Chapter 18: Mazie

18

MAZIE

I snapped awake, my heart thudding as images of something chasing me faded and reality became clearer. The room spun momentarily before settling into the familiar rustic charm of that very first haven—the bed where the umbra shifters had discovered me. The sheets smelled of Ajax, the love of my life, my mate. Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the wooden walls. Clearly, it was well into the afternoon. How long had I been sleeping?

"Easy, Mazie," I whispered, pressing a hand against my aching head. "You're safe."

Safe. That word had held new meaning since the day I stumbled into a world I didn't know existed. My mind was a whirlwind, replaying the wild jumble of memories—from the stark terror of my first shift to the steamy desire in Ajax's stormy blue eyes. His gaze had become an anchor in the chaos, grounding me when my new reality threatened to sweep me away.

"Home," I mused aloud, my voice a soft murmur in the quiet room.

That peace was hard-earned, fought with tooth, claw, and stubbornness I never knew I possessed. I had clawed my way from the fringes, fraught with doubt, to stand beside Ajax—physically and as part of this intricate web of strength and survival—the pack.

The corners of my mouth lifted in a wry smile. Before, I'd painted confidence onto my features like a mask, hiding my insecurities beneath layers of foundation and perfectly curated outfits. True strength flowed in my veins—a gift from the creature I'd become and the bonds I'd formed. I still loved makeup, but I knew it didn't have the power to make me a better person.

I'd learned the most incredible power I'd even known to be the mating bond with Ajax.

"Ajax," his name rolled off my tongue with a reverence reserved only for prayer. He taught me to embrace the beast and wield its power gracefully. Under his guidance, I found solace in my skin, fur or otherwise. Throughout our bond, I had connected with the Moon Goddess and been blessed with the strength and power to defeat our foes.

A soft sigh escaped my lips. "Who knew that finding my place meant losing myself first?" I mused, a smile playing on my lips, reflecting upon the journey that had led me here—to this bed, this room, this life. A life intertwined with an umbra, a special kind of daddy who was as fierce as he was tender.

"Ajax," the name tumbled from my lips like a prayer. The air seemed still, the essence of my entire being funneling into that utterance. I needed him—the anchor in my stormy sea of emotions, the compass directing me through the labyrinth of my new reality.

His name was a key unlocking the floodgates, and suddenly, a torrent of longing cascaded within me. With every beat of my heart, I felt the distance between us, an invisible chasm begging to be bridged by his presence alone.

"Ajax!" This time, it wasn't just a call—a plea, my voice lacing the syllables with a raw urgency that vibrated against the room's walls. Each second he wasn't here felt like a year, each moment stretching out forever.

The chair by the bed creaked, snapping like a twig underfoot on a forest hike, and there he was—Ajax, jerking awake, his frame instantly on high alert. His piercing blue eyes, which could command a pack with a glance, widened as they locked onto mine. Concern etched deep furrows across his forehead, typically reserved for times when the pack's safety was questioned. Now, all that intensity was focused on me.

"Everything okay, Mazie?" His voice was gravel mixed with velvet, rough with sleep but immediately soothing to the storm inside me.

"Needed to see you're okay," I admitted, the truth spilling unbidden from my lips.

He rose, his muscles flexing beneath the fabric of his shirt—a testament to the strength that both reassured and overwhelmed me. At this moment, his stature represented more than physical might; it embodied the emotional fortress he had built around me since I became one of them.

"Feeling better?" he asked, moving closer, the warmth of his body radiating towards me like the morning sun dispelling night's shadows.

"Memories of last night," I answered softly. "I hope they aren't always this vivid."

"Come here." It wasn't a command, though it carried the weight of one. It was an invitation, a promise of sanctuary.

I slid over, and he sat on the bed. Then he gently enveloped me in his arms, and the lonely, fragmented pieces of myself began knitting back together. In the shelter of Ajax's embrace, I found the solace that had eluded me in sleep. Vulnerable yet fiercely protected, I was home—not the one I'd been born into, but the one I'd chosen, the one that had chosen me.

"I love you," I whispered, the words muffled against the solid wall of his chest. "I love you, and I should have told you before. I was scared to let you in and tell you how I felt when I assumed you were pulling away."

"No," he corrected, "that's on me. I was trying to protect you from the seedier side of things and, in doing so, nearly lost you. I will always tell you what's going on from here forward. You never have to worry about me pulling away from you. That's a promise."

I leaned up and kissed him, loving the way he devoured my mouth each time. After a moment, I pulled back just a fraction. "Thank you for listening, waiting, and being my unwavering constant in a life that had known too much change."

"Always, Mazie," he murmured back, his breath stirring the hair at the crown of my head. "I love you, Mazie Green. You are my everything."

And somehow, I knew he meant it. Every word, every silent vow, every unspoken promise. Always.

How could such strength be so gentle? His embrace was a fortress; I found the safety I'd always craved. The tremors that had wracked me slowly subsided as we remained locked in silence, our heartbeats syncing up like a rhythmic dance.

