Page 42 of Beneath the Blue Moon

***Ethan/Sheriff***

She looks so sad. I’m glad I came back. It’s not how I

wanted to help, but I’m here, and she’s not alone. I never expected it to be

like this. Yes, there’s a natural instinct to protect her, but this is way

beyond that. I feel like my heart is being torn out of my chest all because

she’s sad. I want to take away her pain. Is it supposed to be like this? She’s

not really my mate until after the mating ritual; we’re not actually connected

yet, so why do I feel like this? That’s it. These are feelings—human emotions,

not instincts. This is not about the wolf. It’s about the man… The man who

seems to have fallen in love. I love her. I know she feels the connection, too.

Why else would she name me Sheriff?

She finishes her wine, yawns, and stretches. “I’m gonna call

it a night, Sheriff. I hope I see you again.”

I’ll be here every night, man or wolf. She stares into my

eyes and, for the first time tonight, she doesn’t look so sad. If I had

anything to do with that, then my presence here was worth any risk of exposure.

“Good night, handsome.”

Good night, my love.

She ruffles my fur and walks inside. I move back to the edge

of the woods and, like I do every night, keep watch over her. I need to be

extra vigilant now that Stone has her in his sights. I almost died this morning

when I saw that car force her off the road. The fucker got off easy if you ask

me; I should have broken every bone in his body first. I just hope Stone gets

the message. He should think long and hard before he fucks with me and what’s

mine.