Page 32 of The Healer and the Wolf: Part One

“This way,” Leo urged, sparing the quickest of glances over his shoulder.

Wandering into the woods with a strange man was the premise of at least a dozen different horror movies, but I’d already established I wouldn’t survive those, so it was what it was.

“I’ve gone this direction before,” I said as we passed a couple of familiar oaks leaning on each other for support, forming a natural arch. “I usually find some chanterelles in this area during the summer or fall.”

“Chanterelles?”

It was impossible for me not to brighten a little at the opportunity to infodump about foraging. “It’s a type of mushroom that only grows on hardwoods. They look a lot like chicken of the woods, but a little less vibrant, and more fluted like oyster mushrooms.”

Leo turned around and give me a bright smile. It was dazzling enough that I nearly lost my footing. How did a guy who’d spent goodness knew how long as a wolf, chomping on bones, have such a perfect smile? “How do you know so much about everything?”

He said it with so much enthusiasm that I had to laugh, which just seemed to confuse him and make me feel a little guilty. Goodness, I was such a mishmash of emotions around Leo. It was like the entire world had forced me to be duller, to tuck myself away and be less obtrusive, but Leo brought out how I was supposed to be. Therealme. Which was ludicrous, but that was how it felt.

“Sorry; I’m not laughing at you. It’s just that I know far from everything. In fact, I would say I know hardly anything in the grand scheme of things. Growing things, making stuff, and foraging is kind of my special interest.”

That was putting it mildly. Sometimes, it felt like if I didn’t spend time touching the earth and interacting with nature, I would go stark-raving mad. Perhaps that made it a compulsion, maybe even an addiction, rather than a special interest. Eh, there were worse habits to have. Besides, how many people could say their obsession provided them with lots of yummy food? I bet not a ton.

“You say it as if those are simple things.” He was looking at me with that intense expression again. The one that spread goosebumps along my skin and catapulted my mind back to the time we spent together in the shower.

Despite the fact he’d been naked, it hadn’t been remotely sexual. However, that didn’t mean it wasn’tintense.Ever since, I’d been acutely aware of every single spot where Leo and I had touched. His shoulders had practically burned into the sides of my calves, my thighs, and I’d felt the rhythm of his breath against my core. I hadn’t been intimate like that with anyone in my entire life, and I wouldn’t ever forget it.

I shrugged. “They are to me.”

Leo gave a little chuckle, then turned around, leading me through the trees. The farther we went, the less and less I recognized the space around us. After perhaps fifteen minutes or so, my feet started to hurt. Normally, I could hike for a couple of hours, but my shift had really taken it out of me. Especially since Tiffany had called out at the last minute, and I’d spent what was supposed to be a vacation day unpacking an entire dairy truck all on my lonesome.

If we were going to be walking much longer, I’d have to tell Leo we needed to do it another it time. Thankfully, we reached a break in the trees, where a small stream ran through the lush greenery.

“Oh, this is beautiful,” I said, taking a deep breath. And it really was. Cattails and pickerelweed dotted the area, and the sharp scent of citronella washed over me. While the former two were native species, the citronella must have been planted intentionally since it was only native to tropical regions, like Australia and the Western Pacific. I was grateful for it, however, because it was excellent at keeping mosquitos away—a must at a water source once summer hit.

“It should be here somewhere…” Leo murmured, looking this way and that.

“What should be?”

“A hiding spot,” he murmured. “One I used in both lives.”

More than a bit intrigued, I followed closely behind him. The sound of the water was so soothing, and even though we hadn’t found the mystery place Leo was looking for, I found the stress easing out of my body with every passing second.

Nature was truly healing in such a strong way. I’d read a study once about the complications of long-term space travel. Not being around nature was one of the biggest complications. Humansneededexposure to trees and greenery or they could get legitimately sick. That fascinated me, and it made sense considering that when I spent too much time in the grocery store, I often wanted to rip my own head off.

Ilikedliving in modern society. I liked having my laptop, my TV, a wonderful working stove, fridge, and definitely hot, running water. But also, I hated so much of how society worked. The relentless grind, the greed, the cruelty. So many people only cared about themselves and not how they hurt others. It made my heart ache so fiercely sometimes that even living seemed futile.

“Here it is,” Leo said with that same excitement when he’d remembered how to read.

Peeking around his shoulder, I saw a small, narrow opening of a cave hidden beneath the thick boughs of a weeping willow.

“That’s your hiding spot?” I murmured, more than a bit worried. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a bear or some other wild animal taking up the space. After all, such a space had to be prime real estate in the animal world.

“It is,” he said with a smile that took away all my fears. Well,mostof them. “You got a lighter?”

“Uh, no. I don’t smoke. But I have my flashlight on my phone.” I was right back to dreading going into the cave again. I didn’t like the idea of going into a small, cramped space within the earth, cut off from sunlight and greenery. Although, being around the roots of a willow tree did sound cool. It was such a powerful tree that it could literally pulverize concrete foundations.

Plants were amazing like that.

“That’ll do. I think I have a lighter somewhere in there.”

“Okay.”

Flicking on my flashlight, I handed my phone over to Leo and let him lead the way again. I stuck close to his back as he headed into the narrow entrance, the darkness barely held at bay by the illumination from my device.

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