Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
He met me on the grounds, about a half-mile away from his residence. Hands tucked into his pockets and an unreadable look on his handsome face, he watched me approach.
I stopped a few feet away, my heart pounding like a drum. “I seek refuge for me and my people.”
My father, Moira, Tess, and Ash stood just off the edge of his wards waiting to see what would happen.
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “Your people?”
I nodded. “And, um, my shop.”
His lips twitched. “Does this have anything to do with the phone call I just received from a very angry Lord in Texas?”
I cringed. “Would it help if I say he started it?”
“Did he start it?”
My shoulders slumped. “No. I shattered his wards.”
Rowan let out a belly laugh.
The sound lightened my heavy heart. But I had to be honest with him.
“I—I can’t promise you anything. Not right now.
I need time. What I can say is I feel this, too.
There’s something between us, something pure and good, but I can’t move on this quickly.
It’s not fair to either one of us. Or Caelan. ”
He grimaced and shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m guilty of antagonizing him as well. Caelan knows what we are to each other.”
I stared at him for a long moment. “I’ll assume there’s a reason you told him.”
“Well, he pissed me off.”
I rubbed a hand over my face and let out a sad little laugh. “Not the best reason, but I’ve done some things when I’m angry that haven’t ended well for me.”
“He said some unforgivable things. Unlike him, I do not allow others to speak ill of those I love.”
I jogged over and wrapped my arms around him. Rowan lifted me up and I buried my face in the crook of his shoulder, inhaling his wild scent.
“You weren’t gone long, but I missed you,” he murmured against my skin. “I wasn’t sure you’d be back.”
“I knew I wouldn’t stay there. Not after everything. If you’ll have me, I’ll find a place in town somewhere. But I might need help finding a place for Moira and the others. And I’ll need to figure out the shop.” A sigh escaped me. “This sucks.”
“You and your people will stay on Keep property. Tomorrow, or whenever you’re ready, I’ll have Hope take you into town and search for a new place.”
“About that.” I pulled back. “Dad did some wizard stuff and took my entire shop.”
Rowan stilled. “Like the brick and mortar and all of it?”
“Sort of, I think? Dad can explain it better than me. All I know is everything is sort of floating in space waiting for a new spot.”
His grip tightened. “You do keep things interesting.” Rowan tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You don’t have to make any decisions now. My offer has no strings attached.”
I framed his face with my hands. “Are you sure? I don’t want things to be weird between us. And I don’t mind finding a rental or something until I can settle in.”
His palm settled over my hand. “I am not Caelan. Nothing I offer you has strings. All I ask is that you tend the land.” Rowan’s soft smile soothes the jagged edges of my heart. “The place likes you, and you claimed it, so that will be the rent payment. Do we have a deal?”
I search his face for any cunning or manipulation and see only honesty shining from his hazel eyes. “What about Moira and the others?”
“We have community nights. Declan puts together a monthly schedule of duties, things like cooking, cleaning, etc. I can have him add the others.”
“I’ll ask, but they don’t plan to stay too long. Just enough to find an apartment or house. They’ll be happy to help while they’re here, though.”
“Hope will assist them, too.”
“Thank you. You cannot understand how grateful I am to you for everything you’ve done for me. I hope I’m able to somehow repay you for your generosity.”
He pressed a finger to my lips. “No strings, Evie. Never between us.”
Rowan dropped his finger. I pressed forward and brushed my lips over his.
He stilled, breath catching. My fingers scratched through his hair and deepened the kiss before I pulled away.
He tasted like wind and rain and other deeper things I couldn’t afford to think about. “A little time. That’s all I ask.”
His eyes burned molten gold. “You will have it.” He set me down but kept his arm around my waist. “The others can come in now.”
Dad and everyone else appeared a moment later, walking through the fog. Hope came from the opposite direction, waving when she spotted me.
“Simone and Garrett?” I asked.
“On their way back from the airport,” Hope said with a wince. “They’re pretty pissed at you.”
“I’ll figure out a way to make things up to them. Do they still have a place to stay?”
“No one cleaned out their quarters yet. Garrett has expressed interest in moving into town with Thalia.”
I blinked. “Wow. Together?”
