Wolf Read Online Free Page A

wounds. I smiled at her. “Your poultice reminds me of my gran. She always believed in using herbs.”
    The elderly woman smiled, her skin revealing a few wrinkles around her sparkling cinnamon eyes. “She sounds like a wise woman.”
    “She was.” My heart swelled. “She passed five winters ago.”
    “The loss of a loved one is always hard on a soul. Stephan told me your mother was lost in the village battle.” I was surprised her voice cracked with caring for my plight. “It’s been many winters since we’ve lost anyone in our pride, but their memories still warm our hearts.”
    Many winters. The statement made no sense to me, yet I could tell her words were truthful. “You’ve surely lost many loved ones during your life. Does the pain stop?”
    I needed to hear an affirmation—to know the searing slices in my soul would heal. I chewed on my lower lip and waited for her answer, even though I knew the weight of my mother’s loss would forever haunt me.
    “Our people live much longer and our bodies heal of their own volition. This has been the first time in at least sixty winters since I’ve had to use my poultices.” Her words shocked me as I recalled the size of the village and the massive cluster of people and wolves I’d seen my first day here. Before I’d been secluded.
    I longed to wander the village, but Nalla insisted I needed rest. A week had passed since my race to safety and, more than anything, I wanted to see Stephan. Weary of inactivity, I stood and began my morning pace around the small home. A large talisman similar to mine hung on the wall above the hearth. “Is this a pride talisman?”
    Nalla smiled and pulled on her talisman. “No, it is my family pride. Stephan is my fourth generation.”
    “Fourth generation?”
    “My daughter is his mother’s mother’s mother.”
    The idea astounded me, even though I recalled what she’d said about her people living longer. My mind again raced with questions, but guilt numbed my tongue. She’d already been beyond patient with me and my incessant need to know more about Stephan’s people.
    Stephan.
    I’d broached my desire to know more about him my second day here, but Nalla hadn’t been forthcoming. Maidens of my village rarely ventured to ask such questions of the men, so I understood my lack of right to ask. The compulsion overwhelmed me, though, even after a week with Nalla. Nothing she taught me mattered as much as learning more about him. “When will I see Stephan again?”
    Nalla set the remaining poultice compound on the small table beside her. She stood. Silence made me apprehensive. Heat stained my cheeks as I imagined her studying me. The scrutiny was new to me. Few within my village offered me more than a dismissive acknowledgement. Yet this woman listened attentively, as if she wanted to know more about me. As if she understood.
    She cared.
    “You think of him often.”
    Denying the truth of her statement would accomplish nothing. “I’m indebted to him and your people for saving me. It would be impossible not to think of him.”
    Her lips curved into a grin reminiscent of Stephan’s. “You have no reason to hide your curiosity. Many maidens of our pride have interest in Stephan. Even more vie to be his mate.” She lifted a pot of hot water from the fire pit and poured a cup. She dribbled drops of a liquid into it. “Drink this. It will aid your healing.”
    I took the cup and sipped, allowing the warm liquid to heat me, as it had each time she’d given it to me. “Thank you.”
    Silence met my gratitude. I chewed my lip. Asking my question again would be disrespectful. I should be grateful for all she’d done. But I longed to see Stephan again. Surely I could find him on my own. The glade hadn’t seemed that large. “Perhaps I could walk around the village today? Osana mentioned she’d take me.”
    “Osana is young, only fourteen winters. Escorting you through the village isn’t something she should do.” Nalla