Page 54 of The Witch's Shifter
The men don’t say anything as I step into the foyer, for which I’m grateful. Alden just opens the door once more, letting in a swirl of chill air, and I walk outside into the morning sunlight.
Chapter 28
Faolan
FROM THE FOREST, I WATCH as Aurora, Alden, and Rowan depart the cottage. Aurora keeps looking back, as if I’m going to appear at any moment.
But I don’t step from the tree line. Not even when I see the subtle look of disappointment cross her wind-kissed face right before she disappears from view.
And I feel like a coward for it, like a pup too afraid for its first hunt.
What’s the matter with me?
I’ve been out here since yesterday afternoon, since my talk with Alden. I thought a run would help me feel better, help me make sense of these messy emotions running through my head. And for a while, it did. For a while, all I could think about was my paws on the cool earth, my nose following scents through the trees, the moon calling to me from overhead.
But then my body called me back toher, to my mate. I feel the draw even now, like a string is tied to the center of my chest, and there’s a consistent tension tugging me in Aurora’s direction.Part of me wants to run after her, to refuse to ever be parted from her again. The other part is the problem; it’s the part that wants nothing to do with all these humans, that wants to run deep into the forest and never have to set eyes upon them again.
And it’s this part of me that I actively fight as I step from the tree line. The clothes and boots I left abandoned in the grass and leaves are gone; someone must have picked them up for me. Hopefully not Aurora. I don’t want to add anything else to her overflowing plate.
The sun strikes my naked skin as I pass the garden, heading for the kitchen door, and the sudden shift from being cold to being warm reminds me of how unprotected I feel in my human form, how vulnerable. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I’ve been struggling so much to become integrated into Aurora’s life: I’m used to living as the wolf, to hunting with my pack, to running on four legs more often than I run on two. It’s almost like learning how to walk: one baby step at a time.
As soon as I enter the cottage—which is warm and quiet, with only the distant ticking of a clock to punctuate the stillness—I smell fresh bread. And there it is, sitting on a plate on the counter, just calling my name. My stomach growls at the sight of it, and I quickly rip a chunk from the loaf, not bothering to slice it properly with a knife. Taking a bite, I’m overwhelmed with the flavors of cinnamon and raisins, and it makes me sigh and slump against the counter, relieved to be back.
Relieved? Is that really how I feel?
I cast my gaze around the tiny cottage kitchen, with its sunlit walls and all of Aurora’s gleaming jars of ingredients. Prisms of multicolored light glow on my skin when I reach into a shaft of sun, and I notice for the first time the tiny abrasions on my palm, from running unhindered through the woods.
Here, surrounded by everything Aurora loves, I feel... like I’m home. Like maybe she’s the only pack I need.
I reach for more bread, this time slowing myself down enough to cut a slice cleanly from the loaf instead of mauling it hungrily. With my mouth full, I pad barefoot into the foyer, then the parlor.
And I see a stack of clothes sitting atop the low table, looking like they’re waiting for me.
Did . . . Did she leave these out for me?
Upon inspection, I discover that they’re some of the clothes Aurora picked up for me in the village. The fabric of the tunic is soft between my thumb and forefinger, and I let out a heavy sigh, thinking again of that look on her face as she glanced back toward the forest one last time.
Has she been looking into the tree line since yesterday, since I vanished and left her and the others in the village?
“I’m such a fool,” I grumble aloud. There’s a huff from behind me, and I turn to find the cat seated in the parlor doorway, glaring at me. I glare back. Then I remind myself thatHarrison—notthe cat—is Aurora’s friend. Her best friend, according to her. And if I want to become fully integrated into her life, that means I have to learn how to get along with him.
Hesitantly, as if I fear it may physically pain me, I kneel and reach a hand out, offering Harrison my fingers. He looks at my outstretched hand, my peace offering, then back at me, then swishes his tail and vanishes into the hallway. A mixture of anger and humiliation rises up inside me as my keen hearing picks up on him departing the kitchen through his cat door.
And that is onlyonereason why I can’t stand cats. They’ve got their noses so high in the air that they’ll drown if it rains. No wonder they’re afraid of water.
Gritting my teeth, I shove to my feet and look back down at the nicely folded pile of clothes. Then I see the dirt on my naked skin and catch a whiff of myself, and I know I’m not goinganywhereuntil I get cleaned up.
Bath first, and then I’ll try to make it up to Aurora.
Chapter 29
Rowan
FAUNWOOD IS ALIVE WITH CELEBRATIONS of the harvest. The cobblestone streets are sprinkled with fallen leaves that crunch under my boots, and everywhere I look, people are smiling and drinking and indulging in the fruits of their labor, from fresh-boiled ears of corn to steaming bowls of cinnamon apple sauce and fluffy loaves of crisp bread. The air smells like earth and autumn and the coming winter, and as I breathe it in, a smile tugs on my lips.
When we arrived, I sent Aurora and Alden off to find the Silvermoons, then stayed back to set up Aurora’s cart. I finished putting all her goods on display, along with a little bowl for eldertokens so that villagers may help themselves and leave what they can in return—Aurora insisted upon it, saying we have plenty of food and should share freely when we can. Thinking of it now, I shake my head and chuckle. I’ve never known anyone quite like Aurora, and I still find things to admire about her with each passing day.
In no rush, I take my time drifting through the village, greeting people as they pass me by and enjoying everything the festival has to offer.
