Chapter 10
TEN
Roxie
Fern and I are sprawled across her couch, legs tangled in a blanket, mugs of tea cooling on the coffee table. It feels like the first completely normal moment we’ve had in what feels like forever.
We’ve spent the morning talking about everything—Jameson and Abe, the cult and what they could have possibly wanted from us, shifters and fated mates, our old lives in Tacoma, and the strange curveball that is fate.
“I still can’t believe it,” I admit, staring at the steam curling from my mug. “Two months ago, we were mapping out our ‘fresh start’ city list and daydreaming about apartment hunting. Now here we are. You’re mated to an overprotective bear shifter, and apparently… I am, too.”
“Nah, you have a wolf shifter,” Fern says, laughing as she sips her tea.
I roll my eyes, but I can’t hide my smile.
Fern stretches and nudges my leg with her toes. “Not what we pictured, huh?”
“Not even close.” I huff out a laugh. “I thought we’d get a studio apartment, pick up a boring admin job, maybe finally take a pottery class or something. Life would be quiet and predictable.”
“And instead, you survived a cult, got rescued by the broodiest man alive, and found a community that actually cares about you.”
I swallow. “Yeah,” I say softly. “Are you ever worried about staying here? I mean, we’re still so close to the cult. Anything could happen.”
“Jameson says we’re safe here,” Fern says firmly. “Our mates will always keep us safe. I mean, Abe would burn the world down for you.”
My heart squeezes. I already know that. That man really does care for me. He would do anything for me, and he never plays with my safety.
“Have you heard from your dad recently?” I ask her carefully.
“No, and that’s for the best. He doesn’t have my new number, and I don’t plan on reaching out to him. He was dead to me the second he sold me. Heck, he should’ve been dead to me the second he started drinking and gambled away all our rent money.”
“It’s hard to let go,” I whisper. “You want to be loved by your parents. That’s a normal expectation.”
“Yeah. It sucks that we both got the short end of the stick in that department.” She sighs.
“At least we have each other.”
I grin as she sits up and leans over, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. We sit quietly for a while, letting the past few weeks settle into something we can live with. Something we can move forward from.
“I wonder when Abe is going to come and get yo—”
Fern is cut off by a knock on the front door. She grins, laughing to herself as she stands to answer it.
I feel him before I see him—his steady warmth, his grounding presence. When Fern opens the door, Abe fills the frame, relaxed but alert, eyes soft when they land on me.
“Hey,” he says, greeting me with a warm smile.
His whole face softens as he looks at me, and my heart kicks hard against my ribcage as I realize I must have the same expression when I look at him.
It hits me then. I love Abe. I don’t know when that happened, but it did.
“Hey,” I choke out as emotion threatens to overwhelm me.
“Are you okay?” Abe asks, crossing the room in an instant. His face is filled with concern as he kneels at my side.
“I’m fine,” I assure him, pushing to my feet.
Fern hugs me goodbye. “Text me when you get home.”
I nod against her shoulder. “I will.”
Abe takes my hand, and I wave as we head outside. The air is crisp and sweet as evening settles over Night Grove Falls like a blanket.
Abe opens the truck door for me, always gentle, always careful.
“Ready to go home?” he asks me as I settle into my seat. “Or did you need anything from in town first?”
Home.
The word doesn’t scare me anymore or fill me with dread like it used to.
“Yeah. I’m ready to go home.”
He smiles, leaning in and kissing me softly.
Abe holds my hand for the short ride home, and I yawn as we pull up out front.
“I’ll get your door,” he says, already hurrying out of his seat.
I smile as I watch him jog around to my side. Then his hands are on my hips, and he sets me on my feet. He holds my hand as we go inside, and I freeze when I see all the boxes stacked neatly in the entryway.
“What’s all this?” I ask.
He smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Uh, it’s stuff for you.”
“For me?” I blink.
“Yeah. Clothes. Shoes. A jacket. A laptop. Some shampoo and body wash. Stuff like that. I… wanted you to have choices. Things that are yours.”
My throat tightens. “You did all this for me?”
He shrugs as if it’s nothing. “You deserve it. I want you to be comfortable here.”
I turn before I can think and wrap my arms around him. He goes still for half a second, then melts, hugging me back, his arms strong and warm and familiar. His chin rests lightly on top of my head.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” I whisper.
“You don’t have to. I wanted to do this for you. I want to take care of you. I have this need to give you everything. To see you happy.”
I pull back enough to look up at him, and there it is.
The truth that’s been building for days now. The quiet peace inside me whenever he’s near. The feeling that I’m not trapped anymore. I’m with someone.
Someone who chooses me.
Someone I choose back.
“I love you,” I say.
His breath stutters. Then those dark eyes soften in a way that makes my heart flip.
“Say it again,” he demands.
I smile. “I love you, Abe Williams.”
He cups my cheek, thumb brushing under my eye so gently it almost hurts.
“I love you, too, Roxie.” His voice is rough with emotion. “More than anything.”
Then his lips are on mine. The kiss is slow and sweet, no urgency, no pressure. Just warmth. Safety. Home.
“What now?” he asks when we break the kiss.
“Now, I think you should take me to bed,” I whisper.
His eyes light up and heat with need. “Whatever you want, mate,” he growls.
I grin as he scoops me up in his arms like I weigh nothing and carries me to our room. He lays me down on the bed, and for the first time in a very long time, I don’t feel trapped.
I feel chosen and safe and loved.
The rest of the world can wait until morning. Tonight, I simply let myself belong.
To him.
To this.
To us.