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“I can’t believe Grave is going for the vampires now,” Leven said. “He has no hesitation and now his moves reek of desperation.” His dark eyebrows were pulled together in thought and a bit of frustration. He wasn’t used to not being able to solve our problems but this one was way over all of our heads.
“We cost him some of his men and plenty of mates. They took a major blow to not only their power structure, but their compound,” Nyx pointed out. “Heisdesperate.”
“After the ceremony, we will be too,” I said, even as my stomach churned with nerves. I’d been trying to not think about it.
“How are you guys feeling about that?” Leven asked. His voice was strained, giving his own feelings away. He was definitely nervous.
“Terrified,” I admitted. “I’m worried that if Vanya isn’t my chosen mate that she’ll be hurt. It wouldn’t change anything for me, but I’m scared she’ll pull away, take it as a sign.”
“We chose her for a reason,” Nyx said.
“I’d choose her again, every damn day if I could,” Leven growled. “She’s ours, if she runs, I’ll follow.”
“As will I,” I agreed.
“Damn straight,” Nyx added. All of us were furious at the thought alone. We’d lost her once, we wouldn’t lose her again.
But no matter how many times we turned over the words, we’d just have to wait and see. I just prayed to any gods that were listening to let us be fated, to give us a united front. It wouldn’t just mean something to us, but all the people we were representing.
We can’t fail them now.
ChapterSeven
Holt
When Callum said they had a feast before the full moon run, I didn’t expect it to be a full-blown celebration. Music filtered through the air and laughter intertwined with it, giving a lightness to the entire evening. A fire burned bright in the fire pit at the center of the pavilion, casting the night in a warm, inviting glow. Emma and Stella had enough food for an army waiting on the buffet table and people were milling about and talking. It was all so… normal.
Despite how strange it was to witness, it was refreshing. Not just our people enjoying themselves, but the witches, wolves, and vampires talking like old friends. Every bit of my teachings growing up cautioned against it, yet here I was witnessing it firsthand and seeing how wrong they were.
Callum had even gone as far as getting moon water jars prepared for us witches and made sure we had any other crystals and supplies we’d need. It was nice to feel taken care of, and I had a feeling even if Callum and I weren’t mates, he’d have done all this anyway.
Even when I was with my coven it was never like this. A night of community and unity. Couples and families occasionally spent the evening together, but witches as a whole were greedy and secretive. They never wanted to share their power or risk giving away how much or little they held. It was a lonely event, and I was grateful all over again to have the witches and wolves around me that I do now.
And there was something different about this full moon tonight. Maybe it was because it had been so long since I’d experienced one, or perhaps it was just strong tonight, but I could already feel the pull of the full moon, the energy thick in the air. My hairs stood on end and my entire body felt electrified with it. It was a heady feeling and one I was already anxious to fully enjoy.
When Callum had called it a renewal, I figured it was a figure of speech, but this really was refreshing. A way for us all to put the crazy shit we’d endured behind us and move forward, stronger and more unified than ever before. With the energy pulsing around me, it felt like the moonlight could physically wash away the trauma, the hurt, the pain, the worry, the fear. I knew it would be a fleeting feeling, but I’d fucking cling to it with everything I had.
A brush of a finger over my brows had me blinking the world back into focus. Callum stood before me with an adorable, dimpled grin.
“That face looks a bit serious for tonight,” he joked.
My eyes narrowed in mock offense. “Do you have a problem with a serious man?”
He laughed at that. “No, I definitely don’t. But I know that’s not how you are anymore.”
I shrugged. “I was just thinking about tonight and a bit of everything else.”
“Then we need to get you out of your head,” he said simply, pulling me into the middle of the pavilion and twirling me around as some pop song played. My laughter came easily as he spun me, my head falling back and hair flowing as I gazed up at the moon in wonder. He thought I was sad, but I was merely contemplative tonight. Yet one moment in his arms and I was nothing but carefree and happy. Sure, our connection was still new and a bit shaky. We hadn’t fully solidified it yet, but I had a feeling that would change very soon. And I couldn’t fucking wait.
As if he knew where my thoughts had drifted, he grabbed my hair in his hand and guided my face to his, teasing his lips over mine. His soft kiss was quickly followed by a possessive one that had my toes curling. The graze of his teeth and tug on my hair had me ready to come already. Callum let go before I could make a fool of myself and grind against him right here in front of the pack. The grin on his face made it clear he saw right through me.
“Teasing isn’t nice, Alpha,” I reminded him. A flash of heat filled his eyes at the title, and I grinned. He was definitely going to be fun. He may think I was submissive, but I was a brat through and through. Just a bit of a broken one at the moment, though he was quickly changing that.
We continued to dance, others joining us until the entire pavilion was full. Someone turned up the music and I could have spent hours dancing with my mate. He had one of those energies that just drew you in, made you laugh right along with him. For me it went deeper than that. I never expected to find anyone, or if I did, it would be tainted by that place. Yet this man stole my heart the moment he was thrown into the cell with me. Then I met this amazing pack who wanted me around, and Vanya, who wasn’t my mate yet but someone I was easily falling for.How could I not be happy?
Because the war wasn’t over.
But for tonight, it was. We couldn’t fight if we didn’t find these moments to let ourselves live. Losing ourselves would lead to losing the battle, and none of us were willing to let that happen.
