xe

ike a caged bird. I hate that I am unable to make her feel at ease. There is something about h

on. I think part of me is still wishing she'd come back, even after the divorce papers arr

was that connection that led me to her as she huddled frightened in the night, curled inside her car. I know she must have heard me and I realize that the experience must

e the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. The only good thing that came out of it was our son, Rafael. All the pain and he

cliff for all I could care. I hope she chokes on my o

chuckles in my head. "Sounds lik

shout back at

r of fresh eyes. Her pretty face looks up at me with a gentle, uncertain half-smile as her gray-blue eyes, lik

me staring, I ask "I'm so

ies again. "If you hav

before him. Our family stretches back before colonization, and this forest, this river, h

I couldn't imagine having such a deep

ut your o

orm clouds filling her eyes. "

't know what happened between her and her family, but it m

." Conner pushes. "Can'

y weight pressing down on her petite frame. A girl this beautiful shouldn't walk throug

wheel and my focus on the road when every inch of me wants to hold and comfort her.

, I didn't want to make her cr

I just broke up wi

erything that happened to push her off the edge and onto the road in an unreliable rusted relic. By

as we pull into my driveway. Leaning over, capturing her

it, every s

sists. "She needs someone to take care of

myself, but Conner has always been his own wolf. "

internal dialogue and I feel my cheeks redden. I must loo

t her inside. Guiding her into my kitchen I pull down a mug and place the ke

ounds genuin

orning when I went out for a..." I pause, "...run

, o

nd ask, "Make a cup for m

sh up the stairs

n the rocking chair next to the bed, while Ra

eeping grandfather. "He just fell

warm, and so empathic. He'l

y,

, placing a gentle

et to meet y

ien

es reaching out. At only 5 years old, he is already becoming a p

you mea

he tries to think o

She smell