Chapter 10 I Hear My Wolf's Voice

• Fiona’s POV
• I drag in a lungful of cool night air, the joy of running through a crisp fall forest, the grass whipping by me, the scents of the night filling my nose. I howl out my pleasure and hear the answer of my pack in the distance. The musty smell of my mate has me veering off course.
• Slowing, I step into a moonlight meadow and see the lone black wolf standing there.
• He huffs and tells me through the mind link to hurry, he wants to run with his mate and not waste a night like this. I pad over to him, rubbing my nose against his before he huffs again, and I bark out a chuckle, or as much of one as I can in this form.
• He takes off like a shot and I follow him, zig-zagging through the forest. Each time I get close, he runs a little faster, drawing out this game we are playing.
• He turns and his fur melts, in the wolf's place is a man standing naked under the moonlight.
• Holding out his hand, he reaches down, “Come, be with me mate, in this sacred place.”
• Before I can change and take his hand, I sit straight up in my bed, panting and sweating from the run.
• I hear the distant howl of the wolf as I push my hair back away from my face.
• Scanning my body, I look for any sign of her awakening and feel nothing but the emptiness I’ve felt my entire life. She is there, but I just can’t reach her.
• Pulling back the covers, I get out of bed. I won’t be able to sleep after such a vivid dream.
• It almost feels like a memory as it was so clear. But it can’t be a memory. Micah has never met my wolf and he knows nothing of the last time she awoke and identified him as her mate.
• ____________________
• I rub my eyes and carefully pour the mixture into the beaker once more. It has been a long week and a half and with the kidnapping, it shortened my timeline to get the line ready for approval.
• Rowena has snatched the contract with Micah’s company, that is true. The outcome may already be decided, but that does not mean that I will not present the best. Silver Moon Scents has a reputation to protect, and I’m going to make sure we deliver the best product possible. Just having it known that we are in the top three competing for this contract will bring some press to this new line we have created.
• “These look good Fiona, we do good work.” Amorak comes over and looks at the beakers lined up in front of the intricate perfume bottles that are designed especially for this line.
• “I think we did it.” I look over and smile at him. We have become close this past week and a half, working day and night to get the line ready.
• He nods his head and walks out of the lab. We did good work today.
• “We do good work girl. Now to go home and have a shower and sleep for a week.” He grumbles before ambling out of the lab.
• He might be grouchy on the outside, but inside he is sweet and kind.
• His mentoring has helped the others to grow by leaps and bounds. I’ve learned so much from him and with Amorak on our team, we would have been a shoo-in for the contract. If Rowena hadn’t already secured it. I know we did all this work in vain, but at least it will give us a new product line to put out.
• Sitting down at my desk, I look out the window. I haven’t spoken to Micah yet about visiting my father. I need to. I hope that he is willing. My father likes him and I think Micah is very fond of my father. I know that he is in love with Rowena, but for my father’s sake, I’m hoping he will do this one last thing for me. We were together for three years, I hope it isn’t too hard for him to fake affection for me. To see us together would make my father very happy.
• I pick up my phone. I need to do this. I promised my father and he is ill. Micah will cheer him up and it is only for a few hours. In the few hours it takes to get there, I can soak him in. This time in the car might be the last time I get to be alone with him, without Rowena there to interfere.
• I unlock my phone and see Rowena sent a text. I open it and see her in the hospital, surrounded by flowers.
• She only had minor bumps and bruises, but she insisted she was so hurt that she stayed.
• Under the picture, a message pops up.
• “Look at all these flowers, Fiona! There is almost no more room. Micah has sent me one every day and comes to see how I am doing daily. I hope you have settled back into your routine.”
• I sit the phone back down and close my eyes. I’m not calling Micah. I know that Rowena sent me that to show me that I don’t have a chance, but she has a point. They are having a child together, he is sending all those flowers and coming to visit, there is nothing left here for us.
• I am struggling with the idea of telling my father about the divorce. He has been so ill and the news might make his illness worse, and that is the last thing I want to do. When he is well, it might be the better time to tell him. Maybe I can tell him Micah didn’t visit again because he is busy with work and royal responsibilities.
• Grabbing my coat off the back of the chair, I leave the office. Between the kidnapping and finishing the formulas, I’ve had precious little sleep. I want the oblivion of sleep to erase seeing Rowena surrounded by flowers, to lose the image of Micah handing her a check to fund her perfume line all of it.
• ____________________
• I hear Father’s hearty laughter through the door as he goes back and forth with Miss Thompson. I am glad they have become such good friends. He needs someone he can talk to and feel comfortable with. He sacrificed so much when he took me in, and he has been the best father anyone could ask for.
• I walk in the door, and he smiles at me, his eyes twinkling.
• “Hello, Father.” I give him a bright smile, and also look over at Miss Thompson, who gives me a warm smile.
• “Where’s Micah?” Father asks, looking behind me to see if Micah came in.
• “Father, there is something I have to tell you. First, how are you feeling?”
• “Not well, my dear.” He lays back on the pillows, coughing into his hand and looking over at Miss Thompson.
• “This cough, and chest, it hurts.” He puts a hand on his chest and makes a groaning sound.
• “Now what is the thing you need to tell me?”
• I hesitate. Should I tell him? With the coughing and the groaning, it seems like he is really hurting.
• “Micah and I….”
• “Are sorry that he is running late.” A deep voice comes from behind me.
• I whirl around and see my handsome husband standing behind me.