“I know,” I chuckle, throwing an arm over her shoulders and drawing her closer to my side. It takes every ounce of self-control not to kiss the top of her head and keep the hug casual. “It'll just be two friends having dinner. That's all. I promise.”
Willow looks up, her lips pursed as she nods timidly. I smile at her before she runs off to the crystal ball when Rissa calls her over.
Rissa and I exchange knowing nods before I leave the underground bunker, a silent promise to take care of Willow's emotional state by doing what I should have done a long time ago.
Show her that she can trust me again, and allow our relationship, our fated mate bond, to bloom from something we once shared.
Friendship.
Chapter 16 - Willow
Life is a strange thing, considering that only two weeks ago, I was a wolfless, useless omega in a pack that I could never call my own.
So much has happened since then, like becoming sub-alpha Thane's mate, and discovering that I'm a witch who's now harnessing her magic powers into a trap in the woods meant to keep Girdwood and the Snehvolk pack protected from the demons.
My brows knit tightly as I work to control my power, my temples burning from the strain until I'm able to slow down the pulse of magic that exudes from my palms. It turns to tiny flickers of light extending from my fingertips, until I'm able to draw the golden magic back. The energy pools into the back of my eyes, gathering in my chest and drawing out a deep exhale from my lips.
“Well done, Willow!” Rissa cheers as she comes over and flings her arms around me for a hug. “That was amazing!”
“You're making so much progress, sweetheart!” Aurora praises with a broad grin, while Yvonne takes her turn to hug me after Rissa.
Blushing profusely, I feel a smug smile curling my lips. Brooks lifts the amplified trap and throws me a wink.
“Nice one, Willow.” He turns to his mate, pressing a kiss on her cheek. “I'm gonna set this one up. Meet you at home?”
Rissa shakes her head. “I was thinking we'd go back to Aurora's place and have a bit of a break. If that's okay with you, Aurora.”
“Yeah, of course!” Aurora chirps and slips her arm through mine. “Elias and Dawson are babysitting the kids, so we might as well make the most of our alone time.”
“Unless Thane plans on snatching Willow away,” Yvonne drawls suggestively, and I giggle.
“Er—we're supposed to go out for dinner,” I say nervously, and the other women giggle.
“Oh, like a date?” Aurora wiggles her brows as we set off back to her house.
“No, not a date!” I defend, but can't stop the natural heat from creeping on my cheeks, betraying me. “We're just friends, okay? It's all about the prophecy and protecting the pack.”
“Right!” Rissa rolls her eyes as she goes ahead to the porch and opens Aurora's front door.
Yvonne leans in. “We've all been there, honey,” she admits in a whisper. “You don't have to hide anything from us.”
Aurora nudges my arm and smiles. “You can tell us all about it after a drink or two.”
We enter Aurora's house, and she proceeds to mix us some cocktails at the bar. Getting comfortable in the living room, I glance at the she-wolves, feeling a warmth wash over me that I've never felt before.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I belong somewhere, having made friendships with the other witches in this short time. A weight feels lifted off my shoulders, and as Aurora brings over the tray of vibrantly colored cocktails, I take mine and enjoy the soft ambience of our downtime.
“So…” Aurora turns to me, the conversation redirecting to what they were teasing me about outside, and a blush crawls over my face. “What's the deal with you and Thane?”
“Yeah, I don't buy the whole 'friends' thing,” Yvonne rolls her eyes as she makes air-quotations over the word.
“Thane and I have…history,” I mutter as I take another sip of my drink, popping the olive between my lips.
“That's why you left Snehvolk before?” Yvonne asks, and I nod before she continues, “I ran away when Dawson rejected me and had his child. So I kinda know how you feel.”
“Just how much history do you and Thane have?” Rissa probes with a mischievous smirk, and I giggle.
“Not enough to warrant how I've been acting since he saved me from Blood Claw,” I sigh heavily, my gaze dropping to the bracelet on my wrist. “I'm still a virgin.”
