He turned and trotted out of my room, the sound of four heavy feet shifting partway down the hall to a lighter tread, quiet, and fewer feet.

Fewer feet? Of course, he had a human form too. My gran would have had a field day with what had happened last night, and even more fun with this wolf that was not a wolf. What had she called them? Half-men.

I frowned, reached for the clock on the side table, and stared at the time. Noon.

Eammon had said training didn’t start until six at night, which meant I had time to get some of my equipment.

“Shouldn’t you be helping your trainee?” I yelled down the hall.

“He’s still sleeping,” Sarge yelled back, his voice clearer than before. Sharper, crisper. I tried to sit up and groaned.

Everything hurt. Whimpering, I rolled onto my belly, and my lower back reminded me I didn’t flex that way anymore. More whimpering ensued, cursing of my body.

I surely did not bounce back like I had in my twenties. I wasn’t the most fit I’d been in my life, I knew I had an extra twenty pounds or so on me—okay, maybe thirty. Probably would have been more if any of my pregnancies had gone past the twelve-week mark. I liked good food. My job as a dog groomer kept me moving every day, though, and while I didn’t have time to go to the gym—or the inclination—I was active.

Apparently, that was not going to be enough for working at the Hollows, and I knew that it was time to get into better shape. My head filled slowly with the memories of training with Gran, of the things she’d tried to teach me.

A good deal of the time she’d spent with me, I’d been only half paying attention, especially through my teen years—typical child who thought I knew everything.

I’d met Himself when I was seventeen, and he’d pushed the idea that she was losing it even then. I ignored the things I did see, pretending I didn’t see them at all. But Gran had kept trying.

Sighing, I lay there and cursed myself soundly for all the stupid mistakes I’d made. Some of them with my eyes wide open. Like Himself, one of my biggest mistakes. I closed my eyes, trying not to think about how I’d fought to keep the marriage together when I should have let it die. I kept thinking that a child was what we needed, but no pregnancy stayed with me. Not one. That had been the reason I’d stayed longer, because who else would want me? Nope, I was not going there.

“Won’t be doing that again,” I muttered.

“Doing what?” Sarge called out.

“Marriage,” I mumbled, somehow knowing that he’d hear me.

“Cynical much?” he threw back.