The Wolf's Witch (book 1)

37. Dinner

Kaitlin

I have to reteach myself how to breathe. I know exactly how big the wolf's teeth are and they are way, way, too close for comfort.

When I manage, I painfully remember why I'd woken up in the first place.

"I need to pee." I explain, voice barely a whisper. This is embarrassing. I feel like hitting him but don't see that playing well if it's on purpose. The wolf hears me and grunts as he lifts his head off me. I slip off the bed as fast as I can and freeze when I'm upright. I can't give Sethan's wolf a reason to chase. How much control does Sethan have right now?

I take a deep breath and glance back. The wolf's eyes are shut. Yes. I move for the bathroom and when I come back out, the wolf has shifted to the bottom of the bed and turned to face the bathroom door. He stares back at me intently and I think he knows he's crushing the little hope I had of slipping downstairs unnoticed.

There's no way I can sleep anymore.

It's also too early to use opening up the shop as an excuse. That and I wouldn't be surprised if Augustus sent his goons over to the shop to question me as soon as I return. They must know I'd been with Roman. I would evidently benefit from letting Sethan to continue to suspend his rational thought and allow Roman to stay for a while longer.

I slowly head for the bed and hold back a sigh of relief when the wolf sets his head back down. He doesn't turn towards me or move. I lie there quietly staring at his gigantic form finally understanding the reason for the massive big bed of his.

I curse Roman for the millionth time under the sheet and curl up, feet as far as I can get them from Sethan's wolf. I remember the overbearing warmth that had caused me to toss, turn and wake up. I hadn't realized wolves ran that hot.

- -

It feels like I'm floating and a warm light is gracing the side of my face. The sensation flows through my body and I don't want to move. I'll never get up. If I can sleep here for longer, I'll be set. No more fighting, no more having to fight murderous thoughts, just this warm feeling of contentment.

How long since I've slept like this?

No. That's not true. I'd been unconscious for quite a while after my run in with demons and hellhounds. I force myself to stop thinking and empty my mind. Just a little bit longer. Let me lay in arrogant peace for a little bit longer. My hair falls back from my face and I stiffen slightly. That's not the sun but rather a pleasant caress that lingers and escapes me leaving me where I lay, face pressed against something silky smooth and a hard rock, no wait, branch? My eyes struggle against light and I take in the arm. An arm? How? Unless I've grown a third one-

Words brush against me and my ears get caught off guard. I process them and the low amusing tone, "This is nice."

My eyes shift and in a split second my brain registers who those broad shoulders belong to before fully capturing the extent of his nudity. I don't know how I kept my eyes from falling out. As for falling off the bed, I managed that in spades as I rolled backwards out of reach and right down a few too many feet. I landed on my side, mostly my hip and shoulders caught my fall followed by a light touch of my head as my ears burned from my own shriek.

My body moaned in protest at the impact. Most of it was disappointment for pulling that off so tactlessly.

"Kate," the voice was little irked as it said a short version of the name I currently went by and grew worried, "Are you ok?"

I peaked up and spotted eyebrows almost at a messy hairline set on a faultlessly symmetrical face. It peered down over the edge of the ridiculously large and high bed at me. Sethan's worry gave way to bemusement and I didn't miss the way his lips pressed to each other in a suppressed smile as he decided I was funny, "Should I call an ambulance?"