Page 53 of Wolf Crowned

Dad used to say mindset was everything. I had to believe that. Believe in ourselves.

I licked my lips and dragged the pads of my fingers across the rough stone. “Everything is going to be okay. We are going to be okay, Daddy. I promise.”

A wisp of wind gusted, blowing my hair across my face. I’d like to think it was him agreeing. And maybe it was.

The wind picked up, sending the leaves scattering across the ground. Rain and dew filled the air.

I patted the stone and then stood, jamming my hands back into my pockets. Rain was rolling in. It pattered lightly against the trees. A few droplets splatted my nose. I blinked as I swiped them away.

I stared at my father’s gravestone a moment longer before backing away. It was too cold to be out here when it let loose. The trees twisted as the wind gusted. It was going to let loose at any moment.

I jogged through the trees. Rain misted me. I shivered and picked up my pace as a few droplets hit my head. The leaves swirled at my feet as the tree branches swayed.

I clomped up the porch steps and inside, shutting the door behind me. Just in time, too. Rain pelted the house. I peered out the window to my right. It was pouring.

I rubbed my hands up and down my arms as I made my way to the kitchen. Sleep still evaded me. Maybe a piping hot mug of hot chocolate would help.

Pots and pans rattled around in the kitchen. Was mom up already?

I pushed the door and peeked my head in. She was pulling out the big pots. Her hair wound up into a bun, looking fresh and neat. The bags under her eyes said she’d barely slept.

I patted my pocket where my phone was. “I heard from Mark.”

She stopped rifling through the cupboard and looked over her shoulder. She held her breath.

I grinned. “He’s good. They were undetected.”

She sat on the floor and leaned against the cupboards, letting her eyes slide shut for a few moments. “That’s fantastic news, my love.”

My gaze darted to the green light on the stove. Just after 4:30. “It’s a bit early for breakfast prep.”

She waved me off, grunting as she pushed up to her feet. “I couldn’t sleep.” She gave me a look. “What are you doing up? You are never up this early?”

I pulled a packet of swiss miss from the cupboard and a mug. “Couldn’t sleep either. Too much on my mind.”

She sighed and set a big pot on the counter. “The burden of being an alpha. Your father had many sleepless nights, too. More so recently than over the years.”

I flexed my fingers in my sweater pocket. “Other than this what else did he lose sleep over?”

I was half hoping that once the war was over, it would be smooth sailing.

Mom laughed out loud. “There is always something, my love. You’ll see. Though after all this, I imagine anything will be a walk in the park.”

I filled my mug at the sink and popped it in the microwave. I fiddled with the packet, flipping it between my fingers as I watched the mug circle around on the plate in the microwave.

Mom grabbed the milk from the fridge and set it on the counter, pushing it toward me. “You should add some milk. It might help you sleep. Or at least make it taste creamier, since I think you have to be up soon.”

It was worth a shot.

The microwave dinged, and I grabbed my mug, mixing the cocoa in before adding a splash of milk and the marshmallows. I went to put the milk back in the fridge, but Mom reached for it.

“I’ll take that. I’m going to make a big pot of oatmeal so it’s here for whomever to grab when they want.” She gave me a look I couldn’t read. “You should go back to bed, my love. The next few days are going to be busy and stressful.”

I grabbed my mug, lifting it to my lips and taking a sip. The liquid was hot, burning my tongue momentarily. I swallowed hard. “I’ll see you in a few hours, Mom.”

“Get some rest, my love.”

I held up my mug to her and headed back to the living room and then to the bedroom. The house was silent aside from the occasional snore. I opened my bedroom door and slipped inside, taking another sip of my hot cocoa. The steam bathed my face as I took a few more sips.

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