19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Taylor
T he days blur together in a haze of passion and pleasure. We lose ourselves in each other, in the sheer joy of being alive and together. Liam worships me with his hands, his mouth, every touch an adoring caress that sets our bond sparking.
He maps my body, seeking out every secret place that makes me gasp and shudder and in turn, I pour my adoration into his skin, my fingers tracing the sculpted lines of his muscles, the velvet heat of his flesh.
We make love until we're both spent and sated. Our bond is quiet. I revel in its depths I would never have felt if not for the freak aspect of my blood. I have embraced both sides of myself. I’m no longer the broken human woman who had accepted her fate. I am fully healed on a deeper level than I could ever imagine, body, mind and soul. Our bond is a communion of the most profound sort, a merging of every part of ourselves. I’m complete in a way I never have before, as if every atom of my being is precisely where it's meant to be.
The only time we leave the sanctuary of our bed is to raid the kitchen that is thankfully clear. I’m sure Cindi has some sixth sense about that because the hotel is always quiet and the refrigerator is always stocked. We feed each other fruit and cheese, our laughter echoing off the tiles as we steal kisses between bites.
It's a cocoon of bliss, a world unto ourselves where nothing else exists. I want to stay here forever, wrapped in Liam's arms, drowning in the honeyed warmth of his eyes but eventually, reality intrudes, the outside world clamoring for our attention. We walk into the kitchen on a sunny morning to find it already occupied.
Mitch, Zane, Sarah, Aria, Cindi, Sally, and Elara are gathered around the large wooden table, the surface laden with a feast of breakfast foods. The aroma of coffee and bacon permeates the air, mingling with the warm scent of cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven.
It seems our honeymoon is over.
“Look who finally decided to rejoin the land of the living,” Mitch drawls, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
Laughter ripples around the table, good-natured and full of affection. I feel my cheeks heat, but I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. These people fill a void in my heart I hadn't even realized existed.
“Leave them be, love,” Sarah chides gently, swatting at Mitch's arm. “They're newly mated. We all remember what that's like, don't we?”
Mitch's eyes soften as he gazes at his mate, a wealth of love and tenderness in his expression. “Indeed we do, sweetheart. Indeed we do.”
As we take our seats, Liam clears his throat, drawing the attention of everyone at the table. “There's something you all should know,” he says, his voice filled with awe and wonder. “Taylor...she shifted. She's a wolf now, like us.”
Silence descends over the room, shock evident on every face. Mitch is the first to recover, his eyes widening as he turns to me. “Is this true, Taylor?” he asks softly, something like reverence in his tone.
I nod, feeling a sudden shyness under the weight of their collective gaze. “It happened when Liam was...when he wasn't himself,” I murmur, my hand seeking his beneath the table. “I don't know how, but suddenly I was on four paws instead of two feet.”
“I’d turned feral, baby. And you brought me back,” Liam said.
Zane shakes his head. “Incredible,” he breathes. “A human shifting...it's unheard of.”
Elara leans forward, her eyes intent on mine. “The Goddess has blessed you, child,” she says, her voice ringing with certainty. “She granted you this gift so that you might save your mate, and in doing so, save yourself.”
Emotion clogs my throat, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes because I know that’s true. She came not once but all throughout our ordeal and saved us both while doing so.
Mitch rises from his seat, coming to stand before me. He places a hand on my shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring. “Welcome to the pack, Taylor,” he says formally, his eyes glinting with an emotion I can't quite name. “We're honored to have you among us.”
My wolf stirs within me, a contented rumble that vibrates through my consciousness. Alpha, she whispers, the word laced with respect and affection. Our Alpha.
I duck my head, overwhelmed by the acceptance, the sense of belonging that wraps around me like a beloved quilt. “Thank you. I'm honored.”
Mitch wraps his large hand on my shoulder and smiles down at me. Power thrums from him to me and instantly I understand his strength. His protection. My wolf bows to him, coming down onto her haunches, thumping her tail on the ground.
Pack . The word whispers through my mind, an instinctive understanding that resonates in my very marrow. My wolf hums in agreement, a contented rumble that vibrates through my consciousness. These people, this place...it's where we're meant to be. Our home, our family.
The banter flows easily as we take our seats, the conversation punctuated by laughter and the clink of cutlery against plates. I bask in the warmth of the camaraderie, the sense of belonging that wraps around me.
As the meal winds down, Mitch clears his throat, his expression turning serious. He reaches into his pocket and withdraws a small scrap of paper, sliding it across the table to me.
“Taylor, have you ever seen this symbol before?” he asks, his tone carefully neutral.
Frowning, I pick up the paper, my eyes widening as I take in the intricate design etched upon its surface. It's a perfect match for the marking on the underside of my ring, the heirloom passed down through generations of my family.
