CHAPTER 15

HANNAH

For the first time since I’d been rescued, I was feeling hope. How we’d all forgotten that, as shifters, we processed chemicals differently from humans, I’d never know. For centuries, we’d used herbs, but as we didn’t get sick very often and healed quickly, I guess our teachings had fallen by the wayside. Well, no more. Once I was back at full strength, I’d have Cassie teach me because I never wanted another being to feel the way I’ve been feeling, and I never wanted another mate to go through what Anton’s been going through.

It was killing me that he had to fight every night to exhaust himself so that he could rest. The downside to him being exhausted was that he didn’t wake me from the nightmares when they took me, and I couldn’t pull myself out of them. Not that I’d tell him how many I still had. He was suffering enough, and I’d not pile onto the guilt he’d feel if he knew.

I’d asked Gus to ride with us more so for both his and Luca’s sake than anything. If the others thought it was because I was more comfortable with Gus and Miah, then I’d let them continue thinking that. But I knew that Gus was finding it hard to let go of Cassie after having raised her by himself. Not only had his daughter found her mate, but she was also already pregnant, and he was in an unfamiliar country with unfamiliar shifters, and it had to be tough on someone who’d always been the one in control.

It was one of the reasons Luca and Anton were content to let him pretend to be in charge even if they were both alphas in their own right. His own team was used to him being the one in control, so it was no different to them.

I’d forever be grateful that my mate was who he was. He didn’t feel the need to take over and constantly be the one in charge, even though he was more than capable. There were so many things I loved about him, but his strength of character was one of them. Fate couldn’t have picked me a better mate than if I’d done a checklist for her. I loved him down to the depths of my soul, and I knew when we finally mated that it would be wondrous.

The journey to our next destination was long and tiring. I’d been sleeping on and off for most of it, exhausted from being kept awake by dreams the night before.

I’d woken disorientated during the night in a strange bedroom, wondering where the hell I was. I’d felt an imminent panic attack when, still half-asleep, I’d thought I was back in that cage. It was Anton’s deep voice in my ear that brought me out of it. Once I was breathing again, I threw myself at him with a sob, “I’m sorry,” I wailed softly against his chest, now wet with my tears.

“It’s okay, baby girl,” he whispered, slowly running his fingers through my hair. “It’s okay.” Wrapping his arms around me in a tight embrace, he rocked us. It didn’t take long for me to go back to sleep, and the next time I woke, it was to an empty bed, sun shining through the slats on the window and voices coming from down the passage.

Stretching out, I searched just like I always did for any trace of my tiger. I’d been hopeful after I’d changed that she would come back fully and while she seemed to peek out every now and then, she hadn’t made a full appearance again. It seemed that our nighttime journey a few weeks ago was more than she could handle. Hoping that the new voices I was hearing were Lottie and Kyle, I got up and went to the bathroom to have a quick shower. Twenty minutes later, I was dressed in another lightweight linen outfit, this time in a forest green. Slipping comfortable sandals onto my feet and pulling my hair back, I tied it up in a high ponytail to keep it off my neck, knowing it was going to be another warm day if yesterday was any indication of the weather.

Opening the door, I followed the sound of voices until I got to the kitchen.

Gus, Sam, Drake, and Miah were sitting at the table drinking coffee, and Luca’s leaning up against the counter with Cassie next to him.

Anton’s at the stove with a tall, beautiful dark-haired, very pregnant female who is talking nine to the dozen, hands waving around. Watching them, amusement clear on his face is a handsome blond-haired man with a short beard and hair pulled back in a tail.

Anton turns from the stove as I clear the doorway and say good morning to everyone. Holding his hand out to me, he pulls me towards him as soon as I take it. “Morning, baby girl. Come and meet some old friends of ours. I know you met them while you were at Julie and Joel’s, but I’m not sure if you remember them.”

He's not wrong, I remember Lottie’s eyes, but that’s about it. Those weeks are a little blurry.

