Page 43 of Protected By the Wolf

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. Take it in your stride, Lira. This is the world you live in now. I released a breath. “Why did Charli not come back then?”

“She didn’t want to live in the physical world anymore. She thought it too boring.”

“And you?”

“I’ve come back multiple times.” Miti smiled. “But we’re not here to talk about me today.” And with that, she was clearly done talking about Charli and herself, but I still had so many questions.

I looked at her closely and wondered. “Is there a chance I’ve met you before when I was little?”

“Like I said, I’ve known Charli for a long time through many lifetimes. But I’ve also known your great-grandmother, your grandmother, and even your mom.”

“My mom? How—?” How come Mom never mentioned this?!

As if reading my thoughts, Miti said, “You can’t blame your mom for not telling you about me. Your mom never showed any signs of magic, no matter what your grandmother tried. That became a burden she had to carry, and over time she closed her mind to this world. When Charli detected you were showing promise, she and I tried to change her mind, but your mom was adamant you would live a normal life.” She cocked her head to the side. “All your family records are kept here. Charli and these records are good resources for you.”

Even though I was mad at Mom for withholding knowledge of Charli and Miti from me, I also knew I probably would’ve done the same if I was in her shoes. I took a deep breath before answering, “Yes, Charli said the same and has been teaching me all about my heritage.”

“Good.”

“I’ve learned so much, but I can’t process any of it. Then there’s Bruno. I can’t believe he is a wolf shifter.”

“Yes.” A smile crept across Miti’s lips. “Wolf shifters are real, Lira. As real as me sitting in front of you. As real as the teacups that filled themselves up a minute ago.”

She got me there. I was starting to accept some things, but a wolf shifter? An animal with sharp teeth and claws? One that could tear right through me if he wanted to? I wasn’t so sure . . . .

“I am one too,” Miti said.

Her words didn’t register at first, but when they did, I focused back on her face and couldn’t speak for a minute. I just stared into those knowing eyes that contained a depth of knowledge. “You’re one of what?” But even as I asked the question, I knew what she meant; I just needed her to say it.

“A wolf shifter.”

We stared at each other for what seemed like an hour but what was probably only a few seconds. I felt my heart rate increase. I couldn’t fall apart right now, not in front of Miti. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing. In and out. In and out. When I felt like I had more control over myself, I opened my eyes again. Miti hadn’t moved.

“You do a very good job calming yourself down. I’m impressed.”

“I’ve had to learn,” I said quietly.

She cocked her head to the side, her eyes sympathetic. “More and more unexplainable events have been happening to you in the last year, haven’t they?”

“Yes.” Too many. Bruno’s face had started appearing in my dreams, and I had liked having a handsome and muscular man for me to ogle; I did not mind those dreams at all. It was when they started happening when I was wide awake and in the middle of the day that they became troubling. I found my grandmother’s letter sitting on my desk one morning after I’d had another dream about him during the day, and I realized I’d never opened it all those years ago when she had sent it to me on my sixteenth birthday. I’d opened it then, and read about this house and the legacy of our family and that Grandmother was gifting it all to me. It had been quite a year.

Again, Miti seemed to read my thoughts. “Your life has been completely normal up till this point. It has been in line with what every young witch should experience. The difference is that you haven’t had someone to guide you.”

I nodded. “Until Charli.”

“This is good. I’m glad you have Charli, because you show promise to have full powers. Your great-grandmother and grandmother never showed so many signs.”

Charli came in at that moment. “Your grandmother couldn’t even produce fire in her hands. It has been a sad time in the Wu family. When a witch cannot draw fire to his or her hand anymore, that is when the witch knows her time is ending. Fire allows for allegiances to be formed.”

“As you saw at the meeting last night,” Miti added.

“It brings warmth, it cooks food, it brings covens together. It is a very important part of being a witch,” Charli said.

“But what if I can’t produce fire?” I pressed, feeling stressed about it all over again.

“You don’t know until you try,” Miti said.

I looked down at my palm and imagined fire surging through my veins and coming out of my hand, but all I felt was a warmth that spread down my arm. The only time there had been smoke was when Bruno was nearby.

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