Chapter 291
Chapter 292
My own heart raced somewhat having done so. We’d been mates a long time, really, but to say it here and now felt like something new.
It was thrilling, the possibilities for the future.
“Very well,” said the woman. “Come inside. My name is Florence.” She turned, leaving the door open for us. “Matthew! We have visitors! They are friendly, you can come out p>
Florence led us through the dark hallway to a sitting room on the far side of the house. There, a slew of windows allowed light in, showing an old couch covered in granny-square blankets and hand- stitched pillows. A coffee table was in front of it, covered in a doilies that had a few small coffee
stains in it.
Florence gestured to the couch for us to sit down. I did so. Rafael and Julian chose to stand. Florence herself moved to a nearby rocking chair. There she sunk down, and immediately picked up a pair of knitting needles.
Soon, there were footsteps down the hall. I braced myself for the appearance of a small child. I was surprised when Matthew turned out to be a bit older, around twelve or thirteen. Still a child, but almost a teenager. The necklace, so like Alice’s, hung around his neck.
How long had he suffered the same condition as Alice? Gods, it must have been nightmarish for him.
“Matthew,” Florence said. “This is Healer Amber and her friends. Amber, this is my grandson,
Matthew p>
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
He nodded, polite but watchful. I could understand his mistrust. We’d seen it in everyone we’d encountered to this point.
“We want to help you with your wolf,” I said. “We want to find a cure. But to do so, I’m going to need to ask a few questions, and then ask something else p>
Matthew nodded.
“He doesn’t talk much,” Florence said. “I will help where I can p>
“When did your wolf start to appear?” I asked.
“I was little,” Matthew said.
“Probably three or four,” Florence said. “He had a traumatic time of it, until we settled here. I think the wolf appeared to try to protect him. I like to think it doesn’t understand the damage that it does p>
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Chapter 292
That would be similar to Alice’s experience. That plane crash that nearly killed us had changed so many things. My wolf had appeared to protect us, but perhaps it had alarmed Alice’s own wolf as well, even while she had still been inside of me.
“How severe…” I paused, rethought the question. “How often does it happen p>
“A lot,” Matthew said.
“When he was younger, it was more difficult,” Florence added. “He had no control. He learned, over time, and things got better. But lately…” Florence lowered her voice. “Puberty p>
“Grandma!” Matthew said, turning red even up to the tips of his ears.
“Sorry, Matthew, but she’s a doctor and needs the facts,” Florence said. “Also, when the moon gets full, the wolf is harder to control p>
That didn’t bode well for Alice’s future then.
No, I couldn’t give up. I would find a cure.
“The necklace,” I said, changing gears. “They are hard to come by. How did you find it p>
“I wrote hundreds of letters to hundreds of towns, hoping someone could have an answer. This, for now, is the only thing that’s helped p>
For now. “I’m going to find a cure,” I said. “I promise p>
“We don’t believe in promises here, Amber,” Florence said. “If you want to find a cure, then do so. But until I see it, I will assume you are just a well-meaning fool p>
Chapter 203