I considered pointing out that the odds of Grace experiencing another pre-transformation sequence tonight were relatively slim. But one look at Emma’s expression told me that she wasn’t just asking for her daughter, even if she wouldn’t come out and say it outright.
“If you want,” I said.
Her shoulders relaxed, and I didn’t miss the short breath that escaped her lips.
“Thank you,” she muttered.
Chapter 12 - Emma
I was just finishing breakfast when Elias came into the room, rubbing his face in exhaustion as he yawned.
“Morning,” I said, trying to ignore how my wolf perked in interest at his arrival.
“Morning. How’s Grace?”
The fact that those were the first three words out of his mouth sent a rush of warmth through me.
“She’s doing better,” I said. “She was running all over the place this morning like she didn’t stay up half the night.”
He cracked a grin. “Part of pre-transformation is way too much energy,” he said. “So, she’s going to be a wild child for the next few weeks at least. Fair warning.”
“Thanks for the warning,” I said. My parents had never bothered to tell me anything about shifting once it became obvious that I never would. Bitter resentment rose in my throat like bile. If they hadn’t been so dismissive of me, maybe I would have been able to help Grace more last night. Instead, I’d been completely and utterly inept, unable to help my daughter as she whimpered through those early pre-transformation stages. The thought gnawed at me, and, once again, I found myself thanking the heavens that Elias had come when he did.
His eyes swept the area, landing on the full carafe of coffee.
“I made extra after last night,” I said, perhaps unnecessarily.
“You’re a saint,” he muttered. As he brushed past me, his hand slipped to my waist, a small gesture of gratitude that seemed to electrify me through my shirt.
“It’s the least I can do,” I said as he grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured coffee nearly to the brim. I hesitated as he turned back to face me, suddenly incredibly self-conscious. “Thank you, by the way,” I said. “For last night.”
He blinked, as if surprised, then tilted his head as an amused smirk flickered across his face. “What? Did you think I was just going to let you go through all that alone? I could sense how stressed out you were through the bond.” He sipped his coffee. “I didn’t know what was going on at first, but there was no way in hell I was ever going to let you go through whatever you were dealing with alone.”
“I don’t know what I was expecting,” I admitted.
He gave me a speculative look, as if he understood all the implications behind those few words. After a moment, he placed the still-steaming mug on the counter and came to stand in front of me.
“I know I’ve still got a lot to make up for until you trust me entirely,” he muttered. “But please know that I would never let you or Grace suffer on your own.”
My heart fluttered as I felt pinned by his gaze. And to my surprise, or maybe not, I believed him.
“Thank you,” I said.
Again, just like the night before, he hesitated, as if wanting to kiss me but holding back. A moment later, he stepped back and checked his watch.
“We’re going out on patrol,” Elias said. “Hopefully, we might be able to get more information on the sand wraith. Right now, we’re sort of flying blind.”
“What are you looking for exactly?” I asked
He exhaled, eyes flashing as he glowered. “Information. Any sort of information. At the moment, we have almost nothing. We’re still not entirely sure why it started appearing in the first place, or what it wants, other than worrying the town and causing as much devastation as possible.”
“Be safe,” I said.
He paused as he looked me up and down. I didn’t miss the hunger or longing that lurked in his eyes. For a brief moment, I knew instinctively, or maybe it was through the mating bond, that it was taking every inch of his willpower not to pin me against the wall and claim me right then and there.
That didn’t alarm me. What alarmed me was that, despite myself, part of me wanted him to. God, I desperately wanted him to. But I couldn’t. Not yet. Not when I was still worried he would break me again, maybe this time worse than before.
“I’ll do my best,” he said, and he was gone.
