Chapter 10

Maia

‘Maia,’ Grace says.

‘Yes, Grace?’ I smile at the young girl in front of me.

‘Can we come to your forest and meet Ember one day?’

‘Sure. I’d love to show you my home. And I'm sure Ember would love to meet you,’ I say excitedly and smile.

‘Perhaps when this war is over,’ Vivian says, exhaling and folding her hands in her lap. The girls nod and run off again.

‘Vivian?’ I say. ‘Where’s your mate?’ I ask.

‘Only werewolves have mates. Humans have husbands. I had a husband: it was love at first sight. His name was Derrick. We were married a few weeks after meeting and had our girls not long after. When they were two, he died in a mining accident. The mine collapsed and killed him and twenty other men,’ Vivian says, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief.

‘Oh. I'm so sorry,’ I say, watching her dab her eyes.

‘I don't know if I could love another man. I know Derrick would want me to. He’d want the girls to have a father, but I just haven't be