Page 63 of Forever My Siren Luna

“Scared of Val?” I smirked.

“Scared for you,” he huffed. “I thought some beast was trying to mangle you. I didn’t know you were the one doing the mangling.”

I shrugged. “I needed to prove a point. I’m tired of people underestimating me. It creates the same feeling as being trapped in a cage.”

He stared at the pirate ships, seeing movement on the water which was catching both of our attentions.

A rowboat is coming our way. Jack by the looks of it. Young Joe is with him.

I grinned, knowing Westley is going to enjoy speaking with a pirate. He is a curious little boy and has tons of questions. He will drive Jack mad.

“Did you suffer at all?” Cedric asked, following my gaze. “Did you get hurt at all while you were away?”

I turned to smile at him. “Not at all. Once I realized they were just like me, I felt like I had a purpose for the first time in my life. I…. I loved it. I loved the freedom I felt living at sea in a completely new way. I lost my fins again when I lost my necklace,” I rested my hand over the pendant on my throat. “But losing it showed me that I had true strength outside of my magic to depend on. I had strength as a Lycan, not just a siren. If I hadn’t run away I never would have found that out about myself.” I reached out and grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry for what I put you through. Making you and everyone who cares about me worry is my only regret about leaving. Yes, I wish I had stayed and listened to you fully, but I’m happy with myself now. If you are holding any blame, I wish you wouldn’t. I’m happy.” I squeezed his hand. “I want you to be happy too.”

The corner of his mouth lifted up in a smirk. “You are speaking in reference to the stiff Gamma who is still following me around?” Cedric laughed lightly. “Don’t worry there. I’m just making him earn it.”

“Well,” I grinned, “If that’s the case, I want to be the first to know when you finally find Meldec deserving. The poor man needs a vacation because of all the stress I caused him. I’ll put a word in with his Alpha. I think I still have some pull over the man.”

“I would say you do,” Cedric scoffed. “Watching the Alpha over the past several months while you were away was eye-opening. His devotion was unwavering. I felt a lot of guilt for the grief I gave the man in the past.”

I smirked. “He deserved some grief.” The past changed us both. For the better. Without the little, or a lot of grief he had to overcome, I don’t think I could be in a place where I am willing to forgive him like I’m trying to do now. “He needed to earn it too.”

“You’re right,” Cedric squeezed my hand. “I guess it's almost time for both of us to give our mates some slack.”

“Ehh,” I shrugged. “Maybe soon.”

I think I still need a bit more time before I fully give in to the bond between me and Lachlan. I really want him to earn it. I just need to make sure I’m staying open and willing to let him earn it again. Not because of the mate bond, or because neither one of us wants to face a rejection and what that could do to the pack. I truly want us to earn each other's love and trust this time, so we know that the past can’t hold us captive anymore.

Jack rowed the boat right up to the shore, then leapt over the side to pull it onto the beach.

Both boys stopped writing in the sand and using their sticks to dig for seashells to stare at them with curious gazes.

“Woah,” Westley gaped, holding no reservations and running right up to Jack. “Are you a real pirate?”

Jack chuckled deeply. “Aye, lad. Are you a real boy?”

Westley wrinkled his nose. “That’s a stupid question.”

“No it’s not. You could be a dwarf or a pixie for all I know.”

Westley stared up at him like he’s crazy.

Riley is much more hesitant, choosing to come closer to me and Cedric instead of joining his friend in his inspection of the pirates.

“You alright, Riley?” I asked, resting my hand on his shoulder.

He wrinkled his nose. “He smells like my first dad used to when he was really sad.”

The rum and alcohol scent of Jack must be bugging Riley. Smells have a way of bringing back the worst of memories.

“That is my friend Jack. He may have the same smell, but he is very nice. He won’t hurt you.”

“Daddy didn’t hurt me,” Riley mumbled in a voice so quiet I had to lean closer to him. “He just smelled like that when he was really sad. Is your friend really sad?”

I pressed my lips together, not sure how to answer.

Jack is carrying a lot of grief on his shoulders. A lot of guilt. For his mate and his pack. I can’t criticize him for how he deals with that.