By the time we arrive back at the clearing, it’s no surprise to see Earl and Darren in the corner, talking to Timoteo. I let go of Trevor and walk towards both of them purposefully. I refuse to let them see my unease.
Darren is closest. When I launch myself into his arms and hug him tightly, the anxiety in my chest lessens slightly. He welcomes my embrace and holds me tight against his chest. I drop a little kiss on the side of his neck and he huffs in pleasure against my hair. My heart twinges a little bit. These guys have gotten under my skin.
“Kiss me?” I ask and he, like Trevor and Bryan, immediately indulges me. His kiss is hotly tender, and his hands roam across my body openly. When I pull back, his eyes are hooded with lust and I smile as I press my open palm on his chest just above his heart. We lean our foreheads together for a brief moment before I sigh and pull away.
Earl eyes me warily as I approach him. I don’t give him a choice in the matter. I just wrap my arms around him and hug him tight, tucking my head into his chest and squeezing as hard as I can. He is stiff at first but soon his arms wrap around me and hold me. We stand like that, a moment frozen in time, until I finally loosen my grip and look up at him, tears threatening to spill down my cheeks.
He brings one hand up to cup my chin and drops the sweetest, most achingly tender kiss on my lips. Our first kiss was intended to conqueror and overwhelm, but this one is slow, gentle, and intense. It communicates the tension between us without using words and offers a reprieve amid all the chaos around me.
I will protect these men at all costs, just like they protect me.
I pull away and leave them all looking at me with various degrees of longing.
Walking to Timoteo, I beckon him to bend down so I can whisper in his ear.
“Can you make it so they can’t hear me?” I ask, urgently.
He looks at me for a long moment before he nods his head slightly and motions to Glenda and the witch in the blue coveralls to join us.
Waving his hand over his palm, he creates a transparent bubble and throws it up in the air. It flies upwards before exploding back down to earth to create a barrier between us and the guys.
I see Earl’s face the second he realizes it and my heart breaks more than it probably should.
He bangs on the barrier, demanding entrance. But it stands firm. His gaze is so stricken that I almost lose my nerve. The emotions on his face are raw and panicked. When his fist pounds against the invisible barrier, I wince and turn away. This is not how I wanted my evening to go.
“Is it a guarantee that the wolves will hurt them? If I don’t go?” I ask Glenda fiercely, turning my back to my guys so they can’t read my lips.
Glenda and the small witch exchange a heavy glance and Timoteo finally speaks up.
“Hurt them? Probably not physically, Miss. But they would lose you.”
A sharp burst of pain rockets through my body at the thought and I grit my teeth. “Then I’ll go. I’ll go to these fucking wolves and I’ll be presented. But I am not going in there without backup. I want a shifter with me and a witch.”
Everyone stares at me in surprise.
“You’ll go?” the small witch asks, “If your Pod means so much to you, why do you not claim them now and be done with the whole thing?”
She looks confused and I don’t blame her. It probably looks like a Big Romantic Gesture and in her world, that’s not something the mate does. The mate has all the power.
“I can’t claim them. I’ve only known them for two weeks. That’s a little fast for some sort of mystical marriage, don’t you think?” I hiss, ignoring the pangs of longing in my chest. It’s like four tiny strings have taken up residence in my body and they lead directly back to each of my guys. I can feel them tugging, pulling on me. But I won’t give in. I can’t. If this is the rest of my life, it will be on my terms.
Timoteo looks thoughtful, tapping his chin with his long fingers. “If you take Glenda and Asha, they will serve you well as witnesses and protectors. Asha is mated to two of the three council members and Glenda is an Elder. Their words carry a great deal of power and influence.”
Timoteo gestures to the small woman at his side who waves at me and I give her a nod. She smirks and I turn to Glenda.
“It will take more than a wolf beta to take me down, dearie,” She waves her hands at me and they have already sharpened into the lethal claws of a big cat.
I exhale. Well, alrighty then. Just one more thing left to do.
If I were a stronger person, maybe I could just walk away. But I’m not. I have to see them one more time.
Turning around, I feast my eyes on four of the most complicated men in my life and take a brief moment to memorize their faces. After a long moment, I turn back to Timoteo, my shoulders hunched over. Please don’t hate me guys. I don’t think I could bear it if you hated me.
“Get us out of here?”
He calls a big ball of energy to his hands and a bright red flame circle appears in the wall. Asha walks through it and Glenda takes my hand. Hand in hand we walk towards an uncertain future. This time I don’t look back. We just walk through the portal together and I bite my lip
