Rebirth of the Alpha's Slave Mate (Samantha and Kade) novel Chapter 163

Chapter 163

Elena’s POV

The following day was chilly, the autumn breeze nipping at my exposed skin as I made my way through the winding streets of Nightshade village, but the sky was blue and bright. Lana and I walked side by side, shoulders bumping against one another as we walked.

“So,” Lana said, nudging me with her elbow, “meet any handsome rogues during your travels?”

I sighed. “Lana…”

“What?” My friend shrugged. “You’ve been celibate ever since… everything.” Her face darkened a little, as did mine, at the reminder of what happened all those years ago, but she went on, “You’ve had plenty of males here in Nightshade try to flirt with you. Remember when Thomas asked you to the Moon Goddess festival three summers ago?”

“You’re still thinking about that?” I rolled my eyes, but there was little real heat in the gesture. “But, yes, I remember. And I distinctly remember going with him, on your advice, only for him to try to kiss me five minutes into the date.”

“What’s wrong with that? He’s cute.”

“His breath stank.” I wrinkled my nose. We rounded a corner into a familiar little side street that was crowded with tiny, quaint houses all squished together. “Anyway, you know I don’t have time for that stuff. I need to focus on work.”

Now, Lana was the one to roll her eyes. “Always working, this one. You’re not fun anymore.”

I gasped, pressing my hand to my chest in mock offense. “I am too!”

“Name the last time you went out for something other than visiting the bookshop for new medical textbooks.”

I didn’t have a reply for that, but by then, we had arrived at our destination anyway. The little cottage was exactly the same as I remembered, although the shutters had been freshly painted a serene blue color, and there were flower boxes under the front windows that hadn’t been there the last time I’d visited.

Lana and I entered the cottage without knocking. The sickly sweet scent of impending death immediately flooded my nostrils; it was a familiar smell to me now, one that I had grown used to, although never completely numb to. My chest ached as I rounded the corner and spotted the old woman propped up in bed.

A teenage boy sat on the edge of the bed, lanky and awkward and picking at a pimple on his chin. He shot to his feet when he saw us, cheeks reddening, and called out, “Sara! Company!”

The woman came scurrying out of the adjacent room and gasped. “Elena!” she cried, rushing over and hugging me tightly. “I heard you were back, but I didn’t think you’d come visit us so soon.’

))

I smiled wanly as I pulled back, then gestured to Granny. “May I?”

“Of course.” Sara stepped out of the way and let me walk over to the elderly woman’s bedside. Her breathing was labored, her gnarled hands sitting atop a quilt that I remembered her making herself a few years ago. I had helped her stitch some of the squares, although I wasn’t very good at it.

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Chapter 163

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“Is that…?”

“It’s me, Granny,” I said perching carefully on the edge of the bed. “I’m home.”

The old woman’s eyes, now cloudy and blind with age, opened. I knew she couldn’t see more than a vague shape in front of her, but she smiled and lifted her hand, touching the half-silver braid that was resting over my

shoulder.

“You got skinnier,” she croaked.

I managed a thin laugh as I reached out, taking both of her hands in mine. Her skin was cold and papery, the kind that stays where it is when it’s pinched. As I held her, I coaxed out my wolf’s power.

“How are you feeling?” I asked as I worked. My arms began to buzz with that familiar energy, heat pooling in the tips of my fingers and flowing into hers.

“Well, better now that you’re here.” Granny flashed me a gummy smile. “I’ve missed our chats, Silver girl.”

I smiled. “So have I.” And it was true; over the years, I would often come visit Granny, even just for tea. Sometimes, we chatted about the weather. Other times, we had deep talks that delved into matters of the philosophical, theological, and political. But most of the time, we just sat in silence and enjoyed each other’s

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