Page 40 of Frosted Torment

“He’s been waiting for you,” Nevaeh whispered, her eyes glistening with a hidden fire.

I gasped in amazement as I leaned on the railing for support. “Me? I don’t understand.”

Vincent, Jossy, and Lex stood behind me, their faces etched with a mix of awe and anticipation. As I took one step down the stairs, I couldn’t help but pause. My breath caught in my throat as a sudden pull carried me toward the wolf.

“Go on,” Jossy said, his voice tinged with urgency. “He belongs to you.”

My head swiveled back toward him, then back to the wolf. “Belongsto me?” I asked.

The wolf fixed its unblinking gaze on mine, as if it held a secret that only I could unravel. Then, a strange connection formed between us, like a silken thread woven from the very fabric of the universe, binding me to him. He felt like home.

He stood again, and patches of melting snow dotted the expansive field behind him, making my throat bob. He was majestic as he stretched and shook out his fur. I inched down the steps and approached him, careful not to make any sudden movements.

I shivered as the wind picked up and cut through my shirt, but with a deep breath, I went to him. His fur shimmered under the sunlight, revealing hints of silver and blue intertwined in a mesmerizing pattern. It illuminated the contours of his magnificent wolf form, accentuating the powerful muscles rippling beneath his sleek black fur.

My heart skipped in awe as I extended my hand, and he allowed me to touch him. I ran my fingers along his side before facing him. With a sudden gracefulness that belied his size, he lowered his head to nuzzle my outstretched hand.

In that moment, a rush of images flooded my mind—flashesof memories I couldn’t quite grasp. The bond between us was unbreakable. A surge of warmth and energy coursed through me at his touch.

“You’re one magnificent type of angel,” I breathed, my voice a whisper. Speaking too loudly could have disrupted the magic swirling between us.

“Thank you.”His voice was low and gravelly, a sound that rumbled deep within me like distant thunder, sending shivers through my entire body.

I dropped my hand and took a step back, pulling away from the warm, inviting fur and creating some distance between us. “Did you?—”

“Don’t draw attention to us. They don’t need to know I can talk to you. Keep petting me,”he grumbled, his eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the porch.

“How are you in my head?” I whispered, my curiosity bubbling over as my mind struggled to comprehend the impossible.

“The easiest explanation—I’m your guardian angel,”he replied, his tone both playful and serious.

“Holy shit!” The words escaped me in a gasp, an involuntary reaction to the revelation that felt exhilarating.

“My name is Baz,”he offered.“And keep quiet before they all come down here. They don’t know I can talk to you, and it’s rare.”

I turned back and waved at everyone on the porch. “His teeth are like a foot long!” I called out, my laughter mingling with the frigid air.

“Thank you,”Baz said, his tone shifting to something more focused.

“But I found you. Or you found me,” I stated when Ilooked up at him again. “You look different as a wolf, but the black fur makes sense because your hair is black.” I rambled on, trying to piece together this surreal encounter. I barely took a breath before asking, “Can all the wolves shift into a human?”

“Noa, this is the first time I’ve ever spoken to you.”Baz paused and shook his head.“There has only been one account of a guardian angel shifting back into human form.”

I stepped back again, dropping my hands to my side as reality crashed over me like cold water. “That’s not possible. Then who?—”

The sound of approaching footsteps caused Baz to shift backward into a sitting position. I turned to see Lex standing behind me, his hands jammed into the back pockets of his training pants. He was confidently casual. It clashed with my turmoil, and I felt annoyed that he interrupted my one spectacular moment in this disaster.

“What is it, Lex?” My tone bordered on resentment, not wanting anyone to disturb us.

“This is amazing, right?” he chuckled, amusement dancing across his features as he gestured toward Baz. “That wolf could swallow you whole.”

“I wouldn’t dare!”Baz shot back with certainty.

I coughed back a laugh, unable to stay mad at Lex for any length of time. “So, you guys have been hiding him from me?” I asked, tapping my foot.

“Only a couple of weeks.” He tilted his head with an expression of mock innocence. “The wolves start out as young pups.”

I turned and collided against Baz’s belly, inhaling a mouthful of fur. Heat rose in my cheeks from the sudden physicalintimacy. I wiped my face and looked up at him with wide eyes. “Why did you do this?” I questioned him.

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