Chapter Sixty-Nine

It was the most surreal experience of my life, which was saying something considering everything I’d been through over the past several months. I’d gone from a college student afraid she was going to fail out of school to sitting in a mansion, surrounded by family I never knew existed with powers I never knew were possible.

I thought things like this only took place in the books I liked to read. Even back then, when I didn't know shifters were real, I was drawn to them. There was no way I could have known the truth, but my instincts were always there.

We sat in the library, away from all the death, to regroup and process what had just happened. Like the fact that I was now the Alpha thanks to my bloodline, but I kept changing the subject back to my moms. Both of them.

My bio-mom sat close on the couch, while the mom who’d raised me clasped my hand on my other side. Aimes stood behind me with a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“Maybe he just wanted to watch me suffer for the rest of his life,” my bio-mom explained, setting down the tea which Sorcha had prepared in the kitchen. “Or maybe he kept me alive because he still loved me in his own twisted way. He did visit me every day on the very bottom floor of the dungeon.”

“The bottom floor,” I breathed. “How many floors are there?”

“Three,” Aimes said gently, squeezing my shoulder. “I never thought to go down there and explore. I’m sorry.”

I shook my head. She’d been with me, right here, this whole time, often just two floors away from where I’d been chained to the stone wall myself. I’d never once felt her presence because our wolves had been charmed and spelled to stay hidden. Still, it made me sick that she’d been down there so long. I knew it made Aimes feel terrible, too, but none of this was his fault.

“But when all the wolf-shielding charms and spells were broken,” she continued, “I knew it was only a matter of time before Sarah found me. The Moon witch/wolf connection was still there and just as strong as ever.”

“I felt you, too,” Sarah explained with a teary smile. “I knew you were close.”

“This is all so much.” Aimes squeezed my shoulder. He hadn’t left my side since Connolly took his final breath. “Eventually, I’ll be able to put all of this together, but…wow.”

“You have plenty of time. There’s no rush anymore. Nobody’s going to hurt us or you.” My bio-mom growled a little, like her wolf was close to the surface. “Not anymore. Not ever again.” She turned her attention to Aimes. “You got her this far and protected her all the way. That means a lot. Thank you.”

“Protecting her is all I want to do.” His fingers caressed my neck and brushed the mated mark behind my ear, making it tingle.

“What happens next?” I blurted. That was the question at the forefront of my mind, plaguing me. “Am I supposed to, like, lead everybody now? I don't know how to do that.”

“Well…” my bio-mom began.

She and my aunt exchanged a look, both of them shrugging. It seemed like they had the same mental bond I had with Aimes, which made sense with the two of them being connected so closely. Finally, the witch and the wolf were back together again.

“There is a way you could avoid taking your place as Alpha,” my bio-mom admitted. “Aimes could challenge you. He is the former Alpha’s adopted son, after all. He’s not blood-linked, but the role could still be his.”

“Like a fight? I don't want to fight him,” I was quick to insist.

Aimes chuckled. “Not going to happen.”

The mom who raised me grinned. “You could surrender during the fight, and that would be it. He wouldn't have to lay a hand on you—or a paw, as it were.”

“But.” My bio-mom extended her hand, palm facing up. “That's not the way I've seen it. Your aunt tells me we share the gift of sight. Have you seen anything of your future yet?”

“Just the past. I saw you,” I added with a smile.

“I saw you, too.” Smiling softly, she curled her fingers, beckoning me. “Here. Place your hand in mine. You'll see what I see.”

For some reason, I was almost afraid. She sensed my hesitation for what it was and shook her head slightly, love radiating from her eyes, from her smile, from all of her. I had never felt so wrapped in love in all my life.

“There's nothing to be afraid of,” she whispered. “Just try. Trust me.”

On my other side, my other mom touched my arm and nodded, smiling encouragingly.

I took a deep breath and reached out.

The moment our palms touched, I felt that same sizzling sensation I'd felt back in the ballroom. It was warm, nice. Like sinking into a warm bath. It worked its way through me, loosening any last bit of tension my body clung to in the aftermath of so much trauma.

I closed my eyes and let the feeling wash over me from head to toe. That was when my vision cleared, and I was taken away from the library.

I was in the ballroom again, only it had been cleaned up, repaired, and was full of people. There was happiness, satisfaction in the air. A sense of unity and growth. Reunions, people hugging, crying, laughing. Building the pack.

I smiled in approval. All of it felt…right.

My mom's voice rang out in my head. This is what you were meant for. No more division. No more hiding, no more loss. All of us will be behind you, supporting you. You need only be who you are as you fulfill your destiny.

Tears rolled down my cheeks when I opened my eyes. “Is all of that really going to happen?”

“It's up to you,” she pointed out. “But yes, that's what I've always seen. Years ago, before you were even born, I knew what you were meant for. We're going to thrive again under your leadership. I am already so proud of you.”

“This is so overwhelming,” I admitted.

“One step at a time,” my other mom murmured, taking my other hand. She exchanged a glance with my bio-mom, then stood. “We have to find rooms for ourselves, and you’ll want to get cleaned up. Ostera and Penelope drove out to pick up enough for all of us, so we’ll let you know when the food’s ready.”

I thanked them, staying put on the couch until they left. Aimes circled around to sit with me.

Now I knew what it felt like to live through a natural disaster. That was the closest thing I could imagine. The shock, the exhaustion, the sense of aimlessness. I didn’t know what to do next, where to go.

I did the only thing that made sense—lean into Aimes’s arms. As he held me protectively, we went to our room, where Aimes turned on the shower so hot that steam billowed over the top of the glass wall.

We quickly undressed, and he held the shower door open for me, his mesmerizing smile lighting me up until I felt like I was glowing. Without a word, he tipped my head back, letting the water soak my hair. Then he began massaging shampoo into my hair. I sighed at the pure bliss of his touch.

This was what I needed. To be taken care of. He understood that without being told, working my hair into a lather before turning me back toward the shower’s spray so I could rinse. While I did, he soaped up a cloth and washed me, so carefully and with meticulous detail that it almost hurt my soul.

Only then did he speak, his voice soft. “What else do you need? What can I give you?”

“You,” I whispered back. “Just you.”

“I can do that.” The love in his eyes set my heart on fire.

In the middle of so much confusion and worry, there was the two of us, the only thing that made perfect sense.

“Do you think I can do this?” I asked, leaning against him as he ran the cloth over my shoulders and back.

“You can do anything, Harlow.” He kissed the top of my head.

“So long as I have you next to me, right?” I tipped my head back to look up at him.

“You will always have me next to you,” he vowed in a solemn voice. “Forever. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

Sighing contently, I wrapped my arms around him.

I had my fated mate.

I had two moms. I had my wolf and my Moon coven.

I had everything I needed.

There was nothing left for me to do but take my place as Alpha and fulfill my destiny.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Let’s do this.”