Page 40

brIAR

THREE YEARS LATER

“Don’t trip,” I mutter under my breath as I balance precariously on the ridiculous heels Rory talked me into wearing. “Only a few more steps to go. Don’t fail me now, balance.”

I hear Rory’s muffled laughter behind me, so I must not have been as quiet as I thought I was. Before I can turn around to glare at her, a voice booms, “Briar Ward-Wylder.”

With my heart in my throat, I carefully climb the five steps to the temporary stage set up in the gym. When I make it to the top without falling, I have to resist the urge to fist pump. Instead, I walk as gracefully as I can over to the dean. He hands me my diploma and shakes my hand.

Almost deafening cheers sound from the audience and from Rory and Ronan behind me. I can’t help the giant grin on my face as I look out over my very own fan section. I’m pretty sure my mates and Ava are the ones screaming the loudest, but Vale, Abbie, the Wards, Annabel and her family, Rhys and some other mages, and a whole bunch of people from the pack are whooping and hollering along with them.

I know my face is bright red from being the center of attention, but all the support means the world to me. I never thought I would even get the chance to graduate college, much less have so many people cheering for me when I did. While I have more school before I’ll be an architect, I’m still so proud I reached this milestone.

With my diploma in hand, I walk off the stage and make my way back to my seat. I scream for Rory and Ronan when they walk until my voice goes hoarse. For the rest of graduation, I smile so much my cheeks hurt.

When the ceremony ends, I hop up, more than ready to be out of this crowded gym. Before I can get more than a few steps into the aisle, my mates surround me. Malachi grabs me by my waist and lifts me up. I wrap my arms and legs around him and absorb his campfire scent. Thanks to my shorts under my light blue gradation dress, I don’t have to worry about flashing anyone.

“I’m so fucking proud of you,” Malachi rumbles in my ear as he crushes me against his chest.

This is Malachi, Xander, and Bastian’s last year at Wolves Hollow University, too. Bastian’s been ready for beta training for a while, but none of the Wyldharts wanted to leave me at school alone. Not that there was any threat to me, at least not since we destroyed the curse.

The Knights have still been causing problems for supernaturals sporadically, but they haven’t been nearly as organized since we killed Ryker. Hopefully, the rest of the group will continue to crumble and cease to exist one of these days.

Along with the Wyldharts, Saint is also starting a new job. After doing freelance work for different mage intelligence operations for years, he’s decided to open his own, specifically focused on finding and rescuing missing people. He’s equal parts nervous and excited about the new venture, but I know he’s going to be awesome at it.

Blood rushes to my cheeks at Malachi’s praise. “Thanks,” I mumble as I duck my head to rest on his shoulder, my lips pressed against the warm skin of his neck.

His chest vibrates with laughter as he runs a hand up and down my spine a few times.

Before he can say anything else, I feel a hard body press up against my back, covering me in a familiar spicy citrus scent. I know it’s Bastian before he even says anything. “You should be proud of yourself, pretty girl. You graduated summa cum laude and got into one of the top architecture programs in the country! That’s pretty fucking impressive.”

I shrug as my cheeks burn even hotter, feeling uncomfortable being the center of attention. I am pretty excited to be starting school for architecture in the fall. While it’ll take me a few years longer to complete it than if I had gone to a combined program, I’m so close to realizing my dreams that I can almost taste it.

Bastian chuckles against my back at my lack of response but doesn’t push the subject.

Glancing over Malachi’s shoulder, I see Rory bouncing toward us. I wiggle to be put down, but he doesn’t budge. Pulling back, I level my still as bossy as ever mate with an unimpressed glare. He sighs and reluctantly lets me slide down his body.

When I’m on my feet, Malachi presses a hand against my back, flattening me to his front. He leans down brush his nose against mine and whisper, “I love you, baby girl.”

“I love you too,” I tell him just as quietly right before Rory crashes into me. I stumble from the collision, but Bastian steadies me before I can fall on my face. I flash him an appreciative smile before Rory pulls me away.

She loops her arm in one of mine and starts dragging me out of the gymnasium and into the fading evening sunlight. “So, you’re gonna sit by me and Ronan at the party tonight, right?”

Rory, Ronan, and I are having a joint graduation party at the Wyldhart house in a couple hours, giving everyone time to freshen up beforehand. While I could’ve done without the celebration, I know Aunt Abbie and Aunt Molly have been planning it for a while. So, I’ll suck it up and try my best to enjoy the whole thing.

I give the girl who has been with me through all of the ups and downs of the last few years a genuine smile. “Of course, Ror.”

Emmy barrels into my other side and links her arm with mine. “So what’s the plan with the stuffy party? Please tell me we’re gonna dip after it starts and go somewhere people our age actually hang out.”

Rory gasps in delight. “That’s a fantastic idea! Briar has refused to party with me since the time she got drunk, stripped for her professor, and spent the night with him.”

Turning to me with wide eyes, Emmy says, “Please tell me that actually happened.”

I groan because I’d rather everyone forget about that whole thing. “It did. Unfortunately. So, you can understand why parties and I don’t mix.”

Emmy cackles and waggles her eyebrows at me.

Before either of them can rib me about the first night I spent with Malachi any further, Xander and Saint appear in front of me. They’re grinning at the three of us, so I assume they heard everything Rory said.

Xander shoves his hands in his suit pant pockets and smiles down at me, the expression lighting up his usually serious face. “We’d like to spend a little time with our mate before you two monopolize her tonight.”

Rory sighs and puts her free hand on her hip. “I suppose I’ll let you borrow my BFF for a hot sec.”

“Ror!” Ronan shouts from where he’s waiting with Rhