Page 62 of Country and Clove
Aaron tucked Clove beneath him as the shockwave hit them. When they turned back, the twins were standing upright, holding hands. A violet aura surrounded them, and their eyes glowed with an unnatural purple light. The Dolgur was dead at their feet. Apparently killed in the blast.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Darren breathed out. “More Celestials.”
“Hunter!” Ginger screamed from nearby, drawing Clove’s attention away from the glowing twins and back toward the mounds of earth near her feet. Flowers were blooming on several of the graves and Hunter’s hand had already breached the soil. Several nearby lycans immediately dropped down to help dig him out. Ginger was hysterical as they worked to free him. He sat upright, gasping, his blond hair and golden eyes as angelic as ever. Ginger threw herself on him, sobbing and running her fingers across his skin.
Another of the mounds began to blossom. A woman’s hand punched through the dirt and vines. Lance and Liv were clawing at the ground, dragging the woman out from the earth.
“It’s Taia!” Liv shouted. Graham appeared in an instant. His Celestial form dropped away until he was just a man, naked and shouting in relief. He wrenched Taia from the earth, dragging her into his body and kissing her all over.
Two more graves bloomed and the lycans pulled one member of the Scottish pack and one of Lucas’s team from the dirt.
Clove waited and waited. But Waylin’s grave did not bloom. Nor did the other four mounds. As the minutes passed, the graves began to sink, and the earth welcomed them back.
“No,” Clove cried, as Waylin was pulled beneath the ground. She clawed at his resting place, but Aaron dragged her away, pressing her into his chest and squeezing her tightly as she sobbed into him. She dug her fingers into his shirt as she poured out all of her sadness. She peered around his shoulders as he held her. Brona and Bjorn lay unconscious on the ground, their bodies still glowing with an unnatural purple light.
What the hell just happened?
The sky began to spin. She sucked in a pained breath as magic assaulted her senses. The world blurred around her. She hovered there, trapped between the real world and a thick layer of magic.
Somewhere in the haze came a soft golden figure. The woman, shrouded in an ethereal glow, moved to stand before her. As she swam into focus, Clove recognized the familiar and long-lost features of her mother. “Mom?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Annie smiled down at her. “I’m so proud of you, Clove.”
Clove’s heart swelled with emotion. Her mom was as beautiful as ever. Her kind, green eyes radiated love. She placed a soft hand on Clove’s chest.
“It’s time to go back now.”
Clove gasped as she was slammed back into the present. Fatigue sank into her bones, and as her legs buckled beneath her, she allowed Aaron to sweep her up and carry her away.
EPILOGUE
Three weeks had passed since the unexpected attack that ultimately claimed the lives of sixteen lycans, four of which were successfully brought back by Dahlia. The pack had been hard at work in that short amount of time, spending their days rebuilding the city and mourning those lost. In the midst of all the chaos and destruction, the Mountain’s End residents had managed to grow and thrive despite the tragedy.
It had been hard for Aaron to watch his mate struggle with the loss of one of her closest friends. Waylin could not be brought back, and the pain of losing someone who was like a brother to Clove had wounded her deeply. Aaron comforted her and gave her space to grieve and heal. It helped that both Graham and Ginger’s mates were returned to the world of the living. Clove seemed to take comfort in their love and happiness.
Of course, they had their own happiness to take comfort in as well. Their mate bond blossomed by the day. Earl had already been pestering him about a wedding and grandpups. Aaron wanted it all.
Clove was more resilient than anyone he knew. She grew stronger and less sad every day. Aaron was in awe of her as she worked hard at her training and continued to impress him with her dedication and growth. Even now, as she ran with the recruits on their afternoon patrol, his chest felt light. Despite the past tragedy and future uncertainty, life was good.
“Why do we have to run so many miles?” Liv grumped as they headed back down the mountain.
“What are you complaining about? You’re in incredible shape.” Aaron eyed her irritably. This was a fight they had daily.
“Sure Icanrun a million miles. But that doesn’t mean Iwantto,” she argued.
“A few more months and you’ll graduate. Then you can run as much or as little as you like. But until then, less bellyaching and more sprinting.”
Liv glared at him but picked up her pace.
“Your mate is human and I don’t hear her complaining,” Aaron called after her.
Clove jogged up to his side. “Do you two always have to fight?” Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail that exposed her face and neck. They only had about fifteen minutes left of their run, and when they finished, he was going to wrap that ponytail around his fist while she screamed for him. Clove peered over at him and bit her lip. “Focus, sir.” With a smirk, she jogged ahead.
She was still a recruit under his command, but the mating bond had shifted their pupil/teacher dynamic. His eyes trailed up the athletic shorts and sports bra combo she wore. Every bit of his mate was tanned, toned perfection. She was strong, fierce, and a hell of a fighter. Man he’d lucked out when the stars chose them for each other.
The group filed back into the complex, heading for the training rooms. Aaron dismissed them with his usual end-of-the-day speech. They gathered their belongings, chatting and toweling off. Aaron watched Clove mingling with the others with the tense stare of a predator. Someone mentioned pizza and the recruits grabbed their bags and hurried out.
“Clove, if you could stay behind for a minute. I need to discuss something with you.”
