Page 37 of Bond & Protect

Over the last couple of weeks, our town has become overrun with wolves. Wolves from all over the world actually, who want to help us with this. I have to admit that I didn’t know it was even possible for us to all be so united. I’m impressed. I assumed that there was a lot of simmering tension between everyone, but I might be wrong.

Maybe we’re all ready to move beyond whatever happened in the past. To actually all work together in the best way possible.

It’s given my own pack some time to rest because we don’t have to be on duty, sealing The Rift all the time. We have others there to fight it for a while. I only struggle to believe that everyone else can do as good a job as us. It feels impossible.

But they are, and it’s been fine, so I need to take a step back. I need to just believe.

“So, we have Amos leading the fighting training,” Elias tells me with a furrowed brow. He’s started writing in the journal, right where his grandfather stopped, adding to the story, filling in the details we didn’t know before. I hope this shit doesn’t happen again, but at least if it does, people will have a guide to help them. A clearer one than we had. “And Liam is medically training. You’re on rest at the moment, Sydney, you’re supposed to be sleeping.”

I smile and nod at Elias. “Don’t worry, I’m headed over to Mila’s to sleep there for a little while. I just wanted to check in on you first. Make sure you’re okay.”

He smiles at the mention of Mila. It’s adorable. For someone who used to struggle with loneliness, she definitely isn’t ever alone anymore. When she isn’t helping with The Rift using her blade, she’s with at least one of us. We can’t get enough of her. We still might be in a stressful situation, but our love is blossoming for sure.

“We might need to take her to visit with her mom again soon,” Elias mutters thoughtfully. “I’m sure her mother is worried about this fight. You know how she is.”

I nod, but I know Mila is glad that her mom has returned back to her normal life, back where she has friends and a job, a life of her own. They have to see one another a lot though, to keep their bond alive with everything going on around them. It’s sweet.

“Yeah, I’ll discuss that with Mila when I wake up. I’ll go there now.”

“Good, and I’m going to check in on Wayde. He’s finally woken up now. The elder wolves have healed him, so I want to make sure he’s doing okay.”

Poor Wayde. What a shock he’s going to wake up to. But at least we’re all here to help him come to terms with everything and, hopefully, feel much better. He probably has no idea what’s been going on while he’s been out of action. I bet he doesn’t even remember what happened with the monster on that first day. One day, he will have to meet Mila, so they can both compare notes about that dreadful day, and fill in the missing pieces for one another.

“Send him my love. I hope he’s good. See ya, Elias.”

I smile and wave at Elias, grateful that we have all managed to find our place in this. These stupid monsters certainly haven’t managed to take everything from us, however hard they have tried. At this point, I’m starting to believe that they never will.

I burst in to a run as I leave our headquarters, or the safe house as we used to refer to it, and I get to Mila’s apartment as fast as I can. I know she wants to move away from The Rift and into a bigger place we can all live in together, but for now, it’s better for us to be close. Just in case we’re needed in an emergency. One day, we will have everything that she wants, though. We’re determined to give Mila the sort of wonderful life that she deserves.

She’s in bed when I get there, just settling down for a night of sleep. The way that Mila’s face lights up when she spots me proves to me that everything the monster said to me was wrong. I will never be second best with Mila and will always be the person I am meant to be. The monster tried to get into my head, but I won’t be taken down. No way.

As I wrap myself up in Mila’s arms, basking in her love and warmth, I’m glad I’m finally recovering from everything that bastard said to me. None of it means a thing anymore. I’m slowly overcoming everything negative that happened to me.

“I love you,” I mutter to Mila as I run a few kisses over her neck. “So much, Mila.”

She leans back into me, relaxed and happy as well. “You know I love you too, right? All of you. You make me the happiest woman alive. I can’t cope without you, and I never want to. Ever.”

She won’t ever have to worry about that, that’s for sure because we aren’t going anywhere.

EPILOGUE – MILA (THREE MONTHS LATER)

Nervously, I focus on the gorgeous ring sitting on the fourth finger of my left hand, which the wolves put there in our binding ceremony. Mating rounds can’t exactly get traditionally married, but that doesn’t matter because the wolves have their own ceremony for it.

Thankfully, of all the new wolves in town to fight The Rift, one of them was a Binding Master, and was able to perform a beautiful ceremony for us. The best day of my life. The loneliness that I used to feel in my life vanished into nothingness at that moment because I knew that I would never be alone again.

And I’m not. I might be right now in this bathroom, but the wolves are all sitting in the living room of our new home, which has plenty of space for all of us, and gives me the distance I personally need from Faraway Lane. As soon as I see the change on this little white plastic stick, they will all know what the answer is as well, which is wild.

Deep down, I already know I’m going to get a positive result. I can feel it deep in my bones. I’ve had all the symptoms of pregnancy, and I can also sense the change in my body as well. I know that I’m carrying life. But I need to know one hundred percent for sure before I say anything to the wolves. I need evidence first so I don’t get them all worked up over nothing.

Because I know this news is going to cause a whirlwind of excitement.

Our love story has already moved pretty fast, which I think is normal for wolves. Plus, our lives have been in danger pretty much since we met, so I know they will love this. That’s why I’m doing this secretly while they talk strategy in the other room.

I’m no longer so worried about the monsters. We have so many wolves here now I don’t think those beasts stand a chance. The unity everyone has shown has been amazing. Elias told me that there has always been negativity between the wolf packs and that they have always struggled to get along, but I haven’t seen any evidence of that.

I think Elias has been worried about nothing.

“Oh my God,” I whisper to myself as the test begins to change. Just because I knew that this result was coming doesn’t mean it doesn’t come as a bit of a shock. “It really is positive.”

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