Chapter 74: Sierra

It's been two months since the day in the meadow. The day I fell even more in love with my dragon. I know he's ashamed that I watched him break down. I also know it's the best thing he could ever do for himself. He holds so much pain inside.
And speaking of inside. My wolf remains silent. She hasn't poked her wild impulses into me once during the past two months. I can shift, but it takes an extra bit of concentration and it no longer feels as natural. I'm beyond worried and it's the reason I'm making this trip today.
Veda and Tyboll's cabin is far from the bear clan. They choose to live way out here and have for more than twenty years. The bears whisper of them when they think I'm not paying attention. They love these two and respect them greatly. They're bear shifting witches. Something I've never heard of before.
Nikka told me more about them with the help of a she-bear to speak for her. She said the witches are expecting me. When I asked why, her reply was that they contacted her and said I had need of them. I didn't quite believe the whispers among the clan, but I trust Nikka. Bears are so strange and to learn a pair of witch shifters is part of their clan is astonishing. But as I think on it, so are dragons.
I've spent each day and night with Sarn. We are practically inseparable, which is how we prefer it. I asked Nikka if Sarn was expected too and she told me no. This information caused a dilemma. I didn't want Sarn to know about the absence of my wolf. He could take something quite simple and find a way to blame himself. The emptiness I feel inside because my wolf refuses to show herself is not simple. I can't hurt my dragon with this knowledge yet and I'm praying to the Goddess that the witches will help.
I went back to our cabin to try to decide how to handle my absence the following day. Soon after returning to the cabin, Roland sent me a telepathic message that the nightclub was shut down for a day because of a water leak. Most of the bears of the clan decided to take a fishing trip high into the mountains and they wanted Sarn to go with them. Sarn grumped around making excuses not to go until I promised to love him late into the night after his return and fix him a chocolate cake. He knows I would have made love with him anyway, so the cake proved the deciding factor. Silly dragon.
I know why the witches want to see me. The disappearance of my wolf is a problem and one I've never heard of before. I'm ready to have some answers, and I run through the forest on four legs following a well-used trail. Nikka told me that Veda and Tyboll's guidance in matters of shifter magic is revered.
My stomach flutters with my worry and answers I may not wish to have. Their cabin finally comes into view. It's large and beautifully tucked into a copse of giant trees. I take a deep breath, drop the small pack I carry between my teeth and shift to human. The pack contains clothing which I quickly put on. The front door is open and I make my way to the cabin. A great room with comfortable furniture and beautiful accent pieces greets me. Beyond this room, there's a large table with eight chairs but only three place settings.
"Hello," I say from the door. I don't want to enter without permission. A loud bang comes from the back of the house followed by feminine giggles. The female, Veda, walks out first smoothing down her skirt and looking flustered. Tyboll follows with a smirk on his face. I have no problem figuring out what they've been up to.
Mates. I smelled it on both of them along with sex. I can't help but smile indulgently. It's not like I haven't scented it on every mated pair I meet; I just wasn't expecting it today for some reason.
Veda, her long red hair flowing freely around her shoulders, speaks first. "Welcome, Sierra, daughter of Ivan and Alba, stepdaughter to Talya, and precious daughter to Marcus and Amy, the liege vampires of the Southwest Clan."
I'm stunned by her use of my proper extensive name and not quite sure how to answer.
Tyboll, also with long hair and a decided spark in his eyes, steps around Veda and places his hand out. "Forgive my mate, she loves full titles." The she-bear playfully slaps his arm. "Please call us Tyboll and Veda and we shall call you simply Sierra," he says.
I feel the magic of their shifter blood but also something more. It's not at all like Sarn's magic. I like it, though, and feel it flow softly around me. It's soothing and slightly wilder than my own magic. I can't stop my lips from spreading into a wider grin. I was so apprehensive about coming today, but now feel at ease. "Thank you," I reply happily. I'm also relieved that I don't need to ask for each of their full titles.
Veda moves forward again. "I've prepared a light meal and we wish you to join us. Let me make tea and we shall eat."
I'm suddenly quite hungry. "Thank you, I would love that."
Veda bustles around the large kitchen and Tyboll pulls out a chair and bids me to sit. Then he helps Veda in a well-practiced way that shows they work together often. Very unlike most bear couples I've been around. Nikka had explained that Tyboll is Mandy's adopted father. I hadn't seen much of Mandy and her mate, Honey, this past year because they're on an extended stay with the Eastern Clan, which is Mandy's original clan family.
The bears, or maybe I should say witches, carry over a meal that is far from light. I am suddenly hungrier than I thought. I barely touched my food the night before because of my nerves. Sarn gave me a few probing looks, but I sidetracked him with sex.
Now, I'm starving.
"Dig in," Veda says. "I know you're hungry."
I don't bother waiting for additional prompting. The food smells wonderful and tastes delicious. I'm almost finished with my meal when I speak again, "I need this recipe before I leave. Sarn will love it." I look up and realize they've both stopped eating. "Sarn is the dragon shifter, I'm living with him," I say even though they must know this. I just don't know if they are aware he's dragon.
"Yes, a dragon shifter," Tyboll says after a quick glance at his mate.
That answers my question, but now the food settles heavily in my stomach. I slowly lay my fork across my plate. "This is about Sarn?" I ask with concern. Veda picks up our plates and carries them into the kitchen. Tyboll doesn't speak until Veda takes her seat again. I'm ready to scream by the time he answers my question.
"This is about both of you."
Veda reaches out and places her hand on mine. "It's also about your wolf, Sierra."
I want to cry. Sarn cannot be the reason my wolf is absent. It will kill him. "Just tell me please," I whisper.
Again they glance at each other before Veda speaks. "Your wolf is hiding from you. She knows something and she doesn't want you to discover it."
I'm horribly confused. I've never even heard of anything like this. My wolf is my wild side and she's got a strong influence over me. But I control her. "How on earth could she hide something? I don't understand."
Veda hesitates for only a moment. "She has discovered your true mate and she doesn't wish you to know."