Amari’s neck convulsed as another lead pulled at her skin. Fake leather squeaked as she shifted in the cold seat. A sliver of wood pinched her skin as her fists tightened on her lap. Her eyes traced the line of red from the lead only to lose it in the jumbled braid of reds, yellows, blues, and whites. The machines laid out across the table were frankensteined versions of machines she recognized. Needles of a polygraph jumped sporadically with the slight uptick of her heart.

  “No need to be nervous.” Gail patted her shoulder. “It is intimidating but not invasive.”

  “Depends on what you mean by invasive.” Amari muttered under her breath. Not a single system in her body would be able to react without some bell or whistle or beep alerting the good doctor to its divergence. “What all are you testing?”

  “Heart rate, skin temperature, perspiration.” Gail double checked the security of the wires as she mentioned each gauge.

  “And the camera?” Amari looked past Gail’s white coat to the flashing red light. Her reflection stared back at her in the giant mirror behind the camera. Unnerved, she pondered who would be watching as she was interrogated?

  “That will catch expressions for review with the other results for verification.” Gail smiled widely at the thoroughness funds could provide.

  “Ah, you have all your bases covered.” Amari’s mind scrambled.

  Eyes closed, she desired to escape the plain white room and its cold grey metal trim. A few steps later, she approached her inner forest. Crossing her ankles, she slipped to the ground in her mind. Dejected, she hung her head.

  “I am with you little one. There is no need to fear.” Ruac’s nose pressed against her temple.

  “I am going to give everything away and my siblings are going to pay the price. Nova. Nova will be left alone again, or perhaps worse, be scooped up by the Morningstars.” A familiar painful pressure pricked at the back of her throat. Amari pressed her fingers onto her neck. Emotions helped no one.

  “It is natural to be scared, but I promised each of you that I would never leave you. I do not break promises.” Ruac sat lightly beside her.

  “But if the Morningstars find out about you.” Amari’s head jolted up. Her heart shattered and swelled at the compassion and kindness in his eyes.

  “They know about me.” Ruac tilted his head slightly.

  “What?” Amari swore there was a little smile pulling at his lips. “Then why is Orion and the rest of us investigating?”

  “You were to find out what was happening. What happens in the shadows at some point needs to be brought into the light. I simply direct those of you that live in the human world to help me bring the light.” Ruac stated simply.

  “The Morningstars know that you sent us?” Shifting to face him, Amari folded her hands back in her lap. Her neck craned back to look up at him.

  “Not exactly, they know some wolves are different, they do not fully understand the extent or reason.” Ruac’s tail swished, pulses of peace filled the air.

  “They don’t know what we can do or that you are the one that allows us to do it?” Amari searched his eyes. The pieces falling into place. She always knew those that were part of the Alpha King’s pack gained many benefits, a little more speed, agility, stamina, perhaps a gift like her and Diana’s gift with certain insight with smells. Gifts she used regularly and took for granted. Yet, somehow she never imagined wanting the gifts without Ruac.

  “They know of my power, and think that they can tap into it without submitting to my pack.” Ruac lopsidedly smiled, his eyes filled with sad mirth.

  “What? That makes no sense.” Amari chuckled ruefully to herself. It made sense, she turned away far too easily for her liking. Ignoring time with Ruac, she attempted to hold everything together on her own.

  “They believe they can manufacture the power by understanding it or by bargaining.” Ruac shook out his fur.

  “Bargaining? The only requirement is to submit to your authority and be in relationship with you….what is there to bargain about?” Amari slumped confused. Chin on her fists, she puzzled.

  “Not with me, little one.” Ruac’s rumble held sadness and a line of fury.

  Amari shrank, her head bowing. Sometimes she forgot the power he held to destroy worlds when he loved so deeply. “Who then could grant them power?”

  “You know who.” Ruac sighed.

  “No. Not him.” Amari breathed. The smell slammed into her mind. Apple blossoms with an undertone of gangrene. “He didn’t.”

  “He did. Be on guard, he isn’t alone.”

  “Neither am I.” Amari smiled up at Ruac. Strength and certainty settled over her heart. “What should I do?”

  “Lean on me. Keep your forest at the forefront of your mind. Remember how we trained together.” Ruac pressed his forehead onto hers. “Be ready.”

  “Are you ready to answer some questions for me?” Gail’s voice ripped Amari out of the forest.

  Blinking rapidly, Amari smiled tightly. “Ready as I will ever be, Doc.”

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  “Wonderful.” Gail pulled out the chair across from Amari. “Is your name Amari Spesy?”

  “Yes.” Amari pressed the splinter into her palm.

  “Do you have purple hair?” Gail looked up at her then at the needle and a few other screens.

  “No.” Amari released her hold. If she could confuse the sensors, she might be able to buy some more time to gather information of her own. How much does Gail know of the Fae? Amari’s eyes squeezed thin, her head tilted.

  “Are you in a relationship with Benjamin Mornginstar?” Gail read the next question on her list.

  Amari felt ice dump into her heart. Did Benjamin know about who his father visited? Could other wolves smell the rot growing within Mitchell? Her mind scrambled back. Could she have missed the rot smell within Benjamin?

  “Please answer the question.” Gail pressed, her eyes narrowed.

