Page 134 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“Then let's… Wait, is it something you want?” I asked, staring up at him and laying a hand on his chest. His heart pounded against my hand. It somehow soothed me to know he was just as discombobulated as I was.

He opened and closed his mouth.

You broke him,Ran cackled in my mind.

I could see the answer in his eyes.

“Why don’t we do it now?” I whispered, my voice shaking. I wanted to know him. To know if his soul was as gentle as the being I saw in his eyes.

The darkness in his eyes lit with something soft and warm. He took my hand from his chest and brought it up to his lips. “Soon, sweet Alia, you will be mine. But you will first think this through. Speak with your loved ones, seek out those who know what the bond entails, and ensure a broken werewolf is who you want as a friend for life.”

A shiver ran up my arm where his warmth pressed against my skin and continued down my spine. “You are what I want, Shen.”

His eyes widened, and then they glimmered. Were those tears? “You have given me many gifts, Little Red, but your trust is the most precious thing I hold dear. Please, take your time. And next time you ask, nothing will hold me back.”

A part of me felt a hint of relief. I wanted this, wanted to know him fully, but he was right to encourage me to make certain I was ready.

Deep down, I knew someday I would be. I loved him, and I didn’t want to regret not being with him for the sake of fear. But taking the time to make sure… that was wise.

CHAPTER 48

Family

ALIA & SHEN

Alia

Iwalked through the marketplace stalls and spoke with the people with wolven Shen—or should I say Lycus?—by my side and Enforcer Markus somewhere behind us.

The market was bustling in the Third district as I slowly made my way toward a group of tiny fairies who splashed in a water fountain, people standing around and watching as they made the water glow with ribbons of lights. It seemed innocent, but I wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be problems.

“Too many, I say. They infiltrate just to kill us all!” one woman said to another standing by their stalls. Shen and I were just around the corner. I paused, listening. Yes, I was a shameless eavesdropper.

“But the book?—”

“Book? Bah. Some young upstart just brought the book to make her own way. Could you imagine doing the Rite against your own grandmother? The former mistress led us well for ages. She’s been matriarch for as long as I remember. Rule needs go back to her, I say.”

“It’s been easy to raise buildings, though. Them werewolves aren’t only strong, but they help out wherever they can. Spoke with one the other day, and she was right cordial and even helped take my bushel to market.”

Another voice chimed in. “A unicorn helped raise the wagon off old man Grant when the crash happened down on Second.”

“That firebird dragon stopped my house from going up in flames. And that new matriarch knew Miss Elda was struggling to feed her eight children. She gave her all she needed to get back on her feet, even sent a horned rabbit to grow her a garden!”

Shen nudged my hand. I glanced down at him, tears in my eyes.

We weren’t perfect, and not everyone was happy, but overall? We were moving in the right direction. And that was all I could hope for.

While keeping an eye on the fairies, I stopped by another shopkeeper’s place. She sold leather collars for dogs.

I glanced down at Shen, who pointedly avoided my gaze.

The shopkeeper grinned. “Perhaps the madame would like to look at some of our extra-large collars?” she asked with a wink.

I stifled a laugh as Shen’s ears flattened against his skull.

“I would love to,” I said. I pointed to a bright-red collar that had ‘PRINCESS’ stitched in silver. “Does that one come in extra large?”

Shen glanced up as if he couldn’t help himself. Then he gave me the most baleful, pitiful look I’ve ever seen on an animal.

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