I took a moment to respond because I was seething that he would consider my mate a threat to the pack.
“My bond with him hasn’t affected my assessment of his character.” I kept my hands in my lap because I was worried I’d smash them on the table. “I know him.” I hoped that was true.
“What are his plans?” Aaron, another elder, spoke up.
“He’s upset and wants time to think.”
Uncle snorted. “And what if he storms out in an hour? What then?”
As bleak as the situation was, I refused to consider that Indigo would leave without us having a heart-to-heart.
“I will speak to him. It’s a lot to take in and he’s scared.” Once he understood we weren’t a threat, I hoped he’d listen to me.
“You’re too optimistic.” Uncle Lionel glared at me. “It was the one trait I knew would be your downfall one day.”
Wow! Thanks for the vote of confidence.
“The human?—”
I cut off Uncle and raised my voice as I held back tears. “His name is Indigo. After I explain about us, I’m hoping he’ll see the joy in knowing that his world has expanded.”
“And if he rejects you?” another elder asked.
My heart clenched at the possibility. “That's his choice.”
Uncle Lionel narrowed his eyes. “You would accept his rejection? Knowing what it would mean for you?”
“I would respect it.”
No, I wouldn’t.My wolf refused to believe our mate wouldn’t accept who we were.
Uncle glanced at each of us around the table. “You have ten days.”
It was better than I hoped for. It’d be after the new year and Indigo was due in court. But it wasn’t today or tomorrow. It was only then I remembered today was Christmas.Merry Christmas to me.
I thanked Uncle and the council, but he told me not to thank them yet. He doubted I’d succeed and we’d be back here in ten days. I’d be broken-hearted and the elders would have to grapple with a human knowing who we were.
I returned to the cabin, anxious to be surrounded by his scent. In the midst of the broken ornaments were two presents that we’d placed under the tree. We might never get to open them.
By midday, my tummy growled, and I strode to the lodge because pack members and the other guests would be gathering for the Christmas meal. But as I entered the dining room, I was assaulted by a scent, and it wasn’t the turkey, gravy, or apple pie.
Indigo. My wolf was on tiptoes inside me trying to find him in the crowd. He was sitting at a small table at the back, reading a book. As much as I wanted to stay, he’d asked for space. I’d grab a plate of food from thekitchen and eat in the cabin. There I could wallow in my sadness and despair.
But maybe he scented me or it was just rotten luck and his head jerked up. His eyes locked on mine. His puffy face and red eyes told a story, and I longed to hold him in my arms and comfort him. But he looked away, and his head dropped and he studied the book.
My knees buckled, though I stayed upright as the pain in my heart reminded me of when my beast had been shot with an arrow by a human who lived high up in the mountains. I slunk away, forgetting about the food, and trudged through the snow to the cabin.
“Sandwiches and leftovers.” I slammed the fridge door and grabbed an apple instead.
Run. My wolf wanted to be in his fur so he could think of something other than our mate.
I agreed, and he shifted, not looking for prey, just trying to outrun our grief. The snow muffled my beast’s paws as they pounded through the forest. But hours of being in the woods, in the place where I always went to solve my problems, didn’t help. If Indigo couldn’t see past who I was and admit his feelings were intact, we were doomed.
No, I was. He’d go on with his life, a little battered and bruised, but he’d recover.
When I got back to the cabin, I built up the fire and the phone beeped, but I ignored it, fearing it might be Indigo saying he was leaving. But it dinged again, and I studied the display. It was Antonia.
He asked for books on our history and the mate bond.
