Free Red and the Wolf by Cindy C Bennett Page B

mail.”
     
    Huh. Well, she supposed that explained the delay in his responses. It didn’t explain his eventual complete lack of response, though.
     
    “Why Alaska?”
     
    “My uncle, my father’s brother, lives there. He teaches us how to control the change. Instead of shifting because of anger, or anxiety, or hunger, I learned to change at will—or not. I learned control, and I haven’t changed for over two years.”
     
    “So why didn’t you come home?”
     
    “I was afraid that coming back to Piera would undo all I had learned. Something about Piera drives us more than anywhere else. Maybe it’s this forest. I don’t know. When I came back for Lowell, I didn’t know if I’d have control here. If I didn’t, I couldn’t stay.”
     
    “You could have taken me with you,” she murmured.
     
    Rafe scooted closer again, placing a hand over hers. “If I had come to you three years ago and said I was about to change into a lycan, and I wanted you to go with me to the northern reaches of Alaska while I learned how to control the beast, and could only hope I didn’t harm or kill you in the process, you would’ve thought I was crazy.”
     
    “I kinda think you’re crazy now,” she said softly. She looked down at Rafe’s hand on hers. She studied it. It looked the same as it always had. It felt the same as it always had. Whether he truly was a lycan, or just insane, which seemed more likely, it didn’t change how she felt about him. She brought her gaze to his. He watched her, waiting.
     
    “Why’d you stop writing?”
     
    “I thought it would be easier if you forgot about me, and moved on with someone else.” His jaw tightened. “I had no idea Lowell was trying to be that someone else. I always thought he disliked you.”
     
    “Me, too,” she said. “According to him, everything he did was because of jealousy.”
     
    Rafe smiled grimly. “I wish I could hate him for it, but I can’t blame the guy. If it was me, and you loved someone else, I’d be jealous, too. And if he went away, I’d do everything I could to get you to love me.”
     
    “How could you think I’d ever forget you?” she whispered.
     
    Another howl ripped through the dark and Ruby shuddered.
     
    “All those animals, was it Lowell?”
     
    Rafe seemed to consider answering, but finally said, “Yes, it was.”
     
    Ruby still didn’t know if she bought into the whole lycan thing, but the thought of Lowell transforming into a raging beast and slaughtering animals—particularly Bradford—caused a chill to ripple across her entire body.
     
    “We’re trying to convince him to go to Alaska, but he won’t go as long as he thinks . . .”
     
    “Thinks what, Rafe?” she pressed.
     
    “As long as he thinks there’s a chance with you.”
     
    Ruby was stunned. “Why me? What am I to him? Nothing, when compared to everything else.”
     
    Rafe smiled, taking both her hands in his. “Ruby, you’ve heard that wolves mate for life, right? Well, we’re not wolves, but in that particular area, we are the same.”
     
    Ruby didn’t know whether to laugh at the absurdity, or cry over the whole, ridiculous mess.
     
    “But Lowell and I, we haven’t, you know, mated. We haven’t kissed or held hands. We haven’t even been on a date .”
     
    Rafe was grinning now. “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear that, Red.”
     
    Ruby pulled one of her hands from his and shoved against his shoulder. “This isn’t funny, Rafe.”
     
    “I know,” he said, using his now freed hand to caress her cheek. He leaned forward, hesitating before kissing her, as if asking permission. Ruby closed the distance.
     
    She’d only kissed Rafe twice before. Once when she thought she had a lifetime with him, and once when he blindsided her when he first returned home. This was completely different. This time she knew that he loved her, that he’d stay with her if she asked it of him. This kiss was on a whole new plane from