Philippe had not forgotten his place in the pack as second to Luke, however, and after a while he dropped back as they slowed to a trot. The prey had escaped, as it so often did, and the pack would rest before seeking other game.
They paused on a rocky slope, overlooking the untouched sweep of forest that hid Val Cache from Outside. Home. It had been a long time since Luke had thought of it as home, because he had been afraid to settle there with his heart lost to hope of finding a mate, or of finding peace. The others milled about him, nuzzling each other or panting as they rested, but Luke did not notice. His senses were tuned to one thing, one woman who meant more to him than life itself.
He lifted his head in a deep, carrying howl of joy. The others joined it, one by one, and the chorus reached up to the sky until the entire valley rang with his triumph.
Chapter Fifteen
Hobbling around the small room on Allan Collier’s arm, Joey lifted her head at the familiar sound. She smiled, and Collier paused to glance at her, he steered her to the nearest chair and helped her into it.
For a moment Joey was content to sit quietly, out of breath and aching from the effort. She would have preferred to remain in bed, but the doctor had made it quite clear that only regular movement would keep her healthy and healing, warding off the danger of pneumonia brought on by her cracked ribs. There was still considerable discomfort in spite of the painkillers, but only time would mend that, the side effects of her concussion were almost gone.
“You’re coming along very nicely, Joey,” Collier said, echoing her thoughts. The howling had stopped, and Joey turned her full attention to him, her smile still in place. “I must admit you’re an extremely quick healer, and I’ve seen some very fast ones in my time.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Joey said with a grimace as a deep breath caught her unawares. “Just don’t expect me to make a good case study for you, Allan, because I have no intention of ever, ever, letting this happen again.”
The doctor shifted, and Joey caught a glimpse of something in his face, something deeply uneasy beneath the mild amiability of his demeanor. “I doubt he would let it happen again,” Collier murmured, almost too softly for her to hear.
Joey remembered then what she had put out of her mind: the hushed conversation between Luke and the doctor that had given her the sense of something not quite right—between them, perhaps with her as well. She hardly knew what questions to ask, or if Collier could answer them, would he be willing to speak to her of subjects Luke seemed all too eager to avoid? There were still too many mysteries. Until now she had been content to set them aside. Until Collier’s expression reminded her.
She had just opened her mouth to speak when Collier said, “What has Luke told you, Joey?” His posture was relaxed, but she knew, without understanding her certainty, that it was all bluff.
She sat up straighter in the carved wooden chair. “He told me what he is.” She watched Collier close his eyes and nod slowly, without surprise.
“That I know. It was all over the village the instant he howled.” The pliant lips curved in a slight smile. “Rather melodramatic. I hadn’t been sure—before—how much you understood. You didn’t show any reaction that would tell me how much you knew, or remembered—and Luke’s behavior was not quite reliable enough for me to guess how much he’d revealed.”
Reflecting on the lightning-quick changes in Luke’s temper since they had come back to the village, Joey could only nod. “I do remember some of what happened. I saw him change before—but I thought it was all a fever dream, and later I put it down to my concussion. Until he did it again while I was wide awake and didn’t have any excuses—except, perhaps, losing my sanity.”
“And that,” Collier said softly, “is not in any doubt. It’s all very real, I’m afraid. And I can only marvel that you can accept it so well.”