Turning towards the female, motioning a hand at her, saying, “This is Lottie, she’s a pain in the arse but a good friend.”

“Hey,” Lottie flicks a kitchen towel at him. “I’m not a pain just ask Kyle. What’s your mate going to think of me?” she grumbles as she turns to me with a bright smile. It’s a smile that you can’t help returning. She’s totally adorable with how happy she is, and she’s a hugger. I squeak a little in surprise as she wraps me in her arms, swaying us from side to side. “It’s so good to finally meet you properly. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to see you sooner.”

Letting me go and stepping back, she pulls her mate forward, “This is Kyle.”

Kyle acknowledges me with a tip of his head and a smile. Lottie beams at him. It’s easy to see the love flowing between them and hard to believe how much hardship they’ve had to go through to get where they are now. Kyle nudges Lottie out of the way, “Go sit down, Angel, Anton and I’ll finish the rest,” he tells her, taking the spatula she’d been holding out of her hands and pulling a chair away from the table.

“Sit, baby girl, breakfast won’t be long,” Anton lets me know.

Luca nudges Cassie towards an empty chair that Gus pulls out for her, “Join them, baby, and Lottie can fill you in on all the gossip about everything that’s been happening since we left. I’m sure you’d like to find out how Jaq is doing.”

Picking up the teapot and mug that were beside her on the counter, Cassie does as he suggests. “Morning, Han, I’ve made the tea. No coffee for the next week or so, I’m afraid. The tea doesn’t taste great, but I’ve sweetened it with some honey. You’ll need to drink a mug in the morning and one at night and only water throughout the day.”

The kitchen had gone silent as Cassie gave me her orders.

“I don’t care what I have to do as long as I get stronger,” I assure Cassie.

“Okay, well, here you go,” she says, handing me a mug of tea. I take a sniff and wrinkle my nose at the smell. They all laugh out loud at my expression.

“It smells like ass, I know,” Cassie agrees. “It seems the worse things smell, the better they work, though.”

Sticking my tongue out, I test the temperature, grimacing slightly at the taste. Slanting my gaze at Cassie, “I’ll take your word for it.”

Pinching my nose closed, I drink the tea all the way down like a child would medicine, making the whole kitchen laugh in amusement, especially as I shudder at the end and stick my tongue out. “Oh, my god. That is foul. How long do I have to take this for?”

Cassie shrugs, “That depends on your tiger, but we’ll know if it’s starting to work within two to three days. Annie sent me enough for three weeks, and by then we’ll be at Luca and Anton’s place.”

“Fascinating,” Lottie murmurs. Turning to look at her, I smile. She’s leaning forward, her chin on her hands, watching Cassie as if she’s an alien species.

“Annie can’t wait to meet you, Cassie, and Jett is over the moon that not only are you a medic but also know herbology. Oh, that reminds me,” she turns towards me, waving at her belly, “Can you do your thing and make sure they’re okay?”

Knowing her history, I have no problem doing this for her. Pushing my chair back, I wave her towards me, “Of course, come here.”

Lottie jumps up from her chair and bounces around the table. Literally bounces.

“Angel, how about you slow to a walk and keep those babies in there a little longer,” Kyle admonishes his mate gently as he puts a platter of steak, bacon, and sausage on the table.

“I’m sorry,” Lottie looks at me wide-eyed, “I’m just really excited at what you can do. Luca and Cassie were telling me all about it earlier.”

Laughing, I place my hands on her belly, closing my eyes, “It’s fine,” I assure her. “I love babies.”

Smiling as I feel the happy energy of her two little ones. It would seem they take after their mother. Opening my eyes, I’m suddenly aware that we’ve become the centre of attention. Ignoring them all, I look up at Lottie, who’s watching me with wide-green eyes, and while she’s been happy all morning, I can see that she’s holding onto an underlying anxiety.

