Chapter 438: Chapter 438

Chapter 438

Lanie It felt like I hadn’t slept a single minute, but Zane was shaking me gently, and everyone else was on their feet as I blinked my eyes open. It took me a few seconds to orient myself.

Right, we were in a tunnel bored by gigantic snow snakes that communicated with my daughter through their minds.

Just another day for the Constantine pack.

Zane helped me to my feet. I stood with a groan. My bones all creaked. I had to pop my neck and back as I put my hands on my hips, twisting side to side and hearing all my vertebrae popping.

Run, Lily whined in my mind.

The fact she was using actual language told me how desperate she was to be free. I soothed her the best I could, but the flash of her in my gaze was soon echoed with similar flashes from my three mates. All of us were in need of some wolf time.

Stella had a strange look on her face. Concerned, I put my hands on her shoulders. I turned her to look into my eyes.

“Stella, my little love? What’s wrong?” It was silly to call her by the old nickname when she was taller than I was, but I wasn’t ready to give it up yet.

At first, she shook her head and tried to cut her gaze from mine. Firmly, I held her until she looked at me again. Her eyes swam with many colors and sometimes looked cloudy or foggy, but in this moment, her gaze was absolutely clear.

“I don’t feel my wolf,” she whispered. Her frown deepened. “I can touch every talent, skill or trait that exists, so why can’t I feel my wolf?”

Without a real camp, no fire, no food, no way even to wash up, we didn’t have much to do to get moving. What I did have to do was be there for my daughter when she needed me. I took Stella’s hand and drew her quietly a bit farther down the tunnel, away from the section where her fathers were chatting.

“What if I don’t have one?” Stella fretted.

I hugged her. “You’re the daughter of wolves. Your wolf is inside you. She might simply be shy.”

Stella pulled away with a frown. “Does that happen to people a lot? They get shy wolves who don’t make themselves known?”

“You grew up very fast,” I reminded her. “Your wolf might not have had the time to grow up as fast as you did. You have the ability to pull from any of your multiple traits. Maybe some of them are hiding your wolf for some reason.”

She pursed her lips. “I’m afraid she’ll never reveal herself to me.”

I wasn’t sure exactly what to say. Knowing a Celestial could use any power or talent that existed still didn’t quite explain to me how it worked. What it meant. And I had no idea why it would mean Stella’s wolf wouldn’t have shown itself to her already.

“Can you shift into other forms? A dragon, for example?” I asked her.

“Not here,” she said, looking around the tunnel.

I laughed softly and pulled her against my side. “Of course, you shouldn’t do it here. But could you, outside, if you wanted to?”

“Yes. I haven’t done it, but I think I could. But…Mother, it’s not the same. I’m not a dragon shifter, even if I could take the form of a dragon. I don’t have a dragon inside me. Not the way I should have a wolf.”

She sighed and scrubbed at her face with both hands. “I wish there was someone who could help me figure out how all of this is meant to work.”

I checked my three mates to see if they were looking for us, but all of the men were still talking. I turned back to my daughter. “When all of this is over, we’ll find someone. Something. Whatever it takes, okay? I promise you.”

“It will be over soon.” Stella’s voice rasped and scratched. Her gaze went far away and cloudy, then cleared abruptly. She focused on me. “We should get moving. The yacht is docked and waiting for us. We have to make it through the human town to get to it.”

“We’d better get moving, then.” I paused, holding her for a moment longer. My heart ached at the sadness I saw battling with other emotions on my daughter’s expression. She was doing her best to project confidence, but I saw the truth.

Celestial or no, my Stella was hurting.

“I mean it, little star. I’m here to help you carry whatever burdens weigh you down. We will get through this together.”

Both of us cried a little bit, clinging to each other. I pressed my cheek to hers. Then I wiped away her tears and gave her a firm look.

“One step forward. Then the next,” I reminded her.

She nodded. “I know. But…it’s hard, Mother. Being the only one. I might not be alone, but I am lonely.”

“Are you two ready?” Xander called from behind us, making us both turn.

She looked past me toward her father. “Yes. Let’s go.”

And then, although I wanted to hug her again, Stella marched away from me.