Wolf (3 page)

“I don’t need your escort.”

He paused when I halted my movement down the path. I glared at him, but his smirk didn’t add to my confidence. He was clearly not impressed by my determination. “You are injured, Hannah. Let me help you.”

I turned and chose to ignore him. My feet ached with each step. The path I’d chosen had smooth rocks embedded within the moss. They felt good against my injured feet. If only I’d had time to…

There were too many thoughts that would complete the sentence, and none of them would guide me toward what I should do. I needed to find my father, even though I doubted he’d care much about my plight. After all, he’d tried to banish me when I’d returned. Then again, in all fairness, the man wasn’t really my flesh-and-blood father. He’d been kind enough to take me in when he took my widowed mother as a bride.

The footsteps echoing mine annoyed me. I turned. “Do you have any intention of leaving me be?”

“In time, perhaps.” He smiled, and I expressed my frustration through a heavy sigh and continued my steps forward, my feet moving toward the smooth rocks of their own volition.

I walked for an eternity, even though it was no doubt much less than that. My shadow continued behind me, his steps paralleling mine even though he didn’t speak. My mind was too jumbled with emotions to deal with conversation, and I think he sensed that was the case. I didn’t want to admit it, but I was glad for his presence.

The path ended as a thick brush clung to life between two large trees. I tried to peer over the overgrown shrub I hadn’t expected to see. A large glade was on the other side, evident by the lack of trees for a wide distance that appeared almost symmetrical. Planned.

“I suppose you’re going to continue following me?”

His lips curved into a grin that sent a shiver of anticipation through me. My pulse quickened. “Perhaps.”

I sighed and turned. I pressed through the brush and gasped as I stepped on the other side. Homes made of wood filled the area in small circular bands as far as my eyes could see. Billows of smoke drifted through the air from cooking areas outside most of the huts. My stomach rumbled at the thought of what they were cooking.

A village.

People.

How had I not known this was here?

I’d ventured farther than I’d thought. It was the only answer which made sense. I searched for the mountain range that signaled the enemy’s border. I was still within a safe region, even though I was much closer to Tash, which was perched on the edge of the land my people fought our enemy over. Many miles were left to travel, though. Many.

I turned toward him as he approached. “What village is this?”

His smile warmed me as a group of people approached us. I clung to his side without thinking. His arm wrapped around my waist and his voice danced in my ear. “Welcome to my home, Hannah.”

Chapter Three

An older woman named Nalla took me from him shortly after arriving. Shock streamed through me swifter than the current of the river which flowed along the northernmost portion of the village. Realto. It was an odd name for a village, but somehow felt right.

There was an entire village within the woods! Children chased one another, their laughter echoing across the glade. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen such joy. Hundreds of questions plagued me, though I doubted my voice would find words anytime soon. There was too much to see to speak. Too much to absorb and learn.

These were Stephan’s people. I swallowed at the thought. Were they as kind as he was? Would they accept my presence?

If I’d known how rare time alone with an alpha warrior was, perhaps I wouldn’t have been so abrupt with him. The home I was taken to was made of wood, sealed with an earthen compound I was unfamiliar with. I was tended to by Nalla, who kept me occupied with whimsical stories of people I didn’t know.

A week had passed, and I was tired of whimsical.

A warm blanket made of animal skin covered me as the healer Nalla treated my wounds. I smiled at her. “Your poultice reminds me of my gran. She always believed in using herbs.”

The elderly woman smiled, her skin revealing a few wrinkles around her sparkling cinnamon eyes. “She sounds like a wise woman.”

“She was.” My heart swelled. “She passed five winters ago.”

“The loss of a loved one is always hard on a soul. Stephan told me your mother was lost in the village battle.” I was surprised her voice cracked with caring for my plight. “It’s been many winters since we’ve lost anyone in our pride, but their memories still warm our hearts.”

Many winters. The statement made no sense to me, yet I could tell her words were truthful. “You’ve surely lost many loved ones during your life. Does the pain stop?”

