If it wasn't the cryptic howls from the lone wolf,then it was my
supposed fever I'd had during the night.
Though it wasn't all that bad, seeming how my cramps in my legs and
feet had subsided thanks to the salve that Satchel's mom had put on
them. Infact, there was no trace of any scars or any evidence that I
had calluses at all.
Despite my supposed fever, it felt like my energy had been charged
over night. I couldn't say the same about my feelings for Satchel
though.
All I know was, that therewas something strong that was there for him,
and that I was afraid to succumb to them.
I found a pile of clean clothes folded next to me: A pair of faded
jeans,a sweater and some undergarments with tagson them, and some
shoes. I tiptoed to the bathroom, and took a shower under the
seductive heat.
I shrugged the jeans on, that fit perfectly, but I was reluctant to
wear thesweater.
It was the color of peach, and screamed unflattering, but the cold
that was obvious in the air won me over, and I shrugged it on too.
I sought out Satchel, knowing very well he was not in the house,
justby scent alone. His home was in the way his father had left it.
Native American artifacts adorned the walls, and throughout the house
had that same wildernessfeel I saw in Derryns room. Like the forest
had come alive in the comfortof his home.
As I stepped out in the cold backyard, I grunted. The nip in the air
was obnoxious and I was slightly thankful for the unflattering garment
I had on my back.
I found Satchel a few yards away working on abroken fence. His skin
bare as if the cold air didn't bother him, save for the chocolate
suspenders and same colored slacks.
His back was to me, and he was struggling with the fence, grunting in
protest. I frowned. And then I looked down to see a helpless animal
tangled in wire. Barbed wire, and the grunts was not of Satchel, but
coming from the helpless animal.
A gray wolf, howling in protest. I realized and I rushed to its aid,
helping Satchel hopelessly since itwas barbed wire.
I couldn't seem to get a grip on the fence without cutting myself.
"God damn it!" Satchel cursed.
He had gloves on I realized, that's why it was easy for him to
graspthe barbs, but the tangled web of wire would not give way.
And the more the wolf struggled, the deeper thebarb buried in it, and
themore blood poured out of its wounds.
I was teary eyed I realized, astonished that a wild animal would
affect me like this.
Of course it would, because it's helpless My reason of thoughts scolded.
I knelt next to it, comforting it as best as I could in order to give
it abetter send off, while Satchel struggled to untangle the web.
I found myself imagining this animal could well be Satchel. Helpless
in his wolf form, tangled in a trap with no one to comfort him.
My tears mourned the wolf in front of me, as the animal let out one
last cry of help, and something in the back of my mind just knew it
wasdead.
I was vaguely aware of Satchel kneeling beside me, wiping his thumb
under my eyes. He'd taken his gloves off.
"Hey, it's not your fault. We tried our best. Nothing can change
death. It happens." I blinked up into his eyes. The rawness of his
honesty made it seem so real.
"That was a wolf? Did you know it?" I don't know if I was relieved
when he shook his head, or guilt stricken for the wolfs loneliness.
I ran my eyes over the dead wolf, lying limp on its side with its
tongue slightly out. I couldn't take my gaze away from it, and better
yet. I couldn't stand to see Satchel hurt and helpless like this wolf.
I'd be beside myself if something happened to him, and the minute that
realization registered, I felt I wept freely.
"That wolf had a family, someone to go home to? What if…what if you
ended up like that. Oh god!" I rambled, and the wolfs figure only got
more blurry from my tears. Satchel tipped my chin up with his hands
and gently forced me to look at him.
"Hey, its okay." He murmured, wrapping his arms around me to comfort
me. I reveled in his warmth, and his hot breath in my ear, promising
me the wolf was in a better place. Halfrealizing I was shaking from
shock or something.
We must have stayed like that for hours, though I was sure it was only
minutes, and I calmed from his reassurance and simply from his
presence.
I sighed, having no more tears left to cry, and I found myself
blushing. This was the third time I'd broken down in front of him, and
I was startingto look like the typical damsel in distress that I hated
so much.
I pulled back from his embrace, and blushed at his scrutinizing gaze.
"God! I keep doing this infront of you, you must begetting bored of me
already." I wiped my face, hoping I'll wipe my embarrassment too.
He had a thoughtful gazewhile he studied me, then shook his head.
"Not at all…you've been through a lot. I don't blame you. Plus I find
youquite interesting." I smiled up at him.
"Interesting? How so?" He tilted his head, and regarded me curiously.
"Well, your eyes remind me of the honey I collect every morning from
down there," He pointed out a far tree, where a visible beehive hung
loosely. He smiled uncaringly, gently swiping a strand of hair from my
face.
"And your hair is so delicately smooth, it's impossible to stop
wanting to touch it." He ran his hand down the length of my neck, to
my collarbone making an invisible tingling trail.
My heart beat in anticipation from his touch, and woke up a desire I
never knew I had, just from a gentle touch. I'd never felt it before,
not even when my ex-boyfriend Peter used to kiss me.
The sensual way Satchel'seyes roamed my face wasseduction alone. I
could melt under his piercing green gaze.
"And those lips, the way they quirk up to smile interests me to no
end, I watch you and I want you to be mine." He let his thumb roam the
bottom of my lip, as if it was a kiss in its touch.
"So you don't bore me Willy, I'm entertained by your beauty." He
drawledin a husky voice so sensual. It was followed by a kiss.
His kiss was gentle, sweetand light. It ended too soon for my liking.
"But right now we have work to do." He broke the contact and stood up
abruptly, taking with himany visible heat that conjured up between us.
He touched the gray wolf.
"We should bury it, she deserves a proper burial." I frowned, as he
gazed at the lifeless wolf that was buried in barbs.
"She?" He nodded.
"Yeah. She must have wondered from her pack.The scent on her says she
has been claimed as someone's mate and pack." My eyebrows raised.
"You could tell all this justby looking at it – her? By scent alone.
Are you sure?" He shrugged.
"There's no mistaking another males scent on her, so yes, I'm sure.
She'sbeen claimed as someone's mate and she's definitely from a pack."
I gulped, taking in the grotesque image thatwas once an alive animal.
"Wouldn't it be wise to wait until her pack comesto claim her?" He nodded.
"It would be, if she hadn't wandered onto our land. Better to bury her
now, because I don't fancy hearing the wrath of her pack for the fact
ofdying on our property, orhaving an animal rot in the likes of my
little sisterfinding it on her travels."
"Okay, we'll bury it in the cemetery?" He smiled.
"Just one thing…whatever you do, don't look." It was a warning; as he
struggled further to unhook the animal from the barbs.
I obeyed and never once stole a look back at the helpless animal,
until he said it was safe to.
He managed to drape a sheet over the bloodied animal by the time I
looked back, pinching each corner of the sheet so that it was wrapped
up in some kind of cacoon and hauled it over his shouler like he was
some kind of Santa carrying a sack of presents.
Except, the blood oozing throught the sheet stopped any image of
looking like a gift. Because I was sure noonein their right mind
wouldwant a dead animal under their Christmas tree. I shuddered.
Satchellooked at me.
"I'm sorry you had to see this." He said apologetically. I shook my head.
"Don't be, I'm just glad it wasn't you." He smiled then, light
reflecting from his piercing gaze and he kissed me on my forehead.
"I am too." He said, and we made our way to the cemetery on foot,
where we would bury it.
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