New Age Werewolf Series Book 1: Taming A She Wolf

Part 30: Ties That Bind

"We need to talk."

I thought I would never hear Dar say that to me. The set of his jaw was tense, his eyes were, too. I could tell this was all about Zuri. "Okay, let's go."

"Where?"

"Place Zuri and I recently discovered," I replied. "Come on."

"THis is where you disappear to?"

"Yes, she feels comfortable using her powers here."

"You two have become very close." It was a statement. Dar looked around. "She didn't tell me about this."

"It's not a big deal," I told him. "Remember, I'm a counselor."

"I'm her mate," Dar snapped softly. "She...she never told me about this." He was quiet for a moment. "Which is why I need to talk to you."

I inwardly tensed, but tried to remain calm. "Anything I can do to help."

"Does she talk about what happened before we met?"

I took a deep breath. "Bits and pieces. We deal more with her feelings,  I think."

"What do you mean?"

"She knows what happened. I don't make her repeat it unless she wants to. She is trying to find her own inner peace." I laughed softly. "She says she feels safe here, even more when you're near, but she realizes that she needs to find that inside herself." Dar looked calm, but his eyes were different. "Have you seen her powers lately?" I asked. "She has been working on them."

He looked deflated and disappointed. "Not much."

Times like this I realize that Dar is just a wolf like me. He might be the Mighty Dar to packs, but right now he was a wolf trying to understand and get closer to his mate. It was a common struggle, but like him, his mate was very unique.

Suddenly, Zuri appeared at the entrance. "Ian...Dar?!"

We both turned to her. Dar was the first to speak. "Hi, honey."

She blinked at us. "I thought you were at work."

Dar's  mouth formed into a grim line. "Later."

She looked at me. She looked betrayed.

"I have been waiting for you to share things with me," Dar admitted softly. "I...just wanted to know you're okay. I'm sorry." He shuffled his feet a little; he was trying to decide whether he should stay or go.

I saw Zuri's look melt into one of total softness. She raced to his arms. "Oh, I'm sorry, Darling!" She pulled him down to hold him and his eyes rolled closed as a small smile formed on his face. She pulled away to look up at him. "I...are you sure you want to see what I can do?"

His eyes widened with hope. "I want to know everything about you, honey, everything."

"Okay." She went to a box of seeds, and took one out. She knelt, planted it, and then placed her hand over the spot. She closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, she sat back. I watched Dar kneel in front of her as they watched the plant grow from the ground into a mum.

"That's--that's beautiful, Zizi!"

I smiled at Zuri, and I saw her cheeks slightly color. They really were into each other. He was her Darling, and she was his Zizi. I wish my mate and I were like that. "She is really progressing, Dar." I was proud of her. I had no experience with her powers, but I was happy I could help her. I really wanted her happy.

"You're so wonderful, you know that?" Dar leaned over the flower and kissed her. They smiled at each other. "I just like learning more about you, okay?"

"I would like to learn more about you, too."

Dar shifted uncomfortably, then shrugged. "Not much to tell. I'm pretty boring."

"You are not." She shook her head. "You're a four time champion in many of the Wolf Games."

He gave a sheepish smile. "Still."