Page 26 of Entering a New World

But he appeared to be serious about it—and he showed me every single day.

My room was filled with small gifts. Flowers were the first thing that had arrived. Followed by a glass of honey—for my sore throat. A book he hoped I’d enjoy reading. A small gift basket filled to the brim with sweets and snacks. A wolf stuffie. I hated to admit it, but the last one now lived in my bed.

It was so very sweet and thoughtful—and I had no idea what to do about it.

Truth was, I kinda missed him.

Grabbing the boots, I shoved my feet inside angrily, shaking my head. Missing him was weird. How could I miss someone I didn’t even really know?

We’d had two conversations. Two. He was basically a stranger.

But he helped you through your time out in the wilderness, a voice inside my head supplied. He kept you company and made sure you were as safe as possible.

Laughing, I grabbed my hair and pulled at the strands. Had he helped me? Yes. But he’d also pretended to be a wild animal. I mean, not really. Technically, he was a wild animal. But he’d let me believe he was just a wolf, not a human.

Instead of turning into his human self and bringing me to his packhouse or the town or wherever, he’d let me stay in a dilapidated cabin with no running water and without a source of warmth.

What would you have done if he’d turned in front of you that first day, hmm?

The voice inside my head wasn’t happy, and neither was I because I couldn’t answer the question. I’d like to think I’d have been glad I wasn’t alone, but the truth was, I didn’t know how I would have reacted. If I’d seen that wolf for the first time and it would have suddenly turned into a very naked, very tall human… I probably would’ve run as fast and as far as I could. Which, granted, probably wouldn’t have been nearly enough to outrun Rhett.

But would I have listened if he’d caught up to me?

Pretty sure, I’d have been preoccupied with getting away.

So, did he handle things correctly or not?

And that was why thinking about Rhett made my head hurt.

I grabbed the coat from the hanger and slammed the closet shut with more force than necessary.

I definitely needed to get out of here. I’d go mad if I stayed cooped up in this room with nothing but a dozen reminders of Rhett and my thoughts.

Glancing at the mirror, I swallowed. I didn’t look too good. During the time out in nature and the last week of being sick, I’d lost weight I didn’t have to spare in the first place. My skin was still too pale to look entirely healthy and my cheeks were bordering on looking sunken in.

Shaking my head, I quickly left the room. I didn’t like what I was seeing in the mirror. Not at all.

Walking along the carpeted hallway of the Inn, I inhaled deeply, and a smile tugged at my lips as I caught a hint of maple and sugar.

Mave was baking again. In the beginning, I’d tried calling her Mrs. Westerfield, but she’d gently scolded me, saying I was pack, which meant I was family and family was on a first-name basis.

Being called family by a stranger was weird, almost as weird as thinking about the fifty-ish innkeeper being able to turn into a giant wolf… or was she a different kind of animal? I hadn’t asked.

Was I allowed to?

Rhett had said the pack consisted of different shifter species, but I had no idea if asking about one’s shifter animal was an appropriate thing to do.

I’d have to ask… someone about it.

Rhett?

Mave?

Sighing, I turned left, gripped the handle of the stairs and slowly started my way down to the entry hall-slash-reception-slash-sitting area. It got warmer the further down I went, and I inhaled the faint hint of smoke. One look told me that Mave had already started the fire in the fireplace, and one of the other guests—a professor in his forties—was occupying one of the big, old, leather wingback chairs, reading an honest to god newspaper.

“Levi,” Mave greeted me, her cheeks flushed, smiling so wide I was halfway convinced it had to hurt. “It’s good seeing you out and about. Do you have plans for the day?”

“Good morning, Mave,” I said and headed towards the big, cedar reception desk, leaning against the polished wood. “Actually, yeah. I want to explore a little, and I think I need to file a police report.”

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