Hope laughed. “Yes, but I don’t think their relationship has progressed as fast as he wants it to.”
She motioned everyone over once they got close enough. “We have an empty apartment available for a few nights until we can arrange something for a longer period. It’s a hike, so we’ll run by the main house to get a golf cart.”
Tess and Ash followed her, but not before they both drew me into a tight hug.
Moira came over and took my hands. “You okay?”
I gave her the brightest smile I could muster. “I will be.”
She touched my cheek and stepped back. “You will.” Moira turned her attention to Rowan. “Thank you for being what Evie needed.”
He inclined his head and watched her walk away, his eyes still glowing. Dad, who stayed back, waved and disappeared in a flash of light.
When we were alone, Rowan held his hand out. “Your room is still open. Tomorrow, we can discuss what’s next.”
I walked with Rowan further onto the grounds of my new home.
The next morning everyone gathered around the large breakfast table in the main residence. Hope had a map spread out, dotted with blue and green push pins. “This is where you three stayed last night.”
She pointed to one of the green pins. “This is where Evie was staying.” Another green pin.
“We have a two-bedroom apartment here.” She pointed to one of the blue pins.
The place stands alone and away from the main dormitories.
“A one bedroom here.” The next pin is closer to the main house.
“And there’s a small two-bedroom home at the back of the main residence here, close to the greenhouse. ”
I peered closer at the map. “I never noticed this place.”
“It’s hidden by a bunch of trees and about a quarter mile away from here.
” She lifted her eyes. “Rowan and I think this is the best option for you. You’ll be able to tend those new roses you brought while also having close access to the golf carts when you want to explore other areas of the property. ”
I felt a little numb today, still heartsick over yesterday’s events.
Today, everything was different. I was back with Rowan, and being back on his land made my spirit a little more settled than before.
Knowing there’s no possibility of returning to Joy Springs hurt my heart and made it difficult to be happy or feel relieved about anything.
The home I’d made with my friends no longer existed for us.
Maybe it would for Ash and Tess, possibly even Moira if they asked, but the life I’d had when the attack destroyed my old one was gone.
Sometimes you have to lose everything to gain something better.
“There’s a kitchen and everything?” I asked her.
“Of course. It’s small but serviceable and it lets in a lot of natural light so you can grow whatever plants you want inside.”
Hope smiled at me, and I had trouble returning the gesture.
I was truly grateful, but it would take a while for me to settle in and accept this new way of life.
Her eyes softened and she rose from her hunch.
“Declan will take you to the apartments.” Rowan’s second came in a second later, shaking a pair of keys in his hands.
“You’ll have to decide who shares and who lives alone. ”
Tess and Ash look at each other. “Moira can have the one bedroom.”
The vampire’s eyebrows flick up, but she doesn’t argue. “Thanks again for having us. In a few days I’ll start looking around town for a new place. If you have any leads on some houses with some land, I’m game to look at them.”
Before they left, I reached out and tugged Moira’s hand.
“When Rowan gets back, I’ll talk to him about setting the shop back up, but I don’t expect anyone to start working right away.
All of this is a massive shock.” Tears filled my eyes.
“I’m grateful and humbled you came with me, but if you ever want to go back, I will never stand in your way. ”
Moira snorted. “Like that will happen.”
Tess and Ash came over and hugged me from behind. “We already told you home is wherever we’re together.” Ash ruffled my hair and brushed a kiss over my cheek. “If Rowan is okay with it, I may ask to have my tree moved to his lands. This place is incredible.”
“I’ll let him know you’re looking for him.”
Ash winked and followed Declan out, Moira and Tess behind them. Hope folded up her map and tucked into her bag. “Ready? It’s not too far to walk if you’re up for it.”
“Fresh air would do me some good.”
The morning air was cold and crisp. I tied my sweater closed and walked beside Hope.
“I’m sorry to hear what happened,” she began.
“But I’m not sorry to see you back so soon and to know you’ll be with us permanently.
No matter what type of relationship you were in with him, breaking up is never easy. ”
She led us down a stone path past the greenhouse and a few smaller buildings. “I thought I knew him, and maybe I did, but I didn’t understand his motivations or what drove him enough to realize he’d sacrifice me if I got in the way of realizing them.”
