Page 22 of Claimed by the Wolf (Wild Fated Shifters #1)
Six Months Later
T he bonfire’s sparks fire high into the sky, kissing the star-spangled Texan night. Leaning back against Nox, I take in the dancing embers and laugh.
“What are you smiling about?” he asks, caressing my newly cut shoulder-length tresses, his fingers trailing over the curve of my bare shoulders.
“I have a lot to smile about,” I say, meeting his eyes upside down. “Don’t I?”
“I certainly hope so,” he growls. “Or I’ll have some ass-kicking to do otherwise.”
I laugh again and snuggle closer to him as our pack grows louder among the full moon party. Across the flames, I catch sight of Brax with his new girlfriend, my interest piqued as I study her closely.
I take a moment to take in my surroundings, and I am so grateful that I can now live in peace with Nox—my Alpha and my fated mate.
The territory lines were firmly established with new boundary markers that both packs agreed on, officially ending twenty years of disputes. There have even been a couple of barbecue get-togethers between the packs, proving the old animosity has dissipated.
“Have you spoken to Emeric lately?” I sit up slightly and sweep my hair off my face to look at Nox.
He shrugs indifferently. “No more than usual. Why?”
“I think something is going on over there, something with one of their elders.”
Interest glints in his azure stare, and he peers at me closer. “What?”
In the distance, someone howls, and the group bursts into laughter, but I ignore their commonplace party antics.
“I’m not sure. One of their pack members is ill. Circe? Alessa has been spending a lot of time with her. I guess she only recently moved back to Willow Grove territory.”
Alarm fills Nox’s face. “Is she worse than before?” he wonders out loud, and I’m confused.
“Was she always sick?”
He pulls me back against him and strokes my hair again, his strong fingers lulling me into that familiar sense of submission.
“I met her once,” he explains. “When I was coming to bring you home. She was bedridden then, but she’s a character. I hope she overcomes this.”
“Is she the one who got you that magic potion that broke our bond?” I tease, but my heart twinges when I say it.
“Yes, but it didn’t break our bond. In fact, she’s the one who informed me there was no way to break our bond. And Circe was pretty vocal about getting you back from Emeric, everything else be damned.”
I smile softly. “She sounds like a tough lady.”
“Maybe we could arrange to go see her,” he suggests.
“If you think it would be appropriate.”
“I’ll see where she is and if she’s taking visitors. Her poor nurse could probably use a break,” he snickers, tightening his arms around me. “Assuming she hasn’t already run screaming for the hills.”
A dark cloud looms over the landscape as we weave up the freeway toward the address on the GPS. My hand wraps around Nox’s as he drives, a silly country song twanging in the background. A wave of sleepiness overcomes me, and I stifle a yawn.
“You’re tired?” Nox asks in surprise. “You woke up late this morning, too.”
I had. He’s right.
“All these plans for the packhouse renovation must be getting to me,” I suggest. “I’ve stayed up late a few nights working on the blueprints.”
“I hope you’re not coming down with something.”
I squeeze his hand as he pulls off the freeway. “I’m sure I’m fine,” I reassure him.
Circe’s house sits in the middle of a cul-de-sac and somehow looks exactly how I envisioned it based on what Nox told me about her. A harried but timid young female answers the door, her eyes widening as she recognizes Nox.
“Alpha Nox!” she gasps, bowing and backing away. “Welcome.”
“Nadia. This is my Luna, Brynn.”
“Hi, Nadia.”
Nadia steps aside to let us into the charming little house, and I’m overcome with the smell of sage and cinnamon.
She’s a healer.
My eyes dart around the small but cozy space, my gaze landing on a framed photo of a handsome female and a beautiful redheaded girl on the piano.
“Are you going to stand there snooping all day, or are you going to make yourselves known?” a voice fires out from the back room.
I swallow a laugh, and Nox rolls his eyes, following Nadia’s lead into the next room.
Her frail, gaunt face does not depict the voice that boomed out to us just seconds before. Circe seems to disappear into the bed, and my heart melts with compassion for the elder.
“You really came back,” Nox comments, peering down at her. “What made you change your mind?”
Her mossy green eyes glitter with the wisdom of old worlds. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She drawls. “But that’s a story for another time. What brings you here? More Golden Shade?”
Nox’s hand extends toward me. “We won’t need that ever again.” His tone exudes confidence. “I brought my Luna. This is Brynn.”
Circe’s face softens as she rests her gaze on me. “Yes. This is better,” she agrees, struggling to sit up, but she’s far too weak.
I hurry to help her up, and she lets me prop her against the pillows. With surprising strength, she grabs my wrist, her eyes boring into mine. Startled, I stare at her, and she releases me just as quickly.
I step back, but her eyes remain on me. “Aren’t you glad you took my advice now?” Circe caws at Nox. “Now everything is how it should be.”
She bursts into a round of hacking coughs, and I look around the room for water as her nurse scurries back into the room to assist.
“I’m fine. It’s fine,” Circe manages between coughs, but she allows me to feed her the water.
Nadia retreats to the shadows, and I help her with the drink. Again, the old female grabs my arm, but this time, she doesn’t release me.
“What is it?” I ask, swallowing my nervousness.
She quirks an impish smile at me and looks at Nox.
“You’re rife with new life,” she informs us.
Heat rushes up the back of my neck, and I pull back, shocked by the revelation. “What?”
She closes her eyes. “You should go now,” she yawns. “There’s a storm coming.”
“Can we do anything for you?” I stutter, still reeling from her last comment, resting my hand absently on my belly, wondering what she saw in me.
“Leave the door unlocked,” Circe orders us. “My daughter will be here soon.”
“Oh, Miss Circe.” Nadia looks at us sadly. “You should let her rest.”
I sneak a final look at the elder before leaving the tiny bedroom with Nox and Nadia.
“Her daughter is back, too?” Nox asks as the nurse sees us to the door.
Nadia shakes her head regretfully. “No, and I doubt very much that Miss Vivienne will come back to Willow Grove territory after what happened between her and Alpha Emeric.”
I frown, but I’m not afforded the chance to ask before we’re ushered out the door.
“What happened between Vivienne and Emeric?” I ask, remembering what Alessa told me about the Alpha and his lost love.
Nox stares at me blankly. “I have no idea,” he answers honestly. “You should ask Alessa.”
We climb into his SUV, but before he starts it, he turns to me and takes my hand. “But I’m much more interested in what Circe had to say about new life than I am about her daughter.”
My cheeks warm at the reminder, and I place his palm over my stomach. “Do you think she’s right?” I ask, my voice catching hopefully. “Do we have Ember Hollow’s new Alpha coming?”
His firm, strong hands stroke at me gently, his eyes hooding as if he’s trying to determine movement inside. “I don’t know. But you know what they say, don’t you?”
He opens his eyes and leans closer to brush his sensuous lips against mine, shivers rushing through me like a thousand warm raindrops on my soul.
“What do they say?”
“When in doubt, we have to keep trying,” he teases mischievously.
I giggle and sit back against the seat as he starts the vehicle.
“You are the Alpha,” I say. “I bow to your leadership.”
“And you are my Luna. Always and forever, Brynn.”