Once There Were Wolves

by Charlotte McConaghy

I wonder if she knows her fury will kill her, if maybe she’s fine with that, maybe she would charge toward oblivion rather than return to whatever she fled.

“I’ll alert the villagers to lock up their wives and daughters. The big bad wolves are coming.” I meet his eyes. “If I were you I’d be more worried about the wives and daughters going out to run with the wolves.”

“You really think I’m capable of that?” I ask, trying to keep the hurt from my voice. “The only thing I know with any certainty,” Duncan replies, “is that we are all capable of it.

“Darlin’, you’re going to figure this out one day, but we’re most fallible when trying to raise our children.”

“And when you open your heart to rewilding a landscape, the truth is, you’re opening your heart to rewilding yourself.”

She opens her eyes. And looks at me. I am halved and doubled at once.