Page 9 of Don't Howl At Me

“Why did you stay away? Why didn’t you contact me back?” Curiosity had me in its grip.

“Because I’m a dumbass who had my pride hurt? Because I was a stupid omega afraid of not being good enough to get you to stop fucking other omegas? I couldn’t talk to you yet.”

“But now you can?”

“Yes,” Ollie confirmed. “I finally stopped being dumb, listened to all the messages, and read all the emails.”

“You did?” I asked. “You know I haven’t been with anyone since that day?”

“Yes.” Ollie lowered his head and sighed. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”

His apology soothed some of the pain that had built inside me since he deserted me. A simple sentence wouldn’t solve the problem. But hearing him say he was sorry for leaving me for all those months, my heart was stitching itself back together.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” I stood and reached out to him.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” Ollie took my hand and rose from the couch.

We entered the garden through the kitchen. Lush and flowing, our plants were well taken care of by the green witches. From teas to spells, this garden ensured our magical lives ran smoothly and potently.

“These are beautiful.” Ollie ran a delicate fingertip across one of the leaves.

“This is my mother’s garden.” I guided Ollie to the antique bench, my favorite place to sit and enjoy the grounding energy. “She is the main green witch in the coven. She ensures the other witches who specialize in the natural aspects of the craft understand how their environment reflects what you put into it. If you want a powerful spell, you need to have potent ingredients. For that to happen, you must treat the earth with respect and build a reciprocal relationship with what you grow in your gardens.”

“The energy here is strong. I can tell the plants are satisfied with how the coven treats the earth on this territory.” Ollie closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “The nature spirits welcome me.”

“They can tell you belong here. That you belong to me.”

Peaceful silence settled between us as we let the spirits of the trees take in his presence. I whispered a simple spell to add my mate to the protection wards. We still had a lot to work out between us, but my mate was part of me and, therefore, of the coven.

“I truly am sorry for how I handled everything in the past.” Ollie faced me.

“It’s okay—”

“No, it’s not. I should have treated you with more respect. Honestly, there’s no need to explain anything. Whatever occurred before our souls recognized their fated mate shouldn’t have mattered.”

“I can understand it being a bit much all at once though.” I hung my head, ashamed of my role in the situation. “If I hadn’t been so free with my body before finding my mate, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Wolf, there is nothing wrong with how you acted before we met.” Ollie tilted my chin so I met his eyes. “I should never have let you suffer the guilt for what you did before you knew fate had granted you a true mate. I was foolish and immature. But if you’re still willing to be my mate, I will prove I deserve you.”

“How could I not still want to be with you?” He was my everything.

“You could decide I’m not worth all the pain I caused us this last year.”

“Nothing could make me not want to spend my life with my mate. What happened in the past is the past, and that includes this last year. We will focus on what comes after this moment.”

A tear rolled down Ollie’s cheek as a shy smile played on his lips. “How did I get so lucky to have such a forgiving mate?”

“No, my sweet Ollie. I am the lucky one.”

Energy built between us. My teal sparks reached out to his. Raspberry swirls timidly tested the connection before leaping out to join forces. The combination of our energies solidified my belief that with my mate by my side, my power would be brighter and more dedicated to protecting my family.

As if sensing my thoughts, Ollie reassured me, “Don’t worry. We will find out who is after your family, and they will never be able to hurt anyone again. I promise.”

Dusk approached. “Will you have dinner with me?”

“Yes. But I need to get settled in my room first. Can we meet in an hour?”

“Absolutely. Let me walk you to your rooms.” I rose and reached out for my mate.

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