Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Tetanus suived by my ande
hovered around the bed w
conspected by the be
iode of the
weld just wet – I felt like bot garbage was hover excita get back home I wanted to spech and spread
myself out
Ignatius seemed happs enough with tiles and red we uld have a very long lie down and catch up when
we gui
abell the mos
served that the riders seemed dividel
Au bonds was weak and traple when we let the best I needed teams’s help to stand up and be ally
ended up
bed and helped me change out of the bow hospital gown that tatas still wearing We both lined on the
cool cleam bedding and 1 closed eyes I tell good to be home
Im Izolid igmans everything that I had seen and hattvalls happened to my pack and my parents. He
clutched
1 described the fire.
“Who was the woman. The sale ansking in hü olan; down at me like he couldn’s ent used to the fact
realy there. “The woman who carried yes and he wouldn’t have been your mecher if she had already
idie.” He stopped
before timushing her sentence but I shock
Asid vote miglice, it couldn’t have been niiy isother
But her went w
ogether as he thought it over “Maybe
imme vou’ll remember more I do re
telling the that you were brought to the puck by a wertian escaping an attack. They book you in but
kraved so mach
(me eventual
are still so many things that we don’t understand”
1 nodded. “she’s been with me all alone but finally being able to weak with her has been amazung
Besare bererit max pleased with this comment 1 had been surpringh can to get wood ta not being
completely alone in my own head: Kesjer, and I spoke like we had always becitable in 1 suppose un
sottie way we had
Ignatius reižtaid omatis his back and braved me sinta dus chest like Eweighed nothing. After two whole
weeks in the hospital. I was thier than before but that was alright. My grumbling stomach alluded is a lot
of toasting later on,
“kosa know.” Ignatias said: “now that you and Kence are properly acquainted a might be vaimse to start NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
your TERMINA
“Tracting past foody to shift at will. Taking on ysser molt förnu vahes practice, and in carbe a prenos
patibil juscess without
feel my b*dy gr
human form could manage. To run through the forest in my wolf form
“Td like to start as soon as possible, I think. Who would train me though You?”
Ignatius squished my cheeks in his hands and perked linle k*sses all over my face. This was my mate
at his most vulnerable and soft. This was the side of Ignatius that only I had the privilege of seeing.
“Nervous that I’ll see you Humble?” he teased, as Friedl to free my face from his g grang
“Shush. No, I’m not. Maybe you’re the one who should be nervous. Rita told me it took you weeks to
finally manage a full shift. What If I do it better than you?”
I pouted to emphasize the mock.comcritedness but Ignatius only laughed. “Tor and I didn’t get along at
the best of times, I don’t doubt you’ll manage it a lot faster than I did
“And besides, Ignatius continued in between small soft k*sses. Im going to be busy figuring out this
Tally business. I’ll obviously he there to help when I can but you’re going to need some proper training,
From the same lady who taught me.” he grinned.
I tilted my head to the side. “Rita?”
Ignatius nodded. “She already agreed, long before you mmaged to talk to Renee. She always believed
you’d manage it eventually. Oh, and we might be able to rope Angie into helping as well. She does owe
you her life after all.”
lay down against his chest, sombered by the thought of Angie’s terrible injuries. The siglat of her
mutilated chest was still burned into my vision. I could still smell the scent of fresh blond in.
“How is Angie doing? You said she came to visit me a few times,”
“Yeah. She’s alright. She feels really guilty for everything that happened. I think she wants to make
amends?
“She tried to kill me and then almost died herself. I think she’s paid for her mistakes.”
Ignatius shrugged. “Hmm. Try telling her that though. Angie’s almost as stubborn as you are,”
“I’m not stubborn!”
He smirked at me. “Sure you aren’t”
I was about to deliver a scathing comeback when a knock on the door downstairs distracted me. I
tested the air and picked up a newly familiar scent. “Angie”:
I rolled off of Ignatius and we both headed down the stairs. Angie stood at the door, wringing her wrists
and looking everywhere except at my own face.
“Hey, runt-Dorothy. Glad to see you’re alive.”
I smiled, leaning back against Ignatius who wrapped his arms around ine. “I should say the same for
you. Welcome back to the land of the living”
-Angor-
It had taken more than a few minutes to muster up the courage to get out of my car and knock on the
front door of the seaside mansion. All of that courage vanished almost immediately though when
Dorothy herself opened the door.
I had heard of her awakening through Kita who had called me to let me know immediately. I had
wanted to leave it for a few days and let her settle in agam before paying Dorothy a visit, but Rita lad
insisted I get my apologies out now before my pault commed me entirely.
That is why I found myself standing sheepishly before the small redheaded girl I had tried to poison
only a few weeks before The same girl who had followed up my treason with not only saving my life but
endangering her own in the process.
Dorothy herself seemed happy to see me through. It seemed she also needed the visual confirmation
that I was indeed alive and well. I felt her relief just as I was sure she could sense mine.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course.” Dorothy said, stepping out of the way and shoving patius aside with her hips. “I’ve been
craving a cup of tea since I left the hospital if you’d like to join us?*
“Tea sounds great.”
