Victoria made a scoffing noise. "Judith just has a hard shell. She's been through some difficult things. Last summer didn't exactly make it any better."
"Well, anyway, I don't mind if you know, but you won't say anything, will you?"
Victoria shook her head. "I know what it feels like to be the Alpha's daughter. Everyone expects you to be perfect, and there's always the threat of someone running to your mother." She smiled. "I'll make you a deal. I won't tell your mom about your trouble with the fire if you won't treat me like some sort of delicate flower just 'cause I'm pregnant."
"Deal," Claire said.
"You know, if you want, I could help you with the lighting—give you some tips," Victoria offered. She looked excited for the first time in ages.
"Sure," Claire said, though her palms were damp with selfconsciousness.
"Awesome. Let's find some kindling."
They made a small pile of twigs, and Claire crouched in front of it while Victoria sat back down on the log. Claire focused on the wood in front of her, trying to block out the humming of her nerves and the itchy feeling of Victoria's watching eyes. She tried to remember the sensation of the branches rubbing against one another—the heat that came with it.
But nothing happened.
Victoria waited. Claire felt a fresh bead of sweat form on her brow.
"Maybe"—Victoria paused—"try in your wolf form. It's easier, I think. You don't have to fight through that human layer."
Claire hadn't thought of that. Since she'd have to do it in her human form at the ceremony, that's how she'd been practicing. But Victoria's idea seemed worth a shot, since all the things that she did in her wolf skin had come easily, as though she'd always known how to do them.
She transformed quickly, feeling a little awkward about being unable to communicate with Victoria, who sat patiently in her human form while Claire bent her snout to the twigs. They were more real to her in her wolf form—more complex. Like their matter wasn't as set as it seemed when she was a human.
She reached out with her thoughts, pushing the sticks to light, to burn.
The clearing stayed every bit as dark as it had been. There was no fire.
"I feel you working at it, but something's just off," Victoria said. "You have to push them to transform, but the fire's already in there. The way your wolf self 's always inside you, even when no one else can see it. Like this." She narrowed her eyes, and the pile in front of her burst into flame so quickly that it was more like an explosion than an ignition.
Claire made a low noise in her throat to show that she understood. It was the closest she could come to talking. "Transform back," Victoria suggested, "and try again." She stacked up a new pile of small branches while the other fire crackled and died, already using up its meager fuel.
Claire pulled on her smooth-skinned form, slipping quickly into her clothes. "At least that felt different," she said. "It's like I can see what I need to do but I can't quite reach it."
Victoria pursed her lips, thinking. "Maybe I can try with you." She lowered herself to her knees across from Claire. "Okay, just do what I do, step by step." She stared into the tiny pile of tinder. "Look right into the middle. I think it's easier if you keep your eyes open. Focus on putting a layer of fire over the top of it the same way you put a layer of fur over your skin."
For several long moments, the twigs lay cold and dark in front of Claire. Panic rose inside her, ugly and prickly. But then she felt something tug at her, like the wind tugging at the leaves.
And a spark caught.
The sudden light broke her concentration. The crackling of the twigs spread like a whisper through the clearing.
Claire rocked back on her heels, shaken and uncertain. Her eyes met Victoria's across the flames.
"Did I do that, or did you?" she asked.
Victoria's surprised expression mirrored hers. "I really don't know. That was weird. I mean, it was like it sucked the fire out of me or something."
Something inside Claire twisted. "So, that's not how it's supposed to feel?"
Victoria pushed her hair back off her face. "It's not how it feels when I do it, but maybe that means it was you? Or . . . maybe it was because we were both trying?" She stretched. "Ugh. I'm getting knotted up from sitting too long."
Claire's eyes went straight to Victoria's enormous belly, and she suddenly felt ridiculously selfish.
"You've stayed out way too long, and it's all my fault. I'm sorry. You should get home."
Victoria frowned. "I don't want to leave you when it seems like you're so close to being able to do it." She rubbed her hips like she was testing them.
"No, it's fine. I think I get it. Really. Besides, I need to head back before my mom gets suspicious," Claire said, standing up and brushing off her pants.
Victoria waddled over and gave her an awkward, sideways hug. "This was really nice," she said. "Having someone else who knows what it's like to be the Alpha's daughter—it makes me feel a lot better about things."
"Me too," Claire said, returning the hug. "Be care—"
Victoria gave her a sharp look.