Page 145 of UNAwere

‘Relax, Sybbie,’ Hannah says, chuckling.

‘Sorry.’

She rests back on her haunches with a sigh. ‘Hey.’

I blink, wringing my hands. When I meet her gaze, I can tell she’s using her motherly instincts, and it hurts my heart.

‘Remember what I said to you the other day,’ she says. ‘You fight.’

I nod, mute.

Bernie comes back into the room and smiles when she sees me. She went out earlier to see what the plan was, and by the look on her face, I know she’s back with news.

‘Midday,’ she says. ‘Any minute now.’ She comes to me and takes my hands. ‘You’ll be alone out there. He wants you to start in the grove. And when you hear his howl, you need to run.’

My heart is slamming painfully into my ribs.

‘Do I Turn?’ I ask.

Hannah shakes her head. ‘To Turn during a bonding ceremony is forbidden.’

‘So, what do I do?’

‘You run until he catches you.’

I suck in a deep breath, trying to remember what Hannah had explained about the ceremony, but my brain comes up with nothing but static.

‘I feel like I don’t know anything…’ I whisper.

‘It’s okay.’ Hannah clasps my shoulders, face drawing close. ‘All you need to remember is if you feel compelled to, you fight.’

‘Jude…?’

She grimaces.

‘I just saw Jude,’ Bernie says, tucking my hair behind my ear. She smiles at me softly. ‘He was asking about you, too. He’s okay. He just wants you happy.’

Tears prick my eyes, but I force them back. I try to imagine Maeve in my place, and my heart sinks.

This is why I’m doing it, I tell myself. Because to see her go through this would break me.

‘Can I… Can I speak to my sister?’

Bernie hesitates. ‘I don’t know if we—’

But Hannah sees my expression. ‘Yes.’

She hands me my phone, and I quickly dial Maeve.

‘Hey!’

Hearing her voice makes those tears break free.

‘Maevey.’

‘Hey, are you okay? What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing. I’m just really glad to hear your voice.’ I sniff.