with them, possibly infecting their entire home.

The flight left in five hours.

What about Halas’ prediction? Would the Priestess find her when she returned from Canada? She prayed to be healed before Renee’s wedding. The idea of being clean of the disease filled her with hope for a future.

David believed they were mates. Over the years she had grown to trust his judgment, so it was possible. No matter what, he owned her heart, which was why going to find him was the only thing she could do.

She packed her supplies, laptop, research notes and years of work into a dark brown leather case for storage. Staring at it, she took a deep breath. Everything else had to wait.

She just prayed that it would.

###

SARITA PAID HER CAB fare and stepped out at the airport, grabbed the handle of her carry-on luggage and hefted her large bag onto her shoulder. Heart heavy and missing David, she moved through the throng without paying attention to anyone. Her thoughts were centered on Canada, and how to find David in the Torngat Mountains. The largely unexplored place seemed primitive and massive. She’d hire a guide to take her to the area where he fell. In closer proximity, she believed she could pick up his trail. In her heart, she believed she could find David anywhere on the planet.

When she bumped into someone, she muttered an apology without looking. The next time she bumped into someone she glanced up as she apologized and paid more attention to where she walked. The third time she was bumped, no one was close enough to have made contact.

“What the hell?” She stopped and looked around. People moved but something was different in the air. It seemed thicker which made no sense. She couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong exactly, but the hairs stood on the back of her neck.

“Are you lost?”

“No, just...” Sarita leaned back and looked at Halas. “What are you doing here?” Too surprised to ask more than that, Sarita allowed Halas to pull her along. They cleared security and kept moving until they entered a room on the concourse.

“Stop. Hold up.” Sarita pulled back and held up her hand. “I’ve got a flight to catch.” She frowned as Halas shook her head.

“Not yet. Maybe later, right now you’ve got to come with me to get your problem fixed.

Hope warred with the need to help David. Whatever was going on with him, called to her. She couldn’t explain it, he was in danger. “I ... I ... I can’t. Someone close to me needs my help. I’ll come back as soon as we’re done.” She looked down at Halas hoping the woman would agree and understand.

“What do you mean? I’ve gone through a lot of trouble to find the Priestess to help you. Your vines are too close to your neck, that’s not good. I’ve never seen anyone with such a bad case. You need to get that taken care of now. There may not be time later.” She stared at Sarita.

“David?” Sarita called needing his advice.

“Listen,” Halas said gently. “Right now, your heart may be in the right place but you’re in no condition to help anybody. I didn’t want to alarm you before, but you’re sick, really sick and need help immediately. You shouldn’t even be at the airport around all these people or anyone. The more vines covering your body, the higher the risk of contagion.”

Sarita’s hand flew to her mouth as she thought of her pregnant aunt. Had she infected that family? Goddess, no! “I didn’t know it really was contagious, no one’s caught it so far.” She gulped a breath trying to stem the rising panic. “For years I didn’t want to take a chance and didn’t go home. Aunt Pia’s mate’s been away, and she begged me to come keep her company, otherwise... but I’ve been around her. She touched my face.” Sarita wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Did I infect her? The babe in her womb?”

Halas’ eyes closed, and she shook her head. “She’s with child?”

“Yes,” Sarita whispered.

“And she doesn’t know of the vines?”

“No.” Her throat clogged as her heart splintered. How could she have passed on this curse to those she loved? She’d tried to be careful, didn’t expose her skin, wore long sleeves and high-necked clothes. None of that mattered if she infected her aunt and the pup.

“Come, we’ll ask Isodora, she’ll know if you’ve passed this on to anyone and help correct the problem. The curse comes through the direct line, but the disease itself can be passed to anyone without the ramifications of the curse.” Halas looked at Sarita. “Understand?”

Sniffing, Sarita nodded. “Now I do. No one gave me a straight answer, I didn’t know who to believe, what was right or wrong. Thank you.”

Halas nodded and awkwardly patted Sarita’s shoulder. “Come along.”

Sarita followed her out the room down the concourse, and down the second set of stairs to a small waiting area.

“Sorry we’re running a bit late,” Halas told the woman behind the counter.

“No problem, the pilot’s on board and ready whenever you are. Enjoy your flight.” She typed in a code, opened the door and escorted them to a mid-sized plane.

Confused, Sarita looked at all the much larger commercial aircraft as she took the stairs to enter the plane. Inside, they were the only two passengers. She took a seat next to Halas as one of the pilots closed the door and locked them inside before returning to the cockpit.

“Whose plane is this and where are we going?”

Halas covered her hand. “It belongs to the Priestess, and we’re going to see her. I told you that.”

“How come we’re the only ones on the plane, besides the pilots, I mean?” The plane was moving.

“You’re contagious, no one else can be around you right now, I thought you understood that.”

Never in the past five years had Sarita sensed the devastation of this curse or disease as she did right now. A feeling of being unclean swamped her. When she thought of all the places she’d traveled in her quest for answers, the people she spoke to, sat next to, she cringed. “Please, please, please Goddess, don’t let anyone suffer because of my ignorance,” she silently prayed.

Halas patted her hand. “Things will work out, you’ll see, have faith.”

