Page 100 of Soul Bound

As for my mother, Whisper released a home security video of her doing a line of cocaine off the kitchen counter. She then proceeded to beat the shit out of one of the live-in staff members with her Birkin bag. It was enough evidence for the maid to file assault charges against her. So, Emily Montgomery’s squeaky clean, rich housewife reputation is officially ruined as well. I sleep better at night knowing they’ve been knocked down a bit. Maybe some jail time will do them some good.

Poe squawks from a tree above me, and I whistle at him in return. When he does it again but also waves his wings around, I cock my head at him, confused, not understanding what he’s trying to tell me.

But then I hear the snapping of a twig behind me.

Heart in my throat, I spin around to find a giant gray wolf staring me down. Unlike the first time I saw a wolf his size, I’m not afraid. Instead, I break into a grin and I walk toward the beast. “Hey, handsome,” I tell him. I sink my hand into the fur at the scruff of his neck and press my head to his. “I missed you today. I was just coming to find you.”

I brought him a present and I’m dying to give it to him.

The wolf makes a chuffing noise and licks the side of my face in answer, making me pull away from him.

“Ranger,” I scold, wiping the slobber from my face with my sleeve. “I thought we talked about this.”

A bark-like noise comes from his throat before the chorus of snapping bones follows. In a matter of seconds, my mate is standing in front of me in all his naked glory. It should be a crime to look as good naked as he does.

“Hey, baby,” he murmurs before leaning down to kiss me. His lips warm despite being completely naked in the snow.

“Hi,” I breathe.

“Did you have a good day?” He runs his thumbs over my cheekbones, his ocean blue eyes are locked on me.

God, how I love this man.I love him in an almost painful way. My chest aches when I look at him because my heart is so goddamn full.

And to think I wanted to turn him into a rug and mittens at one point.

“I had a really good day; I helped a woman who lost her brother oversees reconnect with him and get some closure.” I feel myself lighting up with happiness as I tell Ranger. Doing this kind of work makes me feel good.

“That’s amazing,” he tells me. “Are you doing okay working there so often? I don’t want you to start getting overwhelmed and overrun by the ghosts.”

My broody werewolf, always looking out for me. “I’m good,” I reassure him. “If it starts to become too much to handle, I’ll step away for a little while. And I promise if it does, I’ll come to you.” I know he’s worried I’ll relapse.

Not that I plan on ever using narcotics again. Ranger Weylyn is my drug of choice now. He’s my healthiest addiction to date. He offers me the peace I always searched for.

He kisses my forehead. “I just want you to know I’m here if you need someone to be strong with you.”

I circle my arms around his waist and press my ear to his heart. Still, all these months later, I do this at least twice a day, needing to hear it. The steady beat comforts me and soothes any residual anxiety I still have when it comes to that day. I think it’s going to take me a long time to fully recover from that trauma.

“Have I told you how much I love you lately?” I peek up at him.

His lips twitch. “Not today, you haven’t.”

“I love you more than words can describe Ranger Weylyn.”

“And I love you, little witch.” He follows those words up with a kiss as always.

Remembering I have something for him, I pull away from him and grin. “I have a present for you.” I back a couple of feet away from him.

He eyes me curiously. “Oh yeah?”

“Yup, but I guess it’s not actually for you, it’s for your wolf.” I reach into my jacket pocket and wrap my fingers around the object.

This makes him frown. “What is it?” he asks but seems less excited.

I pull the gift out so he can look at it, I immediately get a disapproving growl. I smile triumphantly as I hold it up. “Don’t growl at me, I just want to see what he’ll do. Call it an experiment.” I bounce excitedly on my toes.

“How many times do I have to tell you I’m not a Labrador retriever and I don’t play fetch.”

I purse my lips and think it over. “Just once more after you prove to me that he won’t chase after this.” I toss the tennis ball up in my hands a couple of times. “Please?”

---