Another low growl, so near. If the wolf didn’t smell her, he would surely hear her heart thumping against her ribs.
The bush she hid behind seconds earlier rustled. She stared at the moving leaves. A barred snout appeared, teeth gleaming. Bree slapped her hand over her mouth to stop a scream that began welling in her throat.
The wolf glared at her; a low rumble seemed to come straight from his chest. All Bree could do was stare hard into its eyes. Somewhere in Bree’s frantic brain, she wished she could speak wolf. It inched out further and its muscled shoulders followed. Even in her frightened state she thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Its coat, all shades of gray and dark gray muzzle and chest.
It tilted back. Bree’s heart leapt into her throat. It was getting ready to launch. Before she had time to think what to do, it leapt at her. She shut her eyes, raised her arms in front of her face, and cowered back against the tree waiting for the impact, but nothing came. A loud grunt sounded, followed by a yelp.
She opened her eyes. Horland was backing away from the wolf. Bree wanted to call his name but stopped herself. She didn’t want to take his focus off the wolf. Looking around for a branch or something hard to throw at the beast, she spied Horland’s sword. She picked it up and waved it in the direction of the wolf and man. If she lunged with it, it could get Horland by mistake, so she stayed still, pointing it at the wary couple.
The wolf growled. Horland waved his hands around above his head and roared at the wolf. The wolf stalled, lookingconfused. Horland picked up a rock and threw it at the wolf’s shoulder. It hunched up and whimpered.
Horland picked up another rock and threatening to throw it, he cried out, “Begone with you.”
The wolf ran off through the foliage with its tail between its legs.
Horland took the sword out of Bree’s hands and hugged her to his chest. “It’s all right. She is gone now.”
Bree panted into his shoulder. “It can come back.”
Still holding her, he guided her around the tree and away from the direction the wolf took.
“She won’t come near us as long as we don’t go near her and her cubs.”
“Her cubs?”
He stopped just short of the clearing. The girl was safe and still asleep.
“Yes, she was protecting her cubs.”
“Is that why you threw your sword away? You didn’t want to kill her?”
“She has more right to be in the forest than I. It is her home after all, not mine.”
Bree relaxed then and nestled into his chest, taking in his earthy scent. “I’m glad you didn’t kill her.”
His arms tightened around her, and she leaned in closer, liking the way her body melded into his and enjoying the tingles of pleasure coursing down her back.
She lifted her head and gazed at him. His gray eyes clouded as he surveyed her face, his gaze resting on her lips. His head lowered and she froze, thinking he was going to kiss her, but he moved away and let his arms fall by his side.
He cleared his throat. “Time to wake the child and be on our way.”
Bree sighed and nodded. She could have stayed in his arms for eternity, and if he kissed her then, she would havewelcomed it but now her head cleared, she was glad he withdrew his hold. She wasn’t there to get all hot and bothered over a knight; she was there to fulfill a promise to her mother, and that was to find her father.
Horland stood over the girl, but Bree grabbed his arm. “Wait. Can’t we let the poor little thing sleep a bit longer? She’s exhausted.”
Horland tipped his head back and gazed at the treetops. “For a short time, perhaps.”
He sat down, propping his back against a smooth barked tree.
Bree sat beside Horland with a groan.
Horland patted his shoulder. “You can rest your head here.”
Bree glanced between the damp ground and his chest of chainmail and grinned. “Thanks, I will.”
She wanted to talk more about her parents, but all of a sudden all she could think of was the feel of his body under her head and the smell of earthy spices mixed in with a little crayfish from that morning. She would have expected such smells to be unsavory, but for some reason, she breathed in the scents of Horland and liked them.
She relaxed and before she knew it, sleep took her into dreamland.
