Page 263 of His Blazing Witch

They both stay silent, probably a bit surprised by my words, but I've never been so sure of anything. This is all coming to me now, so clear and bright like the future. I've tried so much to find a reason to be, a role to fill, and I never came to realize... I could be whatever I wanted in the first place. Clarissa and little Mara left me this gift. If I'm a funny mix between two worlds, why shouldn't I simply be the best of the two?

After what seems like a while, Selena chuckles and pushes her blonde hair back with a long sigh.

"Oh, Moon Goddess... You're one surprising gal, Mara."

"Thanks," I smile.

She stares at the firepit for a while, but I know this isn't really what her eyes are saying. There's a veil of nostalgia in her eyes, I can tell. She chuckles.

"...You remind me of someone," she says. "An annoying old hag... and my mentor. I didn't want to admit it at first, but... you're an awful lot like her. Stubborn, unapologetic, and at times, a huge pain in the ass."

"Okay...?"

She takes a deep breath.

"...But that someone was probably the woman I admired the most," she finally confesses. "She was an Omega wolf too, simply by choice. She had the heart of a Beta, the strength of an Alpha, but she was still an Omega. For a long time, I wondered why she hadn't... settled for a pack. Why she simply didn't pick one, or come to the same one as me, instead of always going back and forth. I even resented her for not staying."

"...Did you ever get to know why?"

She laughs and turns to me.

"I think I finally understand now, because of one stubborn Fire Witch."

Liam and I exchange a glance, a little bit confused. Selena shakes her head with a smile.

"...I think you can't settle your heart in a pack. You just leave it with someone."

I smile.

Yeah, I really like the sound of that, and it does feel like... me. Liam sighs and rests his chin on my shoulder while I'm left with my thoughts to ponder Selena's words and mine. I think she's right on point. It's not about Silver City itself. It's not about a city, its buildings, or where it is. It's about the people I met here. The ones I come back to. I think Liam, Kelsi, Ben, Nora, Selena, everyone... They were the ones that made Silver City my home. I find myself smiling uncontrollably, but for once, I know exactly where I need my heart to be. I know exactly what I want, who I am.

Still...there's something that bothers me, just a little. It feels so easy, almost too easy. I don't have the responsibility of a pack. Truthfully, being an Omega means I won't take any responsibility as a wolf... I'll just be a werewolf among many. I'm fine with staying on the sidelines until they need me. Until they need the witch me. It bothers me a little...

"...Don't you think it's a bit selfish of me?" I ask Selena.

She chuckles and shrugs. Her amber eyes are following a young white wolf who's playing with her younger cousins and her dad.

"We're all selfish, Mara. Humans and werewolves alike. You can't be selfless all the time, happiness does come with selfishness, at times. I know a lot about it, to be honest. I've made some choices that were selfish of me, but at that time, if I had chosen any other way, I would have imploded. There are times where you have to do what you want, and put yourself first. Don't feel sorry about that. You're super young too. Technically, you're even younger than any of us. How could we chain you to Silver City when you've literally known nothing else? Nora and I are fine with our current roles, we're happy as Lunas. But you? Like you said, you've got the heart of a rogue wolf. You don't keep a wolf on a leash, girl."

I smile, happy that she understands my thought process. I turn to Liam, a bit worried, but he just smiles, brushing his lips against my skin.

"Don't look at me like that," he says. "Wherever you go, I'll go. No leash for me, either."

"As if we were ever able to put a leash on you," Selena laughs. "You're the most rogue of all of us! What a pair, you two... I think we will just have to sit back and see what kind of mess you'll bring home next..."

"Hey, we're not that bad of troublemakers!" protests Liam.

"Oh, really? How many buildings have gone up in flames since you two got together, again?"

Liam gasps.

"Hey, you know that's not true! That was Mara all by herself..."

"Thanks for the support," I growl.

"Sorry, babe, but you're real trouble. Always happy to help, though..."

"Yeah," chuckles Selena. "At least, Mara is–"

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