With trembling fingers, I slip the ring from my finger and hand it to Mitch, watching as he studies the symbol. After a long moment, he passes it to Elara, a silent question in his eyes.
The witch takes the ring, her gaze distant as she traces the delicate lines. “This is the mark of the Wolf Shifter Goddess.”
“Can I please have a look?” Sarah asks. She takes the ring and smiles at me when she sees the symbol. “It’s the same one we all have.”
“All of you? But how?” I ask.
Sarah lifts up her arm to show me her charm bracelet where I see the design etched onto one of the charms. “I came across mine at the thrift store. It called to me.”
Aria shows me her stone. “I found mine at a market. I never left home without it.”
“You’ve yet to meet Maya and Sophia, but they had the same symbols on their person when they found Willowbrook,” Mitch said.
I take my ring back and turn it over in my fingers. “It’s my lucky ring given to me by my grandmother. I never take it off.”
A small smile graces Elara’s lips. “It’s the symbol of fated mates, given to us by the Goddess so that they may find each other. It called to your wolf shifter heritage and made you feel safe.”
“It kind of looks like the symbol on Liam’s nape, but his is different,” I say.
Mitch’s brows knit and a shiver of unease runs down my spine. “You have a mark on your neck, Liam?”
Liam’s expression grows dim. I take his hand in mine and squeeze his fingers. “We haven’t told you yet but…Rowan’s magic worked.”
Zane shoots out of his chair. “What do you mean?”
The bond dims with Liam’s guilt but I won’t have that. “You know what Lunarith told you.”
Liam squares his shoulders. “I went feral. The goddess came to us and saved us both. I have everything to be thankful for.” He holds up his hand when Mitch braces himself. “I’m in no threat of turning feral now, although at the time I was going to ask you to cull me. The goddess said it was a violation and now she’s back to help us.”
“Liam, may I see the back of your neck?” Elara asks.
Slowly, hesitantly, Liam turns, baring his nape. I hated the mark when I discovered it.
“It wasn’t there before Rowan found us,’ I said.
“It's the same marking we've found on the ferals,” Mitch says grimly, his jaw tight with tension. “But you’re saved.”
I nod. “As soon as I put my ring to his nape, the goddess came and broke through the hold Rowan’s magic had on Liam.”
Liam brings our joined hands to his lips, his kiss a brand against my skin. “Taylor is my savior,” he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion. “In every way that matters, she brought me back from the abyss.”
Tears sting my eyes, my heart so full it feels fit to burst. The room is bathed in thick silence as Zane finds his seat. Mitch turns his stunned gaze to Elara. “That’s how we can save them.”
I blink at my Alpha. “I’m sorry…what?”
Mitch’s gaze roams over all of us. “We use the fated mates symbol.”
Elara leans back in her chair, her silver eyes faintly glowing. “Yes. That would work. The positive will burn out the negative.”
“It will mean they need to get close enough to touch,” Zane says.
Aria shudders. “I never want to get close to another feral in my life.”
Zane put his arm around her, his gaze falling on Elara. “That’s true and we won’t ask you to do that. We won’t risk fated mates. Elara…the ferals we’ve seen are gone. There’s nothing left of their minds. They’re worse than wild wolves.”
“They’re still being directed by black magic and now we know who Rowan is, there has to be a way to reverse it. I’ll ask my coven. If there’s anything we can try, one of us will know,” Elara says.
Mitch's next words are laced with urgency. “Can you take us to where you found Rowan?” he asks, his gaze darting between Liam and me.
As we step outside, the crisp fall air fills my lungs, invigorating me from the inside out. The urge to shift, to let my wolf run free, is a palpable thing, thrumming through my veins like a second heartbeat.
I glance at Liam, a silent question in my eyes. He grins, his own excitement pulsing through our bond. “Go on, love,” he murmurs, his voice low and intimate. “Let her out to play.”
Without hesitation, I move behind a bush to strip and then shift. I don't need any further encouragement. With a thought, I release my hold on my human form, letting the change ripple through me in a cascade of sensation.
It's a rush like no other, the feeling of my body reshaping itself, fur replacing skin and claws sprouting from my fingertips. In mere moments, I'm standing on four paws, my russet coat gleaming in the dappled sunlight.
The world is transformed, every sense heightened to an almost overwhelming degree. The rich loam of the earth, the crisp tang of pine, the musky odor of small prey… it all crashes over me, painting a vivid picture of the life that teems in the forest around us.
My wolf is ecstatic, her joy a bright flare in my mind. She prances in place, her tail wagging furiously as she yips and spins, eager to explore every inch of this new, wild world.
Liam chuckles, “Easy there, baby. We've got a job to do first. But I promise, once we're done, we'll play to your heart's content.”
