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Lars smiles, understanding Mahalia’s desire to actively contribute to our mission. “I promise you, Mahalia, being ‘here’ is not doing nothing. Your presence alone strengthens the bonds between us. But there’s more to it than that. Your unique connection to the supernatural, the spark that caught the Rift’s attention, is a powerful force.”
I step in to provide further clarity, knowing that Mahalia needs to understand her significance in our mission. “Think of it like this: you’re the linchpin that holds us together. When the Rift tests us—challenges us—it’s your resilience, your emotional strength, that will help us overcome those trials. Your role is to remind us why we’re fighting, to keep us united when things get tough. You are the one who will make sure this damn Rift gets closed before it can consume us completely.”
Mahalia considers our words, her brow furrowing in thought. “So, my role is to be the glue that keeps you all together?”
Lars nods approvingly. “Exactly. Your presence, your spirit, is what will help us face the challenges ahead. We’ll all have our parts to play, but yours is just as crucial as any other.”
She seems to digest this, a sense of purpose gradually replacing her earlier frustration. “I can do that. I can be the glue. Even if this whole situation is weird. My ex-fiancée, his best friend, my professor, and my high school bully. If I’m the glue to hold you all together, then so be it.”
We haven’t really explained the mating round yet, but we might not have to. I mean, this doesn’t need to become a romantic entanglement, does it? We can have the mating bond without it for the purposes of closing the Rift. Although I do think there might be something brewing between me and Mahalia again, if that kiss was anything to go by. Being open and honest with each other has definitely deepened the connection we once had. I’m starting to really miss all the time we could have been together. I just need to push what I saw with her and Kit to the back of my mind because that was something else. Something I don’t want to think about.
Mahalia’s acceptance of her role within our pack brings a sense of relief and unity to our group. We may be an unlikely collection of individuals, connected by a web of history and destiny, but her willingness to embrace her role as the emotional bond strengthens our resolve. I don’t know Kit or Maddox really, this is the first time I’ve met them, but having Mahalia here certainly makes us all feel closer. The magic must be working already.
SIX
MAHALIA
The fire crackles and spits embers into the night as we all settle back around it. Kit has returned with a bundle of firewood, his demeanor considerably more subdued than before. He looks like a man who has been thoroughly chastised, and for a moment, I feel a pang of guilt for the way I reacted earlier. I keep looking at him, trying to catch his eye, wondering if there’s something I can say to make him feel a little better.
Truth be told, it’s hard for me to focus on Kit and his emotions when I’ve been stewing for a while now. Recovering from the shock of… well, everything, has left me with one thought. One thing that I haven’t yet dealt with, and it’s honestly starting to drive me crazy. Especially because Lars keeps shooting me smiles as if everything is fine between us.
I wait until he sits beside me before I begin. “A whole fucking year of your homework, you rotten bastard,” I say, my voice sharp and accusatory. “Just to find out Vaughn didn’t show up either. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Lars leans back on his makeshift seat, his trademark smirk firmly in place. He looks entirely too pleased with himself, considering the situation we’re in.
“I am not sorry. You got me straight A’s. I would have flunked without you.”
He has an infuriating boyish grin plastered on his face, and there’s something behind his eyes that I can’t read. I fume.
“Yeah, but I am flunking.”
He shrugs so I give his arm a good punch, but really, I only succeed in hurting my own hand. What the hell is he made of? Anyway, I can’t deal with his nonchalant attitude right now. I have to get out of this bizarre situation and back to my life.
Turning, I find Professor Maddox frowning. He looks from me to Lars.
“You did his homework but not your own?” he questions, his eyes dancing with annoyance.
“He blackmailed me.”
It’s embarrassing to have everyone knowing everything that’s happened in my life. All the aspects of my existence that I wanted to keep separate have come crashing together in the worst way possible. I can’t handle this.
“You could have told someone. It would have been taken care of, Mahalia. I’m disappointed.” But he doesn’t look disappointed. He looks murderous, his eyes locking with Lars, who shuffles his feet uncomfortably.
My eyebrows rise. “You cannot be serious right now,” I snap. “You just fucking kidnapped me, so you don’t get to play that teacher card on me. Ever again.”
The tension in the air thickens as Professor Maddox’s stern expression wavers slightly. He clears his throat and adjusts his glasses, his gaze shifting from me to Lars, then back to me again.
“I understand that you’re upset, Mahalia, but you have to realize that what we did, we did out of necessity,” he says, his voice softer but still tinged with frustration. “There are forces at play here that you can’t fully comprehend yet.”
I clench my fists, my anger simmering beneath the surface. “The Rift? I know, I get it, but that doesn’t make this any easier, you know. It doesn’t make me want to be here for… what, a year?”
“It might not be a year, if we get the Rift closed quicker.”
I roll my eyes. I’m getting really done with this. It seems like Vaughn, Maddox, Lars, and Kit all knew what they were getting themselves into. But not me. No one asked if I wanted to be here. I have so much on the line, so much I’ll be losing out on.
Much as I like the idea of being the hero, I have to admit I’m scared.
The weight of the situation settles heavily on my shoulders as I consider the implications of the mission we’ve been thrust into. A year away from my college work, my job, and the life I had carefully planned for myself was an enormous sacrifice. How will I explain this to my parents, who have always had such high expectations for my academic and professional success?