Ignatius followed close behind us into the kitchen before his phone began to vibrate. Both Dorothy and
I looked at him questioningly as he flipped it open and answered, his face growing darker at whatever
information was being delivered,
“Il be right there.” He put his arms around Dorothy “That was Geranium. There’s been another attack”
Dorothy’s concern was apparent on her face. Our future Luna cared deeply for her people. I wish I had
let myself notice that before now. “Who? Where? Was anyone hurt?”
“In the fields outside the junior high Ignatius’s face was grim. Some kids ditching class. They were
picked off one by one.”
I was shaken. Up until now, the Tally had only come for the adults, attacking from the forest and
disappearing just as quickly,
The ones we had caught hadn’t lived long enough to give us any information. There was a sickness
within them, and it seemed they were more than happy to murder children.
“I need to get down there. Ignatius murmured, k*ssing the top of Dorothy’s head. “I’ll be back in a little
bit. And Angie He Turned to look at me as he headed to the door. “Keep an eye out for anything
suspicious. I’m trusting you to watch over my mate while I’m gone
“Be careful,” Dorothy whispered. She looked like she wanted to run after him and demand that he stay.
She had witnessed the terrifying strength of the Tally first hand. I didn’t blame her concern for Ignatius.
I nodded to Ignatius, grateful for the chance to prove myself as a trustworthy ally. “I’ll keep her safe.”
His newfound trust wasn’t lost on me. He was leaving his partner alone with someone who had tried to
get rid of her. I wouldn’t hurt a hair on her head now though. Dorothy had more than proven herself to
be a worthy leader and partner to my friend
After Ignatius had left, Dorothy bussed herself with making tea, floating around the kitchen, and
struggling to reach the cups on the top shelf. I stood behind her and reached for the items she couldn’t,
and she flashed me a grateful smile.
We didn’t speak much at first. Dorothy was concerned for Ignatius and I didn’t know what to say. I had
come here to apologize but the words were gone from my head. I didn’t know how to begin. But I had
to try.
“Hey, um. Dorothy? I came here today to apologize. For everything”
Dorothy paused in the process of pouring hot water into the two tea cups in front of her. “It’s okay,” she
said quietly. “You don’t need to do that. I don’t hold anything against you.”
“I just. I want you to know that I was wrong. You’re twice the person I’ll ever be. You had no good
reason to save my life”
Dorothy handed me a steaming cup of tea and hoisted herself up onto the countertop to sit.
“There was no question about it. You were dying, and I couldn’t let that happen. These powers that I
have I couldn’t call myself a header if I didn’t at least try to save those around me.”
“I didn’t even know what I was doing,” she continued, swinging her short legs. “It just felt like the right
thing to do.”
“Well, 1 appreciate it,” I said, sipping slowly on the scalding liquid “And you forever have my allegiance
for your kindness.”
1 don’t need d you to dedicate your life to me, Angie, I just want us to get along. Your friendship means
a lot to Ignatius. I
10:46 Fr, Jan
want to love the people that he loves. I want to be friends.”
She p
She paused and raised her eyebrows at me.
“Actually.”
Swinging herself off of the counter and stood before me.
“Tim going to be starting my training soon. To develop my abilities and try out my wolf form. I could use
some help if you’d be willing.”
want me to train you?”
“You want me
She put her hands on her hips. “Well, Rita is going to be training me. But I also need to improve my
combat abilities. If it comes down to war with the Tallys I want to be able to protect my own. I think you
could help with that.”
I looked down at the cup in my hands. “It won’t be all sunshine and rainbows. I won’t go easy on you
just because you’re Ignatius’s darling
Dorothy grinned at me and I felt something in my chest flutter: I can handle it. Go d knows I’ve already
almost died twice. Compared to that, this is nothing
I felt my cheeks flush at the intensity with which she was looking at me. Her excitement was readily
apparent,
Then sure, I guess I could train you.”
“Perfect!
Dorothy grabbed my hand and I stiffened at the bolts of electricity it sent up my arm. “Then consider
your debt paid. Truce, stalemate, or whatever. And no more calling me runt
I laughed nervously. “You have yourself a deal”
After an hour or two of talking and trying to still the sudden butterflies that Dorothy had awoken in my
stomach. Ignatius came back with good news. The children who had been attacked were going to be
alright.
They had managed to escape with minor injuries when the rabid Tally attacker was chased away by
some local shifters.
Dorothy was insistent that she go down there herself and help with the injuries but both Ignatius and I
warned her that, until we had a better understanding of her powers and how to prevent her own injury
during healing, she had to refrain from using her ability.
I excused myself after that and left the mansion after promising Dorothy that I would be seeing her
soon to begin her training. Once I had sat down in my car, I plopped my head against the steering
wheel and tried to clear my head.
I was relieved that Dorothy held no grudge against me. More than that though, I was becoming more
and more aware of the growing affection I felt towards the small, stubborn redhead. I tried to brush the
thoughts to the side. But the feeling was still there, spilling out of my heart when Dorothy took my hand.
There was no stuffing it back in now.