She also wanted to spend a few more hours alone with O’Malley before they went back to their separate lives. For that was what they would have to do once they got back to civilization.
She needed to go and talk to her father, while O’Malley had his grand opening to prepare for. Karl and Wiroo were lucky. With Hannah gone, Wiroo would not have to worry about anyone or anything trying to keep her and her mate apart.
If Hannah hadn’t met O’Malley before she came here, she might not have fully understood how Wiroo felt. But Hannah had met O’Malley, her mate, and she did understand.
It was time for Hannah to let go of her past, of her brother, at least for a short time. It was time for Hannah to embrace her own future.
Chapter Twenty-One – O’Malley
“You seem happier.” O’Malley made his observation as they reached the point where the trail had split. They had made the right choice to follow the game trail. They had found what they were looking for even though the outcome wasn’t exactly the one they had hoped.
They were not returning triumphant. They were returning empty-handed. Hannah was surprisingly okay about it.
“I have spent most of my adult life worrying about Karl.” She paused and inhaled deeply as she studied the view below. “Do you know how exhausting it is to feel responsible for other people’s happiness when you have no real control over their lives?”
O’Malley hid a smile. “I have some idea.”
She sighed. “I have to let it go.” Hannah turned around and looked at him. “Karl is happy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for him. And he has found that happiness.”
“And you?” O’Malley asked.
“Have I found happiness?” Hannah tilted her head back and looked up at him. “I’m on my way.” She swung around and took a couple of steps down the trail. “I think if I follow this trail, I might find it.”
“That way leads to dragons.” He followed her, not wanting to let her out of his sight. She was in no danger here. No predator was waiting to attack. Although, the thought of her falling and hitting her head and forgetting him was enough to give him nightmares.
“I was thinking of something a little more…intimate.” She threw him a teasing glance over her shoulder.
“Intimate?” He hurried to keep up with her. Hannah seemed to have renewed energy and was setting a fast pace as they descended the trail.
“Yeah. I thought a last meal by firelight next to the waterfall. That is where you asked Kelos to land, isn’t it?” She turned her attention back to the trail.
“It is. It’s easy for him to find, he can sense the water and hear the sound of the waterfall. It’s also secluded enough for him to land unseen.” O’Malley liked the idea of them spending their last few hours alone eating and talking. Before they rejoined the outside world.
Before we go our separate ways, his cougar added unhelpfully.
O’Malley didn’t answer. He wanted to enjoy their time together and not think about the future. For now, this trail they walked was about living in the present. It was just the two of them, a cougar and his mate here on the trail.
Hannah also seemed lost in her thoughts. She barely spoke as they continued. O’Malley wished he could read her mind and know what she was thinking. Was she focused on her father and how he would take the news, or was she trying to figure out how to tell O’Malley she didn’t have room for a relationship right now?
He could scent the water before they reached the tumbling falls. The spray from the waterfall hitting the pool below made the air moist and he licked his lips, tasting the clean water.
Hannah rushed forward as she recognized the section of the trail. The faint roar of the tumbling water reached O’Malley as they practically ran along the uneven ground. He had to hold onto the world as his cougar fought for control. He wanted this one last moment with Hannah before they parted.
And they would part. He accepted that now. If only for a short time, they would have to go their own way. Hannah would go back to her father and he would go to his bar.
If she asked him, he would go with her. But she wouldn’t ask. Breaking the news about Karl to her father might be made worse by the presence of a stranger.
“It’s even more beautiful than I remembered.” Hannah half-turned, her smile so bright it was as if the early summer sun had peeked out from behind the clouds and shone down on him.
“You don’t have the worry about Karl weighing you down.” O’Malley glanced at Hannah, her smile had slipped, and guilt twisted in his gut. He’d shattered the moment.
“I’m still worried about him. In some ways, things haven’t changed a whole lot. The only difference is I now know where he is.” She dodged around a fallen tree trunk and broke out into the open, the view of the waterfall was majestic.
“He’s safe. You know that. You’ve seen it for yourself.” O’Malley reached out and took her hand, pulling her back toward him. “Let it go. For now, for today, let it go.” He brushed his fingertips across her forehead, his touch as light as the spray from the waterfall.
“Let it go and enjoy my time with you here.” She glanced at the waterfall and then turned to look at him. “Sometimes letting go is the hardest thing.”
“It is, but you’ll feel lighter. Things won’t feel so heavy on your shoulders. And it’s not as if I’m saying forget about it all forever, I’m not asking you to walk away from your family. Just to let it sit in the back of your mind for a few hours. Since there is nothing you can do to change anything right now.” He lowered his head and kissed
