“Fresh air would do me some good.”
The morning air was cold and crisp. I tied my sweater closed and walked beside Hope. “I’m sorry to hear what happened,” she began. “But I’m not sorry to see you back so soon and to know you’ll be with us permanently. No matter what type of relationship you were in with him, breaking up is never easy.”
She led us down a stone path past the greenhouse and a few smaller buildings. “I thought I knew him, and maybe I did, but I didn’t understand his motivations or what drove him enough to realize he’d sacrifice me if I got in the way of realizing them.”
Hope’s mouth tightened. “Every shifter is different, just like humans, but wolves are a different breed. Caelan has long been known to be ruthlessly driven. None of us thought he’d go so far. Not even Rowan.”
“They’ve been friends for many years, haven’t they?”
Hope hesitated before admitting, “Yes. They were.”
I stumble over a stone. Hope’s hand reaches out to steady me. “Were?”
“Declan and I know what you are to each other.”
At my look, she held up a hand. “Almost are, I should say. Rowan is fiercely protective of his people, but you…” Hope shook her head. “The bond might not be completed, but Rowan has always treated you like something precious. Now with the bond almost completed, he would never allow anyone to speak ill of you. Not even another Lord.”
I’m terrified for him. Wherever I go, trouble seems to follow. “He doesn’t need to protect me.”
Hope and I turned a sharp corner hidden behind a copse of trees to reveal an adorable dark blue cottage. I sucked in a breath and stopped in my tracks. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
The Omega laughed. “He had it built a year or so ago, but no guests have stayed inside.”
I frowned. “Whyever not? I could be the perfect witch of the woods living in this thing.”
Hope grinned and opened the maroon door. I ran my fingers over the wood and gasped in delight. “The paint is non-toxic.”
Hope glanced at me in surprise and laughed. “I forget what you are sometimes. Yes. The entire house is all eco-friendly.”
I walked inside and fell in love. The floors are gnarled and natural, sealed with Tung oil. “Oh my gosh.” I dropped to my knees and ran my fingers over the floor. “Tung oil sealant?”
“Rowan had that done a few months ago.” Hope watched me as her words finally registered.
I looked up. “Did he suspect I might be here one day?”
Hope shrugged. “More hope than anything.”
Stunned, I sat down on the floor and let out a long breath, but I was having trouble breathing. My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath rasped in my lungs. Everything was overwhelming. My fingers shook and my entire body trembled.
Hope came to her knees beside me, one hand resting on my back. “Evie. Breathe. You’re having a panic attack.”
My vision pinpointed to a small circle, and stars bloomed behind my eyes.
“Put your head between your knees,” she instructed.
When I obey, the first tears leak from my eyes. Hope rubbed small circles over my shoulders. A sob escaped me, and once it started, I couldn’t seem to stop. Tears dripped on the floor, and hoarse, devastated noises ripped from my throat.
“Oh Evie,” Hope whispered. She gathered me in her arms, and a torrent of grief poured from me, my broken heart finally safe enough to break. I hate that it’s with Hope, and I hate that she’s seeing me in one of my most vulnerable moments, but grief never works on a timeline.
I had no idea how long I sat there, sobbing my heart out, but eventually the body holding me changed. Strong arms lifted mefrom the floor and cradled me against a muscled chest, a deep voice murmuring words of comfort against my hair.
I clutched Rowan’s shirt and buried my face in his chest. And still, the tears kept coming. My voice grew hoarse, and yet I still can’t stop. My body had finally stopped listening to my commands and started purging the poison I’d been holding in for so long.
Rowan’s hand stroked through my hair, his lips pressed against my temple, and he pulled me closer into his body as he sat down on the couch. “Get it out,” he whispered to me. “You’ve been so strong for so long, Evie. You don’t have to be anymore. You’re safe. I have you. There’s no one else but you and me here, and we don’t have anywhere else to be.”
I couldn’t even respond. My eyes burned, my throat dry. All my self-recrimination and doubt poured out in the form of hot tears, and no matter how much I wanted them to stop, they wouldn’t. After some time, Rowan re-adjusted us until we were lying down, and I curled against his body, arms wrapped tight around me.
My heartbeat finally began to slow, and my sobs turned into soft hiccups. My tears dried up, and exhaustion, both physical and emotional, seeped into my bones. But the poison was purged, and though my life hasn’t turned out quite like I thought it would, it hasn’t turned out bad.