Resting my cheek against her belly and closing my eyes, when I again get the happy energy and a little foot pressed against my cheek as if to say, ‘We’re all good in here.’

Lifting my eyes to hers, I smile, “They’re perfect. Very happy. They are definitely your daughters.”

“Thank you,” Lottie whispers, giving me a hug.

Over her shoulder, Kyle mouths, “Thank you,” at me, relief that all is okay stark on his face. “You’re welcome,” I mouth back.

This is what I love about what I’m able to do. The peace and love that is felt from their babies is nothing like I’ve ever felt. It’s like they know that they’re lucky to be here.

Lottie slowly backs away from me and sits back in her place, “That is so amazing. I can’t wait for you to meet the rest of the family.”

“Me too,” I state. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet them all before, but maybe now that Cassie and Luca have mated, we can do something so we all meet up together. That way, Gus and the guys can meet everyone too.”

Lottie nods enthusiastically, “Leave it with me, I’ll get in touch with Dex when we get back and sort something out. As the Alpha, he’ll need to meet everyone anyway.”

“Eat, baby girl,” Anton orders, nudging my plate.

Looking down, I see it’s nearly overflowing with food. Turning to look at Cassie’s plate, I see she’s staring at it in much the same way I was staring at mine. The only one not surprised is Lottie. She’s tucking in to her plate like it’s the last meal she’s going to eat. I guess eating for four makes you hungry.

“Thank you,” I say softly to Anton. “My pleasure, baby girl,” he assures me, lifting his filled fork up to my mouth. I close my lips around it, humming slightly at the taste of spicy eggs and steak on toast. Turning back to my own plate, I ignore the way he adjusts himself at my moan, knowing there isn’t anything we can do about it.

Tuning back into what’s happening with the rest of the table, I listen as they decide what they’re going to do today. Lottie and Kyle are going to stay one more day. With how little I slept last night, I’m thrilled when she says she’ll stay home and sit by the pool. Quickly, I agree to keep her company, and Cassie says she’d like to stay too.

Both Anton and Luca are torn about leaving us alone until Kyle volunteers to stay with us. It doesn’t take long for them all to finish up breakfast and get ready to leave.

Anton stops next to me, where I’m standing on the covered veranda, waiting to wave goodbye to them all so that I can enjoy a day of doing nothing. Wrapping my ponytail around his hand, he gently pulls my head back, pressing his lips to mine. His animal rumbles deep in his chest as he angles my head slightly, deepening our kiss. Threading my fingers through his hair and pressing closer, we kiss until a throat clears from nearby, reminding us that we aren’t alone.

Ignoring whoever it was, Anton leans his forehead against mine, “I’ll miss you today, baby girl. But have fun. Lottie and Kyle are good people, so if you feel like swimming, you have nothing to worry about.”

Knowing that he’s talking about my scars, I nod, “I’ll see how it goes.”

“Okay,” he replied, pulling away with a sigh. “I’ll see you this evening.”

With those words, he walks away, shoulders tense, muscles bunching in his thighs, making me thank whoever designed shorts. A wave of arousal hits me, and I bite my lip. Luckily, only Lottie and Cassie are still on the veranda, and neither says anything. Lottie probably because she’s mostly human and doesn’t have our sense of smell and Cass because she’d never want to embarrass me; it doesn't, however, stop a small smile from spreading over her face when she looks at me. Childishly, I stick my tongue out. She lets out a belt of laughter at my actions before wrapping her arm around my shoulders, “Come on, I feel a pool calling my name. I need to cool off.”

While I didn’t feel comfortable enough to wear a swimming costume, I did put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and join her and Lottie in the pool.

After our swim, we decided on large pans of lasagna for supper as we could prepare them in advance and then shove them in the oven when the men got home. Once we’d done that, we’d once more ended up around the pool where Kyle, being the absolute gentleman that he was, kept us fed and watered.

It was a good day, spent with fabulous females. I now understood why Julie had stayed; they were nothing like the family we’d grown up with.