The wind rushes through my fur as I sprint through the forest with Sloan and Luca at my heels. I glance back and see Sloan is right behind me, but Luca is lagging to keep up. I stop and turn to him, allowing him time to catch up. He stops to catch his breath beside me, and that’s when I realize how much taller I stand over him. Since I can’t communicate with him in wolf form, I use my head to motion towards my back, but he doesn’t understand. Sloan sighs heavily next to us.
All I see is rage as I run through the forest chasing after Blair. I effortlessly leap over tree limbs before I come skidding to a halt, digging my paws into the soil when I lose her scent. I pause a moment, with my snout in the air, taking deep breaths to catch Blair's scent. I know she couldn’t have gone too far. My nose twitches to the right and I swivel my head in the direction she went. With a wolfish grin I use all my power to sprint after her.
We walk back towards the cottage when I stop Malachi. “Stop here,” I tell him. He looks down at me, lifting a questioning brow. I move my gaze toward the tree where Luca’s lifeless body lays, and Malachi nods, letting me down. “Please get Sukie and Cypress for me and bring Paul back with you to help take Luca back to the cottage. We need to lay him to rest properly,” I tell him softly. Malachi kisses my forehead, rubbing my shoulder before pulling away. I watch him walk toward the cottage, leaving me alone with Luca.
It’s been several months since Luca’s death and it’s finally starting to get easier. I’m still struggling with the way I told him how I would always choose Malachi over him. I was telling the truth; I would never give up my life with Malachi and Paisley, but it just doesn’t feel the same without Luca here. There was an unexplainable emptiness in my life that I knew nothing but Luca could fill. I only hope he knew how much he meant to me. I can’t help but get lost in thought with everything that has happened since
As I stand there, watching Benjamin walk into the woods, I realize I've been so selfish. This whole time I have been so consumed with grief I have been neglecting the family I fought so hard to protect. Malachi and Paisley deserve better than this. “Thank you moon goddess for giving me another chance at this life with my wolfman” I say aloud, looking to the moon as I place my hands together in prayer. With a newfound purpose I turn on my heels and head
As Malachi tells me the news about Paisley, my heart is racing. I don't say a word and dart out of the kitchen, grabbing my keys and rushing out the door without even acknowledging Cypress as I run past him, almost knocking him over. Malachi is not far behind me as I make it to my car, quickly opening the door and jumping in. He hurries into the passenger's seat, closing the door and we look at each other with worry filling our expressions.
The man stares at me with sweat dripping down his face. I smell his fear and it only fuels my rage. I lean back against the door, reaching down to lock the door and I see the man is trembling now. “Please, I haven't done anything to you. I don't even know who you are,” He pleads pathetically, hoping i will just walk away. I can't stop the laugh from escaping me and he looks confused by my laughter. “I know you’re thinking you will get away with your drunken accident
Everyone is entranced as we all watch Cypress and Sukie continue their dance, but when the song ends they call everyone to join them on the dance floor. The guests rush to the center of the room with excitement as the music plays, and out of the corner of my eye I catch Paisley walking toward her Grandpa. She grabs his leg, demanding his attention and motions for him to pick her up, of course he doesn't hesitate. The smile on my face is so big and I can feel the tears threatening to fall when I am grabbed from behind an
A few weeks later... It’s the day before my wedding and I'm picking up some last-minute items from our local store. Malachi and I decided the