Page 20 of Wolf's Fate

As memories of their cunning deceit flooded back, my anger sharpened when I thought of Willow’s tooobviousacceptance of shifters in her human world.

The air around me grew heavier as I felt the spirits form closer around me.

Their presence was similar to the night of my return, swirling in the air like smoke. They fed into my rage, making me stronger. As my anger strengthened, so did my connection to them, forming a bond that I didn’t understand, but I welcomed it.

This mountain was mine.

The Pack Council couldn’t take it from me. Not unless I gave it up. Either in life or death.

I’d never give it to them. I’d die before I let them have it.

Seething, I considered my options.

Did I play along? Or did I stay away? The smart play was to stay away. They couldn’t manipulate me anymore if they couldn’t get to me.

But as my father had told me for much of my adolescence, no one ever said I was smart.

I just needed a plan.

SEVEN

Willow

I wokeup in bed to the smell of fresh coffee, and I was already smiling. Lorna may talk a mile a minute, and she may have missed her calling in life as a police detective, or possibly an inquisitor from days of old, but the woman knew how to look after her guests.

Getting up, I swayed a little, fatigue still clinging to me, unwilling to let go. Once I was feeling steadier, I went to the bathroom, made sure I didn’t look too bad, and then eagerly went to find Lorna and breakfast downstairs.

“Morning!” She beamed at me as I rounded the partition that separated the hallway from the kitchen and dining area. “You look tired still. Do you want a tray to go back to bed?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Noel, Willow needs to go back to bed.”

“Noel!” My voice was sharper than I intended, and he paused mid-rise from his chair. “I do not need to go back to bed. You have done far more than you ever should have needed to,” I told him with a smile, and I watched as his eyes flickedbetween me and his wife, gauging who he should listen to. “I’m okay,” I assured them both. “I’m going to have breakfast, and then I am going to go to my shop, and then”—I cut off Lorna’s protests—“I am going to go home and sleep in my own house tonight.”

Lorna looked crestfallen. Noel looked nonplussed, but he did resume his seat and took a drink of his coffee.

“But you don’t have to leave,” she told me. I watched her pour the batter into the pan, and I pulled the bowl of fruit she had already prepared towards me. Taking a seat opposite Noel, I started to eat.

“I do need to leave, although I will miss how incredibly well I’ve been looked after.” Lorna looked at me, her expression still one of disappointment. “Lorna, you have been amazing. You both have.” I turned to look at Noel, who raised his cup in acknowledgment. “But I need to go home. I stay here much longer, and your boys will need to share a room, as I’ll have moved in.” I hoped the light teasing softened her mood. “Honestly, I’m not joking, I want to stay here and be pampered! Leaving is foryoursake, trust me.”

She did laugh at that, and I felt the small knot of anxiety lessen.

“It’s nice to have someone to get up for,” Lorna admitted softly, and I saw Noel’s head dip to hide his frown. “Noel’s usually away before I rise, so there’s no one to cook for.”

“You’re losing work because of me?” I asked him, feeling guilty all over again.

“Not at all,” he assured me. He stood and carried his plate and cup to the sink, where his wife hovered. Kissing the top of her head, she leaned into him a little. “Sometimes I workfurther out, but I was on a job in town, not been a problem to help you out.”

“I will pay for your time, you know that, right?”

“You will not,” he said firmly, squeezing his wife, who had been about to protest for him. “This nasty business of yours, I just worry if it happens to Lorna when I’m not here. No, I’ll be closer to home until this mess is sorted and you’re fixed.” He opened the fridge and pulled out his lunchbox. “I’ll do your house first, then be at the store this afternoon, okay?”

“Okay, thank you.” I decided to discuss money with him when his overzealous wife wasn’t listening. Noel was a businessman, he’d see sense.

Lorna busied herself in the kitchen, serving me breakfast, and then she tidied up, always refusing any help. I knew she was happy having someone to look after, and it made me feel sad. I already knew I would never charge her for another art class again. I just hoped she’d accept my decision when I told her.

Maybe that was something I should also discuss with Noel. Food for thought.

Ready for work and dressed in jeans, a sweater, and my padded jacket, I shoved my feet into my boots at the front door of Lorna’s house. She was a “boots off in the house” homeowner, and I respected her wishes.

“And you’re sure you don’t want me to come?” she asked, hovering at the door.

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