Rhett and his father had become closer as well. Evidently, fighting with their pheromones against the sirens had been the trigger in developing a relationship. I think it was because his father finally saw how great Rhett was, and while he was too late, I thought it was a good thing for both of them to have that relationship.
Damien's parents had been hovering over him ever since he’d let it slip about the decapitation at the dig site, which I understood completely. It made me sick to remember the event, and I encouraged Winnie’s desire to baby him—much to his distaste. And he made it a point to punish me after they left each time—and I definitely wasn’t complaining.
Rowan’s rules about pain with Damien and me had been forfeited, much to the guys’ displeasure.
Trixie and Norman had also made it official. She’d been struck with a bolt of magic from a necromancer during the battle, and Norman witnessed it. Instead of helping her, he just marked her as his mate immediately. It was unexpected, and she was so angry at first. But when she told me, I saw the love and excitement shining in her eyes.
Dad and I had been rebuilding our relationship as well. We didn’t shy away from the bad things that had happened during our separation. Rhett had told us it would make us closer. He was right. I finally had my dad back, and it was amazing.
Not to mention, ever since the war, my mates and I had been around each other constantly with little interruption. Rowan had shut down the academy for two months, and he was working on restructuring the purpose into being an academy to keep the peace—much like the goals of the Supernatural Council. The hierarchy was officially banned, and all supernaturals—humans included—were seen on the same level.
“One more week, fledgling,” Rowan murmured, sticks crunching beneath our feet. His hand covered my eyes as he and the rest of my mates led me through the forest.
“Make it two weeks,” I whined. He’d kept his word. He took a month off of everything to rest, and I was more than grateful for the uninterrupted time with him and the rest of my mates.
“How about this,” Rowan started with a chuckle before coming to a stop and lifting his hand from my eyes. “One week of absolutely nothing but you and all seven of your mates making our home in this cabin?”
My eyes fluttered open to take in the clearing within the Bestial Forest that Rowan had showed me back when I battled dark magic within me. In the center of it, a large log cabin sat.
The cabin was beautiful, and the wind rustled through the forest around us as a pine and earthy scent hit my nostrils, and I swallowed hard.
I turned to look at them. Each one had a blinding smile on their face, and my heartbeat echoed in my skull. “This is amazing. Truly amazing. You built this for me. For all of us.”
“I cut down the trees needed to make the logs,” Damien bragged. “And I put them together.”
“With all of our help,” Kian reminded him, and he chuckled.
“My telekinesis made it easy to do most of the work.”
They rolled their eyes at him.
“That's not all,” Rhett said before he dropped his pants.
I sucked in a sharp breath, and the guys rolled their eyes before doing the same.
A small squeak left my lips before I noticed what they were showing me. On each of their thighs was a white mark of a fox with iridescent flakes around it, identical to my own mark.
“We wanted to do this as a symbolism. You’re ours, Wren. But we are also yours,” Rhett explained.
Tears flooded my eyes. “Thank you.”
Thorn reached out and encased my tears in ice before flicking them off my cheek. “I love you, Kit. For as long as I've known you, you've worried about the future, and you've worried about being alone. How do you feel now?”
“I feel blessed that I've had you almost my whole life and that we ended up here.” I kissed his cold lips softly.
“And how do you feel about me, little bird?” Damien pulled me away from Thorn and cupped my cheeks as his lips descended upon mine. He bit down on my lip until it drew blood, and he took away the pain with a moan.
“Like I’ve found someone to push my limits and watch me always. You make me feel safe.” I smiled at him.
Rhett sucked in a breath as he wrapped a hand around my throat and tugged me from Damien to him. “I didn't believe in love, but you changed my mind about all of that, and I am so fucking grateful to face all of my fears about intimacy.”
His kiss was slow and sensual, but his grip on my throat was hard.
Then he stepped back, and Lachlan took his place as air flooded my lungs. “You exceeded everything that I thought my mate would be, and more than that, you are the pack I always wished I had.” Lachlan’s kiss was hungry and possessive before he passed me to Kian.
“Just like Lachlan said, you are the family that I always wanted. I'm so grateful for you, sweetheart, and I love you.” He kissed my lips softly.
“I love you so much,” Alister growled as he gripped my hips and pulled me into him. “I became obsessed with you from the moment you stepped foot on the campus. And all you have done since is impress me. You’re so much stronger than anyone gives you credit for.” His fangs sliced into my lip as he kissed me and sucked the blood from it with a groan.
