Page 96 of Halfblood Deceived

The wolf’s smile was bigger this time. They both resumed their march.

Aella didn’t understand herself at the moment.

She wasn’t afraid.

The iciness invading her system had faded, replaced by a warmth that ran down her spine and curled around her belly.

The wolf could kill her with one bite, and yet she was certain he wouldn’t.

Also, why did he seem to understand every word she had uttered? Animals were intelligent, she knew this, but she felt almost as if she were walking alongside a person, not an animal.

She bit her lip and gave him a sideways glance, finding that he was also staring at her with those too-intelligent green eyes. They both looked away at the same time.

In silence, they made their way back as the sky above the tall trees went from dark blue to orange-pink. Aella tried to go as fast as possible without having to run, even as she felt reluctant to leave the wolf behind. Which was entirely insane because the wolf was a stranger, but he didn’t feel like one.

Too soon, they reached the road.

The wolf stayed at the edge of the park as Aella waited until the traffic signal changed to cross the street. She climbed up the steps of the townhouse’s entrance, turning back to see if the wolf was still there and yes, he was.

She forced herself to stop staring and got the key in the lock.

The door opened before she could turn it, revealing a surprised Diana with her hair even more chaotic than usual, wearing PJs with imprints of cartoons.

“Aella, where were you? I was worried. And why are you so pale and smell like fear? Did someone hurt you? Tell me who and I’ll break their fucking face,” Diana blurted all at once.

“Er,” Aella muttered, avoiding her sister’s inquisitive gaze to look discreetly over her shoulder toward the park.

The wolf had hidden in the scant shadow of a tree, but he was still there.

And apparently, Aella hadn’t been so subtle, because Diana was also staring at the wolf, mouth open.

“Holy fuck,” Diana breathed out. “That’s the largest wolf I’ve seen in my entire life.”

“He is?” Aella asked.

Diana’s eyes went back to Aella. “Wolves aren’t usually bigger than a war horse. Did the wolf hurt you?” Diana’s eyes flashed red, murder written all over her face.

Aella lifted her hands and shook her head. “No, he saved me from two werewolves.”

The glow in Diana’s eyes vanished, eyes wide with shock. “You ran into two werewolves?!”

“Um, yes?”

Diana gripped Aella’s wrist with a shaky hand and urged her inside. “Come on, you need some cocoa and food and to tell me what the fuck happened.”

“Okay,” Aella conceded, turning to look back at the wolf, but he was gone.

* * *

Diana made sure Aella had a cheese sandwich, two cups of cocoa, and three eggs in her belly before giving her an inquisitive look across the small kitchen table.

Warmed by the chocolate and her sister’s concern, Aella took a deep breath. “I’ve been going out for walks this past week while you sleep. I hadn’t run into anyone until today. Two brown werewolves chased me and they would have killed me if the black wolf hadn’t stopped them.”

Diana let out a long breath, rubbing her forehead as if it ached. “Why hadn’t you mentioned these walks? We could have gone together after I’m done with work.”

Aella bit her lip. “I—” She closed her eyes for a moment, hating the idea of insulting her sister, but not knowing how to explain herself without potentially doing so. “Being inside all day feels safe because I don’t have to meet people. But I feel a bit suffocated. And I love your company, but I just need to be alone with my thoughts and the trees sometimes. I spent so long constantly being watched by the priests, nuns, and gargoyles, and I know you aren’t like them, but—I’m sorry.”

Diana squeezed her hand. “That’s perfectly understandable, Aella. And I’ve no intention of locking you up in my house. But you need to be careful out there. Use the perfume and glamoured necklace I gave you before leaving the house.” She grimaced. “I know it feels as if we have to hide who we are, and it sucks. But some react violently in our presence when it’s a surprise.”

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