Big Bad Wolf Chapter 10

Big Bad Wolf Chapter 10

A Question

Artie

They’d borrowed Javier’s truck to go into Tyler to buy groceries and household supplies. It was only Isabell and herself.

“Do you like him, Isabell?”

Artie grinned at her friend as they drove. Isabell hadn’t shown an interest in a man in years. It was too painful to watch interested men run away when they discovered how powerful Isabell was.

Javier wasn’t running away. He kept seeking her out.

“Yeah, I do, but you know it won’t work. He feels sorry for me, so he protects me. He’s a good man doing what good men do.”

Artie stared at her for a long minute. Isabell sighed and breathed out the truth.

“He makes me feel safer. I enjoy having him around. I have less anxiety with him. He saved me from the nightmare last night. I slept well,” Isabell admitted.

“Tonight, let the man sleep in a bed. The couch isn’t that comfortable.” Artie remarked, waiting to see her friend’s reaction.

Isabell was so naïve, but it was cute.

“Artie, I can’t sleep with him!” Isabell sounded shocked.

“You didn’t have a problem sleeping with him last night. He was a gentleman. He won’t take advantage of you. You know that. He wants you to get better. Why should you both suffer if he’s willing to help? Besides, you’re a phoenix. He’d be dead if he hurt you. I think you should take the risk and ask him. You could use some good sleep for a few days.”

Her friend needed a push. Javier was good for Isabell. He had good moral fiber. He’d looked stricken to think Isabell would see him as anything less than a real man.

It was obvious Javier thought Isabell was attractive, and he’d been protecting her since they first met. When Luke growled at Isabell’s fire, Javier took swift action and surprised even Artie.

“Do you think he might like me as more than a friend?” Isabell shyly asked.

Artie knew her friend was innocent, but this time the man who seemed interested was a shifter. He was a powerful alpha male direwolf. He had magic.

Artie wanted to ask Duncan if a phoenix could mate with a direwolf. She filed that question away for later.

“I believe he does, but he isn’t sure of it yet. He’s hiding behind his orders and his responsibility to do what’s best for the pack and you. He doesn’t want to frighten you.”

Artie clicked her tongue while thinking and driving, following the GPS directions.

“I think it makes him feel good when you seek his protection. He’s said at least twice he finds you attractive. He calls you beautiful, and he murmurs Little Red at you as if that were his pet name for you every time he gets a chance and thinks no one is paying attention. Oh, yes, he likes you, and it’s not the friendly kind.”

Artie wanted to build her friend up. Isabell had been through a traumatic event. She’d been fading before that. Shifter romances didn’t have to be fast. They were immortal.

Maybe a slow-moving relationship with an experienced man would show Isabell she shouldn’t give up. Javier was willing, and Isabell already trusted him.

“Why don’t you take it real slow? Give it a chance?”

“Well, maybe. He’s a shifter. I’ve tried nothing with another shifter. Perhaps...” Isabell trailed off.

Isabell was much more lively than Artie had seen in years. Artie wanted to help Isabell win with Javier. Isabell deserved a good man who could protect her and love her. She deserved safety and comfort and a chance at a life without fear.

If Javier was even half the man he seemed, Isabell would have something better than she’d ever known. Even if they couldn’t mate, that didn’t mean they couldn’t share a great romantic affair.

“Come on, let’s buy your Big Bad Wolf some coffee.”

Artie encouraged the idea of the two of them being a couple as she parked at the grocery store.

They filled a cart with cuts of meat, five dozen eggs, sandwich meats, cheeses, and fresh vegetables. They stopped in the aisle with canned nuts and bought a variety of nuts and seeds. The butcher was too happy to see them when they placed their order for steaks, poultry, pork, and fish.

Then they made a quick stop at a dollar store to buy detergents and kitchen and bathroom cleansers. They grabbed a few toiletries and headed home. By the time they got everything put away, Isabell was tired.

“Drink water, Isabell. Your fire needs water,” Artie reminded her friend.

Isabell had become too dehydrated during her ordeal, and it had depleted her reserves to kill her assailant. It took time for the phoenix fire to replenish. Adequate rest and water helped.

Isabell served herself a large glass of ice water with a slice of lemon and sat down at the table. She got up a few seconds later and grabbed a sketchbook and an art pencil. Artie left her, drinking her water and drawing.

It overjoyed Artie to see her friend sketching. It was like watching Isabell come back to life.

After a while and the second glass of water, Isabell went to the restroom to relieve herself. Artie peeked at her friend’s work.

There were two new drawings on the sketch pad. One was a beautiful image of Javier in his direwolf form. The other was a perfect rendition of Javier as a powerful man.

Artie was sure her friend liked the man far more than she admitted. If he was the reason for Isabell to draw again, Artie wanted him to hang around for a while.

Later, when Duncan arrived with Javier and Luke, she questioned him after learning about his day.

Duncan, do you know if a phoenix and a direwolf can mate?

Artie, don’t play matchmaker. It’s possible, but a phoenix can only ever be with its mate. Their fire would kill any other. The only way she could have any kind of relationship with someone other than her lifemate would be with another phoenix. There are too few left for that to be likely to happen. I see it, but if Javier is indeed her lifemate, he’s quite capable of making his interest known without you interfering in their business.

Luke hugged Artie and walked over to Isabell and hugged her lightly. He felt her fragility, but he wanted to include her in the pack. He sat down at the table and whispered to her. Artie was happy to know Isabell would get the support she needed from the pack.

“Isabell, I wanted to ask you a question.” Luke spoke quietly.

Thank you for your support! Welcome to the dream… Sincerely, -OK

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