Alex rushes up behind me and pulls me to my feet from under my arms as Derrick and Klaus rush to my sides. We all pile in for a group hug, laughing and cheering, making a ruckus that draws my parent’s attention from the bedroom. My dad holds up his hands and says, “No need to say a word. We can tell you have great news. I’m so happy for you all.”
My mother wraps her arm around the crook of his elbow. “This is such a relief. It was so heartbreaking watching all of you in so much pain. We’ll leave you to enjoy William’s homecoming as a family.”
They leave the room, but I don’t even watch them do it. I’m too amped up to have William back. As if we all had the thought at the same time, we move as one for the bedroom. My body crashes against Alex’s as I reach the doorway, throwing me into the doorjamb, then I ricochet into Marcus. We all chuckle at our haste as I elbow Marcus out of my way, so I’m first through the door.
I make it out of the pack as my men fight for who gets to follow me first. Running for the bed, I make it to William’s side and grasp his face in my hands. “William! I’m here, my knight. Come home to us.” My palm caresses his cheek and I lay kiss after kiss all over his face in hopes they will encourage him to wake up.
My other mates surround me and I gaze up at them with a frown. “Why won’t he wake up?” There’s pleading in my tone, begging one of them to have the answer.
“When we woke you up, it happened when all four of us were touching you at the same time. Maybe we should all lay a hand on him, and allow our bond to guide him back,” Derrick suggests. Immediately, each of them reaches out a hand and places it on William. With each additional touch, the buzzing vibration under my skin increases until it becomes a numbing sensation.
The last one to add his touch is Klaus, and when he places his hand on William, it’s like the air in the room is sucked out. We’re plummeted into a void of silence. Magic builds within the room, creating a pressure so strong I can feel it pushing against my skin. The magic takes hold of my body, ensuring I don’t move my grip on William until it’s finished.
Searching through the bond, I sense William’s soul speeding toward us. He isn’t too far away now... Excitement builds as the approaching moment grows closer. As his soul enters his body once more, the magic holding us in place vanishes, allowing us to all instinctively take a deep breath, including William.
His eyes fly open, and he jolts into a sitting position, gaze landing on me immediately. We move for each other at the same time, and having his arms wrap around me is more comforting than I could have imagined. I sit sideways on his lap, and our mouths meet in a desperate kiss. Our tongues collide, and I moan into his mouth. Fuck, I missed him.
Eventually, our kiss becomes gentle and sweet, before William pulls back. He catches my face between his hands, and his eyes have a twinkle in them. “I told you you’d never lose me again,” he says with a voice rough with disuse. His nose nuzzles mine. “Plus, Thea told me my fortune once, so I had a good idea of how things would turn out.”
I gasp and jerk out of his hold. “What the fuck! You knew you would end up near dead and I’d be freaking out for six fates damned weeks?” I smack his shoulder in outrage as the rest of my mates crowd in with arms crossed.
“I couldn’t tell you, Darling. If I did, it might have changed the course the Fates designed for us. Thea said it was already dangerous enough for me to know, but she lost a bet and was forced to tell me.” He tries to pull me closer again, but I don’t move an inch.
“Thea knew too?! It’s been SIX WE—” His finger lands on my lips, silencing me completely.
A smirk plays on his lips, and if he knows what’s good for him, he won’t give in to his desire to laugh right now. “I missed you too, Cecily. I didn’t think it would take such a long time, but I did promise I would never leave you again. Didn’t you have any faith in me?” He fakes a pout, and the expression is adorable enough to burn off my irritation. His smirk returns as he sees I’ve lost the desire to be mad.
“Fine. How about you make it up to me by showing me how much you missed me?” I bait him as my hands caress his chest. His eyes light up and before I can blink, his lips are on me once more. The kiss is passionate and sends tingles right down to my toes.
“Okay, okay. Enough of that now. Some of us want to say hi too,” Alex says as he pulls me back from Will. I’m lifted into Alex’s arms and Marcus jumps in front of me, squeezing his brother in a crushing hug.
“I’m so happy you’re back, brother. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you so soon after finding you!” Marcus murmurs in his brother’s ear. The sight of his relief causes tears to prick at the corner of my eyes.
Once they’ve each had a turn at greeting William, he pulls away and places a hand on his stomach. “Is there anything to eat around here? It feels like I haven’t eaten in about six weeks.” His stomach chimes in with a vicious growl.
“I’ll whip you up something quick!” Marcus immediately responds. I’m not sure a day will ever come when he gives up his joy of cooking for us. He leads the way from the bedroom, and William hangs back, placing his arm around my shoulder.
As Derrick, Klaus, and Alex follow Marcus from the room, William leans in close to my ear and whispers, “We have our whole lives before us, Darling. Are you ready for it?” His soft lips brush against my temple and I grin up at him.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life,” I reply as we leave the bedroom and join the others. The magic of our mate bond finally settles once more, no longer straining with one of them missing. I’m overcome with joy, no, not joy, it’s a never-ending well of love for my mates. I gaze at each one of them as they pause, sensing my appraisal of them. When I’ve gained their undivided attention, I can’t stop the huge smile from cracking my face. “I love you, all of you, so much. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have such amazing mates, but I’m beyond thankful to have you in my life.”
The heavy depression weighing us all down dissipates, giving a bright outlook on life once more. Smiles abound, and I can finally relax. For the first time I can remember, I feel free. The evil Silas represented, and the threat he created, is now eradicated. Sure, in all likelihood, there will someday be another threat to our people, but I’ll have my mates at my side from the very start.
From the time I was a child, I always knew what my destiny was; find my mate, become Queen, and lead shifter kind. When I became lost in my soul form, I had thought someone interfered with my destiny and fucked it all up. But the Fates always knew the path my life was going to lead. It wasn’t something any of us could have predicted, but I’ve finally found my true destiny. I was always meant to save my people from the vilest form of evil we’ve ever seen. My destiny was more complex and intricate than anything I could have imagined, entangling me with not one but five mates. And now, I’m ready to embrace the life I’m meant to live, and you better believe I’m going to live it to the fullest.
Epilogue
Cecily
“Ugh! Are you sure you want to leave? You know I don’t blame you for not being there,” I try to convince Thea to reconsider.
“I know you don’t, but I blame myself. My family sent me to be your protector and I failed. It was the one role they gave me to fulfill and—”
“That’s fucking bullshit. I commanded you to stay behind. You’ve always been there for me when it counted. I’m just going to miss you,” I cut her off before she can continue.
I give her my best pout in hopes it will sway her resolve.
She gives me a coy smile before saying, “I feel a calling to find my mate. Me leaving is going to be a good thing. I’ll come back once the calling has been answered.” She bumps my shoulder with hers when my only response is to stare dumbfounded.
