*Zara*
I had so many conflicting emotions about our current situation, but in the end, I knew it was for the best. A pang of despair rushed through at the thought of my baby getting hurt because of another attack.
My thoughts loosely went to my mate, and the hopelessness of not being able to find him was settling in. I was heartbroken, and this would further complicate matters.
On the road, I stared out as the trees and fields whizzed by, silent and deep in thought. I closed my eyes and rested my head against the side of the car, letting out a soft sigh.
Several trusted Drogomor guards were with us, chatting away during the ride. I didn’t participate in the conversation much. I was too lost in my thoughts.
But when we pulled up a long winding driveway, I gasped, leaning forward as I caught sight of the place where I’d be living for a bit.
There, silhouetted against the sunset, was a stunning sumr ho. We were in a private alcove, and the view was gorgeous against the pink and orange sky.
Noah got out of the car, letting out a soft chuckle at my initial reaction. “Not so bad, is it?” he asked.
He was looking at , I could feel it, but my eyes were on the amazing house.
“Not so bad at all,” I couldn’t help but agree with him.
We walked together up to the house, and he opened the door for . I entered with wide eyes, completely awestruck by the open, airy interior.
It was filled with the light of the sunset, golden pools of it leaking in from the windows. I put my hand over my heart, a surge of warmth and relief going through .
Maybe it would be a good ti to relax, I thought, after the stress of everything had so firmly held for a while, especially after that rogue attack.
“This is my family’s old vacation ho,” Noah explained.
I noticed a touch of nostalgia in his voice, which further filled with happiness.
I looked over at him, noticing a soft smile playing on his lips. The way the light hit his blazing blue eyes right then was srizing, and I couldn’t help but feel butterflies in my stomach when looking at him.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed.
Noah focused on , his smile widening. “It hasn’t been used much since my mother passed, but I wanted to bring you sowhere peaceful to rest and recover.”
“I’m honored, Noah,” I said, feeling a tear trickle down my cheek at how he’d do this for . I walked up to him and couldn’t help but wrap my arms around him.
I felt Noah return my hug, pulling in close. The mont carried on for a minute more as we shared one another’s warmth in silence before I pulled away.
Noah gave another smile. “I’m glad you like it,” he said.
“Like it? I love it,” I said warmly. I reached up and cupped his cheek, feeling delight rush through as he leaned into my hand.
“I love it when you do that,” he confessed.
“I know,” I said. “I’m glad.”
Then, my stomach grumbled, and he chuckled. “Let get you so dinner, beautiful. Though, first, I’ll show you to the master suite.”
He led through the halls and into a gorgeous large bedroom filled with warm colors. A sense of serene relaxation settled in , and I let out a soft, happy sigh.
I got into bed, pulling up the soft blankets and letting myself relax entirely. I bead at Noah, then asked, “What’s for dinner, anyway?”
Noah thought for a mont, then blinked. He grinned sheepishly. “I need to head down with a servant to fetch so supplies and food to stock the kitchen. You tell .”
“Hm... think they have any chicken? I’d love to have so roast chicken for dinner, and maybe so potatoes, too.” I licked my lips at the thought.
“I don’t doubt that they will,” he said. “I’ll get that situated for you, then the cook will start on it right away. Any snacks in the anti?”
“Sothing simple, like crackers and cheese.”
“On it,” he said. “Get so rest, Zara. Though if you’re restless, feel free to walk around a bit, but only if you know you can handle it.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful,” I said. “Thank you, though.”
With that, he headed out, and I was left alone to rest for a while. His suggestion to walk around was tantalizing, and I figured I’d get plenty of sleep that night, so thought it was a good idea.
I got up and began to wander around, curiosity getting the better of . As I explored, I wandered into a cozy sitting room lined with bookshelves.
I looked around, then spotted so photo albums. Tilting my head, I approached the shelf and drew my finger over a few of them, eventually coming upon a thicker album and pulling it out.
I flipped through it for a while, taking a seat in one of the comfy chairs and relaxing. What I saw made smile very warmly.
I could tell the young boy in the photos was Noah, smiling goofily alongside a beautiful woman. That must be his mother, I thought.
