The sky is bright when I open my eyes. The grass is soft on my back, and the delicious scent of honeysuckles and lavender hangs heavy in the air. I breathe it in and smile. It's a beautiful dream. Everything is warm and full of life. I don't want to wake up from it.
"Laila," a voice calls out. I run my hands through the grass before sitting up. The dress I'm in is so white it glows in the sunlight, almost in an ethereal kind of way. "Laila."
I glance over my shoulder and see a woman I don't recognize. She's beautiful with long, whitish-blonde hair and dressed in a white gown similar to mine. "Hi," I say to her as I get to my feet. "Do I know you?"
She smiles and shakes her head. "You know my younger brother … Beck. My name is …"
"Ella," I finish for her. "I've heard a lot about you." Brows furrowed, I stare at her curiously, knowing something isn't right; the dream feels all too real. I run a hand over my chest, and there's no wound. The last thing I remember is being stabbed with an iron dagger. "This is a strange dream."
Ella's smile fades. "It's no dream, Laila. You're really here."
I look around at the landscape. The trees, the rolling hills, and the shimmering lake all have a twinkling glow to it. "Where is here exactly?"
Ella walks closer to me. "It's called the Hereafter. It's where faeries go when they move on. You, however, are stuck in both worlds. I'm here to help you."
I can feel the panic rise inside of me. "Where's Cedric?"
Her gaze saddens. "He's in the mortal realm, waiting for you to come back." She holds out her hands and looks down at mine. "May I?"
I nod, and she reaches for my hands, holding them tight with her eyes closed. "When I touched you in the mortal realm, I could feel something holding you there, but then there was something else trying to push you out." She opens her eyes. "Now I know what it is."
"What does that mean?"
She shrugs. "It means you have a choice to make. You can stay in the Hereafter, or you can come with me, and I'll take you back to your mate."
"There's no question about that. Take me to Cedric."
"Are you sure?"
Why would she ask that? "Is this a trick question? Why would I not want to go back to him?"
She squeezes my hands. "Because it's not in the way you think. Taking you back doesn't mean you get to stay."
By the way she looks at me, I can see the truth in her eyes. "I'm dead, aren't I?"
"Yes and no."
"What's going to happen when you take me back?"
She shrugs. "I don't know. This is new to me. I've never met a half shifter, half-fae before. The magic in your blood is exquisite. All I can say is that I'll do everything I can." She squeezes my hand again and smiles. "Sometimes love is the most powerful magic of all." The wind whips around us, and she blows out a slow breath. "Close your eyes, Laila."
I do what she says, and when I close my eyes, everything changes. The warmth on my feet disappears and is replaced with snow, but what catches my attention most is the smell. Cedric is close, and so is the rest of my pack.
"You can open your eyes now."
What I see breaks my heart. My lifeless body lies on the ground, surrounded by my favorite flowers with Cedric draped across my chest, his shoulders shaking from his sobs. Beck is on the other side of my body, holding my hand with who I assume is his mother beside him. Amelie and Faith are clutching each other and crying while everyone else in the pack stares on in sadness.
"You said I'm both alive and dead, right?" I say, my throat clenching tight.
Ella lets my hand go so I can get closer to Cedric. I kneel beside him and try to touch him, but my hand runs straight through him like a ghost. "A part of you is dying, Laila. Your heart has stopped, but it's only one portion of it. I've never seen anything like it before."
"What does that mean?"
Ella looks down at my body. "The wound you have wouldn't kill a shifter, but it would if you were fae. That's the part of you that's dying." She kneels and takes my hand, and also places her other hand on my lifeless body. "Your wolf is still alive in you, Laila. She is what's trying to push the poison out along with the blood Cedric's been giving you. It's helping, but it's not enough."
Tears fall down my face. I can't stand seeing Cedric in torment. "Why is it not enough?"
Her gaze shifts to something in the distance, and she smiles. "There's someone here who wants to see you. Maybe I should let her explain." She pulls me up, and the next thing I know, we're just out of the circle, only a few feet away from Cedric and the others. I can see my father standing off to the side, his body as still as a statue but with tears falling down his cheeks.
"I love you, Dad," I whisper.
A bright light appears in the woods, taking on the form of a woman, but I can't see her face. That is until the light dims. Gasping, I fall to my knees when I see my mother's face. She rushes over and falls to the ground with me, flinging her arms around me. "Oh, Laila. I was hoping it wouldn't come to this."
I hold her tight and burst out crying. She's even more beautiful than I ever imagined. "Mom. Is it really you?"
"It's me," she whispers. "I'm so proud of you, darling. You've become exactly what I hoped you would." She slowly lets me go and wipes away my tears. I bring my hands up to her face and sob some more. She's really here with me.
"How are you here?"
