The soulmate hunt

New power

Lucas has been with us for two days now, searching for Hudson's family and sustaining himself by scavenging small prey such as rabbits and deer. Tyson and I keep an ever-watchful eye on Olivia, though her sullen glares tell us she is growing tired of our vigilance. I no longer dream of my mother - the only thing occupying my thoughts is the current journey to protect those who need it like Olivia.

""Harper, are you alright?" Hudson said tenderly, taking my hand in his. His concern was unmistakable and I wanted to open up to him, but the feeling of unease was still there. He seemed to sense it somehow and his touch immediately calmed me. I longed to share what had been bothering me with him, but not here where anyone could pry into our conversation. I fondly remember running into Hudsons room as a child, vibrating with excitement over the breakfast that was made down stairs or an A plus on one of my school tests. I would bound onto his bed and cry out my joy until he chided me for jumping around and pulled me back in for a cuddle. Those were good days.

We still had another day's worth of walking before we reached Hudson and my childhood home. The place where we both grew up together since the age of 16. No matter what happened, my best friend was always there for me. Remembering the day Hudson found me helpless on the roadside evoked thoughts of my parents, how much they would've treasured seeing him protect me when I had no one else to turn to - it certainly wasn't their fault that I was alone in this journey. My eyes grew wide as I spotted a glowing figure in front of us. It was brighter than anything I had seen before, and it beckoned me forward like a beacon of hope. I let go of Hudson's hand and began to run towards the light, growing ever closer as the its intensity increased with each step. When I finally reached it, my heart nearly stopped when I realised that it wasn't a dream - standing in front of me was my mother. How is this possible?

"Darling, it's okay. I'm here to help you," Mum said, her ghostly form unable to touch my face. "Mum, how is Dad? Is he with you? Are you guys happy?" I wondered aloud and Mum laughed as if it were a silly question. "Love, we are more than happy but we fear for your safety. You must be careful and only trust Hudson--he's the one who has been with you through it all darling." One of your gifts is the ability to see the souls of those who have passed - only those you know or have heard of in some way. We didn't know what type of gift you had, but we became aware that you were special when you first used them. "You must follow me," Mum said with a knowing wink, as if there was more to her request than she was letting on. "But don't tell the others that it was me ." There was something about this that felt odd not being able to tell the other but maybe it was best if I didn't, I might scare them off.

Who could have guessed I would gain the ability to speak with my late mother by transforming into a wolf? Mum seemed to been fond of Hudson, as if there was something she wasn't able to tell me before she passed. It was nice to be able to still talk with her in some way, but it would have been even better if I'd known about this power sooner or at least knew how to use it - it could have been an invaluable tool. I was thankful that Hudson had helped me and it wasn't someone else who found me like a human or some old granny that came to see if I was okay. I was actually surprised that not a single car pulled over to make sure I was okay as my clothes that I was wearing almost became rags.

"Honey, we're almost there. Just tell your friends to hurry up, we aren't the only ones here," Mum said and she was right. There was a car parked outside the house that didn't belong to any of Hudson's family, which seemed strange yet understandable - if no one knew who owned it, then no one would know who else was visiting his parents with them and start asking questions. "This is the farthest I can take you, Harper. The people inside are not to be trusted. Your book is in the Library - it's called The Wolf Experiment. You must retrieve it and protect it with your life, but also remember to read its contents; it will reveal the secrets of your powers and other useful information. But keep an eye out for those who would use those secrets for unpleasant purposes, for if the book falls into their hands, all could be lost." Mum said her goodbye and before I had a chance to respond, she was gone. She left me behind the brick wall near the letter box. I knew that she would be back soon, but it didn't make it any easier - every time she vanished like this it felt like I was losing her all over again. No matter what, though, I always looked forward to having her back by my side once more.