Chapter8
1098 Words
The laughter faded gradually.
Cold crept in quickly.
Linda felt it first in her fingers.
Then her toes.
Then the deep, heavy chill that settled into bone.
She tried to ignore it.
Tried to act like she wasn’t shivering.
Mira saw it immediately.
“That’s enough,” Mira said firmly.
“I’m fine,” Linda insisted through chattering teeth.
“You’re not wolf,” Evan said bluntly.
Talia waded closer and pressed a hand to Linda’s arm. Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re freezing.”
A gust of wind swept through the clearing.
Okay.
That one hurt.
“Maybe slightly,” she admitted.
Mira stepped forward and gripped her shoulders. “Out. Now.”
Linda didn’t argue. She knew what hypothermia could do.
The second she stepped fully out of the creek, the cold hit harder. Wet clothes clung. Air bit.
Her shiver turned violent.
Evan moved instantly, pulling off his flannel and draping it around her shoulders. It swallowed her whole.
“You don’t have to—” she started.
“Yes, I do,” he said calmly.
Mira gathered their things quickly. “We’re heading back.”
Talia wrapped a blanket around Linda as they started up the trail.
Linda tried to joke. “This is embarrassing.”
“It would not be embarrassing,” Talia replied, “if you hadn’t started a water war like a menace.”
Linda huffed a laugh — then shivered again.
The forest felt colder now.
Quieter.
Nick followed at a distance.
Through the bond, he felt the drop in her body temperature like a warning flare.
It unsettled him.
She should not have stayed in the water that long.
Humans were fragile.
Too fragile.
His wolf bristled.
She shouldn’t be cold.
“She chose the water,” he muttered.
But he adjusted his pace so he stayed closer.
Just in case.
They reached the cabin quickly.
Mira ushered Linda inside first.
“Strip. Shower. Hot.”
Linda blinked. “You could phrase that differently.”
“Move. Now.”
Talia laughed and nudged her down the hallway.
Evan went straight for the fireplace, already stacking wood.
Within minutes, flames rose high and steady.
Linda stood under the shower longer than she meant to.
Heat soaked into her skin slowly — painfully at first.
Her hands were still trembling when she finally stepped out and changed into dry clothes: thick leggings, an oversized sweater, heavy socks.
When she returned to the living room, the fire had turned the cabin gold.
Mira handed her a mug.
“Tea.”
“Hero,” Linda murmured.
She sank onto the couch near the fireplace, tucking her feet beneath her.
Talia dropped beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched.
Evan took the armchair but angled himself toward the door.
Habit.
“You good?” Mira asked softly.
Linda nodded.
Then paused.
“Yeah,” she said more honestly. “Just forgot I’m not built for mountain creeks.”
Talia smirked. “We noticed.”
Linda took a slow sip of tea.
Warmth spread through her chest.
And the bond pulsed again.
Different this time.
Steadier.
Less sharp.
She frowned slightly.
Mira caught it. “You feel him?”
“Yes.”
“Stronger?”
Linda nodded once.
“He’s closer,” Evan said quietly.
As if summoned by the words—
A soft crunch of gravel sounded outside.
All four of them stilled.
The bond tightened.
Linda’s breath caught — not fear.
Awareness.
Footsteps approached the porch.
Slow.
Measured.
Not hiding.
Mira stood first.
Evan didn’t move — but tension rolled through him.
There was a knock.
Firm.
Controlled.
Linda looked toward the door.
“Well,” she said softly, “guess he’s done lurking.”
Mira hesitated. “You don’t have to—”
“I’ll answer it,” Linda said gently. “And I’m not leaving.”
She set the mug down.
Stood.
Walked to the door.
The bond thrummed once — sharp and expectant.
She opened it.
Nick stood there.
Cleaned up. Changed.
But something in his expression was tighter than before.
His eyes dropped instantly to her face.
Then her hair — still damp at the ends.
Then the sweater.
He inhaled.
She saw the moment he caught her scent — soap, tea, warmth.
“You were shaking,” he said.
No greeting.
No apology.
Just accusation wrapped in concern.
Linda leaned casually against the doorframe.
“I was cold.”
“You shouldn’t have gone in the water.”
“I didn’t ask permission.”
His jaw tightened.
Firelight flickered behind her, casting warmth around her silhouette.
She looked safe.
Inside.
Protected.
His wolf eased slightly.
“Cougars hunt near water,” he said.
“So do wolves,” she replied evenly.
Silence.
Mira stepped closer behind her but didn’t interfere.
Nick’s gaze lifted back to Linda’s eyes.
“You don’t take your surroundings seriously.”
“I do,” she said calmly. “I have friends here to look after me. I don’t need you.”
That hit.
He went very still.
The bond tugged again — not painful.
Insistent.
“You felt it,” he said quietly.
“Yes.”
“And?”
She held his gaze.
“And I’m not leaving.”
The words weren’t defiant.
They were settled.
His chest tightened.
“You think this is simple?”
“No,” she said honestly. “I think it’s yours to figure out.”
A flicker crossed his face.
Frustration.
Respect.
Confusion.
Behind her, the fire cracked loudly.
Nick glanced past her shoulder — noting exits, positions, safety.
Then his eyes returned to her.
“You need to stay out of the trees.”
“I won’t go alone.” Then, quieter, “I’m not reckless.”
Another pause.
The bond pulsed softer now.
Warmer.
Less violent.
For a moment—
They just stood there.
Close enough that the space between them felt charged.
Not with anger.
With possibility.
Nick stepped back first.
“I’ll increase patrol,” he said.
Linda raised a brow. “Because of me?”
“Yes.”
She tilted her head.
“You don’t need to. As you can see, I’m well protected.”
His mouth almost twitched.
Almost.
Then he turned and walked back toward the trees.
Linda watched him go.
The bond stretched with distance.
But it didn’t hurt.
She closed the door gently.
Talia exhaled. “Well.”
Mira studied her. “You okay?”
Linda returned to the fire and picked up her tea.
“Yeah,” she said softly.
And this time—
She meant it.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD