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A simple, white shift hung on a hook, and I pulled it over my head and padded into the small room I shared with Paige. A low fire burned so I added a few logs, stirring until the flames licked higher, warming the room. I crawled into my bed, tugging an old quilt over me as I settled into the lumpy mattress. Sleep eluded me though as the memory of the wolf shifters refused to leave me.
I knew they’d come for Caleb and he was safe with them, but I hadn’t expected the deep yearning I’d feel to go with them. My wolf had whined, recognizing her kind, and it had taken every ounce of my strength not to shift and join them. She wanted to prance, play, and run with a pack, a longing I thought I’d buried so deep it was gone, but seeing them had proven me wrong.
I rubbed my face against the threadbare sheet, pressing until I had to lift my head and gasp for air, but it did nothing to curb the need to run. I curled myself into a ball, forcing myself to stay still as I stared at the unadorned log walls, each breath slower than the last as I counted each crack, all eight hundred and ninety-two of them.
***
Something jolted me awake and I lifted my head, thinking Paige coming in had woken me, but when I glanced at her bed, I could see her sleeping peacefully, and the fire had died down to ember. I scooted out of the bed, surprised she’d come in without waking me, and went to the fireplace, wondering what had woken me. I added another log to the fire so it wouldn’t go out and seeing only a couple logs left, decided to go get more. I glanced at the door, but didn’t want to risk waking Gran so I went to the window instead, easing the sash open and slipping outside.
I hurried to the stack of wood, but a light at the back door gave me pause. I slipped closer and was startled to hear raised voices. I ducked out of sight as Strickland came to the door, his expression angry and, I narrowed my eyes as I realized, nervous. What would cause Strickland to be nervous, I wondered, and who was he arguing with?
Gran’s stern face appeared behind him and I ducked closer to the wall, afraid she might see me spying. “I’ll deal with it,” she stated with finality, but Strickland’s face turned mutinous.
“You let him go,” he accused and Gran’s mouth flattened. “What am I supposed to do? They want what they paid for.”
“You will do nothing. I have already said I’ll handle it,” she said sharply, her tone brooking no argument. He opened his mouth, ready to protest, and she snapped her fingers in front of his lips, sealing them shut. “We are done.” His eyes widened as he struggled to pry his lips apart, but it was no use, I knew. She’d done it to me a dozen times and until the magic wore off, his lips were literally sealed. He sucked air in through his noise, his eyes burning and she wiggled her fingers in a shooing motion. “Don’t make me force your obedience,” she warned, while looking entirely too delighted by the prospect. He stumbled backwards, an expression of dawning horror as he experienced firsthand what Gran was capable of when thwarted. I almost felt bad for him, but he’d been one to make my life miserable every chance he got, plus he’d been consorting with hunters.
I waited until the light was off and Strickland had disappeared far enough into the darkness even my keen eyesight couldn’t spot him, before I gathered an armful of wood and went back to the room. I laid the logs down carefully, not worried about disturbing Paige, but I wanted no reason for Gran to question if I’d potentially overheard her conversation with Strickland.
What took you so long? My hand jerked at the loud question, and one of the logs slipped out of my grip, thumping loudly, and causing me to freeze and glance at the door. Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, Paige whispered unnecessarily in my head and I chuckled softly. I gently finished laying down the wood and turned to her.
It’s fine, I murmured, taking in her wide blue eyes peering up at me from the bed. I was just getting more wood for the fire.
You were gone a long time.
I smirked at her, tucking my feet under the quilt to warm them. Keeping tabs on me now?
She lowered her eyelashes, hiding her eyes from me as she said softly, I thought you might not come back.
My breath gusted out of as if I’d been sucker punched. Paige.
I wouldn’t blame you if you did, she rushed to say, her fingers twisting the quilt under her hands. I saw it, you know, the way you looked at them. I crawled out of my bed and went to hers, nudging her so she’d let me slide in next to her. She scooted over, still not looking at me.
