Chapter 152
Lynette's POV
Dr. Helena walked us to the door. The morning light outside was grey and cold, but it felt good on my skin
"One more thing," the witch said as we stepped outside. "The bond between you is stronger now. Soul magic does that. You'll feel each other's emotions sometimes. Know when the other is in danger."
"Is that permanent?" I asked.
"Yes." Dr. Helena's mouth curved again. That not-quite-smile. "You wanted to be sisters. Now you truly are."
The door closed. We stood there on the path. The forest around us was quiet except for birds.
"Come on," Elara said. "Let's go home."
Home. The word still felt strange. But I nodded.
We walked down the path together. My body ached. My head felt fuzzy. But with each step, I felt more solid. More real.
More myself.
The path opened onto a dirt road. We walked in silence for a while. Then I heard an engine.
A truck appeared around the bend. Old. Rusted. The driver slowed when he saw us.
"You girls need a ride?" he called through the window.
Elara stepped forward. "We're heading to Mist Creek. If you're going that way."
The driver nodded. "Hop in the back. I'm going right through there."
We climbed into the truck bed. It smelled like wood and diesel. The floor was hard. But I didn't care.
The truck started moving. Trees passed by. The morning got brighter.
I leaned back against the side. Closed my eyes. Felt the sun on my face.
"Nervous?" Elara asked.
I opened my eyes. Looked at her. "Terrified."
The truck slowed to a stop. The driver called back that we'd reached Mist Creek.
We climbed out. Thanked him. Watched him drive away.
The street was quiet. Houses lined both sides. I recognized them from my time in Elara's body. But seeing them with my own eyes was different.
Everything looked smaller. More real.
"Ready?" Elara asked.
No. I wasn't ready. How could anyone be ready for this?
But I nodded anyway.
We walked side by side. Neither of us spoke. The only sound was our footsteps on the pavement. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might break through my ribs.
Then we turned the corner. And there it was.
The grey and white house. Small. A little run-down. The paint was peeling near the door. The lawn needed mowing.
Home.
I stopped at the edge of the driveway. My legs felt like they'd turned to stone.
"I can't do this," I whispered.
Elara took my hand. "Yes you can."
"What if they don't want me? What if—"
"They want you." Her grip tightened. "They've always wanted you. You're their daughter, Lynette. Nothing changes that."
I looked at her. At my sister. The person who'd lived my life for months. Who'd fought for our family. Who'd come all the way to Canada to find me.
If she could do all that, I could walk through this door.
I took a breath. Stepped forward. The driveway felt like it went on forever. Each step was harder than the last.
My hand shook as I reached for the door handle.
"Together?" Elara asked.
"Together."
I opened the door.
The smell hit me first. Cooking. Something warm and savory. And underneath it, something else. Something that made my wolf stir.
Family.
Voices came from the living room. I recognized them from Elara's memories. Dad. Mom. Ethan.
They were sitting around the kitchen table. Talking. Marcus was gesturing with his hands. Emily was listening. Ethan had his arms crossed but he was smiling.
They looked... normal. Happy. Like a real family.
The floorboard creaked under my foot.
All three of them turned.
Marcus saw us first. His eyes went to Elara. Then to me. His face went blank with confusion.
"Elara?" He stood up slowly. His chair scraped against the floor. "What—who—"
Emily was staring at me. Her mouth had fallen open slightly. Her hand had come up to her chest.
Ethan moved closer. His eyes narrowed as he looked between us. "Elera, you're back. And is this...?"
"Lynette." Emily's voice cracked on the name.
Everyone froze.
Marcus's face went white. "What did you say?"
But Emily wasn't looking at him. She was looking at me. Just me. Her eyes were wide. Filling with tears.
"Lynette?" she said again. Softer this time. Like she was afraid to believe it.
My throat closed up. I couldn't speak. Could barely breathe.
Emily took a step forward. Then another. She was shaking. Her whole body trembling.
"Is it you?" Her voice broke. "Is it really you?"
I nodded. That's all I could manage. Just a nod.
And Emily broke.
She made a sound—something between a sob and a cry—and ran. Actually ran across the room. Crashed into me. Her arms wrapped around me so tight I couldn't breathe.
"My baby," she sobbed into my shoulder. "My baby. My baby girl. You came back. You came back."
Her whole body shook with crying. Her hands were in my hair. On my face. Like she was trying to make sure I was real.
I stood there. Frozen. My arms at my sides.
This was my mother. The woman who'd carried me. Given birth to me. Lost me.
And I didn't know what to do.
I'd never been held like this. Never been wanted like this. In the Pack, affection was weakness. Touch was a threat.
But this wasn't the Pack. This was my mother.
And she was crying for me.
My arms came up. Wrapped around her. Held on.
And then I was crying too.
"Mom," I choked out. The word felt foreign on my tongue. But right. So right. "Mom."
"You're here." She pulled back just enough to look at my face. Her hands cupped my cheeks. Tears streamed down her face. "You're really here. I thought—I thought I'd never—"
She couldn't finish. Just pulled me close again. Her hand pressed against the back of my head. Like she used to do when I was a baby. I didn't remember it. But somehow my body did.
I felt another presence. Looked up. Marcus was there. His face was wet. His eyes red.
"Lynette?" His voice shook. "Is that really you?"
"Dad." The word came easier this time.
His face crumpled. He made a sound I'd never heard a man make before. Raw. Broken. Full of unbearable grief.
Then he was there. Arms around both of us. His hand pressed against the back of my head.
"Welcome home, my girls," he whispered. His voice was thick. Rough. "Welcome home."
I closed my eyes. Let myself be held. Let myself feel this.