“Okay, let’s fight,” Eddie says, that same look on his face as when he fought Mr. Barrow, but this is different. He’s shaking with anger, and I hope he knows there is no real competition between the two. At least not in my eyes.
“Jackson,” I yell, and he’s grabbing one of Milo’s arms as Leo is grabbing the other. I’m not sure what the plan is here, but we can’t kill him here.
“I’ve been waiting to kill this fucker since he fucked with your tea,” Eddie says. He shrugs my hand off of him, but I step in front of Eddie, blocking him from getting any closer to Milo.
“By Layla’s request, this one is mine,” James’s voice comes through from behind me. I whip around, now standing protectively in front of Eddie as James gets closer to our little group.
“I was wrong, Willow. I shouldn’t have left you. I know now. I’m your mate,” Milo says, trying to get closer to me, but James pushes past us to grab him by the neck.
“You’re not my mate, Milo. You never were.” My words come out like quick fire, but I’m more focused on the shaking of Eddie’s shoulders. “Layla, we need to get to Layla.”
“She’s at the Pack house. She’s fine. I made sure,” James says.
“Make it hell, James,” Jackson says with a sneer. His eyes glow with anger too, and he appears to want the honor of killing Milo himself. Which isn’t too surprising because he’s an Alpha, and if he views Layla as Pack, that’s enough for his protective instinct to take over and for retribution to outweigh familial ties.
“My pleasure.”
“Willow! How could you let your mate be treated like this? When did you become so heartless?” Milo shouts as James drags his flailing body away. Milo isn’t weak by any means, but he’s obviously been relaxing since faking his death, while James has muscles that would scare any sane being.
“Don’t you dare call her anything, you piece of shit,” Eddie roars as he goes to lunge, but I beat him to it.
“I’d do anything for my mate. I’d deal with anything, fight through hell and earth for my true mate, and that’s not you. It can’t be. The Moon Goddess isn’t as cruel as to pair anyone with you,” I say, grabbing Eddie’s arm and pulling him to me. Eddie is my true mate, whether or not he accepts me.
“How do you know?” Milo shouts, and he gets the attention of other shoppers. I see some want to come help Milo, but others are rushing through the store to get out. A shifter brawl is never fun from the sidelines.
I do something I shouldn’t, but I do it anyway. I grab Milo’s wrist and bring my canines forward. His skin rips around my teeth as I bite him. I pierce his skin, drawing blood, but the bloodstream doesn’t make it past his wrist as the healing process has already kicked in with his shifter instincts so close to the surface. Eddie’s hand slips from around my hips, and James step back, forcing my teeth to rip more of Milo’s skin.
My bear definitely enjoys ripping into his skin, but she hated biting him as a mark of mates. She wanted his blood, but not in this way.
“You’re already healing, Milo. In a few moments, you’ll be completely healed, and my bite will have disappeared. You’re not my mate,” I say, spitting the blood in my mouth onto the floor, which instantly makes me want to clean it up, but I have bigger things to worry about.
I turn to Eddie, whose eyes are wide and mouth is dropped open. I know I shouldn’t have bitten Milo, and I hope he doesn’ttake it the wrong way, but now he’ll know I’m serious when I say he’s my fated mate.
“There’s no question whether that monster is my mate or not,” I say as my bear retreats and gives me full control. I watch Eddie carefully, trying to evaluate if I messed everything up.
He closes his mouth as a small smile takes over his face. I hear Jackson let out a laugh as the yells of Milo pleading with James to let him go fade into the distance. Eddie roughly grabs my arm and yanks me into a hug I couldn’t break even if I wanted to. I sob a sigh of relief as his scent surrounds me, and I finally peace. I hear Jackson and Leo’s footsteps leave as Eddie and I stand stuck in the aisle by the display of tea boxes.
“It’s over?” I ask. Were all my problems solved just like that?
“Willow?” Eddie says, shock dripping from his voice. His lips pressing against the top of my head, and his hold doesn’t loosen even an inch. “You bit him.”
“I knew it wouldn’t take,” I say, and I mean it. I knew there was no possible way my bite would take, and I wish that this would’ve been more common knowledge among shifters. Maybe Layla and I wouldn’t have gone through everything we had if we’d known.
“You bit him,” he mutters. He runs a hand calmingly up and down my back, and I’m not sure if it’s for me or for him, but I need it all the same.
“It healed, just like your mom’s did. Milo’s not my mate.”
27
WILLOW
I’m notsure what to do now. I’m not sure what reality is and is not. Am I truly free now? Is everything done with? With one look at Eddie, I am ready to go home. I want to disappear with a good book, a hot mug of tea, and blankets with my fan on high.
I need to see Layla. That’s what I need to do. With that realization, I suddenly can’t get out of the store fast enough.
“Oh my goddess Layla, she’s safe. I have to go see her. Let’s go,” I say as I grab Eddie’s arm and rush us out of the store. Mentioning Layla must have brought him out of a daze, because he’s rushing as fast as I am now as we dash towards the car. He starts the car, and we break all sorts of laws trying to get back home.
All I can think as we race off is that she’s actually okay. Oh my goodness, she’s okay.