I needed to hear an affirmation—to know the searing slices in my soul would heal. I chewed on my lower lip and waited for her answer, even though I knew the weight of my mother’s loss would forever haunt me.

“Our people live much longer and our bodies heal of their own volition. This has been the first time in at least sixty winters since I’ve had to use my poultices.” Her words shocked me as I recalled the size of the village and the massive cluster of people and wolves I’d seen my first day here. Before I’d been secluded.

I longed to wander the village, but Nalla insisted I needed rest. A week had passed since my race to safety and, more than anything, I wanted to see Stephan. Weary of inactivity, I stood and began my morning pace around the small home. A large talisman similar to mine hung on the wall above the hearth. “Is this a pride talisman?”

Nalla smiled and pulled on her talisman. “No, it is my family pride. Stephan is my fourth generation.”

“Fourth generation?”

“My daughter is his mother’s mother’s mother.”

The idea astounded me, even though I recalled what she’d said about her people living longer. My mind again raced with questions, but guilt numbed my tongue. She’d already been beyond patient with me and my incessant need to know more about Stephan’s people.

Stephan.

I’d broached my desire to know more about him my second day here, but Nalla hadn’t been forthcoming. Maidens of my village rarely ventured to ask such questions of the men, so I understood my lack of right to ask. The compulsion overwhelmed me, though, even after a week with Nalla. Nothing she taught me mattered as much as learning more about him. “When will I see Stephan again?”

Nalla set the remaining poultice compound on the small table beside her. She stood. Silence made me apprehensive. Heat stained my cheeks as I imagined her studying me. The scrutiny was new to me. Few within my village offered me more than a dismissive acknowledgement. Yet this woman listened attentively, as if she wanted to know more about me. As if she understood.

She cared.

“You think of him often.”

Denying the truth of her statement would accomplish nothing. “I’m indebted to him and your people for saving me. It would be impossible not to think of him.”

Her lips curved into a grin reminiscent of Stephan’s. “You have no reason to hide your curiosity. Many maidens of our pride have interest in Stephan. Even more vie to be his mate.” She lifted a pot of hot water from the fire pit and poured a cup. She dribbled drops of a liquid into it. “Drink this. It will aid your healing.”

I took the cup and sipped, allowing the warm liquid to heat me, as it had each time she’d given it to me. “Thank you.”

Silence met my gratitude. I chewed my lip. Asking my question again would be disrespectful. I should be grateful for all she’d done. But I longed to see Stephan again. Surely I could find him on my own. The glade hadn’t seemed that large. “Perhaps I could walk around the village today? Osana mentioned she’d take me.”

“Osana is young, only fourteen winters. Escorting you through the village isn’t something she should do.” Nalla approached me. “Not all our people welcome your presence.”

I’d suspected as much, but hearing it increased my growing guilt. “I’m willing to earn my keep. Hard work is something I’m used to.”

She sat beside me on the small cot and took my hands. Her fingers trailed across my bruises and rough palms. “I have no doubt you toiled over labors much of your day.”

“I launder well and tend fires and gather wood. Cooking escapes me at times, but I skin and salt meat with skill. My father wouldn’t have it any other way.” I hoped she’d realize the importance I placed on helping.

“Do all maidens in your village do so much?”

I shook my head. “My situation was quite different.” To say the least. Tending the fires, clothes and wood needs for three families often took from dawn to well past dusk, especially in the seasons when there were skins to tend to. “I had much to atone for.”

“What could you possibly have done to bear such burdens?”

I swallowed my resentment, knowing my emotions weren’t something she needed to deal with. “Two men died because I foolishly ran into the woods. I must tend for their families as if they were mine. My father demanded it as one of my punishments.”

I must’ve been fumbling with the talisman without realizing. Her fingers touched it, the soft caress too much like my gran’s. My mother’s. “You bore much for naught. What you did for Stephan should’ve been praised.”

“They thought my story a foolish tale.”

I could tell she wanted to comment, but she stood instead. A cool breeze flowed into the room as the door swung open.

Stephan.

