Wolf at Her Door: BBW Paranormal Romance by Liliana Rhodes Read Free Book Online

of the Glen is a myth," I said, my brow wrinkling with confusion.
    "I wish it was. Alas, you being here is proof that it isn't. If it wasn't for me, you would be happy together with your Bran."
    "What do you have to do with me and Bran?"
    "I'm the reason you cannot be together. The MacCulloch clan is cursed, you see. And what has been cursed cannot be uncursed."
    I felt anger growing inside me. What did she mean it was her fault? What did she have to do with Bran? There was nothing she could have done that would make him say the things I heard.
    "You're crazy," I said, standing from the small wooden chair. "I think I'd best be going."
    "I can help you return if that's your choice, but please hear me out first. I think once I explain, everything will become clear."
    I crammed a piece of bread into my mouth as I looked into her eyes. They weren't the same color as they were in the clearing, but they were still strange. They seemed more youthful and were a bright green I remembered hearing only witches had.
    Looking down at the table, I grabbed a piece of mutton and quickly ate it. I didn't have any other place to go, and it wasn't just about me anymore. I had to think about my child. I met her eyes once more and slowly nodded.
    "I'll listen," I said as I sat down again.
    "Excellent."
    She cleared her throat and sat down on a chair facing the table. She pulled out a piece of tartan that I recognized as belonging to Clan MacCulloch with its navy and white plaid. Flipping the fabric over, she revealed a symbol made of basket weave knots with wolves facing each other.
    "This piece of tartan is the only thing I have left of him," she said. "He was my one love, my everything, and he told me I was his, too. But he lied."
    A mixture of anger and hurt crossed her face. Her green eyes suddenly flashed amber and I wondered if she was going to turn into a wolf, but instead her skin smoothed. Her cheeks filled with youthfulness and her hair darkened from white to a dark red. By the time she smiled again, Gracelin had changed from an old woman to a beautiful young one.
    "I was a beauty," she said. "Men from clans far and wide came to ask my father for my hand in marriage, but he respected and loved me as his only daughter and knew I was in love with another. His name was Niall MacCulloch, an ancestor to your Bran. He had the dark wavy hair your Bran had but with eyes the color of night. Niall could have had any woman he wanted, but he said he wanted me.
    "I was a fool. Niall was chief of the clan already and a brave fighter on top of it. Handsome didn't even begin to describe him. I think I was blinded by my emotions as many in their youth are.
    "But I can't take all the blame," she continued. "I believed his lies, but he only wanted me carnally and once he got that, I meant nothing to him."
    She stood, and her clothing hung from her. Not only had her face changed, but her body had, too. Gone was the shapeless body of the hag. It was replaced with the curves of a young woman. Tears filled her eyes and she turned away to look at the fire.
    "You don't have to tell me anymore about him," I said. "He found another, didn't he?"
    She nodded, and I could see she was too choked up to say the words. As she cried, I heard a faint sound I couldn't make out and strained to hear it.
    My sister.
    I felt bad for her, but I still didn't see what any of this had to do with Bran and I.
    "I was angry," she whispered. "So very angry. I couldn't help it. I cursed him and by extension, his entire clan. I didn't know what I was doing though. I just wanted him to love me," she choked.
    She kept her back to me as her shoulders shook. Her cries filled the cottage, and sadness crashed over me. I thought about Bran's words again and wondered what they meant.  
    "What happened?" I asked. "What did you do?"
    "I don't even remember the words," she said, turning to face me. "All I know is because of what I said, Clan MacCulloch can never die. But not only that, those who