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I smiled back at her and wrapped my arm around her shoulder to bring her close.
“I’m just thinking about how grateful I am to have found you.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Liberty
Dad and I arrived at our hotel. We were exhausted from our meeting with the San Diego packs. All I wanted to do was curl up in bed with Xander and Sasha. I smiled at the thought of my little girl. She had the bluest eyes I had ever seen and light brown hair that curled at the ends. The moment she was born only two months ago, I knew that my love for her was unmatched. Not even the love I felt for my mate could compete with the love of a mother for her child. I knew she would bring me the peace and relaxation I now desired.
Between the obvious power struggles amongst the many alphas in the meeting room and the repeated visions I had been havingleading up to the trip, I was completely burned out. At least now, I knew that The Fates wouldn’t hound me to deliver the message anymore.
It was ironic, really. Who would have thought I’d be the one to tell someone else to trust their mate? It had only been a year ago that I myself had struggled with trust and my own mate bond. I suppose it was The Fate’s way of teaching me a lesson in fighting against their plan.
“What do you think of their situation? Any relation to what we’ve been investigating?” Dad asked as we entered the elevator.
“It could be,” I sighed. “But I don’t think it’s exactly what we are looking for. They are just another sign of what’s coming. It would be easier to know if Brady could at least get a vision of who will be at the center of the coming storm.”
Dad nodded. “Maybe Xander had better luck on his end.”
We exited the elevator on the top floor and made our way to the penthouse. I could hear Sasha fussing from the hall and quickened my pace to the door. As I entered, I found Xander bouncing our fussy daughter in his arms while he paced the living room. A look of relief washed over his face as he saw me; he offered Sasha to my open arms.
“Look Sasha, Mama is here. She’s the one you want,” he cooed to the bundle.
I smiled and kissed his lips before I walked to the couch to sit and feed our baby. Dad and Xander followed me, and each took a seat. Xander sat beside me, with Dad in a chair across from us.
“Any news?” Dad asked Xander.
“I used Brady’s potion on the sites where the wolves had gone missing. There is definitely a dark magic involved, but an ancient witch is not behind the magic. As strong as it is, it’s too new to be what we are looking for.”
“Did you recognize any scents? You didn’t know that wolf well, but that witch, Minerva, lived in your bar for quite some time. I assume you grew some recognition for her scent.”
Xander shook his head. “I didn’t find any sign that either of them is involved here.”
Dad nodded. “Then you’ve come to the same conclusion as we have.”
Xander and Dad let out a sigh in unison. I smiled at that. The pair had grown as close as father and son over the last year now, and they’d taken to the same mannerisms.
Sasha let out a grunt as she nursed. My eyes were drawn back to her as her hand slapped my chest for my attention. Her bright blue eyes watched me intently as I smiled down at her. To equalparts of horror and joy, she smiled back and soaked both our clothes in milk that was spilling from her mouth.
“Someone is going to need a bath now,” Xander teased as he smiled at our daughter, who had returned to her meal with enthusiasm.
“I most certainly am,” I laughed. I brushed Sasha’s hair with my fingers as she continued to nurse. They brushed over the small birth mark hidden behind her ear.
It had broken my heart to find the mark after she had been born: a dark black crescent shape that matched the four smaller scars along the base of my neck. It was the mark of the dark magic that had attacked my body when I had only just realized that I was pregnant with her.
When the mark was noticed, the crones thoroughly inspected her and gave her their all clear, assuring me that the darkness would not affect her. It was hard not to worry or feel guilty any time I saw or felt the mark.
A darker side of me feared that it had been our daughter that the witch was targeting all along. Xander noticed my finger tracing the mark and gently took my hand. I watched as he brought it to his lips. He kissed my fingertips to steal my attention away from my fears.
“She’s okay,” he whispered.
I nodded and turned my attention back to Dad, who was watching us with a smile.
“I think I’ll go and call your mom. She’ll want an update on what we’ve learned here and when we plan to be back.” He looked down at his wristwatch as he spoke. “You two up for an early flight?”
We both nodded as I juggled Sasha and pulled my shirt down. She had fallen asleep after nursing; her bottom lip quivered as I lifted her higher on my chest before standing with the help of Xander.
“That works for us,” I said. “I’m going to go lay Sasha down and take a shower. I might take a nap. That meeting was exhausting, and I feel worn out.”
