Page 20 of Knot Falling in Love
“Elijah?”
Chapter Eleven
Maisie
The forest stills, enveloped by the eerie calm as all the melodic post-storm birdsong fades to nothing. I’ve lived near the woods long enough to know what it means. The birds are warning me of a predator nearby, their silence urging me to run or take cover, but there’s one predator that I’ve been waiting to see.
I stare out into the black, trying to pick apart the shadows from the plain old darkness. Even as the gentle rain stops and the clouds begin to give way to the full moon, there isn’tenough light to keep my mind from playing tricks on itself. Imagining the outline of a large wolf stalking towards me, manifesting in the glow of the string lights.
“Elijah?” I call out.
His gray fur is darker from the rain, and there’s a thick layer of mud trailing halfway up his legs. He looks like he’s been through it, and he’s moving slower than usual, but he’s alive.
“Oh my god, Elijah!” I push myself off the steps and race across the yard, throwing my arms around his shoulders, “You scared the hell out of me. Don’t you ever do that again.” I whisper against the soft fur of his neck.
He presses his head against my shoulder, nuzzling me so hard that he nearly knocks me over.
“C’mon, shift so we can get you dried off.”
Elijah shakes his head, his ears making that delightful sound as they slap against the side of his cheek. “No.”
“What do you mean, no?” I freeze, realizing what just happened, “Elijah?” I stand and look down into his intelligent blue eyes.
“Why do you call me that?” He stepsforward, forcing me to take a step back, “Everyone in this town. Everyone in my life has always called me Eli, except you.”
“I always thought it sounded better. To me, you’re Elijah.” I shrug, though it doesn’t matter as much right now as, “How can I understand you?”
“You know exactly how, Magpie.”He tilts his head, “Maisie.”
It’s only possible through the telepathic link between wolves. Actually, as far as I’m aware, most shifters experience it as a part of their bond. The connection allows them to communicate with their mate while they are in their animal forms. It’s not something that humans get to experience, unless.
Elijah shifts, and I shield my eyes from the bright flare of magic, turning just in time to watch him fall to his knees in front of me.
I take his face in my hands, “That means I’m your mate?”
“In all my life, I never dreamed it could be you.” He says, “You were always my best friend and now you are so much more. I love you, Maisie. I am inlove with you.”
“I love you.” The words spill out before I can stop them, before my thoughts have the chance to catch up.“Hold on, how long have you known?”
He sighs, glancing past me towards the house as he stands, “The car ride.” He admits.
“You have known that I’m your mate since I got to town?” It comes out louder than I expected, then I hear the door to the cabin open behind us.
Hannah pads out onto the patio, her brows knit in concern as she looks between us both. It feels like I’ve been caught. Surely she’s going to know something happened between us.
“Are you two done arguing?” She asks, folding her arms across her chest. “It’s nearly 11 o’clock.”
“Actually, it’s a good thing you’re here.” Elijah says, walking past me, “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
I grab for his arm and try to pull him back, “No,” I whisper, “Not now. We can wait.”
“I should have told you a lot sooner,” he continues.
“Told me what?” Hannah nods in my direction, “That she’s your mate? I already knew.”
“You knew?!”
“It’s a small town, Maisie. You two can’t take your eyes off each other. Though, I must admit I also might have given you a nudge in his direction.” Hannah walks down to meet us.
