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Prologue
Zeke
MyspinecrackedasI lifted my arms to stretch out my back, yawning deeply as I walked into the kitchen in search of food. The early morning sun filtered through the large windows and splashed across the marble countertops, making me squint a little as I set water on to boil for tea and began to rummage through the cupboards for something simple to eat.
I’d been surprised that I had woken so early after last night. My eyes had cracked open as the first rays of dawn hit the window, the drapes hanging open and forgotten after we had been so caught up in each other. Cordy had been sleeping peacefully between us, on her back with Noah wrapped around her on one side, his nose buried in her hair. I’d found my hand still buried between her gorgeous legs, apparently unwilling to stop touching her even in sleep. Her delicate fingers had twisted around strands of my hair, and it had taken a decent amount of manoeuvring to escape without waking either of them.
Last night had been, well, incredible. I hadn’t been expecting Noah to turn up at Cordy’s door, but I also hadn’t been surprised when he’d joined us. Or complaining. We shifters weren’t exactly shy about sex, and watching Cordy take both of us at once was hot as hell. And well worth sacrificing my personal space. I’d never gone so far as sharing like that, but I was absolutely up for it again.
My cock twitched at the thought.
Not right now, dude. She is in no way ready for a repeat yet.
A knock against the wood of the front door tugged me out of my thoughts and I adjusted myself in my jeans as I walked through the living area to answer it.
Surprise ran through me as I found my mother standing on the porch, clasping her hands a little nervously.
“Mom?” I asked quietly, not wanting to wake the house. “Is everything ok?”
She gave me a relieved smile. “Oh I’m glad you’re awake, darling. I was wondering if you would take a walk with me?”
I frowned and leaned forward to grasp her elbow, pulling her gently out of the morning chill and into the cabin. The kettle whistled softly and I moved back to deal with it, making two cups of tea with the herbs on the counter before turning back to her.
“It’s early, Mom, are you sure you’re ok?” I asked, handing her a steaming mug.
She gave me a strained smile, accepting the drink but shaking her head when I offered her a seat.
“I need to speak with you before you leave today,” she said gently, and I gave her an understanding smile.
“It’s ok, I know you’re worried, but we have to go. We can’t leave those shifters chained as witch slaves, and we need to follow through with our plans in the human realm.”
She pursed her lips. “Zeke, honey, please just walk with me? Let’s take the tea and chat.”
Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “I only just got you back, and now you’re leaving. Don’t you have a little time for me?”
Guilt flooded my chest and I walked around to pull her into a careful embrace. “Of course I do, let’s go.”
I grabbed my own cup and led her out of the back door, accepting her suggestion that we head into the nearby trees and falling easily into step with her, keeping my strides short to account for our size difference. The last time I had seen her as a child, I had looked up to her in all ways. Worshipped her. And now it was almost bittersweet to see her looking up at me as a grown male, towering a foot over her small frame and feeling almost like a stranger.
There was no question that I was thrilled to finally have her back in my life, that I would have given anything and more to take away the decades of imprisonment she’d had to endure at the hands of the witches. But there was a layer of uncertainty and awkwardness between us that I couldn’t seem to pierce through, no matter how accommodating and understanding I was.
We’d get there though. She deserved our support. And any doubts Liam had would melt away as she settled back into pack life.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?” she questioned with a curious smile.
I grinned back at her as she sipped her tea. “Just how happy I am to have you back.”
Her eyes filled with emotion, her smile becoming strained. “It all feels so surreal. To be walking in this forest again, to reconnect with your father, to see my beautiful children.”
I offered her a steadying hand as she stopped by a large fallen tree and settled down onto the rough, decaying bark. I sat beside her and took her free hand, my fingers engulfing hers as we sat in silence for a long, heavy moment.
My voice cracked a little when I finally spoke. “I’m so sorry that we didn’t come for you sooner.”
Her fingers twitched in mine, but her expression was steady and unreadable.
“Zeke, honey, you couldn’t have come for me,” she murmured.
I shook my head, my chest hurting as the weight of the past twenty years settled on me. “You’re wrong, I should have…”
