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Instead, I climbed into the back of the SUV, sliding right in the middle. Zath slid in on one side, looking relieved to not have to leave my side. Lance took the opposite side. The moment our skin touched, I had to stifle a sob as our bond flared back to life. It was never truly broken; in fact, I’d never given it much thought after I left. Now I was glad for my awful habit of avoidance.
Again he was in my head, his feelings of hesitation floating through but also relief. He had so much pain and heartbreak that I couldn’t help but reach out, my fingers wrapping around his. This was happening and I no longer wanted to shy away from it. Lance needed me and I wasn’t going to be the one to truly fail this relationship.
Under the shared emotions was all that love that we had before. It was just as strong as always. If nothing else could convince me to give him a second chance, that right there would. He’d never stopped loving me. In fact, he’d held onto hope while I was forcing myself to forget him.
He squeezed my hand back and took a shuddering breath. It was good to know he was feeling just as much as I was, and knew how conflicted I felt. The bond was sometimes easier to understand than our words.
“So, you opened a bar?” It was such an absurd question that I started laughing to the point that tears were streaming down my face. Even Lance and the others joined in. “Okay, so I may have failed at Small Talk 101.”
Showing him mercy, I answered the question. “Yes. I know we had a lot of conversations about it before the wedding and you thought it wasn’t good enough for me. But I’ve worked my ass off for this place. I’m damn proud of what I’ve accomplished. What Zath and I have done.”
“I’m proud of you, too, Nyla. If you’re happy then that’s all I could ever ask for. I’m sorry I was a dick. I know it’s not an excuse but I was a pampered, rich boy who had skewed views on life. I have a feeling if my mom knew what I said to you about that she would slap me upside the head.”
I laughed at the image. “She definitely would, but then she would bake you a pie to make you feel better.”
“Hold on. Is that a perk of being in this group? Do I get pie, too?” El asked from the front seat, turning all the way around so he could see us. His enthusiasm had the awkwardness fading completely.
“Absolutely,” he said. “She bakes a whole lot more than pie.”
“You mention a favorite one time and she’ll never forget it,” I agreed. “She always made me the best chocolate eclairs.”
Zath wasn’t quite done with the earlier conversation though and cut in. “You should be proud of Nyla. I’ve known and worked with her since it opened. She treats every employee like family and pays us all better than most, even if it cuts into her own profits. We even share an apartment to make it easier, not that we wouldn’t, anyway, being mates. She’s put her heart and soul into that place.” When he finished he turned and looked out of the window. His frustration and conflict were so strong that I reached out for him as well.
Everyone fell silent after that. Lance didn’t have the words to say anything and I didn’t expect him to. He was processing just as much as I was. It was a glaring reminder of just how little we all knew of each other. Somehow, we were going to take two new mates, the mate who's been by my side and helped me heal, and the mate who had been through hell and back again.
We’d need a miracle to make this work.
My horse whinnied in my head. It was a vote of confidence for her mates. At least one of us had some optimism.
“So, I’ve done a little research on this just in case,” Riven said to break the silence. “I found this perfect spot and took my bear here a few nights ago. There’s a clearing out here, so if you guys can just trust me and go into the woods with a stranger, that’d be great.”
“I’m pretty sure I could take you,” Zath joked and El and I started laughing. A raven was no match for a bear.
It was a beautiful evening for our gathering. The sun was getting that warm glow it does just before sunset. The weather was perfect and there was no one in sight as he pulled into the parking spot. It was some kind of local bike trail but he led us right past that into the woods. Lance was nervous, but everyone else was content as we walked in silence. It took about ten minutes through the trees before we found the clearing.
The sun filtered through the trees giving it a deep, rich ambiance. The greens were vibrant, the air was fresh, and I felt like I could breathe deeply for the first time in about a week.
Even my horse was on the edge, begging me to let her come out. She got so insistent that I had to strip quickly so my clothes weren’t ruined in the change. It was the quickest shift of our lives together and her excitement was so strong she started prancing around.
She circled the clearing while the others started to transform. It was as if she were showing off her gorgeous form. I’d always thought she was beautiful, from that very first moment in the field we met. She was white and black, graceful, and confident.
My mare was the epitome of being carefree and strong, a constant reminder to me that I couldn't let life weigh me down. Though that was easier said than done. There was a reason we were put together. She was what I strived to be and always encouraged me to be my best self.
It was so strange watching the guys from her eyes. They shifted into their animals one by one. This was the first time I was seeing El and Riven. We were all bonded now, but it was still an early connection and this would only strengthen it.
El was just as crazy in his raccoon form as his human and he rushed across the clearing on small feet, scurrying until he was by my side then launching himself up onto my back. Shockingly, my horse didn’t protest, instead picking up speed and giving him a ride. If I could have laughed in that moment I would have. Every shitty thing we’d dealt with just fell away. Nothing else mattered but us, our soul-bonded, and the life we were building.
Riven’s bear was magnificent. He was huge and bulky, radiating strength and protective power as he walked. Each movement was made with purpose, muscles shifting as he approached us. He stopped in front of me and my horse stopped, giving him the lead. She dipped her head down and he nuzzled his muzzle into her neck.
Above us, the raven let out a caw. He was strong and sleek as he flew overhead, dive bombing through the air to tease the bear. Riven gave chase as Zath dipped up and down, taunting but never getting too close.
Lance just stood there taking us all in. Instead of some sort of melancholy or hesitation, there was a peace on his face.
I stopped running and slowly approached him. We’d met before in our animal forms and he was beautiful in his own right. An antelope was built for running, so he kept up with me easily. His curling horns were unique, shifting from dark and light browns as they rose from his head, and his soft fur formed a swirling pattern over his body.
“I missed you, beautiful girl,” he whispered as he ran his hands over our neck and buried his face in our mane. “I never thought I would see you again. But I’m grateful we’re here now.” Life had taken us on more than one curve but somehow we did come back together in the end. Even as bad memories tried to come back, one thought overshadowed them all.
He didn’t betray me.
