“She does not belong with us Aquila” her muttered, he looked down to see a baby in his sisters hands.
“What did you want me to do, Samisen, let her die…like the others” her voice, faint, like a whisper.
“She would die with her tribe” he turned away, not facing his sister.
“She is just a baby… her mothers blood was shed tonight”
“Who is her mother?”
Hesitation filled the room.
“I do not know…I just know she is dead”
“Then who will birth her Aquila! You just do these things, rational things! Without thought” he huffed in frustration.
“I will birth her” she muttered, her breath fogged the babies face.
The chilly cold fog prickled the babies face softly, making her squirm in Aquila’s arms.
“She’s cold, she is not like us” Samisen spoke once again. The baby stopped moving, brown fur caressed her body, and a snout now was shown on her face.
“She is exactly like us…look Samisen…she’s a wolf”
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
***
Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.