Gypsy Truths

Her voice trails off, and I glance down, finding her cheeks solid red.

“Makes you what?” I prompt.

“She was about to say something super sweet and corny, and now she’s embarrassed,” Anna supplies, popping in at her side.

“Seriously?” Violet gripes, glaring over at Anna.

“Am I wrong?” Anna goads, grinning as she skips along beside us. She turns her attention to me. “By the way, you’re probably an even worse dresser than Violet.”

I look down my body, remembering how I’m dressed, belatedly. I don’t even argue with the ghost. It’s been a shit day.

“Sharing my mate is harder than I remember. Especially so soon after mating you,” I tell her as I pull away, threading my fingers with hers, after her hand falls from my side.

We get a few eyebrow raises. Her poorly structured dress gets just as much attention as my bare upper body. The shoulders are uneven, and her hem is four different lengths. It’s done in a way that doesn’t look at all intentional.

“I told you to buy off the rack instead of making your own clothes. You’re too cheap even for that,” Anna groans.

“I’m not cheap. Have you seen how much running Sanctuary has cost me? If I was cheap, I’d still have money buried in the mountains,” Violet argues.

“Why do you have money buried?” I ask, only because I keep hearing mention of it and it makes no sense.

“Because people bury treasure when they want to keep it safe. They keep their mouths shut about it if they don’t want people hunting their treasure. Now there’s no more money buried, so it’s no longer a secret,” she says on a sad sigh, as though this is terribly tragic.

“I’ll never understand your priorities,” Anna states, rolling her eyes, as she disappears.

“Violet?” I say quietly, just as we near the edge of my property, the tall gate coming into view.

“Yes?” she answers, distractedly staring into the horizon where the sun is setting.

I release her hand as we walk through the gates, because I feel my skin tingling, promising a shift is on the verge of being forced.

“The reason this wasn’t told to you, is because it’s a sacred, private thing among our people. Only some of the alphas know about it. We’re the most dangerous on this moon, because we can act with a clearer head and greater strength. However, no wolf fights. No wolf leaves our lands, because that’s where the magic is strongest. It’s a high like no other, and even some without gypsy blood can glimpse the dead. We all have those we miss.”

A small smile curves one corner of her lips.

“Thanks for bringing—”

Her words end on a squeak, just as we round the corner of my house, because I can’t deny the burning in my veins any longer. Twisting through the air, feeling weightless for a brief moment, my muscles pull with that familiar, easy stretch.

She stumbles back, as my fur grows and my body fully changes, all before my front paws feel the grit of dirt under my pads. The air smells crisper, the wind feels closer, and the scent of wolves surrounding us doesn’t cause me to worry.

For once.

That serene, peaceful bliss slides over me, almost comparing to the moments I can steal inside a bubble with Violet. One of those bubbles where nothing and no one can penetrate our moment.

She’s smiling over at me when the sky echoes with unified howls, and I turn, tipping my head back to join in.

I forgot to tell her she’s the only outsider I’ve ever allowed in.

 

 

Chapter 23

 

VIOLET

 

A raw, deep, guttural, almost longing howl sounds as though it’s dragged from Emit’s throat, his instincts demanding he join the others.

I don’t know why I find it so fascinating to simply watch him.

He glances at me, and then he turns to start toward the others. He struggles to keep a slower pace, so that I can keep up.

The moon is so bright that it feels like it’s doubled in size. The rings that are glowing off it give it such an illusion.

I get only mildly alarmed when I realize there isn’t anyone else in skin, and historically, wolves have a tendency to want me dead.

But the worry is fleeting, because Emit brought me here. He would never deliberately bring me into the center of danger.

Some wolves barely even spare me a glance. Some actually bow for both of us, as Emit walks me through the widening path of wolves stepping aside for their alpha. It’s the greatest show of respect I’ve seen the collective group offer him yet.

He moves at an even gait, as they all move to their bellies, until not a single wolf is standing. Deciding to pay respect, I move to the ground, also lowering to my belly next to a familiar wolf, who has already dropped to my side.

It’s Leiza on four legs with that polished, perfectly groomed, shiny fur.

She wags her tail next to me so fast I’m half worried she’s going to piss herself in excitement when she sees me on my stomach.

My eyes flick back to Emit, who’s gaze collides with mine at the same time. He freezes, as though finding me on my belly is shocking and startling to him.

He takes one step toward me, but stops, his nostrils flaring, as I remain in place. After holding my gaze for a moment longer, he tips his head back, and another howl is wrenched from his throat.

This one comes out like one of those beautiful, melancholy pieces, especially when a chorus of similar howls follow his lead, punctuating the breathtaking wolf symphony.

I’m so spellbound, mesmerized, and lost in the moment, that I almost leap out of my skin when Leiza nudges me. She howls, all while nudging me again.

Never one to miss out on the fun, I figure why the hell not. If she’s directing me to do it, then I’m only going to assume it won’t be offensive to the rest of the pack.

Without hesitating any longer, I tip my head back, and I howl the best I can, which…is terrible. So terrible.

I mess up the entire beauty of their moment, and all the wolves stop howling at once to look over at me. Including Emit.

Leiza whimpers the way she only does when she’s embarrassed, she and covers her face up with her front paws.

“I’m so sorry. I really am. Please continue. I promise not to do it again,” I assure them, feeling my entire body burning and flushing, as I die a little on the inside.

I’m not sure if this hits the lead spot on the extensive list of times I’ve been mortified, but it’s certainly edging toward the top ten.

I glare over at Leiza, who still has her face covered.

Traitor.

When I look back, Emit’s eyes are laughing at me, and the other wolves lift their heads to resume their beautiful symphony once more.

Leiza joins in, deliberately avoiding meeting my eyes. I spot Tiara in wolf form, moving toward us, as several other wolves move off their bellies and onto their feet.

Emit tips his head back once more, and changes the tune of the howls. They’re longer, deeper, and more suspenseful for a brief moment.

Shadows appear in the thick forest. Wolf shadows.

The pack lurches forward, the howls turning into excited barks and whines, as they sprint to meet the shadows in the distance. Leiza remains by my side, even as Emit joins the others.

“Go. Find Fay and anyone else you’ve missed. I don’t want to intrude too much, so I’ll hang back and observe from a respectable distance,” I say quietly.