Protecting Her Heart by Natalie Brunwick

Author:Natalie Brunwick [Brunwick, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Natalie Brunwick
Published: 2019-07-09T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“That was quick,” Alison said as soon as she opened her door. “I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”

Rolling my shoulders, I managed a small smile, relieved when it calmed my wolf’s anxiety. “It wasn’t any trouble at all. Where do you want it?” I asked, entering Alison’s apartment seconds later. The small kitchen didn’t make me feel any better, so as soon as I set the food on the counter, I retreated to the living room, or at least the little bit of one Alison actually had.

“There’s fine,” Alison said, standing just inside the doorway as I dropped off the food. “You really didn’t need to check on me.”

“I wanted to,” I said, walking over to her and holding her hands between us before giving them a squeeze and letting go again. “Besides, that’s what friends do, right?”

“Right.” A touch of bitterness filled the air, catching me off guard. Was it because of something I’d said? “That’s exactly what a friend would do.”

That time, I didn’t need my wolf’s innate sense of smell to know something was off. “I’m sorry if I offended you,” I apologized, taking Alison’s hand as we walked over to the sofa so she could sit down.

While the apartment may have been small, the large windows overlooking the woods behind the complex offered me a bit of peace. It wasn’t enough to quiet my wolf, of course, but at least I didn’t have to fight back a growl every time I tried to speak.

“You didn’t offend me,” Alison said, tucking one leg under the other as she leaned into me. “I just didn’t realize how those words would feel. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend, and with you being so kind… I don’t know. I guess a small part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

I furrowed my brow. “It feels too easy, right?” When Alison looked at me then, I continued. “I feel the same way. Making friends has always been difficult, and I’m always cautious when it comes to things of a more serious nature. But with you?” I released a long breath and hoped my next words wouldn’t be ones I’d regret. “It just feels right.”

“Like a friend you once had and then lost touch with over the years?” Alison smiled at that. “It’s pretty much the same with me. What I can’t understand is why. Whenever we run into one another, I have this strange desire to tell you everything, things I haven’t told anyone else.”

“Same, but maybe we’re trying to explain something that doesn’t really need an explanation. Life’s too short, and at our age, maybe going through all the crap we did as kids just isn’t worth it anymore.”

“It could also be the flu talking, but around you, I feel safe. I shouldn’t considering how we’ve only just met, but…” She shook her head, dismissing the topic altogether. “I probably sound like I’m out of my mind.”

“A little out of it perhaps,” I agreed, “but you aren’t crazy.

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