Big Bad Wolfie novel Chapter 71

"I let you win," I panted.

Obviously I didn't, and he knows it, but I can't just admit it!

"Sureeeee you did," Wolfie laughed.

I scoffed loudly, "Said the one who challenged an injured girl who doesn't know where she's going to a race!"

"Hey," he pointed at me, "All is fair in love and war."

Hm, yesterday I would have asked which one we were in.

I rolled my eyes dramatically but was secretly enjoying myself, "Mhm, whatever."

He chuckled, "Alright, let's sit, you look exhausted."

I sighed in relief and plopped onto the ground, actually relieved with the only slight amount of pain that stung my stomach.

"Man, you really are tired," he commented. "Must be that crappy vampire stamina."

My jaw dropped, and I lightheartedly narrowed my eyes at him. "You did not just say that."

He shrugged, "I think I did."

I let out a scoff mixed with a laugh, "Oh, I'll show you," I yelled while tackling him.

He busted out laughing and started trying to roll us, but I wasn't having it.

We play wrestled for a few seconds until we were both a little winded.

Wolfie was probably more winded from trying not to put any of his weight on my stomach.

We stayed still, breathing heavily.

I looked down at him from my place lying on his chest. He's so beautiful.

We just analyzed each other until we met eyes and screamed messages to each other without saying a word. I don't even know exactly what most of the messages were saying.

But I feel something in his gaze.

But I also feel like I'd be betraying my house if I let myself think that so soon.

So I will save the feeling for another time and just be happy with him.

By the time I was out of the trance we put each other in, he wasn't smiling anymore. He didn't look sad or mad, he just looked calm. Thoughtful.

"I used to come here with my brother," he suddenly admitted.

My mind blanked for a second at the information and all I could do was blink.

"Oh," I whispered dumbly.

After my brain caught up, I looked around. "It's beautiful."

He looked around with me as I rolled off of him to gaze up through the hole in the rocky ceiling at the sun set.

We couldn't actually see the sunset, but the sky was turning a pretty pinkish color, so it was enough.

"I know, right," he smiled faintly.

I hesitated in responding, because I know this is a touchy subject. "Which one of you found this awesome little hideout?" I asked. I'm hoping he brought it up because he wanted to talk about it.

He snorted, "He did, well, technically I did." He chuckled deeply, making my insides churn. "It's a long story."

I looked over at him. "We've got time."

He gave another one of those faint smiles. "Well, alright then." He wiggled around to get all comfy and put his arms behind his head.

I chuckled at him and did the same.

"So we were walking through these very woods on a dark, stormy night."

"Why were you doing that?" I furrowed my brows.

"It wasn't actually storming, it was mid June. I just thought it would make things more dramatic."

I barked a laugh while shaking my head at him. "Well, mission accomplished."

He only nodded. "Anyway, we were exploring the woods at night and Dillan smelled a flower patch, but we couldn't see any. So being curious little kids who thought we knew these woods like the back of our hand, we started sniffing around. My eyesight in the dark wasn't exactly up to par yet, because it was still a couple months before my tenth birthday when we shift for the first time, but Dillan was like thirteen, so he was fine. Of course, I didn't think to follow him though, that would be way too logical for me."

I chuckled.

"So I went a little ahead, and right as Dillan said, 'hey the scent is coming from here,' I fell through that big @ss hole and shattered my ankle," he said pointing to the gaping hole above us that's letting the sun in and allowing the beautiful flowers to grow down here.

I gasped, "d@mn, that's a long fall."

"I know. It sucked, and my 9 year old self lost his sh*t when he realized his ankle was facing the wrong direction and blowing up like a balloon."

I cringed.

"I was ready to burst into tears and never stop," he shook his head. "Not only from the pain but from the embarrassment. I had just ate sh*t in front of my bad @ss older brother. Not to mention I knew mom was gonna beat our @sses for sneaking out into the woods after dark."

I tried to hide my giggle at that, but I failed miserably and he glared at me teasingly.

"But then Dillan made his way down." He looked to me. "I still, to this day, don't know how he got down so d@mn fast."

I chuckled. "Big brother powers."

He nodded in agreement. "Big brother powers."

"I was about to scramble away from him when he came up to me. His hysterical laughter did not make me feel any better, but then he said, 'That was so cool, Jay!'."

My eyes actually started watering a little at the pure joy in his voice, but I blinked to keep them back.

"He went on about how I was awesome and cool and how no normal wolf would have EVER survived that fall," he rolled his eyes dramatically at that and looked at me, "even though he must have jumped down himself to get to me so fast."

I laughed and smiled at him.

This is so nice.