Page 39 of Protected By the Wolf

“She is stubborn and won’t.”

“Well, we must find a way to help her move forward.”

“I agree, but in a way that she doesn’t notice.”

Bubbie nodded and turned back to her cooking. “I’m not going.”

I sighed, knowing she wasn’t going to budge right now. I left feeling like I’d taken one step forward and many steps back. If what Alia said was true, we would need the white flower that Bubbie’s husband had used to make their pack so powerful.

Bruno

The path was easy enough to follow, but the advice to “just stay on the path” was a bit overstated. The path ended at the church I’d found earlier, and on walking around it, I didn’t see any continuation of it. Had Trixie sent me on a wild goose chase after all? I grunted and was about to turn around and go and give her a piece of my mind when I saw something shimmer to my right. Turning, I walked toward it and saw it again. Realizing I was only seeing it when I kept it to my right, I walked closer, hoping it was what I thought it was.

Hanging around Miti all these years had taught me to never discount the unknown. This looked just like a portal. Plus, it looked like the same portal Miti had put at the entrance to her cellar to keep people from accidentally wandering in.

I approached the portal and stuck my hand in it. Remembering what Miti had taught us, I lowered my heart rate, evened out my breathing, and concentrated on Lira’s face. If Lira was really down this path, the wards that were clearly in place here would know I wasn’t an enemy because I held no bad intentions toward her. Only love. What was more important was it should also know I was her mate, and therefore, allow me to pass through. But if she wasn’t there, I prepared myself for the sting that would shoot through my entire body.

Thankfully, that did not happen. When I opened my eyes a few seconds later, I found myself in the same spot, but with a new path visibly heading off into the trees. It wasn’t long before the path narrowed. It was only wide enough to fit a person the size of Lira. I thought about her walking through here, cutting down these vines and making a path to this forgotten home. A feeling of sadness clawed at my chest, and I started walking faster. Lira needed me, whether she knew it or not. And I needed her. I could only hope she would be willing to talk.

As the first sight of the house came into view, my senses went on alert. Her smell lingered in the air, making me want to break into a run to the entrance. I reigned the urge in and, not wanting to scare her off, I stopped to slow my breathing again and made sure I looked presentable. I walked up to the door at a leisurely pace and pressed the doorbell. I waited. And waited. And waited.

I walked back down the front steps and stared at the entrance. Closing my eyes, I made myself focus on my surroundings. Taking a deep breath, I searched for her scent. It was still there. Sweet and welcoming, but now laced with fear. My eyes shot open, and I looked around. There was no sign of her, but her scent was strongest to my right.

Heading in that direction, I followed her scent until I reached a garden, or what used to be a garden. Part of it was still overgrown, but one corner of it had been pruned back and tidied so that it illustrated what looked like the start of a maze. I ventured in and saw there were two paths to take. One to my right, and one to my left. Continuing to follow her scent, I took the left path, but halfway down, I felt her heartbeat quicken; a soft thud that was beating faster than it should be. She was close. My mate was just around the corner. But I didn’t venture further. I stood there and reached out to her verbally.

“Lira.” I waited, but she didn’t say a word. “I know you’re there. I know it must seem weird that I’ve tracked you down, but it’s because I was worried.” I waited again, and when she still didn’t reply, I said, “I’m not here to hurt you. I won’t come any closer.”

I unclenched hands I hadn’t realized were fisted and allowed myself to take a breath when I felt her fear subside a little. “I’m going to go back to the front of the house. I’ll wait for you on the path so you can still get in the house if you don’t want to talk to me. But I hope you will. I really enjoyed our dates, Lira. I’m . . .” I closed my eyes and leaned against the shrubbery. Please, Lira, I need you. I waited a few seconds more before saying, “I’m going to go now.”

I made sure my footfalls were louder than normal so she could hear me walking away. It was the hardest thing to do, knowing she was just on the other side of the shrubbery. The memory of her in my arms, safe and close to my body, burned in my mind as I walked back to the entrance. I stopped on the path a little bit away from the house and leaned against a tree, waiting to see if she would appear.

About five minutes later, I heard a door open and close, and with a sinking heart, I realized she must have gone through a side door. But she had closed it loud enough so that I would hear, which meant it was a message to leave her alone.

As tempting as it was to venture to the front door and ring the bell again, I felt like I had pushed her enough for today. I would be back tomorrow. And the next day, and the next—until she agreed to see me.

Lira

How did he find me?

All I had to do was walk around the corner, and I’d see him. Every part of me ached to be in his arms again. He was so close that I could hear him breathing. But my feet wouldn’t move. If what Millie said was true, he was a wolf shifter, and I was scared to face him. I was so confused by everything. I couldn’t accept what Bruno was, much less be brave enough to see him again. Thank goodness I had this house to hide in.

His voice was filled with longing, and I wanted to reach out to him. But when I heard his footfalls walk away, I lost my nerve. I waited for ten breaths before venturing out of the garden. Walking to the side of the house to hide in its shadows, I peeked around the large building and saw him leaning against a tree on the path, true to his word. He looked every bit as yummy as I remembered him to be—toned and built. Those arms had picked me up like I was a rag doll and swung me around until I couldn’t stop giggling. I was so happy when I was with him; all my worries had gone away. I choked on my next breath.

Why did life have to be like this? Why couldn’t Millie have gotten this trait? I tore my eyes away from him and headed to the side entrance. Feeling guilty that he might actually stand out there for hours, I made sure to close the door loudly so he would hear it.

Sure enough, when I was brave enough to walk to the front door and peer through the window, Bruno wasn’t there anymore. Part of me broke at the thought I had pushed him away, and I slid down the door to the floor, letting my tears fall. Why was life so cruel?

Bruno

“I’m glad you’re here,” Miti said, patting my hands.

I was sitting next to her at five in the morning as we listened to the first speaker of the day. “I’m glad I’m here too, Miti,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze. She placed her other hand on mine and patted it, squeezing my hand between hers.

As the youngest in the family, I’d spent a lot of time with Miti. My older siblings were given more and more responsibilities helping out Mom and Dad, but someone had to watch me. That person had been Miti. I didn’t mind spending time with her. Miti would let me cook and mix potions with her. I knew her cellar better than anyone in the family. There were remedies for all kinds of ailments, from everyday colds to this new mutation Pac had infested us with. Most of the pack had taken the remedy by now, but unless you were mated, there were rumors that those who weren’t were not a hundred percent cured. More reason for me to win Lira over.

Of course, my hands decided to give a little shiver then and there, and Miti looked over at me with concern, squeezing my hand again. I shook my head and gave her a smile, hoping that would relieve her worry, but who was I kidding? She would have a barrage of questions for me later.

The lady standing at the podium was talking about how her coven had become split. She was worried the group would break into two factions, one pitted against the other. I started hearing low murmurings of agreement coming from others around us. Miti was nodding her head too.

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