Page 26 of Falling for My Shifter Defender

Grace freezes beside me. I choke on a surprised laugh, even as my wolf perks up with enthusiastic agreement.

"Willow!" Grace hisses, her face flushing a deep crimson.

I shrug, unable to suppress my grin. "She's not wrong."

Grace glares at me, but her lips twitch with the beginning of a smile. She shakes her head and mutters, "You're both impossible," before marching ahead to catch up with Willow.

I follow, still smiling. Because impossible or not, I'm exactly where I want to be.

And my wolf—who's been restless for years, searching for something I couldn't name—seems to agree.

Chapter 9

Grace

I smooth down Willow's hair for the fifth time this morning, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. She squirms under my touch, impatient.

"Grace, you already fixed my hair," she whines, bouncing on her toes. "Can we go now? Please?"

I take a deep breath, my hands hovering uncertainly before dropping to my sides. "Let me check your backpack one more time."

"You already checked it three times!" Willow protests, but she shrugs off her backpack anyway, handing it to me with an exaggerated sigh.

I unzip it, cataloging the contents again: notebook, pencil case, lunch box, water bottle, the small stuffed wolf Eli gave her, and the emergency contact card with my number, Eli's number, and the address of the cabin. Everything is exactly where it should be, just like it was five minutes ago.

"Okay," I say, zipping it back up. "I think we're good."

Willow snatches the backpack from my hands, her eyes bright with excitement. "Finally!"

I hear a soft chuckle from the doorway and turn to see Eli leaning against the frame, arms crossed over his chest, watching us with amusement dancing in his eyes.

"All set for the big day?" he asks, his gaze warm as it settles on Willow.

She nods enthusiastically. "Grace keeps checking everything over and over. She's being silly."

"Not silly," I correct her, smoothing down her hoodie. "Just thorough."

Eli's smile softens. "I thought I'd drive you both, if that's okay."

The offer hangs in the air between us. A month ago, I would have refused out of habit, clinging to my independence like a shield. Now, I find myself nodding.

"That would be nice," I say. "Thank you."

The drive to Whispering Pines Elementary is short but beautiful. The road winds through forest that's just beginning to show hints of autumn, a few early leaves turning gold and red among the green. Willow chatters the entire way, her excitement bubbling over, while I sit quietly in the passenger seat, my stomach tied in knots.

When we pull into the parking lot, I'm struck by how normal it all looks. The school building is small and charming, with colorful murals decorating the exterior walls. Children of various ages stream toward the entrance, backpacks bouncing, voices raised in laughter and conversation. A playground sits to one side, already filled with kids chasing each other across the equipment.

It looks safe. Peaceful. Ordinary.

So why does my heart feel like it's about to pound out of my chest?

Eli parks the truck, and Willow unbuckles her seatbelt so fast I barely have time to register the movement. I reach for her hand as we walk toward the entrance, holding on a little too tight.

Jenna Cooper waves to us from the school entrance, her warm smile immediately putting some of my anxiety at ease. After our phone call last week to arrange Willow's enrollment, I'm relieved to see a familiar face.

"Good morning!" she calls, walking over to greet us. "All ready for your first day, Willow?"

Willow nods enthusiastically, though I notice her grip on my hand tightens slightly.

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