My wolf subsides, content with the knowledge that her mate is at her side. I park my wolf’s butt on the ground and watch as our mate strips. I admire his body but I admire it even more when he shifts into his wolf form.
Mitch and Zane approach us in their wolf forms. They’re both so much bigger than I am. Mitch's power presses down on me, the sheer strength of will that marks him as Alpha of our pack. Zane's presence is no less impressive, the aura of the Beta wrapping around me like a shield, a silent promise of protection.
Mitch lets out a short, sharp bark, his meaning clear. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of returning to that place, but with Liam at my side and my pack surrounding me, I know I have nothing to fear.
We set off at a lope, the miles melting away beneath our paws as we run. The forest is a blur of green and gold, the scent of autumn rich in my nostrils. It's exhilarating, freeing in a way I've never known before, the final part of myself finally slotting into place.
When we reach the clearing where Rowan forces us into his crooked little hut, nothing but thick forest surrounds us. I sniff the ground and whine, making sure I have the right place, and I catch our own old scents. This is definitely where he lured us in.
The hut, the cell that haunted my nightmares, is gone. Not a trace remains, not even the faintest whiff of the dark magic that permeated every inch of that cursed place.
Mitch and Zane fan out, their noses to the ground as they search for any hint of a trail. They also find nothing, no sign of where Rowan might have gone or how he managed to erase his presence.
Frustration and disappointment radiate from the two males, a bitter tang that makes my nose wrinkle. Mitch shifts back to his human form, his expression rueful as he takes in my wolf's restless pacing. “You did well, Taylor,” he says warmly, reaching out to ruffle the fur between my ears. “You're a natural at this.”
Pride swells in my chest at the praise, my tail wagging furiously. Mitch chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Go on, then,” he says, jerking his chin toward the forest. “Enjoy the day with your mate. You've both earned it.”
I answer with a playful yip. Alpha lets us play .
Mitch shifts back into his wolf, he and Zane disappearing into the underbrush with a flash of tawny fur and then it's just me and Liam. Alone in this wild, beautiful place, with nothing but the sway of the trees and the song of the birds to keep us company.
Liam pounces on top of me before leaping away and sending me an excited chuff. Oh yes, my wolf loves this game. We spend hours exploring, chasing each other through the dappled light and splashing in the cool, clear waters of a nearby stream. I lose myself in the simple joy of being a wolf, of experiencing the world through a lens of pure, uncomplicated wonder.
When we finally tire, we shift back to our human forms, our bodies tangled together on a bed of soft moss. Liam's skin is warm against my own, his heartbeat a steady drum that lulls me into a state of boneless relaxation.
We make love there, in the heart of the forest, with the scent of earth and wildflowers all around us. Afterward, we lie in contented silence, my head pillowed on Liam's chest as I trace idle patterns on his skin. The sun is beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
“You know,” Liam murmurs eventually, his voice a low rumble that I feel as much as hear, “it's tradition for a male to build his mate a home. A place that's just for them, where they can grow their love and their family. I never built anything. I never thought I’d be lucky enough to find you. But now I have and I want to give you everything.”
I tilt my head to meet his gaze, my heart skipping a beat at the tenderness I find there. “I like the sound of that,” I whisper, my lips curving into a soft smile.
Liam's arms tighten around me, his fingers tracing the line of my spine. “I was thinking...what if we built it here? In Willowbrook, where we can run and hunt and be free?”
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, the sheer rightness of it rendering me breathless. I can see it so clearly—a cozy cabin nestled among the trees, filled with love and laughter and the patter of tiny paws.
Children . Suddenly the full impact of the future I never thought I would have crashes over me. I can have children now. I have time.
“Right here,” he continues softly, gesturing to the little glade we've claimed as our own. “On this very spot, where the river sings us to sleep and the forest is always just a step away.”
My wolf yips in agreement, her joy a bright flare in my mind. This is where we belong. Where we can put down roots and build a life together, surrounded by the wild beauty of the land and the unwavering support of our pack.
“Yes,” I breathe, the word a vow, a promise. “Yes, Liam. It’s so beautiful here. There's nowhere else I'd rather be than right here, with you.”
Liam captures my lips in a kiss that sears my soul, his love pouring through our bond in a cascade of golden light. It fills up all the broken places inside me, chasing away the last lingering shadows of fear and doubt.
In this moment, I am complete. Whole in a way I never knew was possible. A woman and a wolf, perfectly balanced between two worlds.
At my side is the man who owns my heart, my body, my very soul. The mate who will walk beside me through every trial and triumph, every joy and sorrow.
This is where I belong. Where we belong.
Together, always.
As we lose ourselves in each other once more, a profound rightness settles over me. I am exactly where I'm meant to be. And for the first time in my life, I am truly, completely...home.