Hope’s mouth tightened. “Every shifter is different, just like humans, but wolves are a different breed. Caelan has long been known to be ruthlessly driven. None of us thought he’d go so far. Not even Rowan.”
“They’ve been friends for many years, haven’t they?”
Hope hesitated before admitting, “Yes. They were.”
I stumble over a stone. Hope’s hand reaches out to steady me. “Were?”
“Declan and I know what you are to each other.”
At my look, she held up a hand. “Almost are, I should say. Rowan is fiercely protective of his people, but you…” Hope shook her head.
“The bond might not be completed, but Rowan has always treated you like something precious. Now with the bond almost completed, he would never allow anyone to speak ill of you. Not even another Lord.”
I’m terrified for him. Wherever I go, trouble seems to follow. “He doesn’t need to protect me.”
Hope and I turned a sharp corner hidden behind a copse of trees to reveal an adorable dark blue cottage. I sucked in a breath and stopped in my tracks. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
The Omega laughed. “He had it built a year or so ago, but no guests have stayed inside.”
I frowned. “Whyever not? I could be the perfect witch of the woods living in this thing.”
Hope grinned and opened the maroon door. I ran my fingers over the wood and gasped in delight. “The paint is non-toxic.”
Hope glanced at me in surprise and laughed. “I forget what you are sometimes. Yes. The entire house is all eco-friendly.”
I walked inside and fell in love. The floors are gnarled and natural, sealed with Tung oil. “Oh my gosh.” I dropped to my knees and ran my fingers over the floor. “Tung oil sealant?”
“Rowan had that done a few months ago.” Hope watched me as her words finally registered.
I looked up. “Did he suspect I might be here one day?”
Hope shrugged. “More hope than anything.”
Stunned, I sat down on the floor and let out a long breath, but I was having trouble breathing. My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath rasped in my lungs. Everything was overwhelming. My fingers shook and my entire body trembled.
Hope came to her knees beside me, one hand resting on my back. “Evie. Breathe. You’re having a panic attack.”
My vision pinpointed to a small circle, and stars bloomed behind my eyes.
“Put your head between your knees,” she instructed.
When I obey, the first tears leak from my eyes. Hope rubbed small circles over my shoulders. A sob escaped me, and once it started, I couldn’t seem to stop. Tears dripped on the floor, and hoarse, devastated noises ripped from my throat.
“Oh Evie,” Hope whispered. She gathered me in her arms, and a torrent of grief poured from me, my broken heart finally safe enough to break. I hate that it’s with Hope, and I hate that she’s seeing me in one of my most vulnerable moments, but grief never works on a timeline.
I had no idea how long I sat there, sobbing my heart out, but eventually the body holding me changed. Strong arms lifted me from the floor and cradled me against a muscled chest, a deep voice murmuring words of comfort against my hair.
I clutched Rowan’s shirt and buried my face in his chest. And still, the tears kept coming. My voice grew hoarse, and yet I still can’t stop. My body had finally stopped listening to my commands and started purging the poison I’d been holding in for so long.
Rowan’s hand stroked through my hair, his lips pressed against my temple, and he pulled me closer into his body as he sat down on the couch.
“Get it out,” he whispered to me. “You’ve been so strong for so long, Evie.
You don’t have to be anymore. You’re safe.
I have you. There’s no one else but you and me here, and we don’t have anywhere else to be. ”
I couldn’t even respond. My eyes burned, my throat dry.
All my self-recrimination and doubt poured out in the form of hot tears, and no matter how much I wanted them to stop, they wouldn’t.
After some time, Rowan re-adjusted us until we were lying down, and I curled against his body, arms wrapped tight around me.
My heartbeat finally began to slow, and my sobs turned into soft hiccups. My tears dried up, and exhaustion, both physical and emotional, seeped into my bones. But the poison was purged, and though my life hasn’t turned out quite like I thought it would, it hasn’t turned out bad.
I was here with a man who seemed to cherish me, and I felt safe, truly safe being vulnerable for one of the very few times in my life. My eyes slowly drifted shut, and sleep claimed me moments later.