Heart of a rogue

Chapter 37

The weight of grief hung heavy in the clearing as we stood together in silence. The loss of Alani had cast a pall over all of us, the weight of it felt deep in our bones. The air was thick with unspoken sorrow, and for a few moments, no one moved or spoke. The forest around us seemed to mourn as well, the wind rustling the leaves with a somber tone.

Joshua eventually broke the silence, his voice steady but quiet. "Declan," he said gently, "we need to think about heading back. There's nothing more we can do here."

Declan, still holding Alani's body close, nodded slowly, his face etched with pain. "I'll carry her," he said, his voice rough. "She deserves to be laid to rest in our world... not here." His eyes flicked over the desolate, spirit-touched landscape with a look of disdain and sorrow. "This place... it's forsaken and fucked. It's not where she belongs."

I didn't comment, though I felt the bitterness in his words. His anger and despair were raw, and I knew he was speaking from a place of deep hurt. I could understand the need to return to somewhere familiar, somewhere that felt more like home.

We began to move, making our way back through the maze. The once-confusing paths were now eerily silent, and as we emerged from the tangled vines, we saw the aftermath of the battle. The maze was gone, its oppressive presence lifted, but it left behind a grim scene. Bodies were strewn about—creatures and wolves alike. Some were still, others were curled up in fear or grief, while a few had clearly fought bravely to the end.

Leo came up beside Declan, his face weary but sincere. "I'm sorry for your loss," he said quietly. "Without all of you, we couldn't have handled all the creatures. Your help... it made a difference."

Declan nodded, his eyes not leaving Alani's body. "Sure," he replied, his voice strained. "I wish it could have ended differently."

Leo gestured to the portal, its swirling, faintly glowing surface marking the way back to their realm. "We should get going," he said. "I'll guide everyone through."

Erzulie and Ariadne approached me, their expressions gentle, filled with a deep, empathetic sorrow. Ariadne reached out, her hand brushing against my cheek in a tender gesture. "You are always welcome in this realm," she said softly. "Perhaps you are more spirit than wolf in some ways. But I understand why you might feel you belong elsewhere right now."

I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. "I do feel more at home here than I do in a pack," I admitted. "But right now, I can't leave Declan. He needs... he needs time en me I guess."

Erzulie gave me a sympathetic look. "There's also something Agatha mentioned," she said gently. "The spirit bond."

I tilted my head, curiosity piqued. "Oh, yes," I said. "Agatha did mention something about that. What is it exactly?"

Erzulie took a deep breath, her gaze thoughtful. "A spirit bond is similar to a mating bond, but it's a spiritual connection that exists only in our realm, it's rare too. It's a deep, binding connection between spirits. Agatha had a knack for these bonds, more so than most of us. I believe she sensed a spirit bond between you and Leo."

I looked over at Leo, who was waiting patiently by the portal, his expression a mix of relief and exhaustion. "But... I have a mating bond already," I said, trying to piece it together. "Does that affect the spirit bond?"

Erzulie shrugged. "We don't know, it hasn't happened before but I guess the presence of a mating bond can interfere with the development of a spirit bond. It's not unusual for them to conflict, especially if the spirit bond is blocked or hindered by another existing strong connection like a mating bond."

Ariadne's eyes softened. "Agatha's sense of these bonds was strong, and she might have noticed something besides your mating bond. It's a complex thing, but it doesn't mean that the bond isn't there, just that it's not as easily perceivable from your end."