Page 102 of Wolf's Providence

I took a deep breath, my heart fluttering. “There’s a lot to explain,” I said, carefully choosing my words. “And I will do that when I amoffthe bus.”

“Ugh,fine.” I could practically hear the eye roll as she hung up.

Grinning, I enjoyed a few more moments of peace on the bus before I got overrun with questions from my best friend. I knew Lily was still at work, so I walked home, with a light backpack that had hardly anything in it, and because of that, I took my time. Savored the feel of the town as I walked at a leisurely pace.

The air wasn’t as fresh here. It was still good, but I already missed the clean, crisp air of Shadowridge Peak. There was a thin covering of snow, but nothing like on the mountain.

My mind was still struggling to accept everything he had told me. Blood magic. Bound together, not through the Will of his Goddess but a creepy old spell I expected to read about in horror books. The shaman had told me when I was on Blackridge Peak, he had said that Caleb’s blood would have bound us, but I didn’t think he meantactuallybind us, where I had no sense of…what?Self?

I’d tried to puzzle it all out on the bus journey, but some things had no easy answer.

I could go back. My pulse raced when I thought about it, and then I worried about being able to return. Eamon and I had gone a different way when we were racing to catch Caleb. It wasn’t as steep as the way Caleb approached the climb. Plus, Eamon had a route that actually liked vehicles.

You couldn’t drive very far, but I would takesomehelp before no help any day of the week. When I asked Eamon why Caleb took me the hard way, he had a one-word answer: masochist.

And here I was, already worrying about the return when I hadn’t even decided if I was ever going back. Was it even my decision to go back if Ididgo back? Or was it the bond?

I mean…ugh. It was too much.

I forced myself to think of other things. I had already called and spoken to Lorna. The shop was doing great, and she was loving working there. It was such a relief not to worry about work, and maybe the fact I was taking more care of myself was helping my ME. I’d only had a few spells, and they were merely blips on the radar of my health; I hadn’t lost days, and I didn’t feel as exhausted.

Arriving home, I unlocked the door, and once inside, I took a moment to savor the quiet. The last time I had been here, I recognized it as empty. Lifeless. Now…it still looked empty and lifeless, butIwasn’t. Not anymore.

Or was I?

Tipping my head back, I looked at the ceiling, wishing I could see beyond it. “Isit real, this bond?” I asked. “Would you answer a human, Luna?”

I took the silence to be my answer.

I’d barely had a bathroom break and started to unpack when my front door banged off the wall as it opened.

“Willow!”

“I’m here!” I yelled back, leaving my room and seeing her in the living room. I braced myself as she flung her arms around me.

“I missed you so much!”

Squeezing her, I smiled widely. “I missed you too,” I told Lily as I stepped back. “You look amazing,” I complimented her. Her brown bob was sleek and shiny as always, but her dark skin was glowing and her eyes were shining with excitement, and while I knew she would be happy to see me…I also suspected my bestie had a man in her life.

“You met a guy?” I guessed.

“I did!” She laughed loudly. “I was at a wedding and he’s amazing, but we can talk about me all day tomorrow.Tonight, I want to hear all aboutyou.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked me over. “Are you okay?”

“Lily, I’m fine. Really. I think I’ve finally figured out a few things about myself.” Or thought I had.

“Does this have anything to do with Caleb?” she asked cautiously, sinking down onto my sofa as she watched me warily, and I could feel the weight of that question hanging in the air.

I hesitated, the mention of him stirring something deep within me. “Yeah, it does. And…everything, really. Life outside of here. It’s been different but good. It’s hard to explain. I just need a little time to process it.”

“You’ve got time,” she said quietly. “Right?”

I had about two weeks. Caleb hadn’t mentioned it, but Eamon had. Apparently, Shadowridge Peak wasn’t hospitable for climbers in winter. Was it ever hospitable to climb?

“Yeah.” I nodded, trying not to think of the ever present question in my head. “I’ve got time.”

I told her about my most recent adventure, while not actually telling her anything. However, I was able to talk about the regeneration of the cabins and Caleb’s work at an exclusive work site. I didn’t mention shifters, attacks, burning of shrines to dead people…I kept it all light and fluffy.

“Willow, are you happy?” she asked, her voice suddenly soft and serious. “Because you don’t look happy.”

---