CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The angry sounds coming from my mate's apartment hit me like a slap across the face.

They seep out from under her door, loud and jarring when I realize one of the voices is Wyn's.

She's never been the shouting type. I doubt she even yells at Jake.

Even from the other side of her door, I can taste her distress, metallic and sickening.

Without thinking, I barrel through the door, the wood splintering under my massive form.

Using my Boggart powers, I fix the door before turning back to the room.

My gaze takes in the scene—a woman I assume is Wyn's ex, a man, and my sawolkeh.

Tears carve a path down her cheeks as Wyn's shoulders shake with every quiet sob.

The sight shreds my heart—I've never seen Wyn cry before.

She addresses all challenges face on with all the fire that burns in her soul.

The man spins to face me, and the woman gasps out a shriek.

"What is going on here?" I shout with menace.

My form blurs as I struggle to gain control over the volatile abhorrence leaking out of me as Shadows.

"What is that?"

Wyn's tears disappear. "Bash is not a what—he's a who, and he's the man I love!"

"You're… in love with a man? My son is in love with a man who is a monster?!"

"Correction—your daughter is in love with a monster."

"He is not my daughter!"

"Not according to Wyn, and she's the only person here right now who matters."

"Why am I even listening to you? Your ‘girlfriend' is defiling everything our people stand for!"

Spittle flies from his lips, and Wyn flinches as if struck, his words flaying her open.

More tears track down her cheeks, and something inside of me cracks.

Wyn's strong—so damn strong—and seeing her like this fractures the door where I hide all my darkness.

It leaks out, plunging the room into darkness as my Shadows writhe like serpents over the walls.

In an instant, screams fill the space, high-pitched and frantic as I feed Wyn's ex and her father a taste of their own medicine.

I become their terror, morphing into a living nightmare—their nightmare.

And like the monster Wyn's dad accused me of being, I revel in their terror.

They deserve all this and more for making Wyn shed even one single, damned tear.

"Mommy!"

Jake's bloodcurdling cry pierces the air blackened with my smoky tendrils.

The small, frightened voice that cuts straight through the storm raging inside of me.

How could I forget about Jake?!

He stands there, eyes as big as saucers, staring at the nightmares I've unleashed.

Suddenly, the shadows dissolve into nothingness, the chaos evaporating as if it were never here as I call everything back into me.

And lock it up tight.

Reality crashes back, a cruel wave breaking over me as Jake runs to Wyn.

His tiny frame shakes as my mate attempts to soothe him.

My sawolkeh stares at me over his trembling form, her eyes wide with shock.

I hit the floor, my legs giving out. The weight of my own horror crushes me like a tangible force.

All I ever wanted was to be Jake's hero, but now I'm nothing but the monster I swore I'd never be.

"S-sorry, so sorry," I rasp, but the words feel as hollow as the hole in my heart.

What's the point of apologizing when I've just shown Wyn the real me?

Everything in my world revolves around her and Jake, and then I go and do something so absolutely unforgivable like this.

My arms, desperate to wrap them in a protective embrace, are nothing more than heavy weights at my sides.

Wyn must wish she'd never let a monster like me into their lives.

Jake's terror coats my tongue, and he stares at me like I'm a repulsive creature that crawled out from under his bed.

But that's what a Boggart is—we're where the legends of the Boogeymen came from.

He should look at me like this. This little boy didn't deserve to be thrown into my nightmares.

And although my shadows have receded, they're still a part of me—a reminder of the monster that I am.

I'm spiraling, lost in the horror of my own mind when a little hand lands on my shoulder.

It's Jake.

Shrinking back, I flinch at the gentle contact, but Jake doesn't move away. I brace for the worst.

"Bash? Are you ok?"

"Don't touch me, buddy. I…I'm a monster."

"I know. You're a Boggart, remember?"

I choke on a breath and force myself to look at the darling child.

"Trust me, I remember. Only a Boggart can do the awful things I just did."

"Why did you do them?"

"Because your mom was upset, and I lost control. I should've tried harder. I'm sorry."

"Mommy says it's okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from them."

"She's right, but some things aren't forgivable, little buddy."

"Yeah, but it's not up to you if we forgive you, right? That's up to Mommy and me—and I forgive you, Bash. I love you."

His words hit me harder than a freight train, and I swallow back a sob when Jake flings himself into my arms.

I hang onto his hug like it's a lifeline. I don't deserve it, but I can't let go of him, either.

Another set of arms joins Jake's, and I realize Wyn is crouched down beside us.

"There's nothing to forgive, Bash. You're not a monster—you're just a man who made a mistake. Lord knows I've made plenty of those, but you still love me, still see me."

"For all of eternity, I will see you. I love you Wynona Archer."

Jake lets out a gurgle of happiness, the taste a burst of heaven on my tongue.

From somewhere in the room, Wyn's ex clears her throat.

Her eyes are red, rimmed with tears and terror, but she's looking at my mate—not me.

"I…I'm sorry, Wyn."

"As am I," her father croaks.

Both are pale and shaking, clearly traumatized from what I did, and I hang my head in shame.

But Wyn tips it up, placing a soft kiss against my lips that breathes life back into my being.

"Our world's desperate for light—for kindness—but we've got to be the ones to give it. Without compassion for one another, what hope do we have of building something worthwhile for the next generation? Change begins with us as does forgiveness."

When Wyn places her hand over my heart, it speeds up.

"I don't deserve your forgiveness, nor does your father or ex, but I am humbled by it and accept."

Tara hiccups and stares at her glossy heels, but Wyn's father steels his spine and stands tall.

"Wynona Archer, you and your son have demonstrated true strength tonight. I was wrong about you…about everything. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me as well?"

"Can you truly accept me for who I am?"

"I…yes. Please believe me."

She glances at me, and I nod, letting her know I taste his truth.

He turns to study me.

"Do you love my daughter?"

"With all my heart—Jake, too."

"Then they are lucky to have such a fierce protector guarding them."

Jake beams at him, pulling away from my light hold.

"We're super lucky! Bash is going to be my daddy!"

Wyn lets out a watery chuckle.

"Guess I have no choice now," she whispers.

"You always have a choice."

"Yeah, but I couldn't break Jake's—or your—heart. Besides, it's what mine wants, too."

My heart soars at this since it's more than I could've ever dreamed of, especially after what happened.

But Wyn isn't just beautiful on the outside, she's gorgeous on the inside.

Pure and kind, just like her son.

No wonder I never saw my mate smile—she's carried this burden for so long on her own.

Her ex.

Her father.

Her guilt.

All contributed to the wall Wyn put up, helping her to shut out the world that continued to hurt her.

But no more.

Today is the last day my sawolkeh suffers at the hands of others.

Today is the day she realizes her worth because she's more than and always has been.

Today is the day she's free.