Page 130 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

She stared at me. I thought I’d broken her.

Before long, she bowed her head and walked off.

I turned and went around a corner before leaning against a wall, my breath coming in harsh spurts as my heart tried to bruise my ribs. Heck, that was hard. I wasn’t one for confrontation, but I’d better get used to it. It seemed like all I did anymore.

“Well done, madame. You handled that better than any I have ever seen.” I glanced up at Enforcer Markus, who held a water skin out to me.

“Thanks,” I panted, taking a sip.

His lips tipped up in a smile as I gulped air quicker than a fish outta water. “Why does that frighten you so?”

My eyes widened. “Frighten? Honey, I’m terrified out of my soul. That was freakin’hard.”

Markus chuckled. It was a light sound filled with warmth, which was totally at odds with… him. “And yet, you handled it so very well.”

“Because I knew what she needed. She needed to know what she was following was not just human-created rules.Again. It had failed her once when she was a Red. She didn’t want it happening again.”

“Perhaps this is why you were given such a Gift. Source knew you would need it,” he said, as if thinking it through as he said the words. He bowed, his hair nearly brushing the ground. “I am deeply honored to be your guard, madame.”

I gave a choked laugh. “I’m over here about to pee myself in fear and you’rehonored.And heck, you’re much more than a mere guard, Markus. You’re my friend.”

He glanced up so quickly he staggered as the blood rushed down from his head. “I am what, madame?”

“My friend.”

His eyes widened. His mouth opened and closed. He blinked rapidly. Were those tears glittering in his eyes?

Did I break him, too?

“I am honored,” he repeated, the words as reverent as a prayer.

“Good. Now let’s get back to the Tent. I’ve had enough socializing for one day.”

“And food, madame?”

I blinked at him, my nose scrunching. “What?”

“You have not eaten in three hours. I was advised to insist you find food every four. It is only afriendlything to do.”

I stared. He kept his eyes roving and his body loose and ready to pounce, not even glancing at me. Did he… did he just crack a joke?

I must be losing it.

“When that blasted poppycock of a werewolf returns, Imma kill him,” I muttered. “Getting all up in my business even when he’s not here.GAH!”

Enforcer Markus trotted along behind me as I stopped to get a meat stick from a stall. He watched as they prepared it from scratch and took a bite first before passing it to me.

I ate it sullenly on my way back, missing a certain dark-haired werewolf andnever, everadmitting it.

CHAPTER 47

Keep Your Friends Close

ALIA

"Care to be my first councilor?" I asked.

Elder Pulma jumped with a tiny squeal. He wasn’t a Red accustomed to physical attacks and training, otherwise he would've known I was there. I wasn’t exactly hiding; in fact, I thought he saw me because he glanced right at me before passing me.

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