Page 54 of Gone Hunting

“Ow, Celia,” Liam whines. “I think the scorpions hurt my little toe and Koda’s pinky. Could you carry me? Maybe both of us? We promise to let you.”

“Knock it off,” I growl, hoping Celia doesn’t take them up on it.

“I’m sure you big, menacing wolves will be fine on your own,” Celia says, glancing down.

Her cheeks are still pink when she looks up at me, strands of her hair partially covering the left side of her face. “Will you walk with me?”

I clear my throat, dropping my voice several octaves. “Someone has to keep you safe,” I growl.

With my head held high and my leg almost healed, I march forward, allowing my friends to lead the way. In my periphery, I catch Celia’s fingers lift toward mine. The movement is subtle, and I almost don’t see it. I think she’s trying to hold my hand, but then thinks better of it.

My head lowers as I thread her fingers through mine. I’ve never considered myself the shy type. In the past, I’d shake my head when Gem withdrew from females or when Koda intimidated them simply by being. I didn’t understand why it was so hard for them to connect with the opposite sex.

Then came Celia.

Being this shy and insecure around a female doesn’t seem fitting, especially after years of being told what a catch I am. But if I’m going to feel this way, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather feel it with.

The warmth that spreads between us when our skin touches is like sunshine following a long week of storms. She makes everything worth it, all the good and all the bad.

“Thank you for the Wonder Woman underwear,” she whispers. She nibbles on her bottom lip. “They’re a little small, but she’s my favorite.”

And you’re mine, I almost tell her. I’m realizing that more and more, unsure how I’ve gone my whole life without knowing her.

The owls sweep down from the sky, settling on any perch they can find to watch us leave.

“What if there are more scorpions?” Celia asks, glancing behind her.

I motion to the owls. “They’ll take care of them.”

The earth shifts around us as the destruction in Mimi’s yard begins to repair itself. Stalks bearing fruit too large for their vines straighten, spilling over the garden gates attempting to seal them in.

There’s power and then there’s Mimi.

We reach Gemini’s wolf, the remains of several scorpions littering the ground around him. The elk we brought is gone. Mimi took her payment.

We start out in a jog back to my place. Behind us, the owls take to the sky, circling the area as Mimi’s cackles erupt.

“You’re staying with me again tonight,” I tell Celia, giving her hand a light squeeze.

“Are you sure?” Celia says. “You heard Mimi, anyone who’s with me is in danger.”

“Then we’ll be in danger together,” I say, reassuring her that she’s not in this mess alone.

“What’s wrong?” I ask when she stares blankly ahead.

“Mimi said my sisters will be in danger if I go back.”

I stiffen, recognizing how scared she must be. “That’s right.”

“Does this mean I can’t go back? Ever?”

“No,” I say. I’m not trying to make promises I can’t keep. Somehow, I’ll find a way to help her. “It just means we have to figure out another way.”

It’s like her heart breaks right in front of me. “And if we can’t?” she asks.

Then stay with me and be my family so I’ll never have to know a day without you.

“We will,” I promise.

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