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“A lot better. Really.” I keep my voice firm, determined to reassure her. “I’m so sorry that happened, Mom. I don’t know how—”
“Oh, Cedara, we’re just happy to have you back safe and sound,” she interrupts me. “After you escaped, we were so worried about you.”
I escaped…left them…
A pang of remorse lances through me at her words. I squeeze her hands, offering her a reassuring smile. “I’m sorry I put you through that, Mom. I never meant to scare you.”
“Nonsense,” Aunt Juliette waves a dismissive hand. “We all know you were simply being your brave, stubborn self. When we saw the way you fought off those pigs, even after they’d drugged and beaten you…” She shakes her head in admiration. “I don’t know where you get such strength. Your mother, most likely.” She beams at Mom, who mirrors her smile.
My cheeks flush at the unexpected praise, and I duck my head, feeling distinctly undeserving. “I…I didn’t really do anything that impressive,” I murmur. “I just got lucky.”
The truth is, I’m riddled with guilt. I’d been utterly powerless to help any of them. All I could do was wander the woods, desperate to find a way to free them but terrified of getting caught again myself.
“Don’t be so modest,” Mom says lightly. She turns to Casey. “Our Cedara has always been a fighter. You should have seen her as a pup. Tiny thing, but she never backed down from a challenge.”
“Remember how she used to wander off all the time?” My aunt’s eyes are twinkling.
“Oh, lord, don’t remind me! She’d go off on night-time jaunts…sometimes we’d find her miles away. Looking for Mother Moon, she told us.”
“Mother Moon.” Aunt Juliette chuckles. “It wasn’t funny at the time – you’d be beside yourself. Convinced she’d been…taken.” The pair share a glance that isn’t quite so cheerful anymore. I know what they’re thinking about. The fear that haunted us. The ones who would take our women.
“She’s just as feisty as she ever was, even if she’s little,” says my mother.
“I’m not little, Mom,” I grumble.
“No…just pocket-sized.” She winks at me. “And really feisty,” she says to Casey.
I flinch, not particularly eager to have my childhood antics rehashed in front of the bristly she-wolf. But to my surprise, Casey’s expression has softened somewhat as she watches our interaction.
“I can see that,” she murmurs, giving me an appraising look.
Once more, Mom and Aunt Juliette launch into the tale of their own harrowing escape, describing how Casey had infiltrated the facility to rescue Edirn, only to end up freeing the rest of them in the process.
“She was magnificent,” Aunt Juliette gushes. “Risking herself to free us.”
“I had a good incentive.” Casey slants a look at Edirn. His answering smile is filled with tenderness.
“You saved our lives, Casey. And you too, Edirn. We’ll never forget that.” My mother has turned serious.
I find myself studying Casey with new eyes as they recount her bravery and skill. The tough exterior that had seemed so off-putting before is revealed as the armor of a true warrior. A newfound respect blossoms within me.
Perhaps there’s more to this prickly she-wolf than meets the eye.
“And to top it all, Edirn didn’t even recognize her,” Aunt Juliette is saying. She slaps him on the arm teasingly. “You were pretty terrifying for a while there.”
“He couldn’t help it. It was all that shit they pumped into him. I mean…the drugs.” Casey looks a little sheepish as she corrects her language. “But he’s better now.”
“Just like my Cedara will be. Won’t you, baby?” Mom’s face softens. “You’ve been alright, haven’t you? Since… you know…”
“I’m fine, Mom.” I hope that my smile isn’t too tight because I feel like a fraud. I’d practically had to leash my wolf before leaving the bedroom a few minutes ago.
“See!” Mom looks triumphant as she beams back at Casey. “She’ll be alright…just like Edirn.”
Casey doesn’t answer, but there’s something in her eyes as she fixes them on me now. Something less suspicious.
Is she warming to me?
Does it matter? If the Alpha is still suspicious, there’s no telling what my future holds.
