Chapter 7: Chapter 7

EVIE

“Come on, Evie,” Sawyer urged, seizing my hand and sprinting toward the guesthouse.

I trailed behind him, clueless about what was happening, but the eerie howls of wolves echoing from the bayou were enough to make me comply.

For reasons I couldn’t fathom, I had an unwavering trust in Noah. I believed him when he vowed to protect me, even at the cost of his own life. I believed him when he confessed that he felt the same sparks, the same warmth in his chest that I did.

Sawyer practically hurled me into the house, slamming the door shut behind us and securing it. He locked all the windows, drew the curtains, and began pacing anxiously in front of the door.

I wandered around the ground floor, trying to distract myself from the chilling howls outside. Eventually, I found myself in the laundry room at the back of the house. There was a back door there, its window devoid of curtains. I peeked outside and screamed at the sight.

Sawyer rushed into the room, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind him.

“What? What is it?” he demanded, peering out the window.

Three enormous wolves stood outside, their backs turned to the house. Surprisingly, Sawyer seemed to relax at the sight of them.

“It’s okay, Evie, they’re the good guys,” he assured me, leading me away from the door and back into the living room.

“The ~good~ guys?” I retorted, struggling against his grip.

He was incredibly strong, guiding me back to the couch and pushing me down.

“Sit,” he commanded.

I grumbled under my breath and crossed my arms over my chest, feeling like a scolded child.

“What the hell is going on?” I demanded.

“I’m not the one to explain all this. Noah is,” Sawyer replied, resuming his pacing in front of the door.

“Where is Noah?” I asked, my voice rising.

“Keeping you safe,” was his simple response.

“From ~wolves~?” I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

“That’s what he does best,” Sawyer replied, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

“Sawyer, this isn’t funny,” I snapped, rising to my feet.

“It’s not supposed to be,” he retorted, his tone suddenly serious.

“You sure? Because this seems an awful lot like a joke,” I accused.

Sawyer halted his pacing and finally met my gaze.

“How is this a joke, Evie?” he sounded genuinely hurt.

“Yesterday I told Noah that I nearly died from a wolf attack and now, all of a sudden, he’s some big bad warrior who can fight against wolves. Really?” I shot back, glaring at him.

Sawyer looked taken aback. “You were attacked by wolves?”

I shrugged off Noah’s coat, revealing the scars left by the wolf’s claws. They started at my collarbone, spread over my shoulder, across my chest, down my stomach, and around my right hip. The scars traveled back up my back and ended on my left shoulder blade.

“I had no idea, Evie. This has nothing to do with that, I promise you. Although, it’s quite the coincidence, I’ll give you that,” Sawyer mumbled, resuming his pacing.

I pulled Noah’s jacket back on and slumped onto the couch. The rush of air brought Noah’s scent swirling around me and I inhaled it deeply, immediately feeling calm. He smelled like the woods, like the bonfire, only sweeter.

The woods had always frightened me, even before my attack. I never liked the way it looked, sounded, or smelled. But when I smelled it on Noah, it was the most amazing scent in the world. I pulled his jacket closer and used it to soothe my nerves.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my body. I screamed, curling into a ball and clutching my stomach.

“What’s wrong?” Sawyer cried, kneeling in front of me.

“My stomach, it hurts,” I managed to gasp out between bouts of pain.

“Let me see it.” Sawyer insisted, prying my hands away from my stomach. “There’s nothing there,” he observed.

“No shit,” I snapped at him.

“It’s Noah,” he said, his eyes darkening.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, looking at him like he was insane.

He didn’t respond, only stared blankly back at me.

“Hello? Sawyer!” I shook his shoulders.

His eyes cleared and it was like he finally saw me. “Evie, it’s all right. You’re safe. You’re just experiencing Noah’s pain, and I can’t quite explain why,” he said.

I clung to Sawyer’s shirt, my fingers digging into the fabric.

“Noah’s hurt?” I choked out through my tears.

“He’s all right now. He’s healed,” Sawyer reassured me.

His words were a jumbled mess in my mind.

“I know it’s hard to understand. The fight’s over. Noah will be back any minute now.” Sawyer’s words were cut off as the front door was violently torn from its hinges.

Sawyer was on his feet in an instant, ready to defend.

“Damn it, I just fixed that.” A distant voice grumbled.

“Everleigh!” Noah’s voice washed over me like a soothing balm.

Sawyer stepped aside, and Noah was there, kneeling in front of me, his hands gripping my arms.

“You’re safe, Evie. I’m safe. We’re okay,” Noah murmured, his hands rubbing soothing circles on my arms.

The comforting warmth of Noah’s touch eased the tension in my body, and the pain in my stomach began to fade.

“What the hell just happened?” I gasped, still reeling from the pain.

“I’m so sorry, Evie. I didn’t realize you’d feel it so intensely,” Noah apologized, but his words did nothing to clarify the situation.

I grabbed a handful of his shirt, my knuckles turning white.

“I want the truth,” I demanded, my gaze piercing his.

Noah glanced around the room, his gaze landing on each person present.

“Everyone, out,” he commanded.

His voice dropped an octave, and his eyes darkened. Everyone in the room bowed their heads in acknowledgment and filed out of the house.