“Why? Is there something wrong with it?” Harlow leveled her eyes with hers and touched her new mark on her neck that was on display with her hair pulled up. Hot as fuck.
Sophia beamed at her before stepping forward and hugging her, surprising us both. I knew Sophia would love Harlow, but I thought it would at least take a few minutes.
“There is everything right with it. Xavier deserves someone like you. You bear his mark, and you are incredibly strong. Not to mention gorgeous. Your eyes are beautiful,” she said, unwrapping herself from a frozen and suspicious Harlow.
I chuckled as Harlow answered, “Um, thank you. You’re Xav’s childhood friend right?”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes, and I have always wanted the best for him. You seem to be it. I heard about what you did to my sister.”
Harlow sucked air in through her toothy smile. “Oh, yeah. I’d say sorry, but I’m not. She needs to learn to keep her mouth shut.”
Blaine walked into view and wrapped an arm around Sophia. “Hell yes. I agree with that.”
Sophia giggled. “Yeah, and I wouldn’t expect you to put up with her cattiness. It’s nice to meet you, Harlow.”
Harlow eyed her up and down before a genuine smile blessed her features. “It’s nice to meet you too, Sophia.”
I blew out a breath of relief. Sophia was important to me. The woman had been there through the thick of it when Olivia had died, and I was with her through all the shit with Nolan. Minus the whole sleeping with her thing. That was water under the bridge between us once our mates showed.
Harlow was my everything now, and I wanted them to get to know each other. Harlow didn’t have friends, and Sophia could be that for her.
“Xavier, you hit the jackpot with this one!” Sophia punched my shoulder, and I winced. I forgot how strong she was.
“I sure did.” I slipped my hand in Harlow’s. “It’s been what, over a year since I’ve seen you all?”
“And over three years since I left this pack.” She leaned into Blaine. “Sometimes you have to leave to get your happy ending.”
“I get that.” I squeezed Harlow’s hand. “So, where’s Shiloh?” I asked about their son. He must’ve been two by now. I glanced down and noticed her swollen stomach. “Shit, how’d I miss that? You’re pregnant again? Congratulations guys.”
She laughed. “I was waiting until you noticed!”
Blaine placed a hand on her belly. “It’s a girl. Her name is Blair, and she’s due any day now.” Love was as clear in his eyes as it was the day they found each other.
“Shiloh is with my parents,” Sophia told us, and Blaine grunted. “Blaine’s not fond of anyone but me watching him, but they don’t get to see him often and Shiloh asked, so.”
“I figured Sophia and Harlow could get to know each other while we went to the meeting and devise a plan.” Blaine smirked at me.
Thank fuck for that too. I loved Soph, but she wasn’t fond of war—and we needed to take them down. Harlow could keep her occupied.
Harlow and Sophia opened their mouths to protest, but I cut them off. “We will run the plan by you, and if you don’t like something, we’ll talk about it. Why don’t you both just go enjoy the day?”
“Xav, I need to be a part of it.” Harlow’s lips thinned into a line.
“You will be. I promise. You will be by my side during the war, and we won’t be working separately.” I raised her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.
“Fine,” she said. “But remember all my magical usefulness.”
“Wouldn’t forget it.”
“Okay, but why don’t you want us to come?” Sophia glared at Blaine.
“You’re pregnant, Darlin’.” He cupped her face and kissed her pouty lips, and seconds later she melted into him.
We parted ways, and Sophia and Harlow left us to ourselves. Watching Harlow leave, even knowing she was still on pack territory was painful—something I’d never experienced with Liv.
“We’ve been mates for three years, but every time she leaves my side a piece of me goes with her,” Blaine said.
“I was just thinking the same.” I ran a hand down my face as he came out of the office and we headed toward the meeting room.
Blaine hesitated before opening his mouth. “Just for the record, I think it’s damn time to give Lockhart what he deserves.”
We were never close, but I respected the hell out of the guy. He was strong and ruthless as fuck when he needed to be. He was an Alpha I was thankful to have had on my side.
Harlow and I would get our vengeance.
TWENTY ONE
Harlow
The walk out of the packhouse was silent but not awkward. Sophia’s energy was calming and put me at ease as we walked among the curious eyes of wolves.
“Can I take you somewhere?” she asked.
I shouldn’t be so trusting of another, but Xavier trusted her. I’d be cautious, but I couldn’t see a reason not to go with her.
I nodded, and she whisked us through the woods and to the cutest cottage nestled in beside a waterfall. The white water cascaded down a series of rocky outcrops that flowed on its way down the wide river.
“There is a power in the tranquility. This is a place of stillness even with the roar of the water. I could watch the streaming water in my sleep, a beautiful infinite dream. This is where I came to live after my rejection. Away from the packhouse.” Sophia stared at the water in a deep trance as we stood on the back deck of the structure.
“I can relate.” Being isolated in the forest in my own little home had the same effect on me. I was banished, rejected from my own coven in the worst way I could’ve fathomed. I’d empathized with her without my
