Page 20 of Entering a New World

“I can and I am.” He nodded firmly, voice all serious. At first, it looked like he wanted to say something else; he even opened his mouth, but shut it after just a second or two.

I ran my hand over the soft comforter that was still thrown over my legs. Then I noticed something off. I was wearing a short-sleeved black shirt—which wasn’t what I’d been wearing yesterday.

“Did I change clothes?”

The blush returned to Rhett’s cheeks. “Well,” he began, giving me an apologetic smile that honestly looked like him grimacing. “No. By the time we arrived at the packhouse you were completely out of it. So… uhm… I undressed you; and then put new clothes on you after Jasper finished his exam.”

I nodded, though I didn’t understand much.

“Packhouse?” I voiced the first thing I was wondering about. My voice was still hoarse and speaking fucking hurt, so one-word-questions it was.

“Yeah.” Rhett nodded. He took a deep breath, then nodded towards the bed. “Is it okay if I sit down with you?”

Was it? It probably shouldn’t be. I didn’t know this man. He wasn’t really human—at least not entirely. But then again… even as a wolf, he’d been trying to help. Granted, in a very weird way, but he’d shown me where to get water, where I could sleep that was at least somewhat safe, and he’d frequently checked in with me. In my book, that accounted for something. So I nodded and lightly tapped the bed next to me.

“Yeah… hop on up.”

The pure relief on Rhett’s face made me relax a fraction, and the smile he gave me—an honest one that lit up his eyes—loosened something inside of me.

This was my Wolfie.

Such a crazy thought, but it was true.

Probably.

He’d definitely have to show me again for me to believe it.

Rhett sat on the edge of the bed, still smiling at me. “Before I start what will probably be a lengthy conversation, would you like something to drink? Or to eat? We have a kitchen downstairs.”

Hesitating, I weighed my options. I longed for something warm to drink. A tea or maybe a coffee. At the same time, I didn’t really want Rhett to leave. Which was crazy, but apparently, I was crazy now because I just accepted the feeling of needing him close.

Maybe it was just the fact that he was a human being—or something close to it—and for days I’d been afraid I’d never ever see another human again.

Maybe it was the fact that I kind of knew him. I knew his eyes, the warmth in those brown orbs. I knew the compassionate sparkle in them.

Clearing his throat, Rhett pulled something out of his pocket. A phone. Ha! Looked like wolfmen used modern technology.

“You don’t have to hold back. We currently have about fifteen people downstairs having a late breakfast or early lunch. So, what do you want? Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, water?” He furrowed his brow. “I think tea would probably be good for you. If you want to, you can add some honey—it’s from our own bees.”

He looked proud of the last statement. I couldn’t help but smile and nod, not just because he was adorable in his pride, but because he’d basically read my mind. “Okay, yeah. Tea,” I croaked.

Rhett nodded seriously and started typing something.

“I also ordered food,” he said. “Jasper said you’d need to be careful, so I asked for fruit, yogurt, pancakes, and maple syrup. I hope that’s okay.”

My mouth watered just thinking about being able to eat something.

“Right now, I think I’d be happy eating cardboard.” There, I’d managed a whole damn sentence. I sounded horrible, and I ended up coughing because my throat was so damn dry, but I was slowly feeling a little more like myself.

Rhett chuckled.

“Yeah… I’m really sorry. I wanted to get you something to eat, but I couldn’t figure out a way to do so without it being suspicious. More suspicious than everything else I’d already been doing.”

I barked out a laugh. “I was so confused about the wolf’s… your… behaviour.”

Blushing furiously, Rhett hid his face in his hands. “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice. But, uhm… maybe don’t cuddle real wild animals, okay? That’s a surefire way to get yourself killed or injured.”

I snorted.

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