My pulse quickened and I fiddled with the hem of my borrowed dress. I gawked at his powerful body as he greeted Nalla. His eyes danced with adoration when around her, and I wished I could see the same glimmer in his eyes when he thought of me.

The same type of clinging leather pants molded against his powerful thighs. Muscle rippled across his stomach, partially visible through the open wood-colored vest. His chest was unmarred by hair. My fingers longed to trace the contours of his smooth skin.

Heat spread through me to center at my nether regions. I squeezed my thighs together and looked down because I was afraid my cheeks were stained with shame. My attraction to him had grown, and my body refused to behave.

His long legs brought him to me faster than I was prepared for. I stood, my legs wobbling as my breathing accelerated. His hands grasped my arms, steadying me with a strength that made me shiver. Not even the mightiest of my village’s fighters were so honed and muscular. I’d seen enough of his people to know none of the men in his pride were like the men I was accustomed to.

“Thanks.”

Thanks. Not only was it a naïve and foolish thing to say, but it came out with a meekness that made my mind scream at my blathering tongue. I’d thought of clever retorts and envisioned conversations with him about many things for the past few nights. I’d even fantasized about him.

And all I had to say when he stood before me was “thanks”. A flicker of darkness appeared and disappeared in his golden eyes.

Nalla shuffled a chair. The dragging sound across the bare floor of the eating area pulled me from my lustful thoughts. I focused my attention to where his fingers touched my skin. Tingles danced there and spread through me like molten fire. Heat rushed to my core. My pussy moistened. My nipples hardened.

I fought the urge to tug on my dress or look down to see if it was apparent. I refused to sever my contact with him.

“She’s been asking about you.” Nalla’s voice quashed the connection I’d felt. I stepped back enough to allow my heartbeat to slow, but his assessing gaze remained on me, and I was lost in the tumbling waves of desire his presence had incited.

“Really?” His voice, filled with curiosity, made me smile. “I’ve been catching up on pride issues. Some of it is quite tedious. I’m sure your company would have broken up the monotony.”

“She has a restless spirit, much like you.” Nalla chuckled. “Were she one of us, she’d be prowling in animal form.”

Stephan grinned. I couldn’t understand their amusement, but I knew she had no ill regard for me. She sat at the table and regarded us.

“Is her leg healing well?” he asked.

I hadn’t realized how injured my leg was until Nalla had begun treating it. “Those poultices of hers don’t burn anymore. Surely that’s a good sign.”

Nalla laughed. The rich tones of her wise voice soothed me. I hadn’t realized I missed my gran until that moment. They were too alike for me not to be drawn to her.

“She’s been asking about your talisman and wanted to walk the village. Perhaps you can appease her.”

“Sure.” His voice was low. “I’ll gladly tell her why she has our talisman and what it represents.”

“Your father wouldn’t approve.”

“Then it’s a good thing I stopped heeding his advice long ago. If anyone has need of me, send Fallon for me.”

Fallon. “He’s your brother, right?”

“I see you’ve been learning of my family. I trust Nalla’s delighted in telling you many stories of my foolish youth.”

I wished that was the case. The woman had offered nothing.

“I will, now that I see you approve.”

Stephan chuckled and touched my arm. The contact made my skin tingle. “Let us go before she starts now.”

His arm rested on my back just above my waist. Cool air whipped through my hair when we exited the home I’d been locked away in. Unable to contain my glee, I paused and took a deep breath.

“I should’ve come sooner, but Nalla kept telling me you needed to heal.”

“She’s very protective.”

“It’s in her blood. Women in my clan have been healers for many generations.” His hand fell away from me when we began to walk through his village.

Everyone halted their activities as we passed. I found their scrutiny disconcerting. The first few moved to their knees as if about to undertake a chore I didn’t understand. All the homes we passed resembled one another. Most displayed a talisman on the entry.

I tried to study them without being obvious, but decided it best not to when Stephan drew me closer to him.

“Your people don’t like me.”

“They’re unaccustomed to strangers. There’s a difference.” The sincerity calmed my nervousness even though I doubted it was the truth for everyone.