I nodded and found myself clutching onto his shirt.
"Trust me to protect you." He half whispered. I had hot tears in my eyes, but I blinked them away. Instead, I simply got comfortable in his arms and rested my forehead against his muscular chest. He wrapped his arms more securely around me.
We didn't speak after that. Neither of us seemed to need to fill the silence with anything except the calming rhythm of our breath.
Then, I heard the loud thud of someone coming up the stairs. Whoever it was, was giving us plenty of warning of their approach. Michael partially released me, but kept his arm resting over my shoulders.
Greg popped his head into my doorway. His expression was torn between guilt and amusement, "Dinner is ready."
I was reluctant to follow Michael's lead, but I got to my feet once his gaze found mine. He hadn't been ordering me. I wanted to follow him.
Chapter Twenty-seven
I heard the pack far before we got to the dining room. Somewhere during the walk downstairs, I had walked ahead of Michael and looped my arm through Greg's. He merely grinned down at me in a silly, yet sad, way.
Reassuringly, I nudged his shoulder.
When we reached the dining room I saw that the entire pack had gathered around the table. A meal, as grand as the American thanksgiving, was spread across the two long dining tables that had been set up. I laughed when I saw Nathan and Cassiel going at it over the white meat of the turkey.
I sat beside Gabriel and grinned when Michael took the other chair.
When Gabriel shot me a smirk, I laughed, and melted against him when he offered me a one armed embrace. He'd been uncharacteristically kind to me since the battle. Part of me thought that he, and many other of the pack, thought I was going to go insane from what I had seen. It was kind of funny. They were almost tiptoeing around me.
Gabriel gave me a squeeze and I reveled in his warm arms. I felt his chest vibrate in an almost inaudible laugh, and smiled at him when I leaned back into my chair. Then, I turned my attention to the chaos.
The twins were causing uproar, as usual, by flailing their arms around crazily as they explained their parts in the battle. A few of us, myself included, snorted and rolled our eyes at a few parts, but nevertheless let them have their fun. Many still considered them pups, so let their exasperations slide with humorous grins.
Sean was sitting off to the side. I thought back, and realized that he did that frequently. He tended to separate himself from his pack mates, as if he never truly felt a part of them. It scared me, because I often felt the same way.
Then Sean's eyes suddenly snapped to mine. He seemed annoyed, but that was probably because I had been staring at him for about two minutes. I looked away, not embarrassed, but thoughtful.
My father's absence from the table, I think, was something everyone noticed but didn't dare mention.
My gaze landed on my mom, who sat across from me. My shoulders dropped in depression and concern as I took in her appearance. She sat with her shoulders hunched and chin downcast, while her eyes seemed to be tracing the design on her plate. Her hair was frizzy because of lack of attention, while she was dressed in sweats.
Never had I seen her look that lost.
I stretched across the table and rested my hand over hers. She seemed to jump, startled, at the touch, but once her eyes snapped to mine she relaxed.
I bit my lip to keep myself from crying for her and for my lost father.
CL
Scattered rays of sunlight shone across the autumn colored trees and onto the porch steps I sat on. I kept my eyes down and watched the golden flecks melt away the frost that had formed on the grass beneath my feet.
When I looked up I was momentarily blinded by the brilliance of the sun. He was hidden by the thick trees and many multi colored leaves that decorated the branches. They looked dry and ready to fall, which normally would have brought smile to my face.
This time of year brought many delights. We'd rake up the fallen treasures until we had a pile as big as a car. Then, on the count of three, we'd jump. We'd even jumped from the roof of my house once. Cassiel fractured his wrist that way, but even he remembers that day with a smile.
However, I didn't smile.
I was a bundle of nerves as I sat on Leah's porch. There wasn't a sound from within the house, but that wasn't the reason for my jumpiness. I hugged my notebook to my chest and held the pen firmly in my hand as I waited.
Slowly I heard the insides of the house stir. Mostly it was because of me. I'm sure Leah or her mate could hear me, even though my breathing could double as a breeze.
I heard shuffling from the other side of the door, and stood, just as Leah pulled it open.
She looked upon me in confusion, and I didn't blame her. Leah's hair was pulled back into a sloppy bun, and while she wore a casual sweater and pair of jeans I could tell she was still tired and willing to go back to bed.
I took a deep breath and offered her a shy smile, "I'm ready to pay attention now."
For a second I was met with a blank stare. The confusion was still there when I exhaled the breath I had previously taken.
Then, I watched surprise and joy filled my pack mate's eyes and expression. She quickly stepped aside and beckoned me inside with a smile, "What do you want to learn?" Her exhaustion was now forgotten and had been replaced with eagerness.
"Anything you'll teach me." I responded quickly. However, after I heard the soft click of the door closing behind me, I added, "Can start with what I missed?
I sat down and opened my notepad to a blank page. As Leah began, her voice wavered at first in uncertainty but grew stronger when no one yelled out to interrupt her, I listened. I scribbled furiously on my paper about the man I had faced and who I would have to face again.
When I met Mircea again, I vowed, I'd be ready.
Howl (Howl Book 1) Page 39