Blind Wolf (A Werewolf BBW Shifter Romance #1)(15)

Ever since they'd saved her life Katherine had clung to them and obeyed Damien without any hint of protest. He and Jordan had brought her back from the razor thin edge of death, and she was theirs forever, loyal to Damien's pack, if you could call three straggling wolves a pack.

In this dream, though, the wolf in his arms shifted back into human form as he walked through the snow.

The human form was not Katherine's. It was a different girl, one with fiery red hair and bright green eyes. She reached out one hand and touched his eyes, and suddenly Damien could see again. He turned his head down toward her in awe. Her eyes found his and a sense of pure peace swept through his body.

"You're the one," she said. "You're mine."

Damien's eyes opened. His hands clenched at the sheets on top of him and he breathed slowly until his heart stopped pounding in his ears. It was her. He knew it was her. And at that moment, lying in bed with the traces of his dream still floating through his eclipsed vision, he was not sure whether or not he had truly woken up.

CHAPTER NINE

Julia

Julia woke up from sleep and for a terrible second thought that the events of yesterday might just have been a dream. Then she remembered the touch of his hand on hers and sighed with renewed pleasure at the happy thought that reality had for once exceeded her expectations. Her life had been a series of tragedies and disappointments, and she was due for something positive.

She brushed her teeth with her cell phone balanced on the edge of the sink, waiting for him to call. She ate breakfast staring longingly at the screen, hoping that it would light up with his name, even as Granny Dee made small talk with the guests who were staying at the bed and breakfast. When he finally called Julia jumped out of her seat and was outside on the porch to answer it before the second ring.

"Hello?'' she said.

"Hi, I'm calling for a sexy librarian; I think her name is Julia?"

Julia laughed and sat down on the porch step.

"Hi Damien," she said, the name coming off of her tongue as sweetly as if she were tasting an exotic fruit. "It's early to get up, isn't it?"

"Were you asleep when I called? I waited as long as I could."

"No, I was up!" Julia blushed at the thought of Damien waiting in anticipation. "What are your plans for today?"

"Well, I was hoping to take a sexy librarian out on a date," Damien said. "If she's free, of course."

"She's free," Julia said, fanning herself with her free hand. "Free all day."

"Wonderful! I wanted to do some hiking, but it's so hot outside. Someone at the cafe told me that there was a lake next to the state park around here. He said it was good for swimming."

"That's right near my house!" Julia said, catching herself gushing. She didn't want to sound too eager, did she? God, she didn't know how to flirt, especially over the phone.

"Perfect. Can I meet you at your place? Sorry, my guide isn't going to be able to drive me after noon or so—she has work to do later today. But if you don't mind being my escort, she can drop me off."

"Of course! I don't mind at all."

"I can be there in an hour or so. Sound good?"

"Sounds great!" Julia couldn't keep the goofy grin off of her face as she ran upstairs and changed into her hiking clothes. Or should she wear a dress? It wasn't a long walk to the lake; she didn't really need hiking gear. She changed into a sundress and sandals. Perfect. She had already put on mascara before she realized that they would be swimming. Once she'd wiped it all off with makeup remover, she put on waterproof mascara. Then she realized that Damien wouldn't be able to see her anyway. She smacked her forehead and looked at herself in the mirror.

"Oh well," she said, sighing to herself. "I feel pretty, and that's what matters most."

The minutes she waited felt like an eternity, but finally Julia saw the car pull up on the road out front. The blond girl was sitting in the driver’s seat, sunglasses covering her eyes. Damien got out of the passenger seat and began walking up the path to the house. Although he used his cane to sweep the path in front of him, Julia had the odd sense that he could see more than he was letting on. The way he walked so confidently, not even bothering to use his cane when he went up the steps. Up the steps—

Julia fixed her hair one last time in the mirror, and the doorbell rang. Granny Dee opened the door as Julia was walking down the stairs, and Damien stood in the entryway.

"Hello, I'm here to see Julia?"

"She's right here," Granny Dee said. Julia realized it was up to her to make the introductions.

"Hi Damien," she said. She wanted to lean forward to kiss him on the cheek, but she thought that it might be presumptuous. "This is Granny Dee. Dee, this is Damien."

"Pleased to meet you," Damien said.

"Pleasure's all mine," Dee said breezily. "Come in, won't you?"

"Thank you," Damien said.

"Would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee?"

"I'd love a cup of tea. Say, I ran into a sign out front. Are you selling or renting? I don't know if Julia told you, but I'm looking for a place to move into."

Julia and Dee both froze.

"We're...we're not doing either," Dee said. "Let me get you that tea." She scurried out of the room, and Damien's eyebrows knitted together.