Page 21 of Shattered Mates

And with that, she teleports out of sight, and I’m left laughing alone. Though, not for long.

I have a mate to get home to and plans to make. Things are only going to get better from here.

Chapter Ten

Cait

My smile hasn’t been this big since I found out about my last grandchild. River is home, and I got to be the one to call Kelly and Vaughn to tell them their son is finally safe. The tears of joy are almost too much to handle, but for the first time since…well, that last Christmas party we had, things feel right in our world again.

“Dawsyn made the right choice sending Jules,” Roman grumbles from behind me, making me chuckle.

My mate was vehemently against sending Jules out on her own. He thought she was too young, too inexperienced with the world to do the job, but Dawsyn and I knew. There’s nothing more powerful than a woman intent on getting her mate back.

Jules isn’t the teenager she was when she showed up. She’s proved that time and time again, and I hope she’ll receive the respect she deserves now. Just because she didn’t have some epic battle to fight, she never gave up hope for River. She fought for him when he couldn’t fight for himself. Even at a young age, when she could have attempted to pass time with others, she always waited for her mate, regardless of the fact that he left without a goodbye.

Roman’s hands slide around my waist, and he brings my back flush with his chest. We stand in front of our window, looking out into the woods that surround our home and pack. “Thank you for having faith when I didn’t,” he whispers into my ear.

“You’ve done the same for me plenty of times throughout the years.” I turn to face him, cupping his cheeks and staring into his dark blue eyes. “What’s most important is that River is back, he’s okay, and the rest of the supernaturals have all been reunited with their families.”

His lips press gently to mine. “They have. Some of them still have a long road to recovery, but they’ll get there. Sam also let me know that she received confirmation that any human knowledge of our existence has been resolved.”

I raise a brow. “The witches already finished their interviews?” I cringe because that’s too nice of a word, but their actions were necessary.

Not only had supernaturals been kidnapped, but their blood and powers were being sold to humans. Ones in powerful positions, too rich for their own good and with sinister intentions. Beatrix helped to create a group of trusted witches to close any possible leaks, using a painful truth spell—at least to humans—to make sure all the memories that needed altering had been taken care of.

One day we might not have to live in the shadows, but to be honest, I hope I’m not alive then. I enjoy our quiet life, and the risk is too high to reveal ourselves. Too many greedy people in the world would see us as a means to power, and what we’d all get instead are war and death.

We’re safe for as long as we want to be, Roman’s voice sounds through my mind.

My grin grows as I hold his loving gaze. And if that ever changes, at least we have other realms we can escape to.

He chuckles. “I didn’t take you for the kind of wolf shifter who runs.”

“If it means keeping my family alive and safe, I’ll run to the ends of every world with you.”

He kisses me again, but this time I hold him close. We might not be in our twenties anymore, and we’re now grandparents, but time hasn’t made me want my mate any less. Though, this morning, I need to cut things short.

“We should go see River for ourselves,” I tell Roman. Dawsyn had texted, which was appreciated, but River is our family too.

“I already called over to the pack house,” he says with a sweet smile. “Dawsyn is still sleeping, but breakfast is being prepared and someone will—” His phone starts to ring in the pocket of his jeans. “Hello? Perfect. Thank you.” Roman’s attention comes back to me. “River and Jules are at the pack house now, as are Andie and Foster.”

My fingers wrap around his wrist, and I pull him toward the door. “Let’s go.”

We moved out of the pack house, and some days, like today, I hate not being right in the thick of things, but having our privacy after so long as the pack alphas is more appreciated a majority of the time.

Are you ready to run? I ask my wolf Adira.

Always. Her awareness grows within me. I’ll get us there in under a minute.

In that, I have no doubts. My wolf hasn’t aged like I have. Not that I’m falling apart at the seams, but she’s still powerful in her own right, the energy of the Luna Marked flowing through our veins.

The magic gifted to us from the Moon Goddess ebbs and flows, only increasing in strength when absolutely needed, which I appreciate. Not being a beacon of power for my long life is something I’ve grown to appreciate over the years.

As soon as we’re outside, I barely manage to step off the porch before she’s pushing forward. Someone’s a little eager this morning.

She doesn’t respond until we’re on all fours. We can’t let Roman get there before us.

I mentally shake my head. Of course we couldn’t.

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