Page 39 of Wolf Chosen

It's a cocoon of bliss, a world unto ourselves where nothing else exists. I want to stay here forever, wrapped in Liam's arms, drowning in the honeyed warmth of his eyes but eventually, reality intrudes, the outside world clamoring for our attention. We walk into the kitchen on a sunny morning to find it already occupied.

Mitch, Zane, Sarah, Aria, Cindi, Sally, and Elara are gathered around the large wooden table, the surface laden with a feast of breakfast foods. The aroma of coffee and bacon permeates the air, mingling with the warm scent of cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven.

It seems our honeymoon is over.

“Look who finally decided to rejoin the land of the living,” Mitch drawls, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

Laughter ripples around the table, good-natured and full of affection. I feel my cheeks heat, but I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. These people fill a void in my heart I hadn't even realized existed.

“Leave them be, love,” Sarah chides gently, swatting at Mitch's arm. “They're newly mated. We all remember what that's like, don't we?”

Mitch's eyes soften as he gazes at his mate, a wealth of love and tenderness in his expression. “Indeed we do, sweetheart. Indeed we do.”

As we take our seats, Liam clears his throat, drawing the attention of everyone at the table. “There's something you all should know,” he says, his voice filled with awe and wonder. “Taylor...she shifted. She's a wolf now, like us.”

Silence descends over the room, shock evident on every face. Mitch is the first to recover, his eyes widening as he turns to me. “Is this true, Taylor?” he asks softly, something like reverence in his tone.

I nod, feeling a sudden shyness under the weight of their collective gaze. “It happened when Liam was...when he wasn't himself,” I murmur, my hand seeking his beneath the table. “I don't know how, but suddenly I was on four paws instead of two feet.”

“I’d turned feral, baby. And you brought me back,” Liam said.

Zane shakes his head. “Incredible,” he breathes. “A human shifting...it's unheard of.”

Elara leans forward, her eyes intent on mine. “The Goddess has blessed you, child,” she says, her voice ringing with certainty. “She granted you this gift so that you might save your mate, and in doing so, save yourself.”

Emotion clogs my throat, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes because I know that’s true. She came not once but all throughout our ordeal and saved us both while doing so.

Mitch rises from his seat, coming to stand before me. He places a hand on my shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring. “Welcome to the pack, Taylor,” he says formally, his eyes glinting with an emotion I can't quite name. “We're honored to have you among us.”

My wolf stirs within me, a contented rumble that vibrates through my consciousness. Alpha, she whispers, the word laced with respect and affection. Our Alpha.

I duck my head, overwhelmed by the acceptance, the sense of belonging that wraps around me like a beloved quilt. “Thank you. I'm honored.”

Mitch wraps his large hand on my shoulder and smiles down at me. Power thrums from him to me and instantly I understand his strength. His protection. My wolf bows to him, coming down onto her haunches, thumping her tail on the ground.

Pack. The word whispers through my mind, an instinctive understanding that resonates in my very marrow. My wolf hums in agreement, a contented rumble that vibrates through my consciousness. These people, this place...it's where we're meant to be. Our home, our family.

The banter flows easily as we take our seats, the conversation punctuated by laughter and the clink of cutlery against plates. I bask in the warmth of the camaraderie, the sense of belonging that wraps around me.

As the meal winds down, Mitch clears his throat, his expression turning serious. He reaches into his pocket and withdraws a small scrap of paper, sliding it across the table to me.

“Taylor, have you ever seen this symbol before?” he asks, his tone carefully neutral.

Frowning, I pick up the paper, my eyes widening as I take in the intricate design etched upon its surface. It's a perfect match for the marking on the underside of my ring, the heirloom passed down through generations of my family.

With trembling fingers, I slip the ring from my finger and hand it to Mitch, watching as he studies the symbol. After a long moment, he passes it to Elara, a silent question in his eyes.

The witch takes the ring, her gaze distant as she traces the delicate lines. “This is the mark of the Wolf Shifter Goddess.”

“Can I please have a look?” Sarah asks. She takes the ring and smiles at me when she sees the symbol. “It’s the same one we all have.”

“All of you? But how?” I ask.

Sarah lifts up her arm to show me her charm bracelet where I see the design etched onto one of the charms. “I came across mine at the thrift store. It called to me.”

Aria shows me her stone. “I found mine at a market. I never left home without it.”

“You’ve yet to meet Maya and Sophia, but they had the same symbols on their person when they found Willowbrook,” Mitch said.

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