Page 43 of Running with Direwolves
“How did you and Hank meet?” Sienna asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“No, I don’t mind.” She smiled and glanced at the fire as though memories were flooding her thoughts. “My family owns a farm, about fifty miles from here. I used to spend a lot of time riding out, checking the boundaries, and I kept coming across this handsome guy, just hanging around, sometimes with a tent, sometimes not. He said he was fishing or trapping or something like that. I found myself going out hoping to see him, then actively looking, and he was always there.”
“But you didn’t know he was a shifter then?”
“No, not at all. I thought he was intriguing, not like the guys in the local town. He was confident, self-sufficient, and he seemed to really see me, do you know what I mean?”
Sienna nodded, she knew exactly what Madeline meant because it was how she felt when Grady and Tarl looked at her.
“One day, it was early winter, I was out on my own, horse tethered as I fixed a rail, and a grizzly came out of nowhere. I hadn’t expected to see one, not that time of year.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Sienna’s eyes widened. “What did you do?”
“Nothing, except nearly pee myself with fright.” She chuckled. “But before I could even think about my next move this huge wolf appeared. Nothing like the wolves I’d seen before—so much bigger, the head was huge, it was bigger than the grizzly—and it stalked up to it snarling with its hackles raised. The grizzly seemed to shrink in fear, like literally hunched in on itself. The wolf snapped at it several times, then the bear turned and ran into the forest. I’d never seen a creature retreat so quickly, it was clearly terrified of the wolf, and for a grizzly to be scared, I mean, they’re top of the food chain, right.”
“Right.” Sienna nodded.
“Or so I’d thought, but now I’d seen a creature so big and mighty, the grizzly seemed insignificant. I stood there, shaking, waiting to meet my Maker. I was sure I’d be a nice morning snack for this wolf. But instead, he walked up to me, his blue gaze set firmly on mine and nuzzled his nose into my gloved hand. My heart was pounding, fear had made my legs turn to jelly, and I just stood there with a strange sense of having seen the wolf before, even though I knew I hadn’t. Then he turned and ran back into the shadow of the trees.”
“And then what?” Sienna asked taking a sip of her drink.
“No sooner had I gotten to my horse, Hank appeared, he wore only jeans and boots, his torso bare. I was glad to see him and started to tell him about the bear and the wolf. He didn’t say anything, just stared at me with his blue eyes—blue eyes I knew I’d seen before, only minutes ago. It was then I understood he was the wolf.” She smiled and shrugged. “He didn’t deny it so I knew it was true. We started dating and once he trusted me totally, and I’d agreed to live with him in his cabin in the woods, he showed me the truth. He showed me what he was. A direwolf.”
“That is quite the story.” Sienna took a deep breath. “And you’ve been here ever since?”
“Yes, and finally, we have a son.”
“Who will begin to shift when he reaches his teens.” Sienna looked at the baby again. Madeline had draped the new blanket over her lap and the baby’s body.
“Yes, that will be a proud day.”
There was sudden movement outside. Billie stood and went to the window. “Grady is here.”
“He is?” Sienna stood and set down her finished drink.
“Yes, he’s outside with Tarl.”
“Do you need anything else?” Sienna asked Madeline.
“No, it’s been lovely seeing you. Hank will be back soon. I’ve asked for some chocolate from town, I really fancy it.”
“I don’t blame you.”
Sienna bid her goodbyes, donned her boots and coat, and slipped outside letting the crisp air fill her lungs.
Chapter Eleven
“Hey.” Tarl smiled at Sienna. He still wore just the low-slung sweats he’d eaten breakfast in, nothing else. He didn’t seem to feel cold like she did.
“All good?” she asked, heading down the steps of Madeline’s cabin.
Tarl glanced at Grady who was in his wolf form. Huge and dark and puffing out breath from his wide canine mouth.
“You finished checking the boundaries?” Sienna asked Grady.
Grady walked up to her, his big pads pressing into the snow. He stopped just before her, his nose at her belly, and breathed deep. He suddenly looked at Tarl, his blue eyes keen and sharp.
“He wants me to go check something out,” Tarl said with a slight frown. “Will you be okay if we’re gone for a while?”
