Page 13 of Broken Mate

The question jolted her out of her rumination. She blinked and realized she had paused at the top of a series of steps leading to the meadow.

“Oh,” she said, trying to get her bearings. “I can do it.”

Carefully, she made her way down each step, treating it like some type of obstacle course. By the time she touched down onto the springy grass, she felt like she should get a gold medal.

“Good job,” Ledger said.

“Don’t placate me,” she huffed, trying to catch her breath. Why did a set of stairs feel like she’d run a hundred-mile marathon? Her muscles quivered and sweat dripped down the sides of her face, and she hadn’t even started her therapy!

“I’m not,” he said evenly.

“You are.”

“Come,” he said, ignoring her snappish tone. “We’re going to the middle of the meadow.”

He didn’t look back as he left, expecting her to follow. She did, but the terrain was a little uneven. Every once in a while, her crutches would sink into a soft spot in the earth, and she’d stumble. Much to her relief, she didn’t fall. The last thing she wanted was for Ledger to feel even more sorry for her.

When he reached the center, he unfolded the blanket and laid it down. He sat and waited, watching as she slowly made her way to him. By the time she joined him, she was ready to collapse.

“Walking over soil and grass is really different than concrete and flooring,” she muttered. “About a thousand times I thought I’d fall.”

“But you didn’t.”

She huffed, not wanting to give him any type of satisfaction. Right now, he was her tormentor so in her mind it was perfectly reasonable to be angry at him.

“Sit down, Anais,” he ordered.

Carefully, she did as instructed, pulling her arm out of one crutch to lean on the other as she used it to sit.

“It’s warm out here,” she said as she fanned herself.

He smirked before clearing his throat. “All right, let’s get started. The way to healing your body is to reconnect with your wolf. Our duality is a blessing from the High Luna because the wolf is the protector of our souls. Right now, your wolf is hiding. She feels betrayed. So, to lure her out, we’ll start with meditation. Look deep inside, find your wolf. Listen to her.”

Anais took a deep breath. Alpha Jericho had mentioned this and a sense of excitement filled her. She wanted so badly to be whole again.

“Sit straight,” he said softly. “Close your eyes. Breathe deeply.”

She did as he commanded, filling her lungs through her nose, and letting the air out slowly from her mouth. Several times she did this, until her muscles relaxed.

“Good,” he continued. “Mentally scan your body and take notice of all the sensations coursing through you and over your skin.”

Slowly, she became aware of a tightness in her calves. Of a bead of sweat running down her back. How the sun warmed her cheeks and the soft wind ruffled the hair on her nape.

“Search inward,” he murmured. “Find your center. Be aware of your thought.”

Her thoughts were filled with him. With his words that sluiced over her skin. From the moment she had met him, a change had started taking over her thoughts. They weren’t centered around how unfair life had been to her. Instead, her woe-is-me attitude shifted to think about him. How strong he was, how handsome. If she had been a normal girl, she would already be infatuated. Now, however, she only felt sorry for herself.

“If your mind is wandering, focus on your breathing.”

With effort she reined in her wayward woolgathering. Breathing in and out, she concentrated on trying to find her wolf. Growing up, a shifter was always aware of their animal. While the wolfsbane almost killed her, not being able to feel her wolf was what really broke her heart.

“Let go of your anger.”

Not happening anytime soon.

“Forgive your sister.”

“No!” she yelled, snapping out of the deep meditation she had been drifting in.

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