Page 91 of The Alpha Dire Wolf
Sylvie clucked. “Youreallyneed to stop picking fights with things bigger than you.” She was teasing.
“Maybe I’ll learn one day.”
“I doubt it,” she muttered, looking me over once more. “Those really are from just last night?”
I nodded, glad to be able to tell the truth with her. “Like I said, a couple of days of rest and food, and I’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
Sylvie’s look was long and analytical. “The way you say that … you’re talking like you plan to stayherefor those couple of days …”
“I hadn’t made firm plans, but thank you for the offer. That’s very kind of you. I accept.”
“What?” The spluttering went on for several seconds. “That’s not—but I—you can’t just …”
It trailed off into a glare that bounced off me with ease.
“I’ll sleep outside if that makes you more comfortable,” I said. “But thatthingis still out there somewhere, and I am not going to leave you alone, not until we can find out what it was.” I stared at her, driving home my truth. “I will not let you get hurt, Vee.”
Her throat bobbed up and down. “Fine,” she said after some thought. “You can stay here, but you can’t sleep outside. I won’t have you breaking the rules.”
I frowned. “Rules? What rules?”
“City bylaw of course,” she said, staring at me like I was an idiot.
“People can’t sleep outside on their own property anymore?” I had to admit, Ifeltlike an idiot.
“No, no, not that one,” she said.
Her lips twitched, bringing about a narrowing of my eyes. She was up to something.
“Which one then?” I asked warily.
“The one that says that animals must be on a leash and collar when outside.”
“Leash … and collar,” I repeated slowly.
Sylvie nodded eagerly, the smile finally breaking through. “It’s a county bylaw. Don’t worry, though, I’ll go get you a nice set bright and early tomorrow.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Sylvie
Waking to the smell of fresh wood burning was exactly the sort of peaceful rise-and-shine I needed. After the events of the day before, peace, quiet, and healing was the name of the game. A drowsy smile crossed my face. I’d always loved campfires and log fireplaces. The crackling of logs and the dancing of flames as they reached for the sky in a never-ending dance, it all came together to put one at ease.
Maybe Lincoln and I can have a campfire sometime. Sit around it on the fall in sweaters, under a blanket with the stars above. That would be nice. And cute. We could put the fire pit where the oak tree was and—
I shot up in bed, sniffing again. There was no mistaking that scent. Flinging the sheets free, I leaped from bed.
“Linc!” I cried, stumbling as my foot didn’t quite clear the comforter. “Lincoln, wake up!”
The problem was, we didn’thavea firepit. And my grandmother had blocked the wood-burning fireplace years ago due to insurance rates on her aging home. Which meant that ifI was smelling smoke so strongly, the house itself had to be on fire.
I raced from the bedroom in my short-shorts and light gray T-shirt with faded originalStar Warslogo on it.
“Lincoln!”
He wasn’t in the spare room I’d made up for him the night before. The sheets were neatly folded and, thankfully, bloodless. He’d regained enough strength to hold himself upright for a shower, but that had been about all he’d had in him. Sleep had come shortly after.
“Damnit, where are you?” I yelped, racing down the stairs while calling his name repeatedly as I booked it for the back door, desperate to escape before the flames engulfed the rest of the house.
