while the others are traumatized mentally over the whole thing.”
“That’s
what Nicolas and I were discussing in the study just after Mandy and I
arrived,” Jonathan interjected. “He was filling me in on the latest
developments. It seems the villagers are setting out numerous traps and organizing
a night watch.”
“So,
why is this werewolf attacking women?” Mandy asked, clearly puzzled by
everything.
“When
a werewolf matures, it searches out its mate. That person is their other half, who completes them
and keeps them balanced,” Nicolas took her hand in his and threaded their
fingers together. “You see,” he continued, gesturing to their joined hands, “ when they are together, everything fits into place. Their
beasts are under control and content within the mate’s presence. But if one of
them is taken away,” he pulled their hands apart, “then they can go mad trying
to find that completion again. If a mate dies, then the wolf either dies with
them, or goes insane. We fear the latter is the case here.”
“So
this guy is attacking these women because he wants to find another mate?” She
could hardly contain her shocked expression. “Then why is he hurting them?”
Nicolas
raked his hand through his midnight hair and Mandy found herself distracted.
Would his hair feel as soft as it looked if she ran it through her own fingers?
Ashamed of herself and her wayward thoughts, she quickly gave her head a little
shake, feeling herself sway a bit as the wine went to her head.
“Are
you all right?” Nicolas asked, his gaze searching her face. “Is the
conversation upsetting you?”
“No,
it’s not that, I just never drink, so I think it’s going to my head a bit.”
Mandy felt her cheeks flush as Nicolas grinned. “So, why is he hurting them?”
she prompted, desperate to get things back on track, lest she embarrass
herself.
“I
believe that, when they show no interest in him, he simply loses control. It
ends up being just another failed attempt to find inner peace and he lashes
out.” Nicolas was watching her now, like he was gauging her reaction. “Do you
believe in soul mates, Mandy?”
“I
do, actually. It was the only dream I had growing up. The dream that there was
one man out there who could accept me for who and what I am with no fear to
hang over our heads, a man who would embrace our children, should they inherit
any abilities of their own and not shun them as different.”
“And
if I said that man was me?” he placed his hand over hers where it rested on the
table. “Would you be willing to give us a chance?”
“I
think I can do that. After all, you’ve seen me in action and you didn’t boot me
out the front door, so that’s a good sign,” she teased. Another thought,
though, made her hesitate. “Jonathan, will this be awkward for you?”
Nicolas
bristled, “Why the hell would it be awkward for him?”
“Chill
out, Nic , she wasn’t insinuating that anything was
going on between us,” Jonathan huffed, rolling his eyes at his brother’s
obvious jealousy. “Mandy, dear, I’m the one who told
you my brother would love you, so why would I find this awkward? I’m a man,
sweetheart, we enjoy being right.”
Now
it was Mandy’s turn to roll her eyes, and she was pleased to see Anna join her.
“These two are going to be a handful,” Mandy announced.
“No
doubt,” Anna agreed, giving Jonathan a sappy smile, “But I think they’ll be
worth it.”
Chapter Six
Almost
an hour later, Mandy let loose a jaw-splitting yawn and Nicolas’ eyes warmed.
“Let’s get you to bed, princess.”
At
his little endearment, she giggled. “I’m not the princess, she is,” she
replied, pointing vaguely in Anna’s direction, before promptly passing out in
his arms.
Jonathan
snickered and Anna looked worried.
“She
wasn’t kidding when
“That’s
what Nicolas and I were discussing in the study just after Mandy and I
arrived,” Jonathan interjected. “He was filling me in on the latest
developments. It seems the villagers are setting out numerous traps and organizing
a night watch.”
“So,
why is this werewolf attacking women?” Mandy asked, clearly puzzled by
everything.
“When
a werewolf matures, it searches out its mate. That person is their other half, who completes them
and keeps them balanced,” Nicolas took her hand in his and threaded their
fingers together. “You see,” he continued, gesturing to their joined hands, “ when they are together, everything fits into place. Their
beasts are under control and content within the mate’s presence. But if one of
them is taken away,” he pulled their hands apart, “then they can go mad trying
to find that completion again. If a mate dies, then the wolf either dies with
them, or goes insane. We fear the latter is the case here.”
“So
this guy is attacking these women because he wants to find another mate?” She
could hardly contain her shocked expression. “Then why is he hurting them?”
Nicolas
raked his hand through his midnight hair and Mandy found herself distracted.
Would his hair feel as soft as it looked if she ran it through her own fingers?
Ashamed of herself and her wayward thoughts, she quickly gave her head a little
shake, feeling herself sway a bit as the wine went to her head.
“Are
you all right?” Nicolas asked, his gaze searching her face. “Is the
conversation upsetting you?”
“No,
it’s not that, I just never drink, so I think it’s going to my head a bit.”
Mandy felt her cheeks flush as Nicolas grinned. “So, why is he hurting them?”
she prompted, desperate to get things back on track, lest she embarrass
herself.
“I
believe that, when they show no interest in him, he simply loses control. It
ends up being just another failed attempt to find inner peace and he lashes
out.” Nicolas was watching her now, like he was gauging her reaction. “Do you
believe in soul mates, Mandy?”
“I
do, actually. It was the only dream I had growing up. The dream that there was
one man out there who could accept me for who and what I am with no fear to
hang over our heads, a man who would embrace our children, should they inherit
any abilities of their own and not shun them as different.”
“And
if I said that man was me?” he placed his hand over hers where it rested on the
table. “Would you be willing to give us a chance?”
“I
think I can do that. After all, you’ve seen me in action and you didn’t boot me
out the front door, so that’s a good sign,” she teased. Another thought,
though, made her hesitate. “Jonathan, will this be awkward for you?”
Nicolas
bristled, “Why the hell would it be awkward for him?”
“Chill
out, Nic , she wasn’t insinuating that anything was
going on between us,” Jonathan huffed, rolling his eyes at his brother’s
obvious jealousy. “Mandy, dear, I’m the one who told
you my brother would love you, so why would I find this awkward? I’m a man,
sweetheart, we enjoy being right.”
Now
it was Mandy’s turn to roll her eyes, and she was pleased to see Anna join her.
“These two are going to be a handful,” Mandy announced.
“No
doubt,” Anna agreed, giving Jonathan a sappy smile, “But I think they’ll be
worth it.”
Chapter Six
Almost
an hour later, Mandy let loose a jaw-splitting yawn and Nicolas’ eyes warmed.
“Let’s get you to bed, princess.”
At
his little endearment, she giggled. “I’m not the princess, she is,” she
replied, pointing vaguely in Anna’s direction, before promptly passing out in
his arms.
Jonathan
snickered and Anna looked worried.
“She
wasn’t kidding when
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