Page 160 of Enchanted Kingdom
“Just a hand,” I reminded him gently.
I quit breathing when I felt his nose brush against one of my fingers, always sniffing.
Neither man behind me said a word and neither did I. It was one gentle tap. Then two. I just sat there and let him smell my hand, not moving a finger. When he pressed my finger against the bridge of his nose, I got the impression I was to pet him. I gently moved my finger up and down slightly, not wanting to move too fast and scare him.
The fur on his nose was so soft. Far softer than should’ve been possible for a dingy wolf.
“You’re beautiful,” I told him. “Don’t let anyone tell you differently.”
His ear twitched as if he understood. Then his eyes left mine to look at my company. He didn’t seem to approve, as he slowly spun to leave.
“Need more time for them, huh?” I asked his tail as he left.
He walked slowly for forty or so feet and then swung his head back to look at me. And then he was gone.
I sat there on the cold ground smiling ear to ear.
Rafe had been there. And he had let me touch him! I touched a wolf.
A wolf.
I looked at Owen and Krew triumphantly, to find both looking at me like I was nuts.
“Did you see that?!” I beamed and gestured with a hand to where Rafe had gone.
“That was...” Owen began.
“Incredible,” Krew finished as he quietly walked over to me and reached out a hand. “Incredible.”
I took his hand as he pulled me back up to standing. “I know. And he’s so soft.”
Krew shook his head in disbelief. “You are the first person he’s allowed to touch him since—” He cut off and closed his eyes while giving a shake of his head as if in pain before his eyes again found mine.
“Since you set him free,” I finished for him as I instinctively reached a hand out to his forearm like I knew his magic was stirring, “giving him at least a chance to live.”
He didn’t move and neither did I. We both just stood there a moment taking in the fact that I really had just touched Rafe. That Rafe had come up to me.
“So,” Owen began.
I turned my head to look at him, hearing amusement all over his tone.
His eyes went to where my hand was still on Krew’s arm before bouncing them back to my eyes. “If we are done here, as amazing as that was, we still have a carriage to catch.” He gestured his head toward the path.
Oh right. That.
“Always rushing me,” I groaned as I let go of Krew and brushed off my skirt.
Owen laughed. “You’d spend all day in the forest if I let you.”
I didn’t say anything, so he spun to look at me, walking backward as he did. “What? No smart ass comment?”
I shrugged. “No. You’re not wrong. I totally would.”
“Wolf Whisperer,” he laughed.
I squinted at him. “Don’t laugh. There’s no greater compliment than what you just called me.”
He rolled his eyes as he turned back around. “Okay, Future Princess.”
