Chapter Five
Morning light spilled through the curtains, warm against Isaac’s skin.
He lay tangled in silk sheets, his arm wrapped around Saffron, Nolan pressed close on her other side.
The three of them had turned to each other again and again through the night, their bodies still humming with satisfaction.
The room smelled of sex, sweat, and Saffron’s sweet scent—the smell of home.
Nolan brushed a kiss against her temple. “Morning, kitten.”
She groaned softly, stretching. “Morning, my wolf.”
Isaac chuckled, his voice still husky with sleep. “Gods, I could get used to this.”
They lay in comfortable silence for a beat before Saffron tilted her head back, eyeing them both. Then she propped herself up on one elbow, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Shift for me,” she said suddenly. “I want to see my wolves. I’ve waited two centuries for this, don’t make me beg.”
Isaac blinked, caught off guard, then chuckled. “Right now? In bed?”
“Yes, right now,” she insisted, swatting his chest. “Show me.”
Nolan grinned, already climbing out of bed. “Don’t have to ask me twice.” He let the change ripple through him, muscles stretching, bones reshaping, until a massive dark-blond wolf stood at the foot of the bed, his blue eyes glowing the same as before.
Saffron gasped, reaching out instinctively. “Gods, you’re beautiful.” She buried her fingers in his thick ruff, scratching behind his ears. Nolan gave a pleased huff and flopped dramatically onto the rug like a spoiled dog.
Isaac rolled his eyes but followed, his own shift smoother, darker fur spreading as his body reshaped into a broad, black wolf. He padded onto the bed with regal calm and curled beside her.
Saffron laughed through tears, stroking them both. “I missed you. Both of you. Every day. Even when I couldn’t touch you, I felt you here.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “My wolves.”
Nolan wagged his tail like a pup, earning a snort from Isaac. She shook her head fondly. “You’re still chaos, Nolan. And you—” she scratched Isaac’s ears, earning a low rumble “—still my steady protector.”
Only when she kissed them both on their muzzles did they shift back, laughter and warmth spilling over the bed as they pulled her between them again.
“So, tell me something. You two never shared a woman before? Not until me?”
Isaac and Nolan exchanged a glance. Isaac cleared his throat. “Not like this. Together as Ryan and Alaric, only ever you, my love. But not as Nolan and Isaac King. We’ve ... lived other lives, sure. But as Nolan and Isaac in this one? No. You’re the first. The only.”
Saffron sat up abruptly, the sheet slipping from her shoulders. “Wait, wait, wait—you’re telling me you’ve had sex before in this life, and I haven’t? That’s not fair! I should get a free pass.”
Nolan laughed so hard the bed shook. “A free pass? Not a chance, kitten. What would that even look like—do we issue tokens? A punch card? Ten romps and you get a free latte?”
Isaac smirked, tugging her back down between them. “No passes. Ever. You’re ours, and we’re yours. Period. End of story. Besides, you’d abuse the system.”
She huffed, but her lips twitched. “You’re infuriating. Honestly, it’s like arguing with two brick walls who think they’re hilarious. One of these days I’m going to put both of you in time-out.”
“You love it,” Nolan teased, kissing her shoulder. “And admit it—you wouldn’t know what to do with a pass anyway. You’d hand it back just so you could complain about it later.”
Saffron snorted, unable to hide her grin. “Probably true. Still think I deserve a sympathy pass, though. Two hundred years without sex? That should earn me some kind of loyalty discount.”
Isaac laughed, the sound rumbling against her back. “No discounts either. But you’ll never go without again.”
Nolan wagged his brows. “We’ll see to that. Frequently. Enthusiastically.”
The conversation turned more serious as Isaac asked, “That fire ... what really caused it, Saffie? Why were you trapped? With your powers and skills, you should have been able to shut it down before we even got there.”
Her mismatched eyes darkened. “Marcus. He was linked to others—five of them. I could tell from the number of aura signatures that were attached to the bastard. He was drawing a significant amount of power from others, like we do when we reunite as four. Each one of them was nearly as strong as him. I tried to stop them, but his power wasn’t his alone.
He was tethered to the rest. I fought, but he sealed me inside.
You found me before he could finish what he started. ”
Isaac’s gut clenched. “Five others? So, you had to fight six of the crazy fuckers?”
She nodded. “Six men. Old power. Old vows. I don’t know who they are in this life, but I know they walk among us. And they want what Marcus wanted.”
