Page 11 of Shadow Spirit

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“I understand that, and I don’t disagree, but we don’t know anything about her. We don’t know who she belongs to…”

“We don’t have to know any of that to know she’s in trouble and needs our help…”

Colby and Adriana continued to argue heatedly, both completely unaware of the child’s growing distress. The little girl covered her ears, trying to drown them out. Decker crossed quietly to her, squatting down and speaking softly to the girl.

“Don’t mind those two. They often argue about nothing at all. You shouldn’t take it too seriously. I doubt it’s about you at all.”

“But it is,” the little girl said.

Decker reached up to take her hands down and hold them in his own. “Not really. See, Colby’s mad that Adriana went out without letting anyone know. And Adriana’s mad…” he stopped and looked up at her as she and Colby looked down at him, “because she’s not sure about a lot of stuff that’s going on, and there are people trying to hurt her. She’s not sure who she can trust. We’ve told her she can trust us…”

“But if she doesn’t know you, she doesn’t know if she can trust you.”

“Exactly. And sometimes the rest of us, including me, forget that.”

“Well, maybe you should keep trying to show her…” the little girl looked up at Colby, “because if she’s scared and you yell, it makes her more scared.”

Decker nodded. “I think you may have figured out what the rest of us couldn’t. Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome,” said Erin, wiping at her tears.

Decker took the hem of his sweater and wiped them away. “You’ve helped us so much. Won’t you let us help you?”

“What if you can’t?” Erin asked.

“We won’t know unless you tell us and let us try. Did you see those guys with the guns that kept the SUV from following Adriana?” Erin nodded. “They work for me. And their only job is to keep all of us who live here in the abbey safe.”

“I don’t really know why they wanted to hurt me, but the bad man says they were hunting a witch. A witch who belongs to him.”

“Do you know the name of the bad man?” he asked.

She nodded. “His name is Eoghan.” Erin leaned over, cupping Decker’s ear. “He’s not all human.”

Decker nodded solemnly, trying to comfort the frightened child while controlling the wolf that prowled the corners of his mind, growling and snarling.

“I know. Eoghan O’Shea is a wolf-shifter. He can shift between his human self and his wolf self.”

“You believe me?” Erin asked, incredulously.

“That wolf-shifters exist?” Decker chuckled. “I do, indeed. I am one. So is Adriana, and Colby is a lynx-shifter—a far inferior species. How did you come to know O’Shea?”

“You’re a wolf-shifter? Are you bad, like Eoghan? And is she really a witch?” asked Erin, pointing at Adriana.

Adriana kneeled down next to her. “I am. Decker isn’t lying to you. He really can turn into a wolf. He’s good, though—not like Eoghan, at all. He’s very strong, and he’s the leader of all the men whose job it is to protect the abbey. He takes his job very seriously.”

“Do you really belong to O’Shea?”

“No; she doesn’t,” growled Decker quietly. “O’Shea is one of the bad men who kidnapped her. He turned her into a wolf-shifter without asking her. Good wolf-shifters don’t do that, and we stand against those who do. Why did he take you?”

“He didn’t.” Her eyes teared up. “He was trying to when I felt I should go into the church. Normally, I don’t go into churches.”

Adriana smiled. Decker was pretty sure it was the first time he’d ever seen a genuine smile cross her face.

“Decker’s right. Good shifters don’t kidnap anyone, and they protect those from people who do. You’re a witch, aren’t you?” asked Adriana. The little girl nodded. “Why don’t you tell us what happened?”

“The last thing my grandmother told me was to find you and ask for your help,” said Erin.

“These two seem to forget that I am alpha here,” said Colby amiably. “How about we get you cleaned up and find you something to eat. Are you hungry?” Erin nodded again. “I thought you looked like you were. You need to know you are safe here. You’re now a part of my clan, and we will protect you. My beautiful mate and the fiercest woman I’ve ever known is about to open the door.”