Her lips tremble. "Laila, I never left you. I've been by your side ever since you were a baby. I've watched you grow into the woman you are now. It killed me when I couldn't help you get away from the Sierra pack, but I knew you'd find a way." She cups my cheeks. "But at least I'm here to help you now."
"What do I do?"
Taking my hand, she leads me over to my body while Ella follows us. The pack has disbursed to give Cedric his time with me. Beck is now on his feet, standing a few feet away with his mother still beside him.
Still holding my hand, my mother stops by my body and looks down. "You're not going to like this, Laila, but to go back to your mate, you have to sacrifice something."
"What?"
Her smile saddens when she turns to me. "You're holding onto the fae part of yourself, my darling. That's why the poison is staying with you. Cedric's blood and your wolf are trying to take over, but you won't let them. It's the only thing keeping you alive right now."
My throat closes up. "That part of me is my connection to you. That's why I've held onto it so hard."
She steps in front of me. "I know. That's one of the reasons why I'm glad I'm here. It's okay to let me go. I will always be a part of you, whether you have magic or not." Her warm, gentle hands caress my cheeks. "Your happiness is all that matters to me. You have so much to live for, Laila. Let that part of you go. Being a wolf is who you truly are."
"How do I do that?"
Ella places a hand on my shoulder. "I'll connect you back to your body. The rest is up to you. All you have to do is fully embrace your wolf and give in to that part of yourself. Hold on to the love you have for your mate. Then and only then can you make it back to Cedric."
I'll do anything to get back to him. "Okay," I whisper. "I can do it."
She takes a step back. "I'll let you say your goodbyes to your mother. We'll head back when you're ready."
My mother lifts my hand to her cheek. "Now, I have to let you go. I think this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do." She lowers my hand, and her gaze wanders over to my father. "I've watched him too. It breaks my heart how much he's suffered over the years. Your mate doesn't need to lose you, but neither does your father."
"He misses you, Mom."
Her eyes glisten when she focuses back on me. "I miss him too. I loved him more than anything, and I still do. When you go back, I want you to give him something." She opens her hand, and a smooth green rock appears. "Tell him I'm happy and that it's time for him to be happy too. This rock will show him the way. Take it."
"How will it do that?" I ask, taking the stone from her.
Her lips pull back mischievously. "I can't tell you everything, my darling. Just know that his time will come, and he won't be able to fight it. I hate I won't be around to see it all unfold."
"Where will you be?"
A tear falls down her cheek, but it's Ella who answers. "She stayed in the mortal realm for you, Laila. Guess you can say you were her unfinished business. Now she can move on to the Hereafter until it's time to see you again. I'll take her there as soon as we get you back."
My mother places a hand over her heart. "You'll always be in my heart, Laila, just like I know I'll be in yours. That knowledge is what I'm taking with me to the other side."
"I love you, Mom." Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her tight. I don't want to let go.
"I love you too. Make sure to tell Ariella that I miss her. And tell Beck thank you for me. As much as I love him, I was rooting for Cedric."
We both laugh, and I clutch her tighter. "I'll tell them."
"Are you ready?" Ella asks.
I can't leave Cedric to suffer any longer than he already has. "Yes," I say, letting go of my mother. I squeeze the rock she gave me in my hand and hold it over my heart. "Goodbye, Mom. We'll see each other again."
She nods. "Yes, we will."
Ella guides me over to my body, where Cedric still holds onto me. "I'm coming, Cedric," I whisper, wishing he could hear me.
Ella takes my hand and reaches her other one out to place it on my physical form. I take one last look at my mother and smile before everything disappears. All that's left is a bright light and the beating of my heart. I know what I have to do.
* * *
I don't know how long it took from being in the Hereafter to waking up in my body, but the second I'm connected, I gasp and open my eyes. In the same spot, I'm on the ground when I viewed everyone from the other side. Cedric jumps back in shock, but then he lifts me in his arms. My body is weak, but I hold onto him as hard as I can. Amelie and Faith burst out crying, and everyone cheers. Some of them shift and take off into the woods. I'm itching to turn and run under the full moon. I've never had that strong of an urge before. Beck holds a hand over his heart, and I smile at him.
"I'm back," I cry, snuggling into his chest and breathing him in. "I'm not going to leave you ever again."
"Laila! Holy fucking shit." He pulls me back and kisses me, his lips desperate against mine. "You died. How did you come back?"
Cupping his face, I wipe away his tears. "I'll tell you everything, I promise. Right now, I'm just happy to be here with you." A few seconds later, Ella appears out of thin air beside him. Beck and Ariella surround her, and she nods at them. "Did she go?" I ask her.
She turns to me and smiles. "She's where she belongs."
Cedric helps me to my feet. "Who?"
