Chapter 187: Where he wanted to be

Chapter 187: Where he wanted to be
Meredith's POV

I didn't know I would start my Morning this way, with Vida wrapped in my arms, her head pressed against my chest and her hair spread out over it, inhaling her sweet scent. This morning felt different, not just because of what had happened between us but because something inside me had finally settled. For the first time in eighteen months, I wasn't carrying that fear, that Vida might wake up one morning and get tired of a cripple man, I wasn't waiting for something to go wrong, I wasn't holding my breath, Vida was beside me, alive, marked mine, and I was hers. That alone made everything else feel lighter, even though the fear was still there that the guardians might one day come for her, but I know that I had legs now, and I could protect her.

By the time we joined the others, the atmosphere was already lively. Voices overlapped, laughter echoed faintly, and for a brief moment, it felt like nothing bad had ever happened like we were just normal. Logan was the first to notice us. His eyes flicker briefly to me, then to Vida, and the mark on her neck. Something in his expression softened, but only for a second before his usual composure returned, "Meredith," he called.

"Good morning, Alpha!" I acknowledge him slightly, guiding Vida closer as we approach the table.

"Morning!" He said softly, as his eyes fell on Vida, "How are you, Vida?" Logan asked, and Vida smiled as she sat in the chair that I pulled for her.

"I'm fine, Alpha." Then she turned to Akira, "Hey, Akira, where are the kids?"

"They are with their nanny."

"Oh!" Vida said, running her hand on her nape, then Akira winked at her, "What?"

"I see you finally got a mark." Vida laughed as Akira teased her, while she flaunted it. My heart swelled with pride that, for the first time in my life, someone was so proud to be owned by me. Austin nudges me slightly.

"She is happy to be yours." Austin's voice invaded my head, and my eyes snapped to him. I didn't even realize that my ability to communicate with the mind was back, so I laughed, shaking my head.

"You don't know that I'm happier than Vida," I replied through the mind.

"Oops!" It was Logan this time, "How do you feel about having your wolf back?" He asked.

"I felt like I was sixteen again, Ruin was the best thing that happened to me, because with Ruin, I was able to give something to Vida, that one thing she ever asked from me." My eyes tilted to Vida, who was so engrossed with the conversation, she was having with Linda and Akira. My lips curved into a wide grin, as I stared at her. She looked more beautiful, and when the bare skin of her neck became visible to me, I swallowed hard as the memory of our escapades this morning invaded my mind, I subconsciously wet my lips with my saliva

"Oh mine, someone wants to eat someone,"  Logan teases me.

"No, I don't..." I retorted.

"Yes, you do, your arousals scent is everywhere."

"What?" I growl, sniffing the air. They were right; if these three women were wolves, they would have smelled me. Logan winked at me, and I laughed hard, gaining the attention of the female.

"What are you three up to?" Akira squealed.

"Don't we have the right to laugh like you girls?" Logan teased his mate, and she blushed hard, just like that. The atmosphere softened, and we talked about random stuff, then Logan cleared his throat. "There is something we need to discuss."

My eyes snapped to him, although I already knew what he wanted to talk about. Logan slowly wiped his lips and crossed his arms, his gaze steady, "What would you like to do with him?" The room fell quiet suddenly, "he was your culprit," Logan continued, "you have every right to decide his punishment."

I exhaled slowly. For a moment, I said nothing, not because I wasn't angry, but because Riley's actions had turned out to favor me. "I don't want to punish him," I said finally.

A few brows lifted, Logan studied me carefully, "You are serious?"

I nodded, "I'm not mad at him." That surprise them more, even Vida turned slightly to look at me, "the truth is, I'm grateful," I added, that one earn me a few confused looks, "if not for Riley," I continue, my voice calm, "I might still be in that miserable wheelchair," my gaze dropped briefly to my legs before lifting again, "and I would still be living in fear." The words came out quieter now, "fear that one day, Vida would find out the truth. Fear of losing her to the guardians."

Logan's Express shifted, not disagreement, not approval, just understanding, "I see," he said after a moment, "but Riley is still in detention." His tone was firm again, "If you change your mind, the option remains open."

I shook my head immediately, ‘I’m not changing my mind, "No!" There was no hesitation in that answer, "I don't want revenge." I glanced at Vida briefly before looking back at Logan. "All I want is to start a new life." That was all that mattered now.

Logan nodded slowly, then he added, "The council will be meeting him later." My jaw tightened slightly, but I kept my expression neutral. "If you would like to attend..."

"I don't," I cut in gently, he paused and looked at me.

"I just want a normal life." The words felt strange coming out of my mouth, because for so long, nothing about my life had been normal. For these months, all I could feel was pain, loss, secrets, and fear, and that was what I had considered as normal, but not anymore.

Logan looked like he wanted to argue, I could see it in the way his shoulders shifted slightly, in the way his lips parted, but Akira stepped in, "Logan," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. He glanced at her, and something passed between them.

He sighed, "Fine!" And just like that the topic was dropped, relief settled quietly in my chest, I didn't want to go back there, not now, I don't think I'm ready to face those men, even though things seem to be falling into place, but I was still not ready to let go of that memory.

After our breakfast, I told Logan that Vida and I would be going back to the human territory, and he didn't argue even when he wanted to. Getting ready to leave felt surreal.

As we pick up the last thing, I remember, three days ago, I was supposed to get married. Those days that everything went haywire, days that I didn't think the sun would shine again on me after the storm, and now, I was standing beside Vida, ready to leave it all behind, ready to start a new phase in my life. We were already outside the mansion, where Linda and Akira stood close, both of them looking at Vida with soft expressions. "We're going to miss you," Linda said, pulling her into a hug. These past days, Linda and Vida seem to be so close.

Akira nodded in agreement, "Very much."

Vida smiled warmly, "I will miss you too." I could already feel that Vida didn't want to go, but I couldn't stay. I wanted a new life, a life free from drama. Vida looked around, "Where is Catherine?"

Akira exchanged a glance with Linda, "She left last night," Linda said.

Vida blinked, "Last night?" Vida asked.

"She said she had work to attend to," Akira added.

I frown slightly, Catherine leaving without saying goodbye? That didn't sit right with me, but I pushed the thought aside, "she is already in the human territory," Linda finished.

I nodded slowly, "Then we will see her there,"

Vida looked like she wanted to say more, but she didn't. Instead, she turned slightly towards me, "Let's go," I nodded, bidding our goodbyes, but before we could take another step, she added, "I want to stop by the hospital first."

I paused, "The hospital?"

She nodded, "I want to see my aunt."

For a second, I studied her face, there was something there, she wanted to get an answer to those questions that had been bothering her, I understood that feeling, "Alright," I said simply, her shoulders relaxed slightly, as we walked towards the parking lot, the air felt different, fresh and clean. I took a deep breath, glancing briefly at Vida. Her hand found mine naturally, as if it had always belonged there. I squeezed it gently, "I want to grow old holding your arms." I found myself voicing my thoughts out, then she stared at me, her eyes locked with mine.

"I love that." She mouthed, as we slipped into the car. I haven't driven for a long time, so I asked one of the warriors to take us. Vida and I sat in the back seat. She rested her head on my shoulders while our fingers intertwined. I let out a breath of relief because, for the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about what could go wrong, wasn't waiting for something or someone to take Vida away. I wasn't trapped in fear, I was just living. I was where I always wanted to be.