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Their initial reaction hadn’t been what I was hoping to see, but they were as supportive as they could be despite how most of them didn’t know about my past with Rowan.
“He’s your fated mate,” Yara piped up, a smile wide across her ethereal face. “That’s so exciting! I had no idea.”
Very aware then that their reactions were partially because I only told River about Rowan, I let myself feel excited again. “I wanted to say something about it sooner, but I didn’t know how everyone would feel because of what happened.”
“If everyone in Rose Valley is wise, nobody will say anything against a fated match,” River said with a shrug. “You can’t get in the way of that.”
Everyone nodded at that, in complete agreement and understanding.
“What was Rowan’s reaction when you told him?” Alora asked, looking more dreamily at the thought.
My genuine smile pushed through from the memory, and I found myself relaxing more. “He was shocked, of course, but he’s so excited to meet our baby. He wants to do better than what he was exposed to.”
“I’m sure he will,” Sienna murmured supportively, letting me feel her encouragement through her gentle features.
“Do you think the baby will take after you or him?” Hayley asked.
I shrugged. “Why not both? We’ve never seen a shifting witch before.”
The girls laughed at that, riffing off the idea as we continued to chat.
Even as the conversation shifted to a more positive one, I couldn’t ignore the slight worry that they wouldn’t fully get over where Rowan came from and what his father did to Rose Valley. I wanted that connection between him and the damage to be dropped, but I knew it would take time and effort on his end, regardless of how I saw it from my perspective.
Rowan was a better guy than I previously gave him credit for, and I just hoped my friends could eventually see how great he really was.
Chapter 19 - Rowan
Those feel-good hormones pumped through me as my muscles strained from the workout I had just finished in the pack gym, feeling more like myself again. Kai had told me about the place and welcomed us to it.
After not lifting weights for some time, it was great to return to it.
Catching his breath still, Griffin tossed his shirt inside his gym bag and pulled it over his shoulder. He threw me a look at how unphased I was by the workout.
“Having your strength back must be nice,” he mumbled, half-teasing.
Gathering my things as well, I chuckled on the way toward the door. “It really is. Thankfully, nobody was here to watch, or else they might’ve started asking questions.”
I had caved and told Griffin about what happened after Willow and I got together. He was surprised and amazed to hear it, but he also mentioned how he thought something was different.
I was happier than I had been in months, but he chalked that up to how things were progressing with Willow.
“In all honesty, though, we won’t stop looking for an explanation and a cure until everyone is back to normal,” I said, stepping outside. Clapping a hand on his shoulder, I meant it. “You’ll get yours back, too. Somehow, it will happen.”
While Griffin had been mostly kidding about me being my regular self again, I knew the absence of his wolf was still killing him. He took in a brave breath and nodded. “Soon enough.”
“That’s it,” I said encouragingly, leading the way back to the hotel.
A rush of power and aggression moved in our direction, forcing me to throw a glance over my shoulder.
Finn was rushing up on us with a few others behind him, face twisted in anger.
“There you are!” He growled, cutting the space between us with ease. He shoved my shoulders with significant strength and forced me back against the wall.
I collided with it but forced down my anger in response and held his eye contact. My concealed strength lessened the blow, and I didn’t want to let my secret slip.
“You got Willow pregnant to better your reputation in Rose Valley, didn’t you?” He snapped, gripping my athletic tee as he pinned me against the building. “Admit it! You’re using her.”
Finn’s hostility was loud in my face, unmoving and likely unwilling to hear any different.
