A knock on the door has me turning, watching my love walk inside followed by Ryder. “Lily, I want to show you something. Just remember I won’t hurt you.” Merick says as he walks further into the room.
My best friend stands up and grabs onto me. Ryder moves to the side and right in front of Lily when Merick shifts into a wolf. She doesn’t move, in fact, she doesn’t react at all.
“See he’s not going to hurt you.” I walk toward him and wrap my arms around his furry neck nuzzling his face. His tongue licks at my face making me laugh. “Lil, come here, it’s safe I promise.”
I watch, horrified as my best friend's eyes roll back in her head and her body crumples, except she doesn’t hit the ground because Ryder is suddenly in front of her, catching her before she hits the ground.
“Well, shit,” I whisper.
Merick
“Get off me, you bloodsucking demon.” Lily swipes at Ryder as he lowers her to the bed. She attempts to get up the very second he releases her, but he grabs her waist bringing her back to the center of the mattress.
“Demon, no,” he chuckles as she again does her best to attempt to distance herself. She is getting nowhere and Taryn and myself watch in disbelief as Ryder handles her as if he’s been doing the very same thing for years. “Your blood does smell delicious though.”
I try not to laugh when Lily’s eyes widen in horror and she shrinks back against the headboard. “Don’t worry sweetheart, I’d never partake unless you offered.”
“Well,” she whispers in a tone much less confident than her previous one. “I’m not offering.”
“Shame.” When he winks at her I know he is toying with her. I also see the gleam in his eyes as he looks her over appreciatively. Not like she is a meal, but definitely like he wants to spend some quality time devouring her.
“Taryn,” Lily says her name, though she doesn’t once take her eyes off Ryder, “this is crazy, all of this is completely insane.”
“Lil,” Taryn places her hand on her friend's leg and that's when she breaks the stare with Ryder.
“You have to know how this all sounds. Tell me you see the insanity of this?”
I watch as Taryn watches her best friend. I can only imagine the things roaming around in her mind. The fear of losing her friend, how to make her believe and accept the things we are telling her.
A part of me wants to tell Ryder that we should leave the ladies alone to sort through this, but I say nothing. Ryder does not move, watching Lily closely. Obviously not trusting her. Though I don’t believe for a second she will hurt Taryn, I am undeniably thankful that Ryder is so cautious around my love.
“You don’t think that in the beginning I wasn’t skeptical?” Taryn looks from her friend to me and I offer her a smile. Remembering back to the time I first shared who I truly was. Picturing the disbelief in her eyes, how she feared me makes me relive that pain it caused in my chest. I never want to feel those feelings again. “I thought I was losing my mind. Thought that I was insane myself when I first saw Merick in his shifter form.”
Looking back at her friend she slides in closer, ensuring that they are looking into one another's eyes. “It is crazy, unbelievable even, but it's true. You’ve seen it now for yourself and no matter how hard you try to pretend it didn't, nothing can erase it.”
Taryn takes in a slow even breath, and I recognize the move as her way of attempting to calm herself. I want to go to her, soothe her and reassure her that no matter what I will always be here no matter the outcome.
“This is my life,” it's barely above a whisper and my heart breaks for her. “It’s the life of my child and the man I love. I need you to accept that, because more than anything I don’t want to lose you either.”
The very second the light glistens against the single tear that drips from Taryn’s eye and flows down her cheek I can no longer remain at a distance. Hurrying across the guestroom I round the end of the bed and sit at her side. Moving in behind her I wrap my arms around her and pull her back to me. Resting my lips to her ear I whisper the words I know she needs to hear.
“I love you, more than anything in this world. You are my life.”
When she relaxes in my embrace, I look past her to her friend and see the moment of clarity as it settles over Lily. She sees it, the love I have for her best friend. I have to believe she understands what Tayrn and my child truly mean to me.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Lily reaches out and places her hand over Taryn’s, offering her a reassuring squeeze. “So, you’re in love with a wolf, stranger things have happened, right?”
If Taryn hadn’t laughed I may have remained worried. But she moves away from me and two ladies hug each other, whispering things only the two of them can hear. I know though things are still fresh, the two of them will be okay and that makes me happy.
I stare out the large picture window and watch Taryn and Lily sitting on the top steps of the back deck looking out over the expanding backyard. They laugh, and talk. At times even shed a few tears.
“That woman,” Ryder says as he steps up to my side. “Damn.”
“Ryder.”
“What?” he chuckles, “I’m just saying.” His smile is wide, while he stares out at Lily.
“Do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Don’t.” The two of them I imagine would
