So many Weres, he said. And here I was, a lone witch.
‘It doesn’t matter what they think, not to me,’ Wyn announced with defiance, and I hoped that would be enough.
He sat up to move closer to me again, as though the slightest distance between us was still too much.
‘Were you there?’ he asked. ‘When I phased, I thought I felt you.’
‘Just wanted to make sure you were safe.’ I peered at him from behind my hair and covered his hands with mine. They were so warm. ‘Is that OK?’
‘More than. It’s not like you could shoot me a text, I’m glad you were with me.’
‘I always will be.’
As I rubbed my thumb in circles on the back of his hand, more and more flowers blossomed around us.
‘Right after the phase, I lost you,’ I told him. ‘Like you’d fallen off the face of the earth completely.’
‘That makes sense,’ he reasoned. ‘Some kind of natural defence against witches, probably.’
The casual way he dropped his theory made me freeze up, the flowers wound around my bedposts trembling. Our perfect reunion was not going exactly as I’d hoped.
‘Not against you,’ he added hastily. ‘I mean witches in general and wolves in general. Because, you know, witches and wolves, they’re not exactly …’
‘It’s all right,’ I said, cutting him off before he could dig the hole any deeper. ‘I know.’
‘It was totally different this time.’ He spoke in hushed tones even though we couldn’t possibly be more safe than we were in my room. ‘No pain, no fear. I felt so alive, completely connected to myself. They told me I wouldn’t remember much of anything afterwards but I do recollect most of it. The running, the hunt.’ He paused, biting his bottom lip as that one specific word settled. ‘Mom was kind of shocked but Gramps said it means I’m going to be a strong wolf. Maybe a pack leader someday.’
There was pride in his voice and his posture but I only felt trepidation. A witch and a wolf was unlikely enough. A pack leader and a witch destined to revive her sisters, to save or end the world? These weren’t the regular problems couples our age had to overcome. But when I looked away, Wyn crooked his finger and lifted my chin so that my eyes met his.
‘This might not be easy,’ he said, his words echoing my thoughts. ‘But that doesn’t make it wrong. Remember, we only belong to us, no one else.’
When I closed my eyes, I could hear his heartbeat. It was stronger than I remembered, his pulse a little slower than mine, a gently thudding reminder that yes, he was different now. But so was I. Craving his closeness, I rested my head on his chest and sighed as his arms folded me into him.
‘Your turn,’ he said in a soft and husky voice, more suited to the middle of the night than the middle of the day. ‘I want to know everything. Where’ve you been? Who’d you see? What in the heck happened to your phone?’
‘That one is a long story,’ I replied, not a lie at all.
‘My favourite kind.’
As he spoke, he fought back a yawn, burying his face in his shoulder rather than releasing me from his embrace.
‘You must be exhausted,’ I said, swooning at the sight of his sleepy-eyed smile. ‘Why don’t you take a nap?’
‘Because I don’t want to take a nap,’ he replied but the way his eyelids flickered as though his lashes weighed more than they could bear said differently. ‘I want to hear the sound of your voice. Tell me anything, I don’t care what: the weather report, the latest with Lydia, what you had for breakfast.’
It was only when my stomach rumbled to answer the question for me I realized I hadn’t eaten at all. Where to begin? The situation with Jackson, the wolf at the party, Lydia’s grandmother? My conversation with Emma Catherine? None of those seemed like good conversation starters.
‘It’s been a crazy couple of days,’ I said. ‘But it can wait until you’re rested, there’s no rush. Is there?’
‘No,’ he replied, a dreamy murmur. ‘We have forever.’
Forever. It wasn’t nearly long enough.
‘But you’re OK?’ Wyn asked. ‘I hated being so far away. I never stopped worrying about you, Emily.’
Slowly, I drew myself up to rest on one elbow and lightly stroke his hair. Wyn’s breathing slowed, his chest rising and falling as he fought his own exhaustion.
‘You don’t have to worry about me now,’ I promised. ‘You’re here, we’re both safe. You can rest.’
