Page 206 of Moon Craving

form and was now speaking to her in her mind, he had no doubt intended to tell her the

truth. And yet . . . "You let me believe I was imagining voices in my head. I worried I was

going crazy or that the priests might be right and that my mind was afflicted because of my

deafness."

The wolf butted his head against her stomach. "I am sorry, my angel. I never meant

to cause you such grief. None of those thoughts even entered my head. I was afraid to

make myself vulnerable to you, and I selfi shly acted out of my fear. All that I am belongs

to you, and I will never again hold anything back."

Unable to help herself, she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around

Talorc's furry neck. "You hurt me so much."

"I will never do it again."

She rubbed her cheek against his fur as she finally let tears fall she had not wanted

anyone to see. "Can I trust you?"

"I pray that you will."

She held on and cried, finding it easier to share her pain with the wolf than if her

husband held her as a man. He nuzzled her as she cried, subtly scenting her as he gave

her comfort.

Her tears turned to watery laughter. "I know what you are doing."

"Aye, the whole clan knows you are a clever woman."

He pulled his head back and licked the tears from her cheeks. "Now I am kissing

you." The sound of a wolf's chuffing in her mind brought a smile to her lips.

"If you are looking to scent me as Niall scented Guaire, I would like to go to the

cave."

A soft shimmer of light ended in Talorc taking his human form. He lifted Abigail in

his strong arms. " I have a better idea."

As he carried her away from the water, out of the corner of her eye, she saw two

naked male bodies entwined. She very consciously did not look in that direction, but she

could not help feeling glad for her dear friend and the man she hoped to call friend again

one day soon.

Talorc carried her through the forest until they came into a small clearing bathed in