Page 11 of Wolf's Providence

“I thought I’d maybe seen him before,” I mumbled. “It’s…it’s what it is. What is this about?”

“The tie between you two was curious before,” the shaman told me, leaning back in his chair once more. “But now, with his blood in your body, there is something deeper at work here, something unusual…hidden.”

“Describe unusual,” I asked, leaning forward.

He rested his elbows on the table, steepling his fingers. “Shifters’ blood is potent, Willow. It carries our essence—strength, resilience, even pieces of our spirit. When Caleb’s blood mingled with yours, it seems to have left an imprint.”

I frowned, shaking my head. “He didn’t mean to—he was trying to save me.”

The shaman’s expression softened. “I have no doubt. But intent matters little in these things. Blood is blood. And though it may not have taken hold yet, it’s there, waiting. A seed, if you will, planted deep within you.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “A seed for what?”

“That’s harder to say. What I do know is that it may be tied to your illness. Your body isn’t used to holding something so foreign, so…primal. They tell me you are having dizziness, correct?”

“I thought it was part of my recovery,” I told him bitterly.

“And the dreams? Are they still vivid?”

“The urge to draw him has lessened, but it’s not gone.”

The shaman puffed out his cheeks as he considered my words. “To me, they’re signs of a struggle within you. You and Caleb are connected now, more than before, and possibly more than either of you realizes.”

I sat back, my head spinning. The room felt smaller, the air heavier. “So…what? I’ll turn into a shifter?”

The shaman let out a chuckle, but this wasn’t funny. “No, nothing so dramatic. At least, I don’t expect it. I expect Caleb’sblood to leave its mark, one way or another. It’s not just a bond of the heart, Willow. It’s a bond of the body, and the spirit. And bonds like these can be…complicated.”

I clenched my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms. “Can it be undone?”

He hesitated, his silence louder than any answer he could have given.

“That’s what I thought,” I muttered, my voice as bitter as I felt inside.

“Caleb will not yet understand the full extent of what he’s done,” the shaman said gently. “But he’ll feel it too, in time. You’re tied to him now, Willow. And whether you choose to sever that tie or nurture it, you’ll both have to face it eventually.”

I didn’t respond, my mind too tangled to form words.

The shaman tapped his thigh, his gaze never leaving mine. “For now, focus on healing. Your body is there, but your mind may need more time to process. Your own strength will determine how this plays out. And remember, the bond may feel like a weight now, but it could also become your greatest asset—if you let it.”

I stared at him, my stomach twisting with equal parts fear and anger. Whatever Caleb had done, whatever this “seed” was, it was already changing my life in ways I couldn’t control. And though I didn’t want to admit it, I wasn’t sure I could face it alone.

“This was a very depressing conversation,” I griped as I shuffled up the bed, while the shaman stood.

“You’re standing at a crossroads, Willow. One path leads you back to what you’ve always known—a life of stability, safety, maybe even happiness in time. The other?” He paused, letting the words linger in the cool air. “The other ties you to something greater, something primal and wild. Caleb may have started this connection unintentionally, but it won’t be undone withoutconsequences. You have to decide if you’re willing to carry that weight.”

I stared at him, the words sinking in like stones. “And what about Caleb? Doesn’t he have a say in this?”

His lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. “Caleb is as bound as you are. Perhaps more so. His choices may feel like his own, but the bond shapes both of you, pulling you toward a shared fate.”

My pulse quickened. “You’re saying I have no choice but to accept this?”

“I’m saying that choices have consequences. And sometimes, the harder path is the one that leads to freedom.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing against my chest. His role as a shaman might have stripped him of personal desires, but it gave him a clarity I couldn’t ignore.

“Think carefully, Willow,” he said, his voice softer now. “This isn’t just about you. Or Caleb. It’s about what this bond could mean—for both of you and for the balance you may be destined to protect.”

“Protect? What are we protecting?”

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