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She moaned against my lips. “I’m not going anywhere, alpha.”

But she would—one day I would lose her. Willow was mortal. Pain smashed into me at just the thought of her not being here with me. I’d never felt anything like it, but I recognized it instantly. Why the fuck hadn’t Lucifer made us like the knights? Their females became immortal as well when they mated.

I hated those fuckers right then.

I gripped Willow’s ass and thrust up into her until I’d grown too thick to move, locked in place inside her. I wanted to pull her inside me, to protect her, to keep her safe, and make sure she never left me. She rolled her hips, shaking and crying out, coming around me. Her muscles clamped down, and I barked out a harsh cry as I came deep inside her.

We clung to each other, breathing hard.

“I love you,” she whispered.

Fuck. How would I ever deserve it, her love? I had no idea, but I would keep trying, with everything in me.

I clung to her tighter, as warmth filled me, like it often did now around my dove. Another feeling I had never experienced before, until her. She had me feeling so many new things, things I wasn’t sure how to name. I didn’t know what this was, but it scared me and felt vital all at the same time. “I don’t know what love is, dove, or if I’m capable of feeling it. But I do know I will kill anyone who hurts you, that I want you, that I will always and only want you. And that not having you by my side for the rest of eternity is an eternity not worth living.”

She looked down at me. “As far as declarations go, I’ll take that over a mere I love you any day of the week.”

I gave her a squeeze, and she pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

“I can’t believe my trial is finally over. But I can’t bear to think of my sisters being forced to fight. I have no idea how it’s going to work. The coven trials are every two hundred years. Theirs are special cases, though, so I assume the mother will choose their opponents? But then, who would want to risk losing their powers when they’ve already secured them?” Her gaze became distant.

“Maybe she’ll pit them against one of the losing covens? Like a second chance, a way to get back the power they lost.”

“That’d make more sense.” Determination filled her eyes. “If you’re right, and one of the losing covens gets a second chance, the last person I want one of my sisters fighting is Isaac. He and Sapphire will be after blood. They’ll be more determined than ever to come after us. But we know who wants to hurt us now. I’ll get my proof and I’ll take it to the council. I won’t be happy until they’re exiled from Roxburgh.”

I gave her another squeeze and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “You want me to send them on their way?”

She smiled and rested her head on her hand. “I think I have it covered, thanks.” Her gaze grew distant again. “I knew the Eldridge’s were power hungry, but to come after us the way they did…”

I tucked her hair behind her ear. “They’ll think twice before doing it again.” And if they do come after my dove, or any of her loved ones, I’ll kill them as well.

“You’re thinking about killing them, aren’t you?”

I grinned, flashing my canines.

“I don’t think that will be necessary. They got your message.”

I pulled her down on my chest and she didn’t fight me. She lay on top of me, my dick still buried deep inside her, and let me hold her. “They fucking better have. Now sleep, dove. You look wiped.”

She nodded against me and I held her tighter, listening as she drifted off.

Whatever came next, I was going to be here for her, no matter what. My dove would never face anything alone, not ever again.

* * *

Willow

I rolled over, reaching for Warrick. Cold sheets met my hand. I opened my eyes and looked around my room. His clothes were gone, his boots no longer by the door where he’d kicked them off.

I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, but when I opened the door, he wasn’t there. Sliding on my robe, I jogged downstairs to find him, but he was nowhere and neither were any of his brothers.

Something was wrong, I felt it deep in my bones.

I ran outside.

His brothers were gone as well, all of them, their bikes no longer parked outside our house.

He never said he had somewhere to be this morning. Why hadn’t he woken me to let me know he was leaving? I ran back upstairs and called his phone but got no reply.