His smile meets hers and he yawns, standing up. “I will let you rest now, Serenity. This time don’t go outside without letting me know, okay. We do have wild animals in the woods, and you have been through enough.”
When he turns to go, he hears her say, “Stay with me, Michael. Don’t go.” She whispers it so softly, he almost doesn’t hear her. Dark eyes meet hers and she blushes.
“Not like that! I, I keep hearing someone screaming, voices, and flashes of wolves, and pain, Michael so much pain,” she says rubbing her temples. “I remember you, and your boys but when I try to … it hurts,” she murmurs rubbing her temples.
“I will stay, Serenity. You rest.” He says settling back into the recliner. “This chair is shaped to my body by now, anyway.” Her breath rushes out in relief and she rolls over grabbing a pillow before she succumbs to sleep she says, “Thank you.”
Three more times in the night she cries out, finally unable to take it any longer he climbs into the bed beside her and pulls her body close. Whispering in her ear, “You are safe now, sleep.” She rolls over facing his chest and tucks into his body as though carved just for him. One bare leg pushes between his and she is instantly asleep. Michael sleeps dreaming of laughter, lights, and snowball fights.
Chapter 7
“Are they killt?” a tiny voice whispers.
“Of course not, Sincere. But, poke him with this stick, and see if he moves,” Nate suggests.
“Don’t even think about it, boys.” Michael snarls. Serenity giggles and snuggles deeper into his chest. He holds on tightly, realizing she is naked under the covers, except for his shirt.
“Daddy, why are you squishing, Renity?” Sincere asks curiously. “Is she all better now?”
“I bet if she smelled your special hot chocolate, she would wake right up boys.” Michael suggests with a smile.
“I’ll get it Daddy, but you gotta get off her or your gonna get her killt some more.” Sincere demands. They race off laughing towards the kitchen.
“Kill me now,” comes Serenity’s muffled response from her hiding spot on his chest. She is mortified that the children found them this way, but not quite ready to move yet. Her hand is playing with the hair on his chest…muscular, sculpted chest. Her hand runs all over him exploring and she pushes back to get a better look.
“Good morning, Michael,” Serenity says with a smile feeling his body respond to her touch.
“Good morning, Serenity,” Michael says looking down. He realizes his hand is buried in her wavy blonde hair holding her in place. Quickly he releases her and rolls away. Instantly, the cold replaces his heat and she sighs with regret.
“I better check on the boys before they burn the kitchen down,” He pulls on his sweatshirt and leaves without another word.
Serenity runs to the bathroom and cleans up, then hops back into bed before they return. Her body is sore but she is feeling stronger by the second. She hears them arguing over who will give it to her, before they enter. Nathan comes in trailing behind his brother, holding a small tray of food. Sincere struggles not to spill the hot chocolate, and Michael helps him set it on the tray.
Sincere says, “I brought you a present, I caught it last night for you on the mountain top. It’s special, it will help you get better, Renity.” He hands her a mason jar, sealed tightly with a lid, it glows with an unearthly blue-green light.
Her face lights with pleasure as she looks at the jar. “It’s so beautiful! Thank you for thinking of me,” she says lifting the jar up so she can watch the colors rippling. “Amazing! I think I feel better already.”
Sincere leaps onto the bed, and wraps his arms around her neck. She catches him tightly and squeezes, treasuring this moment with him. “Renity, I’m so glad the wolves didn’t kill you!” Wolves, the word echoes through her mind, and she pushes his body back as the images pour in.
“The snow was so thick, I couldn’t see, then I heard you! What in the world were you doing in that storm, Sincere?” she asks glaring at Michael with accusing eyes.
“Don’t be mad at Daddy, I heard you scream and I didn’t want you to get killt, Renity!” His tears begin to flow in earnest now, and she pulls him close soothing him.
“I’m sorry, buddy, I am trying to remember everything but it doesn’t make sense. We don’t get snow like that in Maine, at least not this early in the year and wolves don’t …” she remembers Michael jumping in front of her, and the wolves jumping on him. Horror fills her eyes as she stares at him.
“They were all over you!” she whispers.
“Hold this, Serenity,” Nathan demands taking her hand, he presses the jar with the beautiful lights tightly into her hand. He covers her hand with both of his and waits. She feels a strange vibration and the jar begins to warm.
The lights begin to swirl faster and faster until the room fills with the colors reflected through the glass. Instantly her mind begins to clear. Nathan smiles, “Let the images return slowly, control it, don’t let it control you.” She nods and rewinds her memories to parking the car.
“I remember parking the car, I had an audition and I had to walk a few blocks to get to it. When the first drop of snow fell, I was shocked. It started snowing so thick, and fast that I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.” Her voice fades as she slows the images and remembers the wolves, Sincere, and Michael. Serenity begins trembling from the power of what this means. “You saved me, Michael.”
“Not hardly, they were all over me, Serenity. You saved us both.” Michael replies.
The final image slows and she pauses it at the wolves all over