Infinity Book 2

Zayla

“I think I just spotted a reaper.”

I clutched my brother’s arm tighter, making him wince. I quickly let go, apologizing for the sudden grip, but my mind was already elsewhere.

If I’m seeing Soren’s reapers, it must be because we’re mates. But if I can see them, then I should be able to communicate with them, maybe even touch them…

Assuming they can be touched.

And if I can do all that, then I should be able to pass through the portal myself…right?

As my mind races through these possibilities and plans, I faintly hear my name being called, but I’m too deep in thought to pay it any mind.

As the nurse steps away from my now healing leg, I feel two pairs of arms wrap around me.

I stiffen slightly, but then my wolf purrs in recognition. The arms belong to my parents.

“I’m so happy to see your beautiful face again,” my dad murmurs, his own wolf purring in response.

His wolf adores mine, but it senses something is off with me, so it’s been on edge—my mother’s too.

The difference is that my mother’s wolf is more relaxed than my father’s, who I swear can’t function without a bit of stress.

“I’m okay, you guys, no need to strangle me,” I joke, chuckling as their hold tightens.

“We’re just so happy to see you! Even if you were daydreaming the whole time.” My mother giggles, as if she’s just told the funniest joke and no one else gets it.

I love her so much. As she’s aged, as my siblings and I have grown, she’s become so calm and gentle.

Don’t get me wrong, she’s a badass who would set you on fire to protect her kids, but she’s developed this grace that only comes with truly loving your life.

My brothers and I laugh at her quirkiness before I reply, “I wasn’t daydreaming, Mom, I was observing and planning.”

“Oh, and who were you observing?” my father asks, pulling away first. He sits down on the bed next to me, pulling my mother and me to lie down beside him.

When my brothers join us at the foot of the bed, all eyes are on me.

My brothers, having heard my mention of the reaper, are waiting for me to elaborate, while my parents have that “what now” look.

Clearing my throat, I try to shake off the strange feeling in my gut before I start to get up from between my parents.

I fidget for a moment, scanning the room. There are a few staff members here, but no other patients.

Clearing my throat again, I ask them to leave.

“Excuse me, could we have a moment of privacy, please?”

The pack doctors and nurses nod and leave the room, closing the door behind them.

“Okay, you cleared the room, now talk.” I don’t need to turn around to recognize my father’s tone.

I don’t waste any time, pacing around the room.

I tell them everything I’ve seen today, everything that happened—except for being at Soren’s house because, well, they can’t see it anyway, so why bother.

When I finish telling them about the reaper I just saw, I see my parents looking at the wolf now covered with a white sheet, who gave his life protecting his alpha and luna.

A wave of sadness crosses their faces before they go blank, indicating they’re mind-linking each other.

When they come back to themselves, my father sighs. He doesn’t seem to like my mother’s thoughts but ultimately gives in to her.

“If what you’ve said is true, and you did indeed see one of your mate’s reapers…” She pauses, uncertainty flickering across her face.

“Then there’s only one thing left to do.” She pauses again, and I turn to my father who is mind-linking her again.

Keeping my eyes on my dad’s, I wait until he’s done and then give him a slight glare. When he takes a deep breath, I know he’s trying to stall until another idea comes to him.

Wanting to test a theory, I pretend to be in pain, clutching my head and letting out a believable cry.

“What is left to do?” I manage to say through clenched teeth, pretending to hiss in pain.

“If you’re able to see the reapers, then they should be able to take you to Soren!” my dad blurts out, as if the words leave a bitter taste in his mouth. Despite his reluctance, the same thought had crossed my mind earlier.

I drop the act, finishing my performance with a few fake coughs.

“How am I supposed to get to them? It’s not like I can summon them,” I say once I’m standing upright again.

Hearing a series of frustrated sighs behind me, I turn to my brothers, who look anything but pleased.

“What?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

Drayden rubs his face slowly before speaking, “The only way to summon a reaper of death is to be around death, Zayla.”

I cross my arms over my chest, waiting for him to finish his sentence, but instead he nudges Draxel, who sighs in turn.

“We don’t know much about reapers. Hell, I didn’t even know they were real until you mentioned your mate. But if getting a reaper is what eases your pain, then we need to get you around death.”

His voice begins with a hint of uncertainty, yet it carries a strength that eventually fades into a broken whisper. I understand why.

I draw in a deep breath, steadying my nerves. It’s not fear that I’m feeling. Quite the contrary!

I’m just trying to keep my expectations in check.

“If I ever find myself in the presence of death, I know exactly who to call…”

“Uncle Silas.”