Come with Me

Come with Me
Maddie

I’ve never seen our farm so bustling with activity. Or maybe I have, but I was so young at the time that my brain must have scrubbed the memory on some long-past night in deep sleep. Today, though, so many people are coming and going with supplies that I can hear them even inside the house in the kitchen.

I certainly didn’t sleep last night, feeling my mate so close, with him and his Beta camping outside on the grass. My father had offered him a room, mine and Katy’s, to be exact, without my presence, naturally, for propriety’s sake. Zach, of course, had refused to displace us.

I can’t pretend I didn’t spend all night wondering what it would have been like sharing the room with Zach instead of Katy, ignoring all propriety. I dismiss that soon, horrified by the thought of doing... that... for the first time in a room right next to my parents. Tingles of heat rise in my cheeks at the thought of it, and I try to tamp them down in case someone comes in.

Clearing my mind of all the fantasies I’ve had about Zach is like breaking in a wild mare, mostly because I absolutely do want to travel in my mind to a place where Zach and I are alone together in a cozy cabin in the woods... ignoring propriety.

Goddess, I need to get a hold of myself.

Testing Cindy’s broth to see if it’s warm enough, and finding it is, I add the exactly specified measurement of medicinal herbs so she can continue to recover. She seems even better after even one day, though the healer has cautioned that my little sister will likely have a few relapses before fully recovering some weeks from now.

Once I get it into her toddler cup, I head into her room to find her sitting up in her crib. “Hey, little sis,” I say gently. “I need you to drink some of this, okay?”

She nods before asking, “Mama?”

“She’s outside doing some work,” I explain, making sure Cindy is steady before handing her the cup. She gulps it down. The healer told me she’d added flavorings to the broth that kids Cindy’s age love. Clearly it works. “I’ll stay with you until she gets back.”

I stroll to the bedroom window, pulling aside the curtains to give Cindy a little more natural sunlight. Across the field, Mother is in her element, dividing all the rations Zach’s people brought us between the neighbors, according to which family needed which resources. I’ve learned a lot from her over the years about how to know when people are in need, especially those who are too proud to ask for help. All this time, she’s been keeping detailed list in her mind about what each neighbor requires.

There’s a little rumble in my heartbeat when I catch sight of Zach, who is assisting her by lifting the boxes with his strong arms to load them into the neighbors’ wagons.

In this mild heat, he’s wearing a simple T-shirt—one that presses against the muscles on his arms and chest and leaves little to my imagination. My involuntary blush returns. I’m beginning to think this is just going to be my constant state going forward. Cindy, thankfully, is completely unaware of it when I step back over to her.

“Would you like me to read you a story?” I offer.

“Bear story!” she says.

It’s the most enthusiastic response I’ve heard from her since before the illness hit, so I happily pull her favorite book off the shelf and settle into the chair by the crib to read it to her.

My bond with Zach pulsates through me as I try to focus on the little bear who made friends with all the woodland creatures.



“Goodness, this kitchen hasn’t been so well-stocked in ages,” Mother says, touching each of the small bottles of herbs to select the right one for the meat marinade. “It’s an absolute blessing.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about being short on anything ever again,” I tell her.

She chuckles lightly and says, “I suppose not,” before turning to me. She sighs, and a concerned look falls over her eyes. “Sweetie, I don’t want you to think you need to be with this man just so he’ll bring us things.”

“I—”

“Yes, I realize that before, you were going to have to... do things at the castle, but that was by order of the Alpha King,” she explains. “We had no way to refuse that. Trust me, your father tried. He offered all we had to keep you here.”

“I know, Mom. I understand.”

“But Prince Zachariah... he is different,” she continues. “Things have changed. He has assured me that there are no longer any requirements of us... or of you. I have every reason to believe that he’ll leave your decision about a relationship right where it belongs: with you. I don’t want all these things he’s given us to weigh into your decision. I want you to be happy.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I tell her. “I haven’t decided yet what I’m going to do. I really think it will affect his ability to take the throne if I accept the bond. It’s not his fault. I don’t think he cares who I am, or who I’m not. It’s just that there are people there at the castle—influential people—who do care. I don’t want to be the cause of any problems.”

“You’re sure you’re mates?”

“I’m positive,” I say, nodding and slicing the meat for the marinade.

“Are you pleased with the Goddess’ choice for you?”

Here comes that blush again, feeling like fire on my face. “Yes, I-I’m pleased.”

She smiles, and I feel like running off and hiding under a blanket. All I can think of are those strong arms, his deep, soothing voice, that kiss....

I can’t think of this stuff in front of my mother!

“Perhaps there are a few things we should discuss,” she suggests.

The knowing look in her eyes tells me exactly what she means. It’s not that she hasn’t talked to me about the birds and the bees before. But things were different than they are now, and there were plenty of details left out that I should probably know now. And sure, there are a lot of questions I have for her that I’d love her to answer. But....

“Mom, I can’t talk about that with all these people here,” I say in a low whisper. “Besides, I haven’t made my choice yet,” I add, suspecting it’s a lie.

“All right, dear,” she says, going back to mixing the marinade. “Just know that I’m here for you if you have any questions, any at all.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

I try my best to just focus on making dinner while my heart pounds in my chest.



Like the canvas of a painter who dropped his brush, the evening sky is streaked with wisps of purple and pink against the amber glow of the sun’s last moments on the horizon. The people who brought all the supplies have all left, restoring the peaceful serenity of my family’s farm.

I lean on the fence near the well, the spot where my father first confirmed I’d been called away to be a breeder. I pull the ribbon out of my hair, letting my locks flutter in the wind after a long day of keeping them pulled back to work around the farm.

My pulse quickens before I even see him. Zach steps up behind me, joining me on the fence to lean in. He’s still wearing that Goddess-forbidden T-shirt, and I have to suck in a breath when those muscular arms settle right next to mine. Thankfully, it’s too dark to spot my now-familiar blush.

Is it even possible to spend every day of my life with a man who has this effect on me?

“We’re done for the night,” he says, his voice deep yet soft. “There will be more deliveries tomorrow.”

“You’ve done more than enough,” I tell him. “Everyone is so grateful.”

“This is simply repayment for what my father has done to your pack,” he insists. “I spoke with Alpha Frank. He’s been doing his best for all of you.”

“I know,” I say. “I never blamed him. None of us have.”

“It’s all my father’s doing,” he says. “And I just want to make it right. Though, I’m also being selfish.”

I turn to him, and his emerald eyes—vibrant even in this low light—meet my gaze. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t want you to worry about your family’s well-being when you return with me.”

“Zach, I—”

“You haven’t decided yet, I know,” he says quickly. “And I don’t mean to rush you at all. I want you to feel right about our mate bond, about our future together.”

He turns to me fully and takes my hand. Our bond quivers, in a good way. Touching this man feels like coming home to where I’ve always been meant to be.

“I’ve already told you I don’t care about the throne,” he says. “And that’s true. Lucas thinks my father is ill, and that he might make his decision soon. I intend to accept the succession, but I’m going to pass it on to my brother within minutes. You and I can live as we please. We can stay in the castle, or we can get ourselves a quiet farm like this one to live peacefully. But this will only happen with your full consent, mate bond or not.”

I lick my lower lip on instinct, his mouth only inches from mine.

“Maddie,” he says, my name sounding like music on his lips. “Will you come back with me to the castle?”