  “We are friends. Nothing official, this time round.” Her own voice sounded hollow. Amari breathed deeply, holding her breath for a beat.

  “Would you consider a relationship with Benjamin?” Gail’s head tilted.

  “What do these questions have to do with your research?” Amari countered, her eyes flicking towards the mirror just above the lens. Looking back at Gail, surprise painted her face a shade of pink. “You didn’t pick all the questions. What did someone hand you these outside?”

  “Just answer the question please.” Gail tapped her pen awkwardly. Her gaze on the needle never wavering.

  “There would need to be a very frank and in depth conversation about a few subjects. If we didn’t align then no. There would be no chance at a successful relationship.” Amari stared at the mirror at the approximate height his eyes would be at.

  “Thank you.” Gail flipped the page quickly. “Now.”

  “Onto your questions?” Amari pulled her eyes away from the mirror.

  Gail cleared her throat, she shifted her head slightly before turning back to the machines. “Do you or anyone you know have special abilities beyond what would be normal for a wolf?”

  “I always thought I was special.”

  “You know what I meant.”

  “But I do not know what is normal for a wolf.” Amari leveled her gaze at Gail. “I haven’t studied them.”

  “But you have been around them for years.”

  “And it would be like walking up to a strange woman and asking about her menstrual cycle. The nuances of our personal experiences are not always discussed.”

  “Fine.” Gail acquiesced. Her eyes drifted to the ceiling. “Are you normal compared to other members of your family?”

  “I don’t have Max’s iron stomach. That boy can eat anything.” Amari bobbled her head.

  The door slammed open. Mitchell stalked into the room, Benjamin slipped in behind him.

  “Answer straightforwardly or I will send this message.” Mitchell held up his screen for her to read.

  Amari’s heart sank to the increased beeps of the monitor. Mitchell’s sick smile tore at her composure. “I am answering honestly.”

  “Honest perhaps…. but not straightforward. I know you to be a smart young woman. You know what the good doctor is asking and you are skirting the truth with obfuscation.” Mitchell leaned in his nose nearly brushing hers. Venom in his eyes turned them into cold fire. “Do I need to send this message or will you cooperate?”

  Amari swallowed back some bile. Ignoring the smell now seemed impossible and overwhelming. Teeth clenched, she smiled thinly. “Ask away.”

  “Do you or anyone you know have special abilities beyond what would be normal for a wolf?” Gail restated the question, eyes trained on the bold green numbers on the screen.

  “I can smell sickness.” Amari fixed her eyes on Mitchell’s. “The rot that sometimes is bone deep. Rot that infests soul, spirit, and mind. I can smell it all and I know how to help.”

  “Oh, that is helpful in your field.” Gail jotted down the answer under the question. “When did you notice you could do this? After your first shift? Did you have to work at it?”

  Amari closed her eyes, glancing across her mind, she tilted her head at Ruac waiting at the edge of her forest. His slow, simple nod confirmed her question. Ears pinned back, she sighed, opening her eyes to stare at cold venom. “It took a while for me to notice that I was different from other wolves. Ric actually helped me figure it out. Though naturally I seemed to have a better than average sense of smell with body chemistry in relation to medical issues, I have had to hone it to identify all the nuances of different diseases.”

  “Fasciating.” Gail’s pen scratched across the page excitedly. “I want to gather some samples and test your ability out. I will be right back.”

  “Was that so hard?” Mitchell sneered.

  “You should get the doc to take a look at that rot growing within you. But somehow I doubt that she will be able to help. You know as well as I humans can’t help with what you have growing inside.” Amari hated the satisfaction blossoming in her chest at seeing Mitchell shift his weight subtly.

  “What do you mean?” Benjamin stepped forward.

  “He hasn’t told you?” Amari’s heart broke at the look of fear on Benjamin’s face.

  “Don’t.” Mitchell bared his teeth.

  “Told me what?” Benjamin pressed further.

  “Nothing.” Mitchell hissed.

  “Amari?” Benjamin pushed past his father.

  “Can you smell the gangrenous apple blossoms?” Amari pushed back her chair as Mitchell lunged.

  “Dad? What is she talking about?” Benjamin grabbed his father by the shoulders.

  “Progress has a price.” Mitchell smoothed out his vest.

  “Power has a price.” Amari corrected. “A steep one when you receive it from the wrong places.”

  “Keep your mouth shut.” Mitchell pointed his finger at her chest.

  “I thought you wanted me to be honest and straightforward.” Amari leaned to the side to look around Benjamin.

  “But not to meddle in our affairs.” Mitchell seethed. Nostrils flared and he pulled his son to the corner. A few whispered words, Mitchell guided Benjamin out the door. The click of the second door was followed by swift stomps.

  Pain blossomed across her cheek as Amari hit the floor. One machine clattered and slid across the lenolium. Eyes watering, Amari shook her head to clear the stars. “Clearly your son doesn’t know who you have really aligned yourself with. I thought you were grooming him to take over.”

  “He will learn what he needs to learn when he needs to learn it and not before, do I make myself clear?” Mitchell leaned over her. His fist twisted into the fabric of her shirt.

  “That can of worms is already opened. Your son is a smart man and he will start asking questions.” Amari held his gaze.

  “Then I guess I will need to take you to see my friend.” Mitchell straightened please with whatever he saw buried in her eyes.