Page 61 of Wolf Reborn

Natalie

Sif’s cry pulled me from my sleep, and I rolled onto my side to look out the window. I yawned and stretched, feeling rested as I stared at the golden sunlight streaming into the room.

Pulling the sheets up to my face, I rolled onto my back, not at all ready to get up. Lucian and I had slept separately, but we'd spent most of last night talking. I didn’t mind that we hadn’t slept in the same room. We were mated, but I wasn't ready to be intimate.

Oh, who was I kidding? I was ready, but I just didn't want to rush things, not when our relationship was so complicated. I hadn't given it much thought yet, but now that we all were getting closer . . . How on earth was I going to be with both Lucian and Rumir? I know I wanted them both—the carnal attract was sometimes a little overwhelming—but how in the world would it work?

A mating bond meant we were constantly aware of the pull to the other person. But just like in any healthy relationship, I wanted to get to know my two mates before taking that final step.

It had been nice spending so much time last night with Lucian. He and I had spent hours talking about his experiences in this realm and mine on Earth.

It had been fascinating to hear how he'd lived during the more primitive times. Back then, just staying alive was what really mattered. Every day was a struggle to survive.

Life was very different back then. Nobody cared about money. It didn't exist. And no one worried about what school they’d go to, where they'd get money for college, or if they’d land a good job. It would have been a nice change, actually—for humans, as well as for the supernatural creatures who’d taken on the same stresses to blend in.

Going to college had been a good experience, but I didn't miss the long nights I’d spent studying.

Because of who he was, the first white wolf, Lucian had never belonged to a pack. Instead, he’d moved around, helping where he was needed. It wasn’t all that different from what he was still doing here in the afterlife.

When Sif screeched yet again, I slipped out of bed and went into the bathroom. Everything I needed—a toothbrush, toothpaste, towel—had been left on the vanity for me, along with my newly washed clothes.

I took a quick shower and got dressed, then joined Lucian outside, where he was feeding Sif.

“Hey,” I greeted Lucian while Sif gobbled down her breakfast, five tiny rabbit-like creatures with spikes on the sides of their feet.

“Hey,” Lucian replied. He’d pulled his hair into a low ponytail, and when he offered me one of his rare wolfish smiles, I melted. “How’d you sleep?”

"Good," I told him.

After swallowing her food, Sif bumped me with her wing. "Hey, pretty girl," I cooed, stepping over to her side and running my hand down her side and stomach. Her fur was soft to the touch, just as the feathers on her head and wings were. She reached around to nibble at my shoulder and my hair as I scratched her side.

After she’d had all the attention she wanted at that moment, she walked over to the pond and bent down to drink. I looked around at the tranquil forest, alive with the warmth of the morning sun. Even though everything here was purer than it was on Earth, it still reminded me a little of home.

“If you could travel to Earth the way Elinor and William can, would you?" I asked Lucian.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head without hesitation. "No. I was given the option when I first arrived, but I turned it down." He turned to me. "I fell in love with this realm the moment I arrived. Of course, I’d loved Earth too, and I missed it. But there was so much to learn here, so much to see. And I really had nothing to go back to."

He tipped his head back and took a deep breath. "For all the centuries I've lived here, I haven't grown bored. And given the way things have been on Earth lately, I prefer this realm.”

“Hmm,” I said. “You have a point.”

“Sure, the war with the vampires is over. But on Earth, there will always be another war to be fought. Humans aren't the same as they were when they lived alongside us. They’ve been ignorant until now, and it will no doubt make them angry. Their selfishness will poison their minds, making them feel justified in believing that the world belongs to them. It won’t be long before something else becomes the spark that ignites a new war.” Lucian shook his head. “I realize not all humans are like that. But a lot of them are."

He folded his arms over his chest, and I thought about what he’d said, as we watched Sif venture closer to the pond. She dove into the water, splashing and playing like a child. On Earth, even a creature as sweet as she was would have been seen as nothing but a monster.

During the vampire war, humans hunted werewolves and other supernaturals, basically taking out the allies who were trying to protect them. In the end, a few brave and open-minded humans figured out that standing together made more sense, and we formed an alliance.

The important word there was few.

The vamp enemy was now gone, but I could already see humans creating another enemy—us, the supernaturals. They had been forced to face the reality that they weren't at the top of the food chain, and I didn't doubt that some of them held grudges because of it.

I watched as Sif flew into the sky, rising higher and higher. She was such a playful creature, and as I looked at Lucian smiling up at her like a proud father, I saw how much he loved her. I hadn't ever had a pet on Earth, but maybe here I could.

"Would you go back?" Lucian asked.

I nodded. "I'd go back, but I wouldn’t want to be seen. I'd only have to leave again, and that would be too painful for everyone. So I guess I’d like to be like a ghost, watching over my loved ones.”

"The Goddess heard your prayer about your cousin Xavier. When she wakes, she'll help him deal with losing Ruby. I don’t doubt that."

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