Tears fill my eyes again. "My mother. I got to see her." And just like that, I remember the green stone. I open my hand, and there it is. Amelie and Faith rush up to me and crush me between them.
"Don't you ever scare us like that again?" Amelie demands.
"I won't," I promise. "You're stuck with me for a long time."
Micah joins us and hugs me, along with Sebastian, Bailey, and Tyla. Ryker throws an arm around Cedric, and it feels good to see him smile.
"How about we go for a run?" Ryker shouts to the pack.
Faith nudges me with her elbow. "I think that's everyone's cue to leave you and Cedric alone."
I hug her. "Probably. I'm dying to run too, though. We'll be out there shortly."
It's a magical thing to watch everyone shift into their wolves and race out into the forest. I can't wait to do it myself. My body feels different, more alive. Once everyone is gone, the only people left are Beck and my father. My father slowly walks toward me, but I run up to him and fling my arms around his shoulders.
He breaks down, and I do the same. "I thought I lost you."
"You did," I say. "Luckily, I was able to come back." I let him go and look right into his stark blue eyes. "There's something I have to give you." Holding out my hand, I open it to reveal the green stone. "I wasn't alone on the other side. Mom was there, and she was so beautiful. She wanted me to tell you that she's happy now and that you need to find happiness as well."
His eyes widen. "You saw her?"
I nod. "She's been watching us all these years. She told me this stone would help you find your way and that she hates she won't be able to see how your story unfolds."
"Why not?"
"Because she moved on to the Hereafter. She doesn't need to watch over us anymore."
Lips trembling, I hold the stone out to him. I don't know what my mother did to it, and I can't sense the magic on it. It's one of the things I'll miss about giving up the fae part of myself. My father reaches for the stone, and when he touches it, he sucks in a breath and falls to his knees. He grabs his chest as if he just ran fifty miles.
I drop to my knees. "Dad, what happened?"
Clutching the stone in his firm grip, he shakes his head and looks around quickly. "Nothing. It was nothing. I have to go." He hugs me one more time and then shifts midair as he heads the opposite way into the woods from the rest of the pack.
Cedric squeezes my shoulders from behind. "What was that all about?"
I shrug. "I wish I knew."
"I'm glad you got to see your mother," Beck calls out. "I wondered if you would or not." He closes the distance between us, and Cedric lets me go so I can hug him.
"She wanted me to tell you that even though she loves you, she was pulling for Cedric."
Cedric belts out with laughter behind me, and Beck rolls his eyes. "That's because she has a soft spot for wolves."
I step back toward Cedric and lean against him. "Thank you for everything, Beck."
He shakes his head. "I couldn't save you, Laila. It's the one thing that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It's because of me you were brought into this."
"We don't have to worry about that anymore," I murmur sadly.
Averting his gaze, he nods. "I know, and I'm sorry. I hate it came to that."
"Came to what?" Cedric asks.
Beck steps back and glances at us both. "I'm sure Laila will tell you everything. Right now, I know you two need to be alone. It's not every day you come back to life."
He turns, and the air starts to shimmer. "Beck, wait," I call out. "Will we see you again?"
Grinning slyly, he glances at us over his shoulder. "Of course. I wouldn't miss our Friday night card games for anything." He disappears through the portal, and I smile.
Cedric slides his hands to my waist and turns me around. "How did you come back, Laila? Something tells me it wasn't easy."
Stepping closer to him, I place my hands on his chest to feel his heartbeat; it's strong. "Actually, it was easy," I say in all honesty. "I had a choice to make, and I didn't think twice about it."
Cedric tenses. "What was it?"
I lean up on my toes and kiss him. "Your blood helped save me, Cedric. That, combined with the shifter part of me, is the only reason why I'm standing here."
"What happened to the other part?"
I shake my head. "It's gone. That's what I had to give up." His eyes flash with despair, and he turns away, but I grab his face. "It was the only way, Cedric. The iron had killed that part of me. That's why I died. I didn't want to let that side of me go, so it kept me in that state of both alive and dead. When I found out the only way to get back to you was to let my wolf take over, I didn't think twice. Being with you is all I want."
"But your magic? It's gone. That's who you are."
"No," I say more adamantly. "This is who I am. I don't care what kind of blood flows through my veins just as long as I have you."
Cedric blows out a sigh and lifts me into his arms. "I love you, Laila. I was lost without you."
"I love you too. I saw you on the other side when I died. It's something I don't ever want to put you through again."
Gently, he rubs his hands up and down my back. "Are you ready to go home? I know it has to be exhausting coming back from the dead."
A laugh escapes my lips. "Yes, I want to go home, but not to rest. There's something else I'd like to do more." My wolf stirs inside of me, and I smile. "I'll race you." I run straight for the woods and shift into my wolf, laughing inside when I hear Cedric scrambling to catch up to me. This is where I belong.