Nolan swore under his breath. “And they’ll come for you.”
“They will, and I long for the day that they do,” she said fiercely. “They’ll regret it. For the remaining short time they would live.”
Nolan said in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood. “So ... our kitten. Always watching us. You know, you were quite the voyeur when you were living with us, kitten.”
Isaac grinned. “Bathroom doors meant nothing to you.”
Saffron smirked, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “Well, excuse me for keeping an eye on my prospective mates. Quality control, gentlemen.”
Nolan nearly choked laughing. “Quality control? That’s what you call it when you sit on the counter while we shower?”
She sniffed, pretending to look regal. “Someone had to make sure you scrubbed all the important parts. Standards had to be maintained.”
Isaac wagged a finger at her. “I knew it! That judgmental stare wasn’t about abandonment issues—it was hygiene.”
Saffron snorted. “Oh, please. The way you both strutted around half-naked, it was like you wanted an audience. Don’t blame the cat.”
Nolan leaned in close, stage whispering. “Pretty sure the cat was blushing half the time.”
“Pretty sure the cat was taking mental pictures for, well, let me just say, personal use later on,” she shot back, making them both groan.
“Christ, you touched yourself thinking about us?” Isaac growled.
“Hell, yes,” Saffie said with a shrug. “What, you think I was licking my paws all night for fun?”
They burst out laughing harder this time, laughter tangled with kisses and playful touches until the mood steadied again, warmth wrapping around the three of them like a blanket.
Isaac propped himself on an elbow. “So, what happens now? Do we move into our apartment? It’s not much, and we will definitely need a bigger bed but—”
Saffron cut him off with a laugh. “Hell, no. You two are not dragging me into that shoebox you call an apartment. I already live here. I have the only other apartment on this floor. I have been having the bathroom renovated, which is why I have been over here, and up until recently, I was living as Willow’s cat over at her old place.
Ursula and I have the whole floor, and the roof top terrace.
My place, and, for that matter, my perfect bed is bigger, better, and has a view that would make you weep. I’ll show you later.”
Nolan grinned. “Works for me. Though, fair warning, I’m stealing the good side of the bed.”
“Over my dead body,” Isaac muttered, making Saffron snicker.
Isaac smiled, relief loosening the knot in his chest. “Ours, then. Finally.”
But her face softened, eyes shimmering. “You don’t know how hard it was. Watching you die. All of you. Again and again. I thought I’d break.” Her voice cracked, a tear slipping free. “Two hundred years of waiting ... it nearly killed me.”
Isaac gathered her against him, kissing her hair. “We’re sorry you carried that alone.”
Nolan brushed her cheek with his thumb. “Never again. You’ll never face another day without us.”
Their tenderness deepened into hunger, hands sliding over skin, kisses growing urgent.
They worshipped her with slow reverence, every caress meant to reassure.
Isaac kissed her deeply while Nolan stroked her body, whispering how much he loved her.
The laughter of minutes before melted into sighs, gasps, and the heat of bodies moving together once more.
The morning light bathed them as they loved her again—slow, loving, forever.
****
The scent of coffee drifted through Ursula’s kitchen, mingling with the buttery warmth of toast and the faint spice of sausage frying in the pan.
Morning light slanted through the big windows, catching on the mismatched mugs and bowls spread out along the table.
It was a cozy chaos, the kind of kitchen that felt lived in and loved.
Saffron padded in barefoot between her men, still feeling the delicious ache of the night before.
Nolan immediately raided the toast, placing a slice on a plate for her.
Isaac poured her a cup of coffee without asking, and Willow was perched at the table, laughing at some story Jacob was telling about the time Liam had gotten his foot stuck in a fence as a kid.
“Don’t exaggerate,” Liam grumbled good-naturedly, buttering his toast. “It wasn’t my whole foot.”
Jacob smirked. “You screamed like it was.”
Willow giggled, pressing a kiss to Liam’s cheek. “You poor thing. My big, brave wolf taken down by a fence.”
The room filled with laughter. Even Saffron smiled, warmth blooming in her chest. This was what they had all fought for—a table full of voices, of family.
Nolan and Isaac added their own stories, dredging up memories of childhood mischief. Isaac leaned forward, grinning. “Nolan once tried to jump from the barn roof with nothing but a sheet for a parachute. He hit the haystack so hard we thought he’d snapped in half.”
Nolan jabbed a finger at him. “And you’re one to talk! Isaac here set fire to his own trousers trying to impress Mary Ellen with a ‘magic trick.’ He nearly burned the barn down.”
