Page 18 of Cursed Wolf

Shaking the thought away, I wander into the hallway where daisies from the garden—a wild rainbow of creams and reds and candy pinks—fill a vase on the side table, flooding my nostrils with the sweetest floral scent. Photos of us three adorn the walls—hiking through the mountains, swimming, fishing—everything we’ve ever done.

At the doorway to the kitchen, a tightness stretches across my stomach, and I groan, rubbing the spot until it settles. I pause to catch my quickening breath.

“Narah, why aren’t you in bed?” Crius rushes to my side. He’s covered in a dusting of flour, not to mention it’s streaked across his cheeks like war paint. He slides an arm across my back, his other on my large belly, and the moment he strokes me, I feel the kick of our baby.

My eyes go wide. “Did you feel our jelly bean?”

“Oh, Narah.” Dropping to his knees, Crius kisses my enormous stomach, his eyes glistening as he murmurs soft whispers to our unborn child.

Nikos is there, wearing slacks and only an apron, and takes me in his arms, his kiss on my neck. “You smell divine, but you need to be off your feet. You’re due any day now.”

“I’m bored and don’t want to be alone.”

Suddenly, I’m in Niko’s arms, and he sets me on a chair by the kitchen table. Crius brings a small stool and lifts my feet up on it. Next thing I know, they’re bustling about the kitchen and bringing me a plate of pancakes, maple syrup, and juice. There’s chopped-up fruit and freshly beaten cream as well, and I see they’re still cooking.

“This is incredible,” I murmur.

“Well, dig in,” Nikos insists, leaning his back on the counter and watching me. This man, with bulging muscles and tattoos dressed in a frilly white apron and the one swimming in flour, his long hair looking more white than blond from the mess, are my world.

Seeing he’s waiting for me to eat, I cut into the pancakes and take a bite, moaning as the fluffiness melts on my tongue. “Divine. I definitely need more.”

“We’re on it,” Crius announces, sending me an air kiss.

Both of them are back at it, bickering about who flips the best pancakes, and I notice they have two frypans going, competing.

If there’s such a thing as Nirvana, I’ve found it.

Swallowing my mouthful, I glance out the open back doors into the backyard. Fruit trees sway in the light breeze, and the sky glints like it’s made of jewels. I catch sight of an apple dropping from its branch, a big red fruit, and I can already taste its sweetness on my tongue. Salivating, I’m on my feet and slowly waddle past the back door into the yard. My toes wriggle in the grass as I make my way to the tree and pick up the fallen apple. It smells delicious, and I take a crispy bite out of its flesh.

Juices fill my mouth, dribbling down my chin, but with it, a strange sensation rises through me once more. I’ve definitely forgotten something, but it’s more than that. The taste of the apple reminds me I don’t belong here. For a few moments, I’m a stranger standing in a gorgeous landscape. It makes no sense. My clothes aren’t right, and I don’t know this cottage. The flowers smell sickly sweet, and a distant wolf howl sings in the breeze. A longing squeezes in my chest.

A thread of something comes to me as I stare at the apple… a memory of a river, of me soaking wet, of—

“Narah!” Nikos’ voice slices through my thoughts. Gone are the memory and sensation, and I turn to him. “Is everything alright?”

I blink at him as he emerges from our beautiful white cottage home.

His smile has me grinning as I make my way to him, dropping the apple behind.

“Yes, everything is perfect.”

7

RAGNAR

“Are you sure about this? What if they’ve been caught by the undead? What if—”

“Enough,” Stone cut Jae off. We were all trekking up the mountain with barely any light for guidance. “I know you’re scared for your sisters, but you need to trust us.”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts. Crius and Nikos are warriors,” Stone continues. “Nothing will happen to Narah. I give you my word.” When I glance back at them over my shoulder, she’s glaring at Stone.

“Just remember, I saved you from a zombie attack earlier today, so I get a say in the plans. I’m a contributor now.”

Stone snorts. “Screaming, ‘watch out,’ isn’t saving me.”

“Oh, so I should have let it bite your ass?”

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