the attack, an attack that never came because of the sharp command that came frombehind the black wolf.
“Stop.”
* * * *
Of Night and Desire
47
Richelle turned and saw the great silver-gray wolf approaching her even though he was blocked by her pack. She stared in amazement. She couldn’t believe her eyes. It couldn’t be the same silver-gray from her youth. She smiled and stretched out her hand as she opened her mind, trying to touch his.
But she heard nothing and she felt nothing.
He was a paradox.
An enigma.
Just like the silver that was her constant companion.
While she was never able to read him, he always seemed to know when she needed him as her friend, confidante, protector, as her guardian.
Guardian. How ironic that she should think of this beast of nature in that way.
Valya, who haunted her dreams.
She had left the safety of her mountain home and tried to forget the sad events of her childhood. She even tried to forget her visions of the Guardian.
But she couldn’t forget. She couldn’t forget his courage in rescuing her from the old priest nor his strength as he fought off several men. Yet in contrast, there was a gentleness as he cradled her with his body and carried her to safety. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t forget his face, his rugged, handsome face.
In her dreams, he spoke to her, comforted her, and made the pain go away. His deep, rich baritone lulled her and soothed her nerves. It was as if he had wrapped his arms around and rocked her to the lullaby of his crooning. Even when the old priest came to her in her nightmares, Valya was there to protect her and make her feel safe. She didn’t know how or why, but he came to her dreams just when she needed him most. He was her guardian.
Just like her silver wolf was her guardian. Chances were that this big fellow was a descendant of the wolf she’d known from her childhood. That would explain why she could not read him. But despite the fact she could not read his thoughts, she felt an amazing kinship with this beast.
* * * *
48
Mia Bailey
She reached out her hand again, and Valya sauntered over, walking past the black wolf and the rest of the pack. The other animals moved away into the forest as Valya took his place beside Richelle, sitting beside her close enough that she could stroke his fur. He leaned against her. He could feel her mind probing for his thoughts. He wanted to open his mind, explain all to her, but not at this moment. He found contentment sitting beside her as she stroked him. It had been a long time and now that she had returned to him, he would never let her go.
But now, he basked in the serenity of the moonlight with her hand upon his back as she gazed at the stars. He could feel an energy surge emanating from within and encompassing them both with its power. He was content in the moment just being with her. There would be enough time later to tell her the truth, to tell her of their future together, and that they were destined as life mates. But for now, he would enjoy this moment. Together, they both soon fell asleep.
* * * *
Richelle woke several hours later as the stars faded from the lightening sky. She had fallen asleep, her arm draped about his neck, her silvery wolf protector, as his warmth sheltered her from the chill of the night. The wolf pack lay several yards away, still asleep. There was no movement, no sound other than the trees swaying in the soft breeze. And yet, Valya felt there was something wrong. He felt eyes watching them.
Valya rose to his feet swiftly. He stared at Richelle. Her eyes scanned the meadow as warily as a rabbit. He opened his mind to the night but could not sense anything beyond Richelle’s nervousness and alarm that someone or something was watching her. He stepped closer to her, trying to ease her tension. She smiled weakly and placed her trembling hand on his head. He looked about the meadow, trying to discern any shadows that did not belong on her
“Stop.”
* * * *
Of Night and Desire
47
Richelle turned and saw the great silver-gray wolf approaching her even though he was blocked by her pack. She stared in amazement. She couldn’t believe her eyes. It couldn’t be the same silver-gray from her youth. She smiled and stretched out her hand as she opened her mind, trying to touch his.
But she heard nothing and she felt nothing.
He was a paradox.
An enigma.
Just like the silver that was her constant companion.
While she was never able to read him, he always seemed to know when she needed him as her friend, confidante, protector, as her guardian.
Guardian. How ironic that she should think of this beast of nature in that way.
Valya, who haunted her dreams.
She had left the safety of her mountain home and tried to forget the sad events of her childhood. She even tried to forget her visions of the Guardian.
But she couldn’t forget. She couldn’t forget his courage in rescuing her from the old priest nor his strength as he fought off several men. Yet in contrast, there was a gentleness as he cradled her with his body and carried her to safety. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t forget his face, his rugged, handsome face.
In her dreams, he spoke to her, comforted her, and made the pain go away. His deep, rich baritone lulled her and soothed her nerves. It was as if he had wrapped his arms around and rocked her to the lullaby of his crooning. Even when the old priest came to her in her nightmares, Valya was there to protect her and make her feel safe. She didn’t know how or why, but he came to her dreams just when she needed him most. He was her guardian.
Just like her silver wolf was her guardian. Chances were that this big fellow was a descendant of the wolf she’d known from her childhood. That would explain why she could not read him. But despite the fact she could not read his thoughts, she felt an amazing kinship with this beast.
* * * *
48
Mia Bailey
She reached out her hand again, and Valya sauntered over, walking past the black wolf and the rest of the pack. The other animals moved away into the forest as Valya took his place beside Richelle, sitting beside her close enough that she could stroke his fur. He leaned against her. He could feel her mind probing for his thoughts. He wanted to open his mind, explain all to her, but not at this moment. He found contentment sitting beside her as she stroked him. It had been a long time and now that she had returned to him, he would never let her go.
But now, he basked in the serenity of the moonlight with her hand upon his back as she gazed at the stars. He could feel an energy surge emanating from within and encompassing them both with its power. He was content in the moment just being with her. There would be enough time later to tell her the truth, to tell her of their future together, and that they were destined as life mates. But for now, he would enjoy this moment. Together, they both soon fell asleep.
* * * *
Richelle woke several hours later as the stars faded from the lightening sky. She had fallen asleep, her arm draped about his neck, her silvery wolf protector, as his warmth sheltered her from the chill of the night. The wolf pack lay several yards away, still asleep. There was no movement, no sound other than the trees swaying in the soft breeze. And yet, Valya felt there was something wrong. He felt eyes watching them.
Valya rose to his feet swiftly. He stared at Richelle. Her eyes scanned the meadow as warily as a rabbit. He opened his mind to the night but could not sense anything beyond Richelle’s nervousness and alarm that someone or something was watching her. He stepped closer to her, trying to ease her tension. She smiled weakly and placed her trembling hand on his head. He looked about the meadow, trying to discern any shadows that did not belong on her
Similar Books
