“Callie,” Conall warned before heading over to collect a sleeping Brodie.
Nee finally noticed her parents had arrived and jumped up to run at Thea and throw her arms around her. “Mummy, we made cookies with Aunt Callie. She said mine were the best!”
Her aunt chuckled. “I said they were the best you’ve made. I would never show favoritism like that.” Then she mouthed at Thea, “They were the best. Dinnae eat the others.”
Thea bit back her laughter and nodded before looking down at her daughter. “Why don’t you grab some to take home? Then say thank you to Aunt Callie and Uncle James for looking after you.”
It took a little while to wrangle the tired children, but Thea did so with gratitude in her heart.
They departed knowing they’d see each other in a few hours for the pack run.
Hours later, most of the pack undressed before a full moon. There were always those who forwent the pack run to look after the pack children. As Alpha and as his mate, Conall and Thea always partook of the pack run.
As the collective magic of the wolves tingled through her, Thea exulted as they all shouted as one, “Ceannsaichidh an Fhìrinn!”
The MacLennan motto: Truth Conquers.
Flying through the forest in wolf form, her mate by her side, Thea gave thanks to a beautiful life. Many years ago, she thought she’d spend her long existence miserable and alone. She’d never imagined a peaceful life buried in the Scottish Highlands with a fierce, loving family, a mate who excited and challenged her, and children who looked up to her and loved her unconditionally.
It was at once a quiet but extraordinary existence.
While it wasn’t easy, while they’d lost a lot and suffered great trauma and tragedy … Niamh had been right that brutal day five years ago. Grief did not exist without love. Having experienced the worst that life could offer, Thea knew how to appreciate the best.
Family.
Love.
Quiet moments of peace.
Running wild through the forests of Scotland, free and powerful.
Yes. Theirs was a happy life.
But then … they’dearneda very long, very happy life together.
Galway, Ireland
Rose didn’t know if it was the mating bond or if it was her preternatural senses, but anytime Fionn left their bed in the middle of the night, she eventually awoke, sensing his absence.
Sure enough, when her eyes adjusted to the dark, her hand swept over the mattress where his large, warm body should be and she realized he was gone.
But she knew just where to find him.
A sting of concern prickled her as it had almost every night for the past nine months. Getting out of bed, Rose’s feet hit the cold flagstone floors for two seconds before she tiredly conjured a pair of slippers. Their home, a castle Fionn called An Caomhnóir, wasn’t the most eco-friendly home in the world. During the summer days, the flagstone floors were a saving grace, but when the temperature fell at night, it was a differentstory. Technically, they could keep the castle at whatever temperature they wanted, but Rose was too tired to expel that much energy.
Leaving their large bedchamber, Rose walked sleepily down the hallway. The castle had two wings, and Fionn wanted everyone in one wing, keeping them close. Quietly opening the second doorway on the right, Rose peeked into the room. Moonlight spilled through the window, falling across the beautiful face of their daughter Saoirse. She insisted they leave her curtains open at night because she loved falling asleep to the sight of the moon and stars. In a few months, she’d turn five. The years had passed so swiftly since her birth.
Rose had known she was pregnant when she’d walked into battle that day in Edinburgh. It had been the most difficult decision of her life. However, she’d also known she was pivotal in the fight. And that if they’d lost, there would be no real future for their miracle child, anyway. Fionn had told her it was possible they’d have a child, but that it happened rarely for the fae, often taking decades, sometimes centuries. It was a miracle they’d fallen pregnant so soon.
Fionn had to abide by her wishes, though he’d been angry and terrified of losing another child.
Thankfully, it had all turned out right in the end. Six months after the battle, Saoirse was born. However, for the first year of her life, Fionn had woken in the middle of the night while their daughter slept to watch over her. He feared being away from her side. It had taken a lot of reassuring and talking for him to relax into parenthood alongside Rose.
But now they were back here again.
Rose blew a kiss into their daughter’s room and used her magic to shut the door without making a noise. She padded down the hallway to the next door on the left. It was already open.
Stopping in the doorway, Rose felt an ache of compassion score across her chest as she took in the sight of her mate and husband.
