Every Breath She Takes [CURRENTLY ON HOLD]

Chapter 29: Learning

Over the next few days, Caliana slowly lost her hunted look. She and Cam forged a deep bond, and I could see that being with him was doing her good. Buddy, too, was a help, giving the girl the unassuming love that she needed.

She’d settled quietly, and I’d given her some old clothes of Emma’s to wear. Despite the age difference, they were nearly the same size, and it tore at my heart. Jack was careful to keep from scaring her, and Pixie was almost fascinated. The adoring attention from the six-year-old was unable to be broken.

“Rökiga?”

I turned at the soft voice, seeing Caliana hovering in the doorway of the Reading Room. I smiled at her, and continued putting the books in my arms away. “What can I do for you, sweetheart?”

She came closer, looking around. Understanding, I pointed to the table, where a tower of books was waiting to be put away. “You can help with those, if you like.”

I saw her eyes widen, and hid my grin. She picked up a couple, but instead of putting them away, she studied the covers for a while. Humming to myself, I let her be, not pushing her.

“Rökiga?” she asked again, and I looked at her. “What does it say?”

Anger, hot and furious, flared through me, but I managed to keep it hidden. Placing the last book on the shelf, I sat on the edge of the table, beckoning her closer. She obeyed, giving me the book, and I looked at it.

“Hunted,” I read softly. It was one of Jack’s novels.

“What’s it about?” she asked, her eyes shining. Almost reverently, she ran her fingers of the letters, hidden in the dark pelt of the wolf on the front.

“A woman who raises a pack of wolves.”

She spun at his voice, terror speeding her breathing. “Wolves?” she echoed.

He nodded, coming in and taking the book off me, putting it away. “She’s brave, like you,” he said quietly. “She has the wolves because she has no one else.”

“Why would someone write about that?” she asked. “It’s not true.”

He smiled slightly. “I don’t know. The idea just came to me. Not long after I met Ro, actually.”

The blood drained out of her face, and I put an arm around her shoulders. “He’s not scary, honey,” I assured her. “Is he? Not if all he does is play with words.”

He eyed me, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Who encourages me?” he retorted, and I let my own grin come.

“Your eldest son, I believe.”

He laughed, and left the room. I turned to Caliana, watching her as she looked through the books. “Do you want to read them, honey?”

She jumped, nearly dropping the book. Shaking her head quickly, she put the book down. “I don’t know how to,” she murmured.

Again, the anger shot through me, but I managed to keep it hidden from her. She was still jumpy around people.

“Would you like to learn?” I asked gently.

She stared at me, her eyes wide. She clearly didn’t believe me. I waited patiently, continuing to dent the tower of books that had to be put away. Finally, she answered me, hesitantly.

“You would do that?’

I smiled slightly. “I wouldn’t, but I’d ask Cam to. He’s a good teacher.” I looked over my shoulder to see her nodding slowly. I hadn’t thought she would refuse.

“He won’t mind?” she asked, almost fearfully. I shook my head, my curls falling over my face. I pushed them back as I responded.

“No. He taught Pixie. He’ll be patient with you.”

She nodded again. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I don’t know why…”

“There is no reason,” I said gently. “It is something you want to do, so I will help you. Nothing more.”

Again, she nodded, tentative joy lighting her face. “When can I start?”

I laughed, and led her out of the room. “Whenever you can persuade Cam to begin,” I told her. To my surprise, she accepted the challenge.

“I’ll ask him now,” she decided, and then looked at me. “Is that alright?’

“Of course it is. You can do what you want here, sweetheart. Within reason, of course. The kids’ll probably tell you all kinds of mischief they’ve gotten up to over the years.”

She snorted with amusement. “Thank you, Rökiga,” she said. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

I ruffled her hair gently. “There’s no need to thank me,” I replied. “Just go have fun.”

She nodded and I watched her run off, hopefully to finally let down her guard and discover what fun was.