Page 51 of Drive me Wild (South Island Shifters)

“Yup, and I don’t care.”

I can’t help the smile forming on my face because of her words. At least I have people within the clan who have faith in me. I just wish I had more faith in myself. I’m terrified that I’m never going to shift at all, that I won’t be able to live up to my new calling. But I know one thing is for sure, I want to become Declan’s Luna and be a great one. One he can be proud of. Lately, in his sleep, when he holds me tightly, I hear him whisper, “My Luna.” It makes me feel special and loved. It’s also in the little ways he treats me like a princess. I’m not a materialistic person, all I want is a man to show me he loves me and me alone, and day by day, I feel more convinced that with Declan and his clan is where I belong.

As I watch Tasha and her husband, a vision forms in my mind. It’s one of Declan holding our baby in his big strong arms. I smile to myself. One day it might happen if we can figure out what these damn wolves want and who is behind all of these breaches.

Nineteen

WINTER

“Can I meet your sister?” Declan asks between bites of a sandwich.

I shake my head. “No.”

“I’ve told you that you have nothing to worry about, sweetheart. I’ve told you that our marking means I can’t look at another woman romantically. Ever,” he stresses.

He has been pestering me to meet my sister for the last two weeks, trying to come inside every time he drops me off at home. I’m uncomfortable with his eagerness, and I’m pulling away from him when I should be telling him why.

“Declan, it’s not the fact I don’t want you to meet her. It’s complicated,” I say. He’s come home for lunch since I’m working the night shift tonight. He’s done this for the last two weeks, and this is our first fight.

He looks at me. “How so? Are you scared that she’s going to steal me away?” I look at him, horrified.He can’t know, and I hope Liliana didn’t tell him.“That’s it! I think I just hit the nail on the head.”

I exhale and nod, but I can’t form the words to explain. Not without crying, and we don’t have time for me to spill everything to him right now. He gets out of his seat and spins me around. “I promise you; no one can steal me away from you. You’re a drug for me: addictive and sweet. I want no one else but you.” I gulp as I look up at him. “You need to tell me what happened.”

“In time.”

He smiles, but neither of us relaxes. “It’s all I can ask for. I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll be home just after five. I have a video conference with Simon Billington, my boss, this afternoon.”

I lean up. “I might have to take a bath in that swimming pool you call a tub.”

He chuckles. “You do whatever you want, beautiful. My home is yours.”

With one last kiss, he exits the house, and I do exactly what I said I would and head up to his bedroom to soak in his monstrous tub. He’d purchased some girly stuff for me to use at his place, not that I minded using his stuff, but the act further endeared him to me.

After the bath fills with bubbles, I slip beneath the water and soak. The piping hot water would have Declan running for the hills, I’m sure. I managed to get him into the tub with me several times, but the water was lukewarm where I like it hot. Overall, he seems to enjoy the bath.

I get out of the tub when my skin is all wrinkled. Dressing in some clothes I’ve left at Declan’s place, I make my way downstairs to have a coffee. Opening his cupboards while the jug boils water, I realise I’m bored. He doesn’t have much in the way of books to read here, and I don’t have anything else to do.Mental note: Buy some LEGO sets to keep here for when I’m here. I’m sure he won’t mind.

I make myself a coffee before heading into his lounge to make myself comfortable on the couch and maybe find a movie to watch. I may even nap a little this afternoon. I went to bed this morning and woke at twelve, so I was awake in time for lunch with Declan. Another small nap will recharge me for the night ahead.

Settling on the couch, I grab a blanket and pull it over me. I turn on the TV and take a sip of my drink when I hear something tapping at the window of Declan’s lounge. I see a tiny little blue penguin standing there, shivering when I look towards the noise.

“Oh, my gosh.” I put my cup down, dash over to the doors and pick it up. Crimson blood covers my hands, and it squawks as I touch it. Cradling the little bird in my arms like I would a baby, I carry it into the house. “I’ll take care of you, little buddy.”

It squawks lightly again in what feels like gratitude.

I blanket and lay him on the couch, wrapping it snuggly in the comfortable fleece blanket I had been using. Then I search around Declan’s home for a small box and some additional blankets. Once I find everything I need, I make up a comfy bed for the little guy. Guy? It might be a girl. I place it inside the box and try to master the skill of reaching out to Declan.

‘Babe, what’s the number for the local vet?’I call out through my mind. I don’t get an answer. He’s probably on his conference call. He said he would be.

Looking down at the penguin, I check his wing, and he winces as I pull it. “You have a nasty gash, my friend. I’ll take care of you. Are you a boy or a girl? Oh, what am I saying? Penguins can’t understand me.”It probably thinks I’m crazy too.

I get some water to drink through a syringe from my midwife stuff. It gulps the water down in no time. I feed it some more. Poor little thing has been injured, and I don’t know where or how, but he’s very far from home indeed.

It rests back against the blanket, and I wrap another one over its shivering form. Poor thing must be scared out of its mind, yet it seems at peace with me. I realise it’s fallen asleep in the box, and I curl up on the couch beside it just to close my eyes for a few short moments.

* * *

DECLAN

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