Page 65 of The Wolf I Sworn To Hate

A few hours later, William walked into the parlor where everyone was hanging out.

“Can I have your attention, please? The road crew has managed to get the snow cleared and everyone can leave. I would ask that certain events that occurred here, stay here.”

The room was silent. Everyone knew that he was referring to what happened with Darren and Tristan.

Marcie called out, “What happens on Montaña Maldita stays on Montaña Maldita.”

“Here, here,” Blake seconded.

“Excellent. Also, Sara and I would like to offer full refunds to you guys. You came up for a vacation and you spent the time cooped up in this building. A lot of you helped out.”

“That’s the only decent thing for you to do,” Elliot said.

“Dad, no. William, do not refund anything to us. The avalanche was an act of nature and you guys were not at fault in any way.”

Esme added her two cents in. “Plus, you provided us with shelter, food, and everything else we needed.”

Ellie smiled. “Actually, this turned out to be a pretty decent vacation. We didn’t ski, but we met some new friends, and it is certainly a great story to tell our friends.”

“Excellent. Maybe a discounted future stay, then,” William offered. “The plows will have the driveway cleared out within the hour. It has been an honor and a privilege to get to know you all.”

William looked over at Elliot and cleared his throat. “Almost all of you.”

Sean smirked as did most of the people in the room.

People headed back to their cabins to get the rest of their stuff.

Sean walked over to Xyla. “Can we talk in the library for a minute?”

A look of panic crossed her face, but she nodded.

“I know you hated me when you first got here, and to be fair, I wasn’t fond of you, either. However, circumstances changed and we got to know each other. I tried to deny it at first, but, Xyla, you are my fated mate. I fell in love with you. Will you go through the mating ceremony with me?”

Tears poured out of her eyes. “Sean, you have to know that I am in love with you, too. There is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you – but I can’t. It would destroy Dad. Plus, he would do everything he possibly could to ruin our lives, and he wouldn’t let me anywhere near Edward.”

For the second time in his life, Sean’s soul shattered into a million pieces. “I understand.”

She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips against his. He held her close to him for a brief second.

“Goodbye, Sean.”

Sobbing, she ran out of the room. Sean fell onto the couch. He sat with his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. He wanted to cry, too.

Sawyer walked in. “I just saw Xyla run out of here, crying. What… Oh.”

He sat beside Sean and put his arm around his shoulders.

After several minutes, Sean said, “Let’s go home.”

Edward ran into the library. “We’re leaving, but I wouldn’t get in the car until I could say goodbye to you. I love you guys.”

Sean hugged the little boy and then Sawyer followed suit.

“We love you, too,” Sean said. “You’re a great young man. When you get older, you come to Angel’s Creek and find me atHowlers’.”

“I promise.”

“You can come see me, too, but I’m not as much fun since I have the doctor’s office.”

---