He radiated happiness in the photos, and it ward my heart to get this glimpse into his childhood. As I flipped through more photos, I could tell he was a little adventurer back then.
I ca to realize that this was the Black family’s special retreat. I gazed around the place, the image of Noah playing around and laughing with his mom and dad filling my mind.
There must have been so many happy sumrs filled with fun and relaxation within these walls. The emotions here were so strong, but my smile faded.
It must have been so painful for Noah to lose his mother. He hadn’t returned here for many years, he’d said. The loss of his mom had definitely torn him to pieces.
The spark of sadness within his gorgeous eyes when he looked around this place hadn’t been missed by . I hoped he could find happiness like that again soday.
Plus, here he was, willing to share this sanctuary with now. Maybe it was a sign of growth. He cared about so deeply that he trusted here, and I felt very safe, secure, and warm.
That made this entire situation quite bittersweet.
I put the album away and wandered around so more, those thoughts swirling in my mind as I did so. I wasn’t tired yet, not with everything going on.
When Noah returned, I munched on so snacks and sat with him in the large dining room while the chicken cooked.
“How was the trip? No trouble, I hope,” I said.
Noah gave a grin. “Nope. Even if there was, I could handle it. Things are nice and quiet here.”
“That’s a huge relief. I know it must be frustrating for you to up and leave at a mont’s notice too.”
“It’s not so bad,” he said. “Just like when visiting your house, I welco the chance to get away a bit. It’s been one thing after another lately.”
I studied him, realizing that following Serena, rida’s return hit him. He’d then realized he wasn’t interested in being with her romantically anymore.
That must have weighed so heavily on him. I rembered thinking that he and rida may be mates, until I hadn’t seen the threads between them at all.
He’d co to that realization too. Even though the rogue attacks were stressful, I could tell he was happy to get so ti out here to think about all that’d been going on.
When dinner was ready, I ate my fill of perfectly seasoned comfort food and called it a night. My thoughts were racing, but I knew it’d be a good idea to rest after all that’d happened.
A few hours later, I was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. I’d been tossing and turning for a while, completely unable to sleep. There was just too much going on.
My wolf tugged at to do sothing about it. I glanced out of the window and spotted the full moon. A run in the woods sounded just right, and I was compelled to give in to the urge.
I knew it was safe here, and the chance of a rogue attack was next to nothing. I opened the window and took off my clothes, shifting into my wolf and leaping into the night.
The cool night air hit as the sensation of flying over the forest floor filled my senses. It felt beyond amazing.
I was elated, at ho in the woods like this. The wind flowed through my fur as I wove between the trees, boundless energy filling under the full moon’s glow.
I felt safe and warm out here, away from the problems of the rogues, away from all my worries... just here and now, and happy.
My feelings changed to sothing more visceral, though still positive, as I skidded to a halt. I looked around, my fur spiking with excitent.
Sothing was happening. I felt a pull on my very soul as I looked up to the moon in question, a tingling sensation washing over .
What was going on, I wondered?
Sothing caught the corner of my eye—sothing shimring, like a glint of tal shining under the moonlight. I turned my head but spotted nothing.
There it was again, but on the other side. I turned my head, but still I was greeted just by the shadows of the woods cast by the moonlight.
I blinked once, then twice. Then, I closed my eyes, the tingling getting stronger and stronger. When I opened them again, I let out a huff of surprise.
All around danced beautiful golden threads, shimring like the heavens themselves. My heart began to pound as I realized they were encircling .
I let out an excited yelp, following the threads, hurrying along and trying so hard to find where they led.
Was I going to find him, finally, I wondered. I’d been looking for my mate for so long, and tonight may be the night I’d find him, I thought excitedly.
When I skidded to a stop, I found myself staring into the blazing blue eyes of a gorgeous, jet-black wolf. We locked gazes, and I felt my heart flutter with anticipation.
This was the wolf from the woods that night in the clearing.
My mate, here and now... I could see the threads linking us together.
It was ti to officially et my beloved.
We both shifted to human form. I widened my eyes and gasped as I realized who I was looking at, my jaw dropping.
“It’s you—”
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