The Mysterious Black Wolf

Outside

Outside

Elara had made it to the edge of the porch before her legs gave out. She sank onto the steps, arms wrapped around herself, shoulders heaving with sobs.

Marcus sat down beside her, careful to leave space, and simply waited.

“I’m sorry,” she finally gasped out. “I shouldn’t have—they’re right, I’m being—”

“You’re grieving,” Marcus said firmly. “There’s nothing dramatic about that.”

“But they’re all—”

“They’re handling this the way people do when they didn’t really know her. Not the way you knew her.” He looked out at the darkening woods, the place Clara had protected for so long. “You loved her. Truly loved her. That’s rare, and it’s valuable, and you shouldn’t apologize for it.”

Elara turned to look at him, tears still streaming down her face. “You knew her. Really knew her.”

“I did.” Marcus’s voice was soft. “She saved my family years ago. I owed her everything.”

“She loved this place,” Elara whispered. “She loved these woods, and this house, and—” Her voice broke. “And I don’t know what’s going to happen to it now.”

Marcus was quiet for a long moment. Then: “That’s up to you.”

“What?”

“She left it to you, didn’t she?” At Elara’s shocked expression, he nodded. “She told me before… She said it was going in good hands. That you were the only one who understood.”

Fresh tears spilled down Elara’s cheeks. “I can’t—I don’t know how to—”

“You don’t have to decide now,” Marcus said gently. “But Clara trusted you with this. That means something.”

In the distance, deeper in the woods, Marcus could feel his son’s anguish through their pack bond. Trent was barely holding on, the need to comfort his mate, overwhelming his control.

Soon, Marcus thought. But not yet. Let her grieve first.

Meanwhile , deeper in the woods

“She’s hurting.” Trent’s voice was wrecked, his whole body trembling. “She’s hurting, and they’re making it worse, and I need—”

“I know.” Elena held her son as he shook apart. “I know, baby. But your father’s with her. He’ll make sure she’s safe.”

“It’s not enough.” Trent’s eyes were full gold now, his wolf barely contained. “I should be there. She needs—”

“What she needs,” his mother said firmly, “is to not be overwhelmed by a mate bond she doesn’t understand while she’s grieving. You’ll get your chance. But not like this.”

Somewhere in the shadows, Kira watched and smiled.

The human was already isolated, already breaking apart.

This was going to be easier than she thought.