The morning light bathed them as they loved her again—slow, loving, forever.
****
The scent of coffeedrifted through Ursula’s kitchen, mingling with the buttery warmth of toast and the faint spice of sausage frying in the pan.Morning light slanted through the big windows, catching on the mismatched mugs and bowls spread out along the table.It was a cozy chaos, the kind of kitchen that felt lived in and loved.
Saffron padded in barefoot between her men, still feeling the delicious ache of the night before.Nolan immediately raided the toast, placing a slice on a plate for her.Isaac poured her a cup of coffee without asking, and Willow was perched at the table, laughing at some story Jacob was telling about the time Liam had gotten his foot stuck in a fence as a kid.
“Don’t exaggerate,” Liam grumbled good-naturedly, buttering his toast.“It wasn’t my whole foot.”
Jacob smirked.“You screamed like it was.”
Willow giggled, pressing a kiss to Liam’s cheek.“You poor thing.My big, brave wolf taken down by a fence.”
The room filled with laughter.Even Saffron smiled, warmth blooming in her chest.This was what they had all fought for—a table full of voices, of family.
Nolan and Isaac added their own stories, dredging up memories of childhood mischief.Isaac leaned forward, grinning.“Nolan once tried to jump from the barn roof with nothing but a sheet for a parachute.He hit the haystack so hard we thought he’d snapped in half.”
Nolan jabbed a finger at him.“And you’re one to talk!Isaac here set fire to his own trousers trying to impress Mary Ellen with a ‘magic trick.’He nearly burned the barn down.”
The table roared with laughter.Willow clutched her sides, tears streaming.“Please tell me you kept the trousers,” she gasped.
Jacob snorted.“I bet he kept them as evidence of his stupidity.”
Isaac groaned, hiding his face in his hands.“They mysteriously disappeared, thank you very much.”
“Yeah, into the fire,” Nolan shot back, grinning.
The laughter rolled on until Liam, smirking, decided to even the score.“Don’t forget Jacob.He once got lost chasing a rabbit and had to be carried home, muddy and bawling.”
Jacob’s face reddened.“I was six!”
Willow squealed with laughter, wiping her eyes.“My big, fierce wolf ...taken down by a bunny rabbit.”
“Shut up,” Jacob muttered, but he was laughing, too.By the time they were done, everyone was bent over with laughter, tears streaking their faces and the kitchen warm with joy.
But across from her, Ursula was quieter, listening more than speaking, her dark eyes distant.Saffron caught the shadow in her expression and leaned closer.“What is it, sister?”she asked softly.“You’re too quiet for a room this loud.”
Ursula gave a small smile.“I’m fine.”
Saffron arched a brow.“You forget who you’re talking to.I was head of the coven for a reason.I know my witches.You’ve been promised mates, haven’t you?”
Ursula’s lips parted, but no denial came.Just the faintest flicker of longing.
Saffron squeezed her hand under the table.“They’ll come.The Goddess keeps her word.But first—we have work to do.Marcus is gone, but his Council isn’t.There are others still out there.And we have to find our fourth.”
Nolan wiped his mouth on a napkin.“And the druid stone.Don’t forget about that.”
Saffron froze, frowning.“The what now?”
“The Goddess told us about it,” Isaac explained, exchanging a look with his brother.“We saw her the night we learned we were shifters, and about our past.She told us about a stone—one that would help to save our mate and potentially unite another with her mates.”
Saffie did not miss the way Ursula jerked beside her, but none of the others noticed.
Willow’s eyes widened.“You spoke to the actual Moon Goddess?”
Saffron blinked at them, deadpan.“And you didn’t think to mention that sooner?”
Nolan winced.“We were busy?”
