Page 24 of The Wolf's Captive
A contented smile lit her face as she glanced at me. “Ah, my brother said that you were a hybrid,” she lowered her voice. “So you wouldn’t know that our healing abilities can help in childbirth, too.”
Her thick accent almost made it hard for me to understand her, but I could just make out her words. Wow, I hadn’t even considered that a mother wolf would be able to heal quickly after birth.
“Here.” Shoving Dellana into my arms, she scrunched her nose in a cute smile. “You’ll need to get used to it. Are you thinking of having a baby soon?”
The question thumped into my core, making me shake slightly. Looking down into the sleeping baby’s face, I smiled as she copied her mother, screwing up her nose. Admiring the beautiful little being sent a longing through me, a longing I’d never experienced before.
“Not quite yet,” I replied, trying not to sound too sad. “Maybe in the future.”
Her smile was broad and excited. She was clearly happy that I was going to join her in motherhood, and yet, she had no idea that it might not be possible.
Sabine’s husband appeared in the doorway, gesturing for her to come inside. I couldn’t understand what he was saying in French, but I handed over Dellana, kissing her little forehead before her mother took her away.
A lump rose to my throat as they disappeared. The little girl would have a special place in my heart, even though I couldn’t be around to see her grow up. I had to get back to Brighton to sort out my life.
“It’s time for the run,” Louis announced loudly, his voice echoing from inside.
I glanced back at Malone who frowned, his eyes pensive as he watched me.
Victor was bowing as he retreated, holding his arms to the side when he approached me. “I must cast an invisibility spell on the wolves so they’re not caught out in the streets of Paris. Please, excuse me.”
Glancing at one another, Malone and I followed him back into the main room where Louis waited for everyone to gather. He stood at the head of the grand drawing room, speaking in French as he gestured to the open double doors behind him.
“He says that it is traditional for the family to run when a baby is born. It welcomes the wolf cub’s spirit, inviting her to run with them,” Victor translated.
A lump came to my throat as Sabine moved to stand next to her brother, smiling when he kissed the baby’s head. He then turned to Victor who waited just outside the door.
“The warlock will cast his protection spell after each wolf has blessed the baby with a kiss.”
Malone took my elbow, squeezing it gently. “I’m not sure we should be included.”
Nodding, I agreed, allowing him to pull me to the back of the family crowd. There was only a handful of wolves compared to the previous party, so the event had been a private affair.
“Please,” Sabine called when the last wolf passed through the doors. “It would be an honour to have your blessing and to have you run with my daughter’s spirit.”
Her plea was heartfelt, encouraging. It had been a long time since I’d been able to run. I’d suppressed my urges by keeping myself distracted. However, if Victor would use his magic to protect us also, I would kill to run the streets of Paris.
Malone urged me forward, raising his eyebrows at Victor, who waved us towards him. I went first, kissing baby Dellana on the head before standing in front of the warlock.
My insides shook as he extended his hand and laid it over my third eye. The pulse of magic reverberated through my mind. It had been a while since I had been around another warlock’s magic. I had been so used to my life in the woods with the wolves.
“I bet you’ve missed this,” he muttered, shrugging. “Although, you’re just as powerful as me, so I don’t know why you’re not using your own magic.”
Licking my lips, I stared at him. “Yes, you do.”
“Ah, I suppose you’re avoiding any intimate feelings between you and the werewolf familiar.”
His words were whispered, but Malone elicited a growl, almost knocking me out of the way as he moved to stand in front of Victor.
“Keep our situation to yourself,” the alpha murmured, checking that the other wolves waited far enough away to not hear. “Or I’ll kill you myself.”
Victor inclined his head – submission was a dangerous tactic, played by those who had a secret power – and waved his hand in front of Malone’s face. “Your secret is safe with me. Enjoy your run.”
Without waiting for us to join them, Louis dropped to his hands and knees and shifted into his wolf form effortlessly. His clothes burst from him, fluttering to the cobbled stones of the courtyard.
“Stay aware,” Malone whispered, unbuttoning his white shirt and shrugging out of it.
Slipping out of my dress as the others shifted, I fell to my knees beside Malone. It only took a moment for the shift to start and the fur to sting my skin as it pushed out through my pores.