Chapter 45
***Ethan/Sheriff***
She looks so sad. I’m glad I came back. It’s not how I
wanted to help, but I’m here, and she’s not alone. I never expected it to be
like this. Yes, there’s a natural instinct to protect her, but this is way
beyond that. I feel like my heart is being torn out of my chest all because
she’s sad. I want to take away her pain. Is it supposed to be like this? She’s
not really my mate until after the mating ritual; we’re not actually connected
yet, so why do I feel like this? That’s it. These are feelings—human emotions,
not instincts. This is not about the wolf. It’s about the man… The man who
seems to have fallen in love. I love her. I know she feels the connection, too.
Why else would she name me Sheriff?
She finishes her wine, yawns, and stretches. “I’m gonna call
it a night, Sheriff. I hope I see you again.”
I’ll be here every night, man or wolf. She stares into my
eyes and, for the first time tonight, she doesn’t look so sad. If I had
anything to do with that, then my presence here was worth any risk of exposure.
“Good night, handsome.”
Good night, my love.
She ruffles my fur and walks inside. I move back to the edge
of the woods and, like I do every night, keep watch over her. I need to be
extra vigilant now that Stone has her in his sights. I almost died this morning
when I saw that car force her off the road. The fucker got off easy if you ask
me; I should have broken every bone in his body first. I just hope Stone gets
the message. He should think long and hard before he fucks with me and what’s
mine.