Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Lapthorne

door and led her through the connecting rooms into what surely was his part of the expansive old house.
    William threw his small overnight bag onto a couch and placed her larger bag by the closet door. Dragging her into his arms, he embraced her fiercely and kissed her long and hard. Feeling a bit stunned when he finally pulled away, she tried to gather her scattered wits.
    “Welcome home, Josephine.”

Chapter Nine
     
    Blinking rapidly, trying to dispel the fog created by William’s passion, Josephine felt the words sink in her stomach. Was this really her home? If she stayed here, then Artemais or Sophie would eventually wear William down and he would propose. And much as she’d love to get married and raise her babies here on the edge of the most beautiful forest she had ever seen, he would be marrying her for all the wrong reasons. She wanted to be married for herself, because her man simply couldn’t live without her, not because she was carrying his children or his family had backed him into a corner.
    Josephine would love nothing more than to have William declare his eternal love and devotion—both to her and their children—but she refused to be forced or bullied into a marriage simply because she was pregnant. She deserved more. Her babies deserved more.
    Looking around the rooms, wondering how long she should stay, she mentally debated the wisdom of sharing her thoughts.
    “I know that look,” William growled. “Josie, tell me you aren’t thinking of leaving again!”
    Josephine blushed. William had always had a fair grasp on her emotions, now he seemed even more attuned to her.
    “Well,” she hedged, “I’m not going to stick around if you’re going to be forced to propose to me. Think of how embarrassed you’ll be when I constantly turn you down!”
    “Why would you turn me down, love?”
    Allowing him to lead her carefully over to the window seat, Josephine sat down and tried not to lean into the comforting warmth of William’s body as he sat down next to her.
    “Because I deserve more than to be married simply because I’m pregnant and it’s expected of you.”
    William opened his mouth to protest, but Josephine cut in.
    “No, William, think about it. Marriage hadn’t really crossed your mind before Sophie brought it up. So you can save us both a stack of embarrassment and not propose. My answer will be no, so let’s just say you did and move on, okay?”
    William narrowed his eyes and stared at her thoughtfully.
    “Does this have anything to do with my being a werewolf?”
    Josephine looked confused. “No. Why? Should it?”
    William looked at her a moment longer, then stood up, holding out his hand.
    “I really don’t want to argue. Let’s go take a walk in the forest before dinner. I can show you some of my favorite spots. We’ll take it slow and easy so you don’t tire out.”
    Agreeing readily—there was no point in saying anything more on the subject of marriage—Josephine changed into a clean pair of jeans and walking shoes and followed William outside.
    William led her around their backyard, taking his time and slowly pointing out the herb garden their mother had planted many years ago and that he and his brothers had kept weed-free and fertile in her memory. The backyard itself was quite large, with a meandering path that seemed to increase its size, not decrease it.
    When they finally reached the gate in the back fence, William opened it and let her look at the dense forest beyond. When she stepped forwards, expecting to wander a short distance into the forest, William stood still and gently held her hand back.
    “It’s the National Park out there. I really wish you and Sophie didn’t wander alone out there. Sophie, lovely girl that she is, has no sense of direction. She’ll get you lost faster than you’ll ever realize. I hesitate to forbid you to do anything…”
    Josephine glared at him, a dangerous glint in her eye. She hoped William understood that she