Page 28 of Beyond the Grasslands

“You have?” There was no need to hide the shock in my voice.

“Of course. I’ve even gone so far as to have the majority of the pack searched for the sigil we saw embedded in the skin of those who were helping Miriam and whatever the hell she has been working with.”

“So, you don’t believe it is a goddess either?”

Thorin gave my fingers a quick, reassuring squeeze. “I don’t know and not knowing is what makes me question everything. Why would a god need to embed a sigil inside shifters to get them to do their bidding?”

“Selene told me that despite the plans the gods make, we still have the freedom to choose our own paths. She said the fact that anyone rejects their moon-blessed mate is evidence of that. What if they only hold so much power and the rest is up to us?”

“It still wouldn’t explain any of them getting into bed to do Miriam’s bidding.”

I shook my head at that. “I don’t think that is the right way of looking at it. Miriam is the one doing this woman’s bidding - whether she’s a goddess, demon, or something else. Unlike the others, there was no need for her to be forced into anything because Miriam already had an agenda that made her susceptible to go along with whatever plans had been hatched.”

“Now, that I believe. Miriam was never one to be clever enough to have almost overthrown our whole pack. It does make me wonder how far back this supposed goddess’s influence went.”

“Your father?”

Thorin nodded. “He was so staunchly against those who would choose a path that led them from their moon-blessed mate. Everything he did was to discourage the use of Mirage Island, and to make sure that on the rare occasion someone chooses differently, that the innocent party who was left behind wouldn’t be punished for the other’s decision. It doesn’t trackwith a man who would willingly cheat on his moon-blessed mate.”

“Maybe your father was also under the influence of a sigil.”

“In that case, I’d say it had to be the work of a deity. Nothing else could have ripped a man from his staunch belief in moon-blessed unions.”

We sat thoughtful for a few moments as Thorin continued to drive us toward Andersonville. “Sorry, I know that was a heavy topic and not really date night approved.”

“We said we would be honest with one another about what is on our minds,” I reminded him. “I think it’s okay if that honesty takes place during date night too. It’s not like either of us can really turn our position within the pack off. There will also be a bit of pack business, family business, or whatever else that will bleed through into our private time.”

“You keep trying to tell me that you aren’t perfect, all the while showing me every single way that you are.” I giggled. It was something my mate continuously tried to convince me of.

“No pedestals. I don’t want to live up to it and you will only be let down in the end.”

“Doubtful, but I will try to find your flaws if it makes you happy.”

I rolled my eyes as we pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant. “Wow, this place looks amazing.” The exterior of the building had the appearance of a log cabin sitting atop a stone foundation. It almost looked as though someone magically grew the place right out of the backdrop at the foothills of the mountains. Considering Thorin’s pack was located in what was the flattest portion and base leading into the foothills, and we hadn’t traveled that far, it felt as though the scene had moved to meet us in the middle somehow.

“This place doesn’t even seem real,” I mentioned again and Thorin nodded along with me.

“It is at the very edge of Andersonville, so a bit further abreast from the heavy human population.”

“I feel other shifters here.” There was at least one Alpha amongst the few shifters whose presence I felt. I turned to look at Thorin and he nodded, while also looking worried.

“I didn’t think about the fact that other shifters tend to frequent this place as well. It is neutral ground, and no one is allowed to shift here. The owner is human, but has a close connection to the shifter community somehow.” Instead of getting out of the car, Thorin remained seated and continued to hold my hand. “We are not fully mated yet,” He finally voiced his major concern.”

“The may be true, but I am still your moon-blessed. There is no way someone in there could possibly tempt me away from you. Let’s go before you lose your nerve and ruin our date by making me sit in the parking lot smelling the delicious aromas coming from that place without ever being able to taste it.” I tossed a teasing smile his way as I moved to open my door.

“No you don’t.” He hopped out and sat back to wait for my mate to come open my door for me. It was a sweet gesture, but also one of possessiveness. In case anyone was inside watching us. They would see an Alpha who was determined to care for his woman, whether we were fully mated or not. I had to give Thorin credit for his chivalry as he took my hand and gently helped to ease me out of the car.

The man’s eyes never left my own and the warm brown in them seemed to melt as something between us clicked into place. It felt as though our bond strengthened as stared into one another’s eyes. He pulled me tight to his body and leaned in to kiss my lips, caught up in the same trance I had fallen under. “Sorry,” Thorin whispered without moving away. “Couldn’t help myself.”

“All is forgiven.” While I meant his hesitancy to get out of the car and the kiss he thought he stole from me, it felt like my forgiveness extended to everything else too. To be fair, I had forgiven Thorin, and his wolf side, for the way he had marked me. In my eyes, that was the only thing that required forgiveness and only because he couldn’t offer it to himself. I truly understood.

While I knew those three words meant far more to Thorin, it became evident rather quickly when he stole another, far more heated, kiss while we stood there in the parking lot for all to see. My heart melted a little more for the man who had been through too much to come out the other side with such a sweet disposition for his mate.

It was during that date that I knew we would be okay, no matter what.

Chapter 13

October

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