The table roared with laughter. Willow clutched her sides, tears streaming. “Please tell me you kept the trousers,” she gasped.
Jacob snorted. “I bet he kept them as evidence of his stupidity.”
Isaac groaned, hiding his face in his hands. “They mysteriously disappeared, thank you very much.”
“Yeah, into the fire,” Nolan shot back, grinning.
The laughter rolled on until Liam, smirking, decided to even the score. “Don’t forget Jacob. He once got lost chasing a rabbit and had to be carried home, muddy and bawling.”
Jacob’s face reddened. “I was six!”
Willow squealed with laughter, wiping her eyes. “My big, fierce wolf ... taken down by a bunny rabbit.”
“Shut up,” Jacob muttered, but he was laughing, too. By the time they were done, everyone was bent over with laughter, tears streaking their faces and the kitchen warm with joy.
But across from her, Ursula was quieter, listening more than speaking, her dark eyes distant. Saffron caught the shadow in her expression and leaned closer. “What is it, sister?” she asked softly. “You’re too quiet for a room this loud.”
Ursula gave a small smile. “I’m fine.”
Saffron arched a brow. “You forget who you’re talking to. I was head of the coven for a reason. I know my witches. You’ve been promised mates, haven’t you?”
Ursula’s lips parted, but no denial came. Just the faintest flicker of longing.
Saffron squeezed her hand under the table. “They’ll come. The Goddess keeps her word. But first—we have work to do. Marcus is gone, but his Council isn’t. There are others still out there. And we have to find our fourth.”
Nolan wiped his mouth on a napkin. “And the druid stone. Don’t forget about that.”
Saffron froze, frowning. “The what now?”
“The Goddess told us about it,” Isaac explained, exchanging a look with his brother. “We saw her the night we learned we were shifters, and about our past. She told us about a stone—one that would help to save our mate and potentially unite another with her mates.”
Saffie did not miss the way Ursula jerked beside her, but none of the others noticed.
Willow’s eyes widened. “You spoke to the actual Moon Goddess?”
Saffron blinked at them, deadpan. “And you didn’t think to mention that sooner?”
Nolan winced. “We were busy?”
“Busy,” she repeated flatly, sipping her coffee. “Unbelievable.”
Jacob grinned. “At least they’re consistent.”
Saffron sighed. “The druid stone is old. Ancient. It can amplify or reverse spells including those that are tied to the bloodline of shifters. If Marcus had gotten it, the world would look very different. If his Council has it in this life, then we have a problem.” She looked around the table, her gaze steady.
“And to face that problem, we’ll need all of us—every ounce of power.
The bond won’t hold with only three. We have to find our fourth. ”
“Where do we even start?” Willow asked, worry creasing her brow.
Saffron tapped her nails against her mug. “We scry for her. We use what’s ours. The bond of four. We’ll find her, and through her, the stone.”
Ursula hesitated. “But we will need something that holds the four of us already? We don’t have anything like that, as we do not know who she is.”
Saffron smiled, a little wickedly. “But we do have this.” She reached into her satchel and pulled out a crystal, faintly glowing. “It holds the essence of the four of us, bound centuries ago. Now that we have broken Marcus’s curse we can use this. It will know where she is.”
Nolan leaned in with a grin. “Why didn’t you use this earlier, mate?”
Saffie felt heat rise in her cheeks. “I was busy.” She had to work to ignore the laughing from her mates.
They spread a map across the table, the paper trembling slightly as if the air itself knew something was about to change.
Saffron dangled the crystal on its chain, murmuring the old words.
The glow deepened, light bleeding into the crystal until it was almost blinding.
The chain pulled taut, the crystal swinging with deliberate force.
Everyone leaned in, breaths held, as it circled once, twice .
.. then dipped sharply. The glow flared before it landed hard against the paper.
The table went silent.
Nolan leaned over, eyes widening. His voice was low, disbelieving. “You’ve got to be kidding. That’s right here. This very building.”
Before anyone could speak, the intercom buzzed. Everyone froze. Ursula rose and pressed the button.
A hesitant female voice crackled through.
“Um ... hi. This is going to sound crazy, but I had a dream two nights ago telling me to come here. Said to ring the bell at exactly this time. I waited until the very minute the lady who was glowing in my dream told me to wait until, and ... well, here I am. Could someone maybe tell me what the fuck is going on?”