Page 36 of A Kiss From a Wolfman
“Tick-tock, wolf. Her final breath draws nearer every moment.” His dark eyes glow. “Saving her then won’t be as simple.”
“You can restore her to what she was before?”
The creature nods.
With a deep breath, I look down at Stella’s face. I vowed to always protect her, and I meant it. Whatever this creature wants for his help I shall be the one to give it.
“I will take on the debt of this bargain.” My voice is firm.
“That is not for you to decide.” Before I can protest, he waves another dismissive hand. “But lucky for you, this is repayment for the debt I owe your mate. She saved mine from a most unfortunate fate, and now I am here to do the same.”
Shock renders me speechless. However, if a creature like this owes anyone a favor, it would be Stella. Her kindness knows no bounds. I would know, after all.
With a wave of the creature's hand, warm light envelopes Stella. The scent of flowers nearly blankets her honey scent. I watch in awe as color returns to her sallow cheeks. There is a soft clink as the bullet from her wound slips from her body, and the hole closes up. Her full lips part on a gasp, and she blinks wild blue eyes open at me.
“Ciaryn,” she murmurs.
I say nothing but rain kisses all over her beautiful face. My lips touch every part of her, and I hold her close. Her warmth soaks into me as she clutches at my arms.
“Stella, Stella.” I repeat her name as a reminder that she is here with me.
Turning towards the stranger still lingering beside us, I give him a nod.
“Thank you for saving her.”
Stella’s eyes widen as she takes in the figure. A small gasp leaves her when it smiles, exposing two sets of pointed teeth.
“Wolves live much longer than humans do. I fixed that little obstacle for you two as well.”
It is my turn to gasp. Both of us share a look of bewilderment. That had been another point I meant to explain to her. Wolves can live hundreds of years, but most will bind their lives to their mates and grow old with them. My father had not been mated to my mother long enough to see it as a necessity yet, so he lingered without her.
Now, Stella and I no longer have to worry about that.
“And my thanks to you, Stella, for helping my Laurelle flee your brother all those years ago,” the creature says with a smile. “Helping you escape the castle and saving you tonight was the least I could do.”
Stella’s eyes widened. “That was y?—”
Before she can finish, the creature is gone. The ground groans as it shuffles back into place and neatly knits over as if it had never opened in the first place. A calmness settles over the clearing.
I feel off-kilter as I hold Stella in my arms. In one moment, I was ready to will myself to die to be with her, and now the two of us have centuries to enjoy each other. We stare at each other, lost in the overwhelming sensation of our love. She turns in my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.
My pack gathers around us, each member bloody from the fight. Our quarrel with the hunters seems so long ago. Stella frowns before looking over each of the wolfmen gathered there.
“I’m sorry to all of you for exposing myself like that. I just thought I had to try at least if there was a way to end this without bloodshed.” She shakes her head. “Now I see that a show of force is necessary to keep our home and each other safe.”
A great howl goes up, and they all bow their heads to my mate. I hold her close, rising with her in my arms, and nod to those around us.
“We will work on fortifying the den so that if any more hunters come looking for her—or any of us—they will be snuffed out swiftly.”
“In the meantime,” Stella says, grinning at me before approaching our pack. “I will tend to your wounds.”
I want to argue and demand she go back to our room where I can keep a close eye on her and remind myself that she is very much alive. However, her look tells me she needs to do this. Asmistress of the pack, these are her people, too, and tending to them will solidify her role here.
“Those less injured, stay with me to help strengthen our defenses.”
I press a kiss to Stella’s mouth and allow her to disappear into the den with a few of our most heavily wounded. The clearing empties quickly, with only Brydon and a few other wolves remaining to help set up traps.
A limping Lukar stumbles over to me. Blood still oozes from many of his wounds, and one of his eyes is swelling shut.
