Read Online Wandering Off the Path by Willa Edwards - Free Book Online
Authors: Willa Edwards
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inside you that quests for more. The open and searching desire to know the world beyond what you’ve been given. You have no idea how rare such desire is.”
Silence followed his words. Wolf helped himself to another piece of cake, giving Abigail the freedom to ponder his words, to absorb the truth. If he could make her believe, maybe he could find a way to stay, if only for a little while longer.
Could curiosity be enough to attract a man like Wolf? Could it be enough to keep him?
Wolf made no motion to speak, and Abigail didn’t press him, enjoying the stillness between them. The silence was comforting. She wished it could stay like this, she and Wolf basking in this relaxed quiet together. It was the most content with herself she could remember being in a long time. Despite the fear for her grandmother, her life was perfect.
Softly, in the background, she heard the foreign sound of horse hooves pounding against the frozen ground. At first she ignored it, unsure where the noise came from. There hadn’t been horses here since her grandfather’s death. And few visitors travelled close enough to be heard from their small cabin. Besides Hunter.
But the pounding continued to get louder, closer, until the truth assailed her, hitting her as hard as the hooves beat upon the packed earth. The sounds slowed, forcing her to rise from the bench to meet Wolf’s quizzical look. She stepped to the door, opening it only a crack to keep as much of the warmth inside as possible, but enough to confirm her suspicions in a familiar chestnut mare.
“Hunter,” she declared under her breath. Damn Hunter and his need to be her saviour. Couldn’t he wait to check on her until tomorrow?
Wolf looked to her, startled, confusion knitting his brows. She slapped her hand over her mouth at another man’s name escaping her throat. She met his gaze, not sure what emotions lingered in their depths. Was it possible she saw concern there, maybe even jealousy?
Abigail suppressed the urge to curse as her common, everyday life protruded into the exhilarating existence she’d created with Wolf. She’d enjoyed her reprieve from her quiet reality and wasn’t ready to return to it.
For a moment she considered pretending to not be home. She could tempt Wolf into the bedroom and keep him there long past Hunter’s departure. But her absence would incite Hunter to further action, his concern for her would be too great to ignore any possibility she might be in distress.
From her earliest childhood she remembered Hunter caring for her, helping her find her way home when she got lost, or preventing her from eating the poisonous berries she found upon the path. Only two years older, Hunter had always acted as her protector, but his role had only intensified as they’d aged, as her curiosity and ability to find such danger had increased. She could imagine Hunter doing almost anything to keep her safe. If he found she was missing, she wouldn’t be surprised if he gathered together a hefty search party to find her.
She looked back over at Wolf, where he casually leant back across the table, chewing on another apple. His broad chest was on display, the muscles bunching and moving as he ate. Her gaze dipped south, to a part of him ready and willing for distraction, creating a heat deep in her stomach.
Regardless of how much power she might wield over Wolf’s hungers, she couldn’t divert his attention forever. Eventually they’d need to leave this cabin, and when they both reappeared, there would only be more questions. Questions she didn’t know how to answer, or wouldn’t want to answer, after Wolf had left her. After he’d taken what he’d come for.
Besides, Hunter might have news of her grandmother.
“What is it?” Wolf’s eyes met hers. He straightened and the smile dropped from his face as he looked up at her, concern evident in the contours of his features. His expression warmed her more than any stroke he’d placed upon her.
Abigail
Silence followed his words. Wolf helped himself to another piece of cake, giving Abigail the freedom to ponder his words, to absorb the truth. If he could make her believe, maybe he could find a way to stay, if only for a little while longer.
Could curiosity be enough to attract a man like Wolf? Could it be enough to keep him?
Wolf made no motion to speak, and Abigail didn’t press him, enjoying the stillness between them. The silence was comforting. She wished it could stay like this, she and Wolf basking in this relaxed quiet together. It was the most content with herself she could remember being in a long time. Despite the fear for her grandmother, her life was perfect.
Softly, in the background, she heard the foreign sound of horse hooves pounding against the frozen ground. At first she ignored it, unsure where the noise came from. There hadn’t been horses here since her grandfather’s death. And few visitors travelled close enough to be heard from their small cabin. Besides Hunter.
But the pounding continued to get louder, closer, until the truth assailed her, hitting her as hard as the hooves beat upon the packed earth. The sounds slowed, forcing her to rise from the bench to meet Wolf’s quizzical look. She stepped to the door, opening it only a crack to keep as much of the warmth inside as possible, but enough to confirm her suspicions in a familiar chestnut mare.
“Hunter,” she declared under her breath. Damn Hunter and his need to be her saviour. Couldn’t he wait to check on her until tomorrow?
Wolf looked to her, startled, confusion knitting his brows. She slapped her hand over her mouth at another man’s name escaping her throat. She met his gaze, not sure what emotions lingered in their depths. Was it possible she saw concern there, maybe even jealousy?
Abigail suppressed the urge to curse as her common, everyday life protruded into the exhilarating existence she’d created with Wolf. She’d enjoyed her reprieve from her quiet reality and wasn’t ready to return to it.
For a moment she considered pretending to not be home. She could tempt Wolf into the bedroom and keep him there long past Hunter’s departure. But her absence would incite Hunter to further action, his concern for her would be too great to ignore any possibility she might be in distress.
From her earliest childhood she remembered Hunter caring for her, helping her find her way home when she got lost, or preventing her from eating the poisonous berries she found upon the path. Only two years older, Hunter had always acted as her protector, but his role had only intensified as they’d aged, as her curiosity and ability to find such danger had increased. She could imagine Hunter doing almost anything to keep her safe. If he found she was missing, she wouldn’t be surprised if he gathered together a hefty search party to find her.
She looked back over at Wolf, where he casually leant back across the table, chewing on another apple. His broad chest was on display, the muscles bunching and moving as he ate. Her gaze dipped south, to a part of him ready and willing for distraction, creating a heat deep in her stomach.
Regardless of how much power she might wield over Wolf’s hungers, she couldn’t divert his attention forever. Eventually they’d need to leave this cabin, and when they both reappeared, there would only be more questions. Questions she didn’t know how to answer, or wouldn’t want to answer, after Wolf had left her. After he’d taken what he’d come for.
Besides, Hunter might have news of her grandmother.
“What is it?” Wolf’s eyes met hers. He straightened and the smile dropped from his face as he looked up at her, concern evident in the contours of his features. His expression warmed her more than any stroke he’d placed upon her.
Abigail
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