Dark Heart Wolf - Haley Weir Page 0,20
Sam rolled off to the side to keep from crushing his mate. Mary Ann curled up against him.
“I think you’ve broken me.”
Panic stole the glow of satisfaction that had begun to sprout in his chest. He crowded Mary Ann and spread her legs. “Did I hurt you?” he snapped. “Why didn’t you tell me to stop—”
When her hand brushed his cheek, Sam stopped his rant like a well-trained mutt. “I’m all right, Samuel. I’ve just never felt like this before. I’m still unsure of what exactly is happenin’ to my body.” She brushed the hair out of his face and pulled him back to the spot beside her. Sam wrapped his arms around Mary Ann, enjoying the rare moment of peace that settled in his mind.
“I can see color.”
“How is that possible?” she asked.
“If I broke you, I think you fixed me.” He kissed her forehead and shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m the only shifter Itsá has come across that was colorblind. There wasn’t even a word for it around here until a doctor from England rode through town.”
"When did you realize you were different?"
Sam snorted. "I've always been different."
“You know what I mean.”
“I already told you that I used to only see the colors that were you. Everythin’ else was washed in crimson. But now, it’s like whatever made me see you that day is now everywhere. My senses are sharper, and I feel at peace even at the heart of a war.” Sam kissed the corner of her mouth. “What about you? Do you feel any different?”
“I’m a bit sore, but other than that...no. I feel like our connection is stronger, but I didn’t need to sleep with you to realize that we belong together.”
Sam felt his mouth quirk upward into a smile. “Boone told me to either claim you or let you go. He said I was hurtin’ you, and I think he was right. When I thought about a life without you, I just saw the same old empty existence, but there was no more light to push the darkness away. So, I chose you, Mary.”
She sat up and frowned. “Did he really say that?”
“More or less. But he got his point across,” Sam replied. “I kept pullin’ you closer only to push you away when I got scared or felt guilty. I should have made that choice a long time ago, but I let you down. He said if I choose to be with you, then he and I would have to deal with it...and my brother’s way of dealin’ with anythin’ is with his fist or his rifle.”
“Boone should stay out of it. I’m tired of him thinkin’ he can push us around.”
“He was right.”
“Maybe we should wait to tell everybody,” Mary Ann suggested. “We should help fix things after the witches attacked but keep this between us for now. I want some time with you all to myself before they start buttin’ their noses into our business.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“What I want is for us to make love again—”
“Absolutely not!” Sam protested. “You just said you were sore!”
“I promise to see Abigail if it hurts too bad—”
Sam rolled his eyes and quieted her with a kiss.
~*~
A light snow fell from the sky as yet another wagon pulled a dozen or so people out of town. Boone had warned them that it wasn't safe on the roads, but the people were frightened. Those who had been living in Wolf Valley their whole lives were well aware of the magic and danger that surrounded the town long before witches and wendigo showed up. Mary Ann stared down at the road that led to Silver Fox Ranch and let out a curse. It had been nearly a week since Sam crawled out of her bed to deal with the witches.
He stopped in from time to time to steal a brief moment with her on his way through town—only to leave an hour or so later. Mary Ann knew it wasn't Sam's fault. Boone and the others needed his help hunting down the witches and folks were reporting strange happenings all over Wolf Valley. Charlotte running off with Itsá hadn’t helped matters. Wesley was nearly out of his mind with worry, though he tried to disguise it behind his anger.
Sam, Wesley, Jesse, and Beth searched the wilderness for any signs of the Wendigo Spirit or the other dark creatures meant to rise any day now. Mary Ann was restless. She missed Sam, but every time she