A Werewolf’s Seduction - Chapter 68

They stared at each other, trying to determine the danger level to their young.

The deer saw the child in her arms. She saw the baby fawns huddled next to their mother. The only danger they could sense would be if they tried to threaten each other’s babies.

After a few minutes, seeing no movement from the mother deer, Talia found a small spot in between two trees with bushes all around to break the wind.

She slowly sat in between the bushes, with Devin on her lap, her eyes still staring at the deer and her babies across from them, on the other side of the clearing.

Devin was shivering, even with his thick jacket so Talia opened up the front of her coat and wrapped it around him. She zipped up the front, effectively cocooning him within her body, warming him up with her body heat.

As the thudding of her heart began to slowly lessen, Talia took stock of her surroundings.

The evergreen trees all around them were a good place for the deer to shelter within. Their thick branches were at least decent windbreakers.

This was adequate shelter for wildlife, but it was not warm enough for her and Devin. She would need to find a better spot for both of them or they would die of exposure if they had to stay out here after sundown.

The mother deer suddenly stood up. She nudged at her fawns and then turned back to Talia.

Slowly, she turned and made her way through the clearing, into a bush.

Talia blinked. Did that deer just give her a signal?

She got up and hiked Devin back onto her hip.

As she moved closer to the spot where the deer and her fawns were lying, she suddenly realized they were sitting right in front of a small gap in the bushes.

Talia pulled back the bushes covering the enclosure and gasped.

It was a rough hewn hollow within a small rocky outcrop.

Hanging by its last remaining hinge was a small battered weather-beaten door that had been shaped to fit the rough-cut opening!

She peered into the darkened interior.

A musty ancient smell clung to the inside of the hollow, indicating that it had been abandoned quite some time ago.

She took a cautious step in and breathed a sigh of relief.

Other than the deer and her two small fawns, there was no one else in the small hollow.

The deer stayed within the depths of the hollow, not moving an inch. She was still quite wary of Talia, but made no move to warn her off.

Talia quickly assessed the place with a cursory glance.

The one corner that was farthest from the entrance with space for any sort of bedding was already taken over by the deer and her babies.

The rest of the hollow was more exposed to the outside air, but it was also less musty smelling.

Talia let out a breath of relief. The hollow was much better than being outside under the cold sky. It was still fairly chilly, but at least they would not die of exposure.

She reached out behind her to pull the door closed to keep the cold air from entering and took a couple of steps into the hollow.

It was dark but dry, musty but not fetid. It was also not drafty which meant she and the boy was out of the worst of the cold weather. The walls of the hollow was rough hewn rock. The floor was packed dirt.

There was nothing inside the hollow except for a small but sturdy stool that someone had left by the hearth.

With a grateful sigh, Talia and sank down on it with Devin still inside her coat.

The hearth, which was situated between Talia and the deer, was blackened from previous fires having been lit.

At the moment, it was quite useless since there was no readily available dry firewood or even any way to light a fire.

She was safe enough within this enclosure to pause for a moment and try to touch base with Cedric. She had to let him know she and Devin were safe.

‘Cedric?’ Talia reached out with her mind to find him.

Silence greeted her probing search.

‘Cedric. I don’t know if you can hear me but Devin and I are safe. Come find us when you can.’

The silence was deafening.

Talia’s fear began to rise. He had bravely stood his ground and fought whatever dangers that were raging around them to give her a chance to make a run for safety.

For him to not respond could mean he was hurt…or worse.

Don’t think bad thoughts. Don’t think bad thoughts. She muttered to herself.

All she had to do was sit here and wait for a bit and once he was not so busy, he would come for her. There was no way she could wander around, especially with Devin so dependent on her.

It could have been fifteen minutes. It could have been an hour.

The deer suddenly raised her nose up into the air. She had picked up on a smell that was unfamiliar.

She got up on all fours and shook her body. Nudging her babies, she pushed them up onto their feet. It looked as if she was ready for a fight or flight scenario.

Talia had no idea what it was that the deer smelled or heard. Being a human with poorly developed senses, she could not sense anything and she could not detect any sound.

Suddenly, the deer snorted softly. It was a subtle warning to Talia to prepare herself.

Someone was coming.

Talia barely had a chance to get back on her feet when she was finally able to hear the sounds of someone crashing through the undergrowth of the forest.

‘Cedric?’ She tried reaching out again, hoping it was her mate coming for her.

There was still no answer.

Whoever this was, it was not Cedric.

Talia stood holding Devin within her coat in a protective manner, her body tense, her sense on high alert.

“Talia!” A voice called out. “Talia! Where are you?”

From within the hollow, the deer and her fawns ran out of the opening, bursting through the weather-beaten door and tearing it from its final hinge. Their thundering hooves faded into the distance as they ran from the intruder.

Talia’s eyes opened wide. Someone was coming for her.

“I’m in here!”