He whines, tail wagging.
“Guess that’s a ‘you’re welcome.’” I stroke the tip of his big ear. “You know, for such a fearsome predator, you’re just the goodest of boys, aren’t you?” He growls at my teasing tone, but I just laugh. I take his furry cheeks in my hands and squish them. “So cute. I’ve always wanted a dog. Who’s da good boy? You is! You is da goodest boi.”
Lyall’s tail only wags faster. He’s loving this.
I scratch his side. “Ready for the good stuff? Want some belly rubs?”
Lyall sighs happily and flops off me. I’m nice and warm now, so I don’t mind. I give his chest some scratches, then ruffle the floof on his belly, grinning when his huge pawstarts to kick in response. His eyes close, tongue lolling in bliss. “Yeah. That’s the good stuff, huh?”
Am I nuts for thinking this wolf is the cutest creature I’ve ever laid eyes on? It doesn’t help that he’s more golden retriever than vicious predator. At least, around me he is. Sighing, I flop down beside him, carding my fingers through his fur. His long snout is inches from my face, his big cold nose almost touching mine. His teeth are freaking huge, but I don’t feel an ounce of fear.
Reaching out, I put my finger between his teeth. He closes his jaws, applying the barest hint of pressure against the digit. My chest tightens. The trust I have in him must be left over from the bond we shared. If our bond was so strong I trust him even in his most dangerous of forms, then…
“I wouldn’t have forgotten you without one hell of a fight,” I whisper into what little space there is between us. “What we had… it must have been something special.”
The wolf’s emerald eyes open, with such a human look of awe in them that it takes my breath away. His body ripples and then Lyall the human lies inches from me, my finger to his lips. His throat clicks loudly in the quiet, a glossy sheen to his eyes.
“It was.” He clears his throat, voice thick with emotion.
“I wish I could remember.”
He takes my hand, and I let him. The walls I’ve built around my heart don’t stand a chance, not when he looks at me like I’m his whole world. “You will.”
I wet my lips, my heart skipping. “And if I don’t?”
Lyall’s intake of breath is loud, and my heart sinks. “You will.”
Shit. It’s exactly what I feared. “Lyall—”
“No,” he says sharply, holding my hand to his chest. “You will remember.”
And if I don’t… then he’ll leave.
And I’ll be left to pick up the pieces again.
Chapter 11
Lyall
What if Soren neverremembers?
The question haunts me as I get a fire going. I lay Soren’s soaked clothes as close to the flames as I safely can. Nearby, Soren rests beneath my furs, sleeping away the stress of the day. Having him beneath me, flesh to flesh, had felt like a dream. The urge to kiss him had nearly consumed me, but I’d sooner cut off my arm than take advantage of him in such a vulnerable state.
I must have patience and trust that this is all part of fate’s plans for us. Surely if we were so incompatible after so much time and change, we wouldn’t still be meant for each other? I have to believe that.
When I wake later, Soren still slumbers. His clothes have dried so I drape his coat over him and take back my fur cloak. He’ll no doubt want to wake up to a meal, and my wolf and I are more than happy to provide for him. I leave the cave and pull up my fur hood. The shift takes hold, and I gallop on four paws along the shore.
One day Soren will join me on hunts, and we will run on all fours side by side. My heart will finally be complete when he returns my love. Cold water laps at my paws as I venture out into the frothing waves. I catch us each a fish, and when I return to the cave, Soren’s dressed and ready for the day.
“Morning,” I say. “I caught your favorite. Salmon.”
Soren stiffens, and when he smiles, it’s forced.
Oh no. Have I done something wrong already?
“Thanks,” he says.
“Something’s wrong. Tell me.”
