n

n

nThursday morning, Sylvia arrived for another reiki session with August. Graeme was back at the pack house by the time she arrived. Graeme and August had agreed that he should go each day to the council without falter, as missing a day of his new role might bring suspicion should the elders realize Marius was gone.

nAugust was relieved that the mate mark seemed to soothe Graeme's worries considerably, and he left that morning without too much hesitation—although he did find it hard to leave bed, and August was reluctant to let him go. She was fairly certain that given the opportunity, she could remain in bed with that beautiful man indefinitely.

nUpon walking in the treehouse, Sylvia immediately realized the change in the human girl. Sylvia couldn't help but beam with happiness at the visible mark on August's neck and the familiar scent that she was cloaked in. She was the Alpha's mate. Any pack member with a nose would know it.

n

"Sam and Greta told me what happened after we left. I was so worried,

" Sylvia said.

"How are you?

"

n

"I'm doing really well, thank you Sylvia,

" August gave her a generous smile.

n

"Graeme was wise to mark you afterward. Did you find the experience to be… okay?

" the woman asked.

n

"I… uh, yes. It was good,

" August's face grew warm and she wondered if all lycans were this way—incredibly comfortable with sharing intimate things. Everyone was certainly highly concerned about when and if this mark would take place, but she didn't realize details would be expected afterward.

"I had some injuries from… from Marius, but they healed. And my second vision returned,

" she added.

n

"That's wonderful,

" Sylvia smiled widely, patting the girl's hand before squeezing her arm.

"Perhaps you have the lycan healing ability now. That would be a gift. How is the vision going? Any problems?

"

n

"It's constant, but it's easier to control,

" August shared.

"It's like it's always in the background, but I can invite it to grow larger and more obvious or let it remain at a simmer. Hopefully it stays that way.

"

n

"Have you tried to manipulate the energy you see at all?

" Sylvia asked curiously.

n

"No, no. I haven't. I don't want anything to go wrong,

" she replied.

n

"Well you look radiant,

" Sylvia smiled.

"Has Graeme mentioned having a ceremony to make it official?

"

nA look of surprise bloomed on August's face.

"A… a ceremony?

" she asked.

n

"Oh, he hasn't. Well never mind about it. I'm sure sometime later,

" Sylvia replied, waving her hand dismissively as she realized perhaps she had said too much.

n

"What ceremony? Like a wedding ceremony?

" August asked, color suddenly draining from her face.

n

"Well we don't do weddings. It's more of a mating ceremony. It's not required of course. Any pack member would consider you two a lifelong pair with the mark now regardless,

" she explained.

"And it's not really an opportune time, I imagine. But don't be surprised if you hear others refer to you as a Hallowell,

" Sylvia whispered as if it were a secret, and her eyes disappeared in their smile lines.

n

"Hallowell?

" August whispered to herself. A name change was not something she had considered. But suddenly she had the urge to write it down. August Moon Cady-Hallowell. August Moon Hallowell. August Hallowell. August Cady-Hallowell. The variations cycled through her mind as if she were a lovestruck grade schooler writing them down in a secret notebook.

n

"Why is Greta still called Hallowell?

" the question suddenly struck her as she recalled how Andreas had addressed them in the council chambers.

n

"Most mates do change their names to reflect their pairing. Our last name is Wilde. But as the descendants of the first Alpha and Luna, Hallowells are different,

" she explained.

n

"I see,

" August said quietly, the importance of lineage and history steeping in her mind. She reminded herself to read the book on the pack's history that Graeme had brought her.

n

"Perhaps the intention for today's session should be empowerment. For your abilities. For your position. It would be unfortunate for fear to keep you from finding your potential,

" Sylvia said.

"How does that sound?

"

n

"Good,

" August smiled politely. Sylvia always seemed to peg the appropriate issue to address.

n

"Wonderful,

" Sylvia responded, and with that, they started. The session was similar to the first, but this time August found herself becoming emotional when Sylvia worked around what she referred to as the root chakra. Sylvia was doing some kind of chopping motion with her hands on either side of August's hips when the tears began bubbling up to the surface, and to August's horror, once the sobbing started, there was no containing it. She felt Sylvia's hands continue to move around her without remarking on it, and she was grateful.

nWhen the session was over, August felt clearer. It was as if something had been flushed out, and she could breathe deeper.

"I'm not sure what that was, Sylvia, but thank you,

" August said quietly.

n

"Of course, dear,

" Sylvia gave her a tender look.

"Next week we'll work on how you can start to try this yourself, and I think it will really help. Has the heaviness in your chest gone away?

"

n

"Yes, after Graeme and I… after he marked me, I noticed it was gone,

" she replied.

n

"I felt last time that you were blocking me, whether knowingly or not. But this time was different,

" Sylvia gave her a warm smile.

"You don't have to be self-conscious about it. Healing can look like a lot of things. For some, it's tears. For others, it's something else.

"

n

"How long have you been practicing reiki?

" August asked.

n

"Oh, it must be eight or nine years now,

" Sylvia thought aloud.

"After the alyko were killed, there was a lot of trauma. Still is… And the alyko members of the pack, this kind of thing was their specialty.

" August saw a flash of sorrow surface in the older woman's eyes.

n

"Someone needed to help pick up the pieces, and reiki has helped. My husband, David, he was the previous Beta. Sam was to take his place,

" Sylvia said gently.

"We were all grief-stricken about the Alpha and Luna's deaths, but David blamed himself.

"

n

"Do you believe Maggie was responsible?

" August asked carefully.

n

"No,

" Sylvia's voice was almost a whisper, and she appeared to be faraway in thought.

"No, I don't.

"

nBoth felt the answer hang heavily around them as they were silent, considering how massive of an injustice that would be. August felt the weight of the loss she had seen in Graeme's memory, and it made her angry. Angry that these people had so many precious lives taken from them. Her phone buzzed, and she looked down to see a text from Graeme.

n'Are you okay?' He must have felt it. Her mouth dropped at how truly entangled their inner states were.

n'No problems here. Just chatting with Sylvia.'

n'I felt a disturbance in the force. Kick her out if she upsets you!'

n'I'm not that fragile, G!'

n'I know, love. Be home soon.'

nAugust smiled to herself before returning her gaze to the woman in front of her.

n

"I was going to mention,

" Sylvia started,

"I usually do sessions like these in the back of my shop. If you would like to visit, we can do it there next time. I'd like to show you around the place.

"

n

"Oh, of course. I would like that, too,

" August smiled.

n

"Wonderful, I'll look forward to it then,

" Sylvia said.

n

"Will you be at the bonfire tonight?

" August asked. It would be nice to have another familiar face there. She was nervous to go. Even though Graeme would be with her and Greta and Sam would be there, August was the new human whom the council had accused of being a witch. She wasn't sure the kind of reaction to expect.

n

"No, the bonfires are mostly for the younger folks,

" Sylvia said.

"But it's great that you are going.. It will be fun, don't worry.

"

n