I shake my head. “No. There’s nothing to forgive. I made the choice to stay, and I don’t regret it. It all worked out in the end, did it not?”
Helga’s lips tremble when she smiles. “You have given enough to our pack, lad. You’ve honored your father’s wishes. Go now and know that he would be so very proud of you.”
“Would he?” A tear spills down my cheek, and Helga wipes it away with her thumb.
“Of course, and so would your mother. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
I pull her close, hiding my face in her neck. I take a few deep breaths, trying to hold myself together. “I love you, Auntie.”
“I love you too,” she says, holding me tighter.
I never want to let her go, but now that she’s given me her blessing, I can forge a future with Soren free of guilt.
“Thank you for everything,” I say, brushing a kiss over her palm.
“Be well, Lyall. Be happy. That’s all I ask.”
A grin spreads over my face. “With Soren by my side, that will be all too easy.”
Despite the ache in my heart, a burden has fallen from my shoulders. Each step feels lighter, the air a bit sweeter.
Jamie and Anders wait for me by the boat. Jace hurries up to me. “Are you okay, Uncle Lyall?”
Smiling at his concern, I tousle his hair. “Aye, lad. I will be. But you have to promise me something?”
He straightens up, serious as can be. “What?”
I point to Anders and Jamie. “You look after those two for me, aye?”
He salutes me, making me laugh. “You got it! Have fun with Soren, and…” He swallows, eyes bright. “And we’ll see you two a lot, right?”
I tug him into a hug. “Of course you will.”
“Ready to go?” Anders looks me over, no doubt scenting the tears still drying on my cheeks.
“I am.”
He swings an arm around my shoulders and leads me to the boats. “Then let’s not keep your mate waiting.”
“How’d it go?” Soren’s hand is warm in mine. Central Park is busy even in the evening. Folks walk the trails together,laughing uproariously and talking far too loudly. The setting sun casts its reflection over the lake, where ducks paddle and dive for food.
“Hard,” I say with a sigh. “I wanted to tell them so badly. My aunt knew. She had a vision that I was leaving.”
Soren’s fingers grip mine. “Was she angry?”
I give his hand a reassuring kiss. “No. She wished me well.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
I don’t know how to answer. My heart aches, and telling it this is for the best doesn’t help. “I just need time.”
Soren’s quiet, picking at some peeling paint on the bench’s armrest.
“Listen to me.” I take his chin between my fingers and make him look at me. “I love them, and I’ll always wish things could have been different. No matter how much it hurts, I would make the same choice I made tonight again if it meant being with you, Soren.”
He blinks, eyes damp, lips curling into a smile. “I love you.”
I knew love could hurt, but I never knew it could hurt so achingly sweet as this.
