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Having Ellison next to her, warm and tall, comforted her beyond what she could think His hand on her shoulder held strength, but gentled for her as usual, to reassure rather than frighten

When Maria had rushed into the culvert, worry for Olaf overriding her fears, Ellison had just finished shifting His naked body had been beautiful, with the fire of the wolf still in his eyes Noas Ellison again, soothing her, helping her

Olaf, as a bear cub, scas, enjoying hi, but Olaf showed no sign of wanting to change back to a hue and down to the park, Ellison’s hand steadying her A few humans they passed did a double-take at the polar bear cub roh most people who used this park knew that it lay close to Shiftertown and had grown used to Maria walking with cubs out here

Ellison was silent as they wound through the park and walked down the few blocks to Shiftertown Olaf ran ahead of theates He spied another cub in a yard down the street and charged to hi to meet him

Maria started a few steps after Olaf, but a Shifter wo at the two cubs, and calling a greeting to Olaf Everyone knew Olaf, and everyone liked hi match, Olaf none the worse for his ordeal

Ellison pulled Maria to a halt in the shade of a tall live oak, the tree screening theers arm on her shoulder, but firm He wanted her to stay there

"You had a flashback in that culvert, didn’t you?" Ellison watched her, knowing the truth, but willing her to tell hiaze "I don’t want to talk about it"

"I think you need to talk about it a little" Ellison touched her chin "You know you don’t need to be afraid any you don’t want to And not just because the Morrisseys say so I won’t let anyone hurt you I’ll break all their fingers if they even try"

He ht--ready to kill the other wolf But Maria could never knohat to say to Ellison when he was being gentle and helpful The only thing she could think of was, "You are all so kind to me"

"Hey, it’s not kindness, sweetheart At least not froht

Warh her chest Maria tried to speak, to explain, but her lips couldn’t forlish, and Ellison didn’t know much Spanish

"You’re here, Maria Safe" Ellison traced her cheek, increasing the warmth "Not in the dark anymore You don’t need to be afraid And if you are afraid, you coed a smile "And you’ll make it all better?"