Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

Garrick

I don't know what just happened between me and Tara. It wasn't just sex. It was more. More than anything I've ever felt in my life. We made love. No, that's not enough to describe it. It was like our souls intertwined, and now she's a part of me forever.

I knew I was drawn to her for a reason, and now I'm sure that reason is because she's my mate. Never would I have thought my mate would be a witch, but here she is, and I couldn't be happier.

My mate. I've actually found my mate.

I hold her closer. There has to be another word for her because beautiful doesn't cut it. She's a goddess. A creature of beauty, love, and kindness. She's everything I ever thought I needed and more.

The hot water laps at us as we lay together in the shallows by the smooth rocks around the hot spring, not moving, even though daylight is wasting. I trail my finger along her spine as she lays on top of me, noticing for the first time that her back is covered in scars. Everything inside of me tenses, and images begin to form in my mind about who could have done this to her and why.

"How'd you get these marks?" I ask, running a finger along a particularly long one.

She stiffens, but doesn't say a word. My hold on her tightens, letting her know she's safe with me. I brush her hair away from her face and kiss her cheek softly. "It's all right."

After a minute, she whispers, "My mother."

She says it like it explains everything, but it doesn't. No mother should hurt her child like this. No mother should ever leave a mark on her child. But I wait quietly for her to continue, giving her the time to tell me in her own way.

"When I was younger and just learning to use my magic, she would beat me with metal rods, or whip me, when I did something wrong. As you can see, I did wrong more than I did right." She slumps against me. Like she's the one responsible for this.

Her fucking mother is a beast.

"Everyone learns by making mistakes," I tell her, growing angrier by the moment at her mother. How could she hurt her own child like this? "You deserved grace, more time to learn, and love. Not beatings." I rub her back softly, wishing I could rub away the hurt her mom caused her.

Her sweet face doesn't look convinced. If anything, she looks troubled. "If you say so," she says quietly before she changes the subject.

One day, I'll convince her that she doesn't deserve to be hurt. One day I'll convince her that she deserves everything wonderful in life, and that I'll be the one to give it to her.

I look down at her stomach and place my hand on it. "I hope we made a child today." I smile at the thought. If we did, it would be the most beautiful, powerful, and beloved child in all the lands.

Tara pulls away from me, making my chest ache for the loss of her. "Garrick, I need to know if you really mean the things you say. Do you actually want me? Do you…like doing that with me?"

My heart aches. She thinks so low of herself, and it's because of her mother and those damn wolves who treat her like trash. She can't go on feeling this way about herself. It's not right.

It kills me inside. The wolves clearly care for her. They clearly have a deep connection with her that I suspect is even more than that. They fight to protect her, and they can't seem to stay away from her, but not one of them is man enough to just admit it. So they don't deserve her, at all.

But I'm man enough for her.

Without hesitation, my gaze holding hers, I tell her the truth. "You're my mate, Tara." She blinks slowly, looking confused, and I continue. "Do you know what a mate is?"

She shakes her head.

I release a slow breath. "A mate is someone a shifter is destined to be with. Once they're with that person, there's nobody else for them."

She seems to be struggling with her words. "I still don't get it."

Mates are a strange idea for other people, so I decide to try a different tactic. "I've felt a strong connection to you since the moment I first laid eyes on you. From that moment, no one else mattered but you. I can't even imagine another woman, just you. My draw to you is powerful and unbreakable. You are my wife, my lover, my partner, in all ways, and I will do anything for you. Just say the word. You have me completely under your spell."

"T-that can't be possible. I can't make love spells. And even if I could, you'd never feel that way about me." She looks… upset.

I have to treat her with care. "I wasn't implying you had put me under a real spell. I'm saying… the witches in your coven, your mother, they're all fools for not seeing you for what you are, which is an amazing woman with powers and gifts that I've never seen before." I take a deep breath. "You're my mate. I'm sure of it, even if you aren't."

Her expression is still one of complete disbelief. "But I'm not a shifter."

I smile. "You don't have to be a shifter to be my mate."

"Garrick, I–" Tara starts to reply, but we hear a commotion to our left, and the three wolves come barrelling into the cavern like they need to save Tara from me. But when they spot us in the water, all three come to a jolting stop.

"What the fuck?" Rinan shouts. His eyes jump from me to Tara and back again.

Drogo growls. It comes from low in his belly. I wait for him to attack me, but he just stands watching, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his gaze clings to our naked bodies.

Arlys stands, breathing hard, not taking his eyes off Tara. "Did you have sex?" His voice is low, so quiet I almost have to strain to hear him.

Embarrassed, Tara immediately turns bright red and looks away from him, sliding back into the water to try to hide her body beneath the surface. She's keeping space between us, which I hate. Let the wolves be angry. Who cares. They don't deserve any consideration. They treat her like shit.

Anger rolls through me as I speak. "Fuck yes, we had sex. No, we made love. She's my wife, and I'm man enough to claim my woman." I look each of them in the eye as I speak, unafraid of their reactions.

Drogo's growling gets louder, and he takes a step closer to us. Arlys and Rinan put a hand on him, but they're barely in control themselves. I can see it.

"We don't need this right now," Rinan tells Drogo, but he glares at me.

So the golden boy can get angry. Too bad. I won't be ashamed or let them intimidate me. She's my wife, and I'm not in it for a short time like they keep saying they are. No matter how much I can tell they want more.

Drogo finally pushes the other two men away and turns his back on us, fists clenched, breathing so harshly it shakes his whole body. I take that as my cue to get out of the water. I want to at least be on my feet if I do have to fight Drogo.

I stand, with the idea of getting dressed, when Arlys – quiet, calm Arlys – rushes me, eyes blazing with anger. It takes me by such surprise that the bastard manages to shove me off my feet. I land with a thud, my heart racing, as I look up to see Arlys, who is usually the voice of reason, take a few steps away from me before charging at me again.

Leaping to my feet, I swing, but Arlys ducks, and my fist only meets air. How the hell is he getting over on me? One of his fists pounds into my stomach, and I see red.

I roar, done playing games with this pup, then ball up my fist and aim for his gut. He's too slow to step away, and it connects, sending him flying to the ground. Unphased, Arlys jumps back up and lunges at me. We grapple, before Drogo and Rinan grab him by the shoulders and pull him off me.

Is he going to attack again? I watch him. Noting the tension in his body. The way he breathes rapidly. He sure as hell wants to punch me again, but he won't. This is done. For now.

I walk away to get dressed. He stands there, still being held back, panting. Watching me.

He turns to Tara, calmer now, but anger coursing through his veins. "You sure as fuck better clean yourself well, because if you smell like Garrick, I'm going to kill him."

With that, he turns and walks away.