Page 15 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

Since the danger had passed, the werewolf’s squeamishness had returned. Every few bites, he’d gag, trying not to swallow the raw meat.

When he shot me a look of absolute pleading, and the pup was licking his chin in respect and near hero-worship, I bit my tongue to keep from laughing.

“Regurgitation is better for the pup,” I said casually. From the corner of my eye came a flash of light. My hand jerked up,catching a… I blinked at it. “Did you throw a spoon at me?” I asked. Where did he get a freakin’ spoon? Better yet, why didn’t he kill me with it?

I was flirting with death by releasing him, but the little puppy was closer to death than I. He’d needed that nutrition, and I would not see such a young creature die, magic or no.

He turned his back and didn’t reply as he went back to laboriously chewing. Before long, the pup was full, curling up at the werewolf’s foot for a nap. His little paws twitched, and every now and again, the little guy would fart, the smell tickling the werewolf’s nose and making him gag again.

He did an honorable job, but I believe regurgitation was beyond his sensibilities.

He wiped the back of his hand on his mouth, spitting out the rest of the meat. “Never do you speak of this to anyone,” he whispered, his eyes flashing golden.

“Down, Wolfie. It wasn’t so bad. It was… sweet.”

His eyes grew wide as he choked on his own spit. I couldn’t tell whether it was in pain at the thought or amusement. “No one has confused me withsweet.” He snarled the word as if it were some sort of curse.

I studied his face. He had a scar across his eyebrow, which parted the black hair with a white gash. He had a shadow of dark hair along his chin and cheeks.

That powerful jaw was clenched. His lips were parted with a scar along his bottom lip, nearly cutting the lip in half. His nose was nearly pert but crooked, leading up to eyes the color of rich earth with flecks of gold, though they were soulless. Void of thought or intention.

It made me wonder all the more what he was hiding with such a mask. I knew that look well. I saw it in the mirror daily.

A noise drew my gaze to the front of my cave. Finally, some action. My dart gun was on my lips and aimed at thewerewolf before he flinched. I blew hard. The tiny needle flew from the end, but he caught it, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger.

My eyes widened.

“Think you can leave me out of the action, hmm?” He flicked the dart back at me, hitting me in the foreheadwithmy own dart.

I nearly rolled my eyes, but refrained, rubbing the spot on my forehead. “More like I didn’t want you stabbing me in the kidney.”

“Your kidneys are safe from my hand, m’lady.”

I stared at him through slitted eyes. “I stabbedandkidnapped you.”

“As if one could forget. Sharing that unicorn was a charming example of why carriages were created for transporting more than one individual. Especially when one is injured.”

My eyes narrowed. “You’re a werewolf.”

He quirked a brow. “You have a fascinating obsession with stating the obvious.”

“And you have a penchant for saying more words than are needed.”

“You wound me. I will never recover.” He clutched a hand to his chest and threw his head back, groaning with anguish.

“You’re a werewolf.”

“Shall I proclaim you the Obvious Olivia, darling?”

“Don't call me darling. You heal quickly,” I replied in a brief explanation and then wondered why I was bothering to explain it to him at all.

He snorted a laugh. I blinked at the sound.

I blew another dart. This one hit his neck. He groaned. “Mother trained me to never be vulnerable.”

I caught him as he fell—kinda. It was more of a mix between not getting smashed by the monster werewolf and not breakinghis nose by letting him fall on it. “That seems a lonely way to live.”

His half-lidded eyes showed an undefinable emotion as a sigh crossed his lips. “You have no idea,” he whispered.

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