Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Then Mrs. Krasinsky was rushing down the front steps shouting at the dog and hitting it with a broom. Foam and blood were running out of its mouth—Cole’s blood, I realized feeling faint and sick. He was bleeding for me—he’d been wounded for me because he’d stepped in to protect me.
They got the wolfdog off at last—I heard later that it had to be put down. But at that moment, all I could see was the terrible damage it had done, all in under a minute.
Cole’s arm was a mangled mess—one of the bones in his forearm was broken and the skin around his wrist had been shredded. He had to go to the ER right away—my new mom drove him and I came too. I remember sitting in the waiting room while they treated him, crying.
I was so afraid he would hate me now, because he’d gotten hurt because of me. And also that my new family—which I was really beginning to like—wouldn’t want me anymore. After all, we were all Weres and the men in the family turn into huge wolves. What did it say about me that a regular wolf hated me so much it would try to attack me like that?
But I hadn’t given my new family enough credit. When I was finally allowed to go see my new big brother, I found him sitting up in a hospital bed with his left arm in a kind of cast. My adoptive mom was outside talking to the doctor in the hall, so it was just the two of us.
“Hey, Lilah,” he said, when I came reluctantly into the room dragging my feet because I was afraid he was mad at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you okay, Cole?” I looked up at him fearfully. “I mean, I’m so sorry you got hurt for me! I don’t know why a wolf would hate me like that.”
I meant, I didn’t know why a wolf would hate me when I was a Were. Cole understood.
“Animals can be unpredictable,” he said, shrugging. “It doesn’t have anything to do with you, baby.”
“But he hurt you.” I could feel tears stinging my eyes as I looked at the white cast on his arm. “I mean, he wanted to hurt me but you stopped him.”
“Of course I did. I couldn’t let him get my new little sister, could I?” Cole gave me an easy grin, though he had to still be in pain. Male Weres can heal almost any injury pretty quickly, after they have their first Shift. But Cole hadn’t had his yet, so he was going to be in a cast for a while.
“So…you’re not mad at me?” I asked uncertainly. “I mean, you don’t blame me?”
“Of course not. Hey, come here okay?” He beckoned for me with his right hand and I came over to stand beside the bed. “Look, none of this was your fault,” he murmured, reaching out to ruffle my hair. He always loved to play with my long, corkscrew curls.
I leaned into his touch—I always loved it when he touched me, even back then when there was nothing sexual about it.
“Thank you for saving me, Cole,” I said, daring to meet his eyes. “You’re the best big brother anyone could ask for. I…I was so scared.”
“I know, baby.” I loved it when he called me that tender little nickname. He cupped my face in his free hand for a moment and brushed at my cheek with his thumb. I realized I was crying and he was wiping away the tears. And as I looked into his piercing blue eyes, I knew I never wanted to be anywhere but by my new big brother’s side…
That’s all I really remember of that incident. My memories end right there in the hospital room with Cole stroking my cheek so gently and telling me not to worry, that everything would be okay. Can you blame me for falling in love with him? He was my fearless protector, my comforter, my friend and confidant…not to mention the first and only man who had awakened my body and my sexual instincts.
Besides my forbidden love for my big brother, the other thing I got from the wolfdog attack was a terrible fear of dogs—especially ones that looked like wolves. I know, I know—that’s not a great phobia to have when you’re a Were. I’ve tried and tried to overcome it, too. But every time I get anywhere near a dog—especially one that looks like it might have wolf in it—I start sweating and my heart starts pounding like it’s trying to break out of my chest and run away.
It might have been a real problem for me if I hadn’t been a dud. But since I wasn’t showing any Were characteristics, my adoptive parents simply kept me away from Pack meetings so I wouldn’t have to see anyone Shift into their Fur Form.