"Look at me, Mazie," he murmured after a moment, tilting my chin with his fingers.

His eyes were the color of a stormy sea, deep and fathomless, yet there was no threat of drowning—only the promise of shelter from my swirling tempests. He searched my face, finding every hidden fear and silent plea written in the lines of my worry.

"Every piece of you," he said, tracing the contour of my cheek with the pad of his thumb, "every doubt, every scar, is precious to me."

The words unraveled me, and I leaned into his touch, savoring our raw honesty. In his gaze, I saw my reflection—not the fractured image I'd grown accustomed to, but whole, cherished.

And then his lips found mine, tender at first as if he too feared shattering the fragile moment. But as I responded, the kiss deepened, igniting a fire that seemed to consume all of my fears, leaving only the purest form of desire.

In the tender war of lips and breath, I lost myself to the sensation, the man whose very essence called to the core of my being. With each gentle caress, he staked his claim, not as an alpha asserting dominance but as a soul recognizing its counterpart.

His kiss spoke of an eternity lived together, nights spent under the moon's watchful eye, and quiet mornings where the world began and ended with the rise and fall of our chests. It was a conversation without words, a vow that needed no witnesses.

When he finally pulled away, breathless and with a smile that mirrored my own, I knew we would face them together, no matter what uncertainties lay ahead.

A coarse cough shattered the silence, a jarring note indicating that we weren't alone. Startled, I blinked open my eyes to find Kyle looming in the doorway, his arms crossed and an amused eyebrow arched high enough to disappear into his sandy hairline.

"Is everything back to normal, then?" he quipped, with a twinkle that reached his eyes.

Ajax released me from our embrace just enough to turn his head toward the intrusion. "Get out, Kyle. I'm with my woman."

I whacked him on the arm, causing him to grunt. "What he meant was, please come in Kyle. We appreciate your help."

"That's what I meant?" Ajax teased, his arm tightening around my waist and pulling me back into his arms.

"Air is good," Kyle piped up again, his voice slicing through the sensual haze that always surrounded Ajax and me when we were together. I pulled back slightly, my heart still erratic from Ajax's kiss but now snagged by the thread of humor in Kyle's tone.

"Really, you two can't go five minutes without—" The ribbing in his voice faltered as he stepped aside, revealing Kayla huddled by his side.

What? Why was Kayla here? Her petite frame seemed even more fragile against his sturdy one, a stark white bandage encircling her head like a grim halo.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of her. "Kayla," I gasped, my previous irritation with Kyle dissolving into a puddle of guilt and worry.

"Hey, Mazie," she said, a brave attempt at a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. It didn't reach her eyes; those big brown eyes were clouded with pain and fatigue. "So, I heard that Raylene met with an accident. Kyle said that Alpha would find me another home to stay at. "

All of the different foster homes flashed through my mind. Shoving whatever I had into a garbage bag or even my pillow case and leaving at a moment's notice. No, I did not want this future for Kayla. I couldn't save myself, but I could save her.

"God, Kayla. I'm so sorry," I whispered, wondering if I should wait and talk to Ajax before implementing my plan. I had been about to ask Kyle to give us a moment alone when he spoke.

"Hey, there's our hero," Ajax's firm voice cut in, his hand finding mine and reassuringly squeezing it. "She's tough. Aren't you, kid?"

"Like an umbra," Kayla quipped weakly, drawing a soft chuckle out of us despite the situation's difficulty.

"Exactly like an umbra," I echoed, allowing a sliver of pride to mix with my swirling emotions. In this room, surrounded by those who mattered most, I realized how deeply these ties had rooted within me. It wasn't just about finding love or belonging anymore; it was about being part of something that made us all stronger—something worth protecting, no matter the cost.

"I'd meant to ask you…" Ajax started as I blurted out.

"Can she stay with us?" The question poured from some untouched well within me, my voice softer than intended but no less committed.

"Of course." His response was immediate and unequivocal: "I wouldn't have it any other way." There was no doubt in his tone, no hesitation—just the simple truth of his word, as steady as the earth beneath our feet.

"Really?" Kayla's expression lit up, and she whooped with joy. "That's what I wanted. I prayed to the Moon Goddess, and she answered my prayers. Thank you!"

"Be careful," Kyle warned, his voice laced with humor as he gently wrangled Kayla by her shoulders. "You might get more than you bargained for with these two. I heard the alpha snores like a grizzly umbra."

They could hear Kayla's laughter as she went down the hallway.

I looked into his eyes, the man I loved more than life itself. "Thank you, from the both of us."

"You don't need to thank me, Mazie. I feel like life hadn't even started until you came into mine. You are the reason I want to be a better man, a better alpha, and a better father."

Heat stained my cheeks as I asked, "Do you want more kids?"

"I'm hoping we have one or two on the way."

With eyes full of laughter, he kissed my surprised expression from my face and swept me away to the place where our hearts were always united as one.