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“How so?” I asked, curious.
“An alpha’s job is to protect. It sings through our veins and minds constantly. So, when someone gets hurt on our watch, it upsets us, but when someone we love gets hurt, it’s a stab to our soul. When Caleb was a child, I failed to protect him. Thankfully, he wasn’t injured. That talented brat actually kept me safe that day, but that failure ate at me for years. It still does sometimes, to be honest, and is part of why I don’t mind being on guard duty for you all. I heard about what you did when you were trapped, how you rescued them and sacrificed yourself. I won’t say whether what you did was right or wrong, but it reminded me of Jolie. She put herself in danger a few times and it ate at the princes. When Jolie’s bonds were cut, I was there with the princes. I saw the fear, the pain, the sheer panic in them as the one they were meant to protect was hurt. I know you all went through something similar recently.”
I nodded and clutched at my chest.
“My point in all this is to say that I can tell you five are meant for each other, but being meant for each other and it being easy ain’t the same thing. You’ve been through a lot this year and so have they. You’ve all also grown a lot this year. I’m excited to see where you all go from here. You are a very special woman, Rubyhare Ember.”
I blinked rapidly and looked up at the roof of the car. “You’re going to make me cry, Ezio.”
He chuckled. “Okay, I’ll stop being the sentimental old man now.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For everything you’ve said. There are still so many things I don’t understand about the shifter communities, how you act and think, and how alphas are different than others.”
“You’ll get used to it eventually. Look at Jolie. She was once viewed as a strange human woman and now she’s one of the most integral members of our societies. I think you’ll be just as vital once you fully find your place.”
I sighed and leaned my elbow on the door. “You mean as a queen? Acorns, it’s weird to say out loud.”
He laughed. “One day at a time, right? That’s the only way any of us can handle these chaotic lives among royalty.”
Joining his laugh, I nodded. That was for sure.
At the gate, he punched in the code and drove us up to the house. Once there, he opened the door and helped me get out, then winked and said, “Go get ‘em, Ember.”
“Thanks, Ezio.”
He nodded and drove away.
Taking a deep breath, I looked up at the house … our house … and squared my shoulders. Time for my first ever anniversary celebration.
Man, that made me sound so pathetic.
Snorting at myself, I walked up the steps and tried the door, but it was locked.
“What?” I didn’t have a key on me.
I knocked twice, and the door was pulled open.
Triston smiled down at me, wearing a nice midnight blue silk button-up shirt. “Good evening, beautiful.”
Chapter
Seven
“Hello, handsome,” I breathed, his scent blowing through the door and into my nose and making me inhale deeper.
He stepped back to let me inside, and I gasped at the transformed room. Candles, silver streamers, and flowers changed it into a stunning and warm room.
Branson stepped away from the dining table where he’d been adjusting silverware, and bowed to me. “Welcome home.”
“Can I take your bag?” Triston asked.
Jerking it to my chest, I shook my head. “I have gifts inside.”
His lip twitched, but he just bowed and waved me towards the living room. “If you’ll take a seat, we will bring refreshments and hors d’oeuvres shortly.”
Carefully, I walked down the two steps to the living room, set my bag in the corner out of the way, and sat on the edge of one of the couches. The house was so quiet, so peaceful, the forest through the windows the same. I definitely looked forward to living here.
Riddick stepped into the room, black slacks and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his hair slicked back, and a tray of sparkling wine glasses. “Would you care for a drink, my lady?”
