Bewitched (Betwixt & Between #2) - Darynda Jones Page 0,51
the wolves Roane was feeding earlier. Then another emerged from the shadows, its sleek coat glistening under the hushed low light of the moon.
Thomas pulled me against his chest and wrapped an arm too tight around my throat, cutting off my air supply.
I might be in trouble. Even with his head exposed, it was simply too dark for the chief to risk a shot.
I looked over at the lead wolf who’d emerged from the trees directly behind us. He was much larger than the others. He had red fur with a black undercoat. I knew that because I’d seen him before. Roane. His teeth bared, the snarl he wore was vicious. He stopped, lowered his head, waited the span of a heartbeat, then snapped his jaws.
The wolves attacked. They jumped from all sides, their growls and snarls the stuff of nightmares. Thomas screamed as they tore at his flesh. Roane stood back and watched. Not a single wolf bit me. In fact, one knocked me to the ground and stood over me as her packmates ripped the man to shreds.
Then, with another snap of his jaw, they stopped and tore off into the night, including the one guarding me. But he stayed. I lay on the ground and watched as he walked forward, his movements slow. Full of purpose.
He gazed at me, his olive eyes shimmering, before he bent his head and licked my neck. He whimpered and nudged my jaw with his nose. I reached up and drew my hand back, realizing I was bleeding worse than I thought.
Naturally.
I collapsed onto the grass and looked back at the chief. He was upside down. The uniform trained his gun on Roane. The chief lowered the man’s weapon for him and said in a low growl, “Don’t you dare.”
The uniform raised his hands in surrender and went to check on Thomas, who lay sobbing, holding an arm they’d ravaged. The arm that tried to suffocate me.
The bad arm.
Then I felt it. More licking. Only this time, the sensation was familiar.
I looked over and watched as Roane licked my curled fingers. His tongue molded to each digit, tickling them like when I was a kid. Then he moved to my thumb. My palm. Up to my wrist, bathing it in warmth. Luckily, it was the Percy-free wrist. Had it not been, I wasn’t sure how that would’ve ended.
Putting a massive paw between my arm and ribcage, he bent to my neck again, his cold nose nudging me.
I reached over with my other hand and buried my fingers in his thick fur. It was much softer than I imagined it would be.
The next time he went for my ear, gently nipping the lobe before taking off and vanishing into the darkness.
I sucked in a soft breath and grabbed my ear.
“I’m going to assume you’re okay?” the chief said, standing over me.
“I’m pretty good right now. Thanks, Chief.”
He knelt beside me. “You’re soaking wet.”
“I know. He’s so hot, though, even as a wolf.”
He grinned, unfazed. “You probably saved that woman’s life. Possibly the girl’s too.”
“Good. Hope Thomas had so much faith in Grandma, how could I let her down?”
“I’ve called for a paramedic and a stretcher.”
“What?” I asked, raising up and bringing half the leaves of the forest with me. Honestly, my poor hair. “I can walk, Chief. I swear.” I stood. It took a while, but I managed it.
“Are you sure?” He took my arm. “’Cause you look a little wobbly.”
“I think the mass of leaves on my back is throwing me off balance.”
“Yeah, that’s it for sure.”
Ten
If each day is a gift, I’d like to know
where I can return Monday.
-Meme
After a tearful goodbye and a thousand thank-yous from Hope and Clara, I felt good. And I wanted a shower. The chief had a uniform drive my car home while he drove me.
“Thanks for believing me, Chief,” I said when we pulled up to Percy. “You didn’t even question it. You just came.”
“Of course, I did. I am very aware of what you’re capable of, daffodil. I’m retiring soon, but I’ll make sure my replacement is just as aware. As long as Ruthie thinks it’ll be okay to bring him or her into the fold. It’s ultimately up to you, however.”
“Retiring?” My world spun back into the orbit of uncertainty, like he’d just pulled the rug out from under me. “Why are you retiring?”
“I’m too old for this shit.”
“That’s silly.”
“Nah, daffodil, I could’ve retired almost ten years ago. It’s time.”