Page 39 of Empowering the Wolf's Heart

“That’s ok. I’m just gonna sit here, is that ok?” She sniffled again, but didn’t say anything. Then she gave a tiny nod, and I relaxed back into the rough wooden wall. Sheneededsomeoneto be there. She wasn’t quite ready to talk, but sometimes taking up space and sitting with someone in their pain was enough.

“Dad said our family is cursed cause Great-Grandpa died by a werewolf,” she whispered at last.

Despite him being my elder sister’s husband, Rey could rot in a latrine pit by the tanners. What was he doing, telling such things to an impressionable child?

My fingers clenched into fists. An image crossed my mind. I heard the screaming, saw the black werewolf with red eyes and fangs as long as my fourteen-year-old fingers, and watched again as the werewolf tore through my grandpa’s throat. I shook off the memory, swallowing back bile. “Can I give you a hug?” I asked, coming back to the present and feeling herneed.

She nodded, rammed into my chest and wrapped her shaking arms around my neck. I clutched her to me.

“Is it true?” she whispered.

I shook my head, but stopped. She didn’tneedme to answer that question. Sheneededto think it through for herself. “What do you think?” I asked.

She relaxed against me, sucking her thumb. Yes, she was a bit old for that, but it was something that gave her comfort when she needed it, so I never scolded her. She pulled her thumb from her lips and sighed. “No,” she whispered. “Just because bad things happen doesn’t make us responsible for them.”

I blinked back tears, hugging her tighter before she pulled back. I kissed her forehead, looking into her eyes. “I’m so proud of you, ya know that?”

She gave me a tiny smile, one that made her brown eyes crinkle. She’d gotten Mom’s blonde hair and Dad’s brown eyes. A perfect little mix of them both, even if sometimes there was a hint of Rey in the tilt of her chin.

“Can I do anything else for ya?” I asked, pushing some hair from her eyes.

She shook her head, getting off my lap and dancing off to get into some sort of trouble.

I leaned my head against the wall, trying to rein in the emotions beading on my soul. If I let them free now, I wouldn’t be able to reel them back.

Hold it in. Not too much longer now.

“Alia, have seen my—my, umm?—”

“Your satchel is on the table beside the back door, Dad,” I said.

I heard his steps and then his “Oh!” I let my lips lift in a sad smile.

“You’re our own little angel, you know that, Little Curo?” Dad said, coming around behind the couch to kiss my forehead. “Get you some rest, and we’ll talk about you saving little wolf pups later, alright?” His dark eyes were alight with mirth even as he faux-scowled down at me.

I grinned up at him and his teasing.

He paused before going out the door. “Are you alright, dear?” he asked, turning back around.

I blinked, then blinked again. I got up, pasting a smile on my face. “Dad, I’m fine,” I said, shaking my head.

“You just seem tired, is all. Anything I can help with?”

I clenched my hand around my opposite forearm, digging my nails in to keep from allowing the tears building in my chest to make their way to my eyes. Dad was so sweet, but he couldn’t know. He had too much on his shoulders as it was.

He and Mom took care of Anna’s little ones, Jess and Fina, as if they were their own and attempted to keep their heads above water helping to pay for Anna’s treatments. I brought back what I could to help financially, and I tried to only go on missions when I could get back before the first day of the week when my parents went to work so I could help babysit. Even though pitching in put me behind, I was still at the top of my classand heir apparent. Grandma may still choose another, but it was unlikely if I should prove myself worthy by bringing her Hood’s head.

Fina screamed and giggled from her play area, so I got up to find her in a massive diaper blow-out, playing in her own?—

I sighed and rubbed my tired eyes. It was going to be a long day.

Mom returned after an hour, her eyes filled with fear. “It’s—it’s—you’ve gotta go. Get out of here, I’ll take—” She swiped Fina from my arms. Fina began crying, feeling the energy shift in the room.

Mom was running around, grabbing my go-satchel with all my remedies in it. My heart sunk.

“Anna?” I asked. Fear threatened to bubble up, but I stuffed it down. My family needed me.

Mom nodded, settling Fina with her favorite doll—or, at least, trying to. Pale-faced and frantic, Mom tried to get Fina settled even as she handed me my things.

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