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Simone waited for the instinct to pull away and be embarrassed about what had happened the night before to kick in, but it didn’t. Instead, she followed her instinct to lean back into his strength, which made him wrap his arms around her.
“I was just seeing if I could call forth my dire wolf. I can see her, but it’s like there’s no connection. She just won’t come forward.”
“It isn’t important.”
“It is to me. I don’t want to disappoint you or your pack.”
“I don’t think you could do that even if you tried. Everyone who has met you thinks you’re delightful. Mrs. Perkins was especially complimentary and mentioned you had asked her to stay on. You didn’t have to, but I think you’ll be glad you did.”
“I don’t want people thinking I’m going to come in and change everything just because I can. If I see things that aren’t working, or I think there’s a better way, I will do what I can to improve things. Nancy told me I was one of you now.”
“Nancy is a bright girl.”
“I do worry about the shifting thing. I always have. My parents used to just dismiss it, but I could always talk to GiGi.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you can’t pick up a phone and talk to your sister, but I also want you to know I will never dismiss your concerns about the shifting or anything else. If you like, Mystic River over on Kodiak has an exceptional doctor. We could give him a call to see what he thinks.”
“Could we?”
“We could. Mrs. Perkins sent me to find you as they are preparing to start breakfast. I probably spend far more time at breakfast than I should. I just find that people will come and talk to me while I’m sitting there. It’s far more casual.”
“Would you mind terribly if I skipped it? Mrs. Perkins sent me out with a huge blueberry muffin and I’m not hungry. Also, I’d like to write a letter to GiGi.” Mischa looked at her with raised eyebrows. “We decided we’d send weekly letters to each other—not emails, not texts, real pen and paper letters. I’d like to get that done.”
“If you like, but I also need you to meet with Valentin and start helping him with the plans for the bonding ceremony. He thinks we need to invite some of the people from the town and begin forging closer ties with them.”
“Why?”
“There are some disturbing stories that are being told.”
“About the rise of the Shadow League?”
“You’ve heard them?”
Simone blushed. “Some, although I wasn’t supposed to.”
“Garrick MacBeth reached out and wants to have a phone conference over it.”
“My father doesn’t believe in them. But I’ve met MacBeth. He didn’t strike me as a man to rattle easily. On the other hand, if it isn’t right in front of his face or threatening his personal comfort, my father is quick to dismiss things.”
“I agree with your assessment of both men. We’d best get back.” He looked around and spotted the empty leash. Before she could explain he called “Here, Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!” As Kitty came bounding towards him, Mischa laughed. “That’s why you named her that so you could scare the shit out of people when you called her. You little minx!”
He wrapped his arm around her, and they made their way back to the house. When they reached it, Mischa turned her in his arms, placed his finger under her chin and tilted her head up, kissing her with a restrained passion she could feel racing through both of them. He walked her to the foot of the stairs and then headed in for breakfast.
Nancy had very nicely provided Simone with a map of the estate so that she wouldn’t feel like she was always asking for directions. She went upstairs and smiled at the food and water someone had brought up for Kitty. Simone hung up her vest and ate her muffin.
Stroking Kitty’s back, she said, “I’m going to go meet with Valentin. I’ll see you in a little while.”
Checking her map, she made her way to Valentin’s office in the main tasting room.
* * *
VALENTIN
He was busy cobbling a list together of people to invite from Otter Cove when she entered the room.
“Mistress. What an unexpected pleasure. Can I offer you some coffee or anything to eat? Mrs. Perkins always brings me far too much.”
“Mischa sent me down to see if I could offer any assistance with the wedding planning,” she said as she turned to look at his whiteboard. “Although it seems like you have things well in hand.”
