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let out a low rumble of a purr to let him know that she was all right. The muscles in his shoulders and back relaxed slightly as he heard the sound, and he nuzzled her again. This time she returned the affection.
    The others were getting some distance ahead of them by now. They needed to catch up. Whatever had been wrong seemed to have passed, so Mia jerked her head in the direction they’d been going, and started off at a quick trot, just to make sure the dizziness wasn’t going to return. She felt as strong as she had before, and so increased the trot to a run, Peter matching her pace with every footstep.

Chapter Eight
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    W ITH BLAKE MANEUVERING the wheels with his hands, Lakota pushed him out into the forest. Both of them hoped being closer to nature would help Blake connect with his wolf more easily. He desperately wanted to believe his father’s ancient spells would work this time, but when Lakota had tried before, Blake had felt nothing. Except when they’d tried before, they’d focused more on mending Blake’s body than anything else. This time, Blake only wanted to connect with his wolf. Lakota would try to send Blake’s spirit to the same plain on which his wolf guide resided, and try to make contact.
    Nerves churned in Blake’s stomach as he used his arms to lift himself clear of his wheelchair. His father wound an arm around Blake’s waist to try to help him, but Blake knew his size and weight were far too great for an elderly man like Lakota.
    “Leave me, Father,” he chided. “I can do this.”
    He was grateful for his upper body strength. He remembered how he used to train, doing exercises where he’d needed to lift his whole body weight because he’d never wanted to get into a situation where his physical strength would let him down. Of course, he’d never had paraplegia in mind when he’d been training, but at least now it was paying off.
    Blake lifted himself off the chair, and then awkwardly dropped to the ground.
    “You need to lie down,” said Lakota. “Each point of your body will connect with an element of the earth, and your soul ... your spirit ...” he held his fist at his heart, “will be the thing that needs to let go. You can’t allow yourself to think of worries happening on this world, as that will bind you to it. Think only of your wolf, and the plain it exists upon now.”
    Blake knew what Lakota was trying to tell him. He wasn’t to allow his thoughts and heart to be filled with his fears for Autumn, or with his anger and frustration at being in the position he was now. He needed to let go of all of that, and allow himself to connect with his wolf.
    “I’ll try, Father, but I struggle to clear my thoughts.”
    His father gave a sad smile. “That’s the trouble with your generation—you always must be busy and distracted. It’s as if you are frightened of spending time alone with yourself.”
    “You’re probably right, but I’ll try.”
    “Good.”
    Blake lay in the position Lakota instructed and gazed up at the sky. Branches swayed gently above his head, leaves rustling. The sky beyond was blue and endless, only tiny wisps of white cloud highlighting the tone.
    “This may be uncomfortable,” Lakota warned.
    Something hot and wet dripped into his palm, and Blake sucked air in between his teeth. He glanced to the hand. Lakota had dripped hot wax into the center and was now placing a candle in the middle of Blake’s palm.
    “Sorry,” his father apologized. “It’s the only way to get the candle to stand up.”
    “Couldn’t I have just held it?”
    Lakota shook his head. “The backs of your hands and fingers must connect with the earth. This is the only way.”
    The sharp pain had already faded.
    Lakota repeated the process with the second candle and his other hand, and then moved down to his feet. He unlaced Blake’s boots and removed his socks, so his bare heels pressed against the forest floor. He set the candles on the ground