Page 105 of Grim

I burst through the door and into the swirling wind of snow. The dryness in the air made the snow into small pieces of glitter that stung my eyes.

Surely after all that Journey and I had been through was not a ruse. No, pieces of the puzzle were coming together, things would work out. They would, right?

I’d gotten my hopes up when I was a pup, that I would have a mate to love and protect. I thought I had lost that chance, but Journey was here in my arms. I wasn’t going to give up.

I pushed through the blinding wind; the snow swirling around us as I ran through the streets. I almost stumbled but caught myself on the light post near the tattoo shop. The red light of the “closed” sign dripped into the snow like blood.

I growled, pushing myself to get to the back alley and the stairs to our apartment. I would fix them, I would make sure they were sturdy enough for her to climb on her own.

Because she would not leave me, she would not die. I wouldn’t let her, and I would fight death in order to keep her alive. Even if that meant I had to give my soul to keep her in this world.

Journey was too beautiful to face the harsh realities of death. She was too young to fall into the underworld without experiencing life. And life could only be beautiful because she was in it.

I kicked in the door, the knob nestling into the hole it’d made the other day. I kept her wrapped, covering her with the scent. She would be safe in the den I’d made for her. It was secure, no one would come here, and no one would take her from me.

I hurriedly shut the door and grabbed candles from the cabinet in the kitchen. I lit five of them, setting them on the coffee table, and watched them flicker in the darkness.

I rubbed my hands up and down my face as I sat beside my mate. She was laying perfectly still, bundled in all of our bedding. She wasn’t sweating, her face wasn’t pale, but still the ominous feeling didn’t leave my gut.

What if she was taken from me?

Why did it have to be us?

A silent tear rolled down my face. I loved this woman more than my mother. It wasn’t just because of a bond; it was the love that she had in her heart. She had opened up to me, to my friends, far quicker than I ever thought a woman that had been through so much could have. She was far stronger than I could ever be.

She wasn’t angry about what happened to her; she didn’t curse the gods. Journey prayed for a miracle. She held onto hope, and she did find it. We found it.

I leaned forward, wrapping my body around my mate. She immediately turned into my chest. She took large breaths of my scent, her body calming and nuzzling further into my embrace.

“Goddess, please don’t take her from me,” I begged.

A single tear welled in my eye. Gods, I didn’t remember if I’d even cried the day I left my pack.

The emotion was too strong, my worry too great, so I prayed to her again. “Please let her live. I can’t bear the thought of losing her.”

Chapter Thirty Five

Journey

Thebriskchillonmy skin woke me from a deep slumber. It felt like a deep slumber anyway, because when I tried to move my arm, it felt unbearably heavy. Instead, my eyes fluttered open. My head rested on someone’s lap.

The elegant snow drifted around us. I was no longer inside the warmth of the witch’s shop, but outside where I first saw Grim’s wolf—the overlook near the magnificent forest.

I curled my head into my body to keep the snow away from my face. A delightful velvety feminine voice stirred me.

It wasn’t Grim’s lap where my head was cradled. I tried to jerk away, but a gentle hand on my cheek kept me still.

“Darling, do not fret.” Her voice was serene, and my soul found comfort in it.

“Easy now. She gave you a hefty dose. I don’t want you to be dizzy. Now, sit up slowly and carefully.” The woman guided me, helping me sit up on the worn bench. It was the same bench where I told Grim of my past.

“There, much better. How are you feeling, Journey?”

Looking through the mess of my hair, I saw the most ethereal woman I had ever seen. She had white hair so bright it held hints of a blue sheen from the night sky. There were also tiny silver sparkles embedded between the small braids which made me instantly jealous. She was perfect, not a single flaw on her skin.

Her skin, although white, still showed hints of pink where the cold nipped at her cheeks and nose. “How are you, Journey?” she cooed. “You’ve been through a lot in your brief life.”

I licked my lips, my eyes looking everywhere but her. I was embarrassed that I’d stared at her so boldly, a woman like this shouldn’t be gawked at. There was no chastisement in her voice, yet I could feel the power radiating from her.

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