A Curse of Shadows

Of course it is.

I rise from the ground, brushing the grass from my pants as another question comes to mind. “What happens to your clothes or jewelry or anything like that when you shift?” My mind conjures an image of clothes being shredded, strips of fabric flying everywhere.

“Thanks to the magic of the gods, wolves that have sworn their allegiance to an alpha king or queen, they get to keep their clothes and any belongings they have on their person,” he answers, then grins. “I’m not sure how much would ever get done around here if everyone was always naked. Then again, if that was all we ever knew, maybe it wouldn’t make a difference.”

“Right.” Well, I guess that’s not so bad.

Asher backs up and says, “Don’t blink. This happens fast.”

My eyes focus on Asher, fixated on his tall, muscular form. Flashes of memories from a few nights ago when I saw his wolf from afar try to distract me, but I push them aside as Asher’s chest begins to rumble.

A flicker of white energy radiates from his body and it almost seems as if he’s starting to bend in half, but then he disappears for the briefest of seconds that I’m not even sure if he really did or not. Before I can try to understand what I’m seeing, a magnificent beast stands in his place.

His head tilts toward the sky and he howls, long and loud, the sound like chime bells to my ears. I step forward, drawn to his energy, unable to stop myself even if I wanted to.

When I’m only a few feet away, the wolf growls and looks down at me. His eyes are a brighter blue than Asher’s but familiar nonetheless. His grumbles don’t frighten me as I reach my hand out, desperately needing to touch this animal, feel the warmth of his body, hear the beat of his strong heart.

His head bends lower, making me realize that he’s not small by any means. The wolf head is nearly as tall as Asher’s with fur as dark as the shadows surrounding us.

My hand rubs between his eyes and the rumble he elicits sends shivers down my spine.

“Hi.” I laugh, the situation surreal yet profoundly grounding. He nudges me gently, leaning in as if to embrace me, his massive head resting against my shoulder.

I wrap my arms around his chest, weaving my hand around his back. I snuggle closer, my ear pressed against his soft coat, listening to the steady beat of the wolf’s heart.

My eyes close and another tether, just like the one I felt earlier with Grayson, starts to grow within me. I think it’s going to tie me to this wolf, but instead, my connection to the energy around me feels as if it explodes with a powerful force.

I release Asher and my back arches inward, pushing my chest out as heat swells within my chest. I wait for another memory to come, but nothing comes. Just the warmth of Polaris and a sense of pride for this land filled with magic I don’t yet understand but suddenly feels closer than ever before.

Home.

Just as Estee said earlier.

There was a connection before, but it was something I could have walked away from if it meant keeping my best friend in my life. Now? Now, I can’t imagine any other place I’d rather be.

Asher’s wolf whines and nudges me with his cold nose.

“I’m sorry,” I tell the beast. “I’m okay. My ties to this world seem to have finally snapped into place.”

His head turns away from me and I wonder if he expected me to feel that same tie to him. Deep down, I think there’s something there, which is why I don’t still want to hate Asher, but what he feels for me, I can’t say the same. Not yet.

My body starts to feel heavy and I let out a yawn. “Do you think we could lie under the stars for a bit?”

Without answering me, the wolf turns in a circle before lying down on his side, keeping his head up. I settle down in front of him, leaning my head against his stomach as I move to face him.

It’s hard to think of this animal as a separate being from Asher, especially when he makes me feel just as safe as his human half. But I don’t dwell on those thoughts for long.

In this moment, with the stars as my canopy and Asher’s wolf keeping watch, I feel a peace settle over me—a promise of home that’s both ancient and newly discovered. Here, with the ocean’s distant roar as my lullaby, I let the night embrace me, hoping for dreams that might finally bring my lost memories back into the light.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ASHER

The night under the stars with Isla felt surreal, a cherished memory that won’t soon be dismissed. My wolf and I, bonded in the silence of the night, found solace with Isla nestled against his side, her presence a balm to the centuries of waiting.

Before the day’s sun can fully rise, I reluctantly wake her so that she can be there when Estee is up. Leaving her bedroom, I head back to my suite to prepare for the day, noting that each time I’m forced to leave Isla’s side is harder than the time before. Still, I don’t want to rush my mate, nor do I want to risk her regretting anything that has to do with us.

Though as the dawn finishes casting its golden rays through the treetops, I’m already wondering if it’s too early to bring her and Estee breakfast.