Sarita inhaled and wiped the tears from her eyes as they taxied out. “How did you know where to find me? I never told you where I was going.” She needed a distraction, something to take her mind off her life swirling in the toilet.

“Priestess. I told you, your vines are a beacon, easy to track and find. She wants to meet you.”

That surprised Sarita. “Tell me about her. What’s she like? How did she become this person? Is she old? Did she know Salah?”

Halas chuckled. “So many questions. Where to start? With Salah I suppose.” She glanced at Sarita whose hand curled into a tight ball as the plane lifted. A few seconds later she released it.

“Salah’s spirit lives on in every Priestess because she chooses them based on a variety of reasons. Strength, honor, loyalty, knowledge, wisdom...” She waved her hand. “Lots of reasons. But I think the most important reason is to ensure Salah’s story, the legacy remains alive. Salah’s example of a mother’s love is all-encompassing and must be passed along to future generations.” She glanced at Sarita and smiled. “The plane has leveled, we must get our own refreshments.”

Halas removed her seatbelt and walked to the back of the plane while Sarita remained seated, thinking. The mothers she knew were serious nurturers. Mama Jasmine and her mom would’ve done exactly what Salah did if one of their pups were missing no matter what danger they faced. She snorted and placed her fingertips against her forehead. Mama Jasmine would’ve fought the patriarch himself if he interfered with her search to find any of her pups, so would Asia.

So how did Salah’s line differ from the natural maternal desire to care for pups? Why make it a religion? Or something needing a Priestess? There had to be more to this.

“I didn’t know what you’d want to drink or eat so I fetched this, take whatever you want,” Halas said pointing at the cart.

“Thank you.” Sarita took an orange, peeled it and looked across the aisle at Halas who drank from a bottle of water. “I know there’s more.”

“Oh, there is. Quite a bit more. There was a time when pups were destroyed for being imperfect or used as bait to catch larger prey. The Alphas believed weak pups couldn’t survive harsh climates or long treks when the Pack moved on to find food. Pups were treated abominably for years. We lost several generations.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Bitches had no choice, no say in the matter back then, couldn’t protect their pups. It was a dark, difficult time.”

Used as bait? Killed for imperfections? She thought of Lilly and Alpha Cameron’s pups and shivered. Most of them were scarred from their time with the Liege. No doubt they would’ve been cast aside back in those days.

Sarita had been born in a lab and spent the first few years of her life with cold, callous men. But the bulk of her life was with her family at the compound. The love and acceptance she received wiped away the harsh earlier memories.

“How does that relate to Salah’s legacy? I understand she put her life on the line searching for her pup and was caught by the patriarch’s sons, but I still don’t understand why or how all this led up to me sitting here today.”

“So impatient,” Halas muttered before taking another sip. “To correct injustice there’s often a cost, a price to pay. Yahweh gave Salah gifts, but she paid for it with the life of her son. If asked, she would’ve preferred her pup instead of the gift. With gifts from Him came the responsibility to prevent the deaths of pups by ensuring an end to evil practices. In this generation, you don’t see the horrors of the past. That’s why you don’t understand the need for Salah.”

Halas met Sarita’s gaze. “It’s because of Salah’s work that this is your reality.”

Sarita nodded slowly. “We’ve escaped those fates because her people work in the background to make sure pups aren’t destroyed anymore? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes. Alphas who sacrificed pups were systematically removed by her heirs, hence the need for the skillsets you don’t appreciate. To go against an Alpha, it’s important to move like the wind, without being seen.”

Sarita nodded. That made sense. “Since the danger has passed, why am I marked? Why am I going through this?” She hated the whiny sound in her voice, but frustration choked her. “I’ve lost the past five years of my life trying to discover if I was dying, only to discover the lines crossing my body are from a group no longer in operation.”

“I never said they no longer operated,” Halas said quickly. “As long as full-bloods and breeds exist, there will always be a need to oversee the health and safety of pups. The moment we stop is when their lives fall into peril again, and generations lost, possibly the end of our people.” Halas’ gaze and tone sharpened.

“You’re involved?” Sarita had wondered why Halas kept showing up. “Are you the priestess?”

“No, I’m not. Do you want to know about Isodora? The Priestess?” She pursed her lips for a few seconds before speaking. “Isodora is a survivor. She’s tough but fair with a large heart for the less fortunate. She’s served as Priestess for decades and has done a great job at a tremendous cost. I hope she finds some comfort soon, her heart has been heavy for a long time.”

Sarita stared at Halas to see if she were being honest but couldn’t read her. No matter, she’d see for herself soon. “Do they expect anything from me?”

“What do you mean?” Halas asked before eating a cube of cheese.

“These lines mean I’m a descendant of Salah, right?”

Halas nodded.

“Does that mean I have to do anything in particular? Work or service?” Before being struck with the lines, Sarita had her life planned. She and David wanted to open a robotics company to fully explore the work the Liege started. They both believed it was better to deal from the offensive, rather than defensive position.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean? What about the others? What do they do?” Halas had to know something, anything.

“They serve the Priestess, righting the wrongs.” She looked at Sarita. “Everyone is different. You will talk to the Priestess and come to your own decision.”

That didn’t sound good or promising. Heavy-hearted, Sarita sat back in her seat and stared out the window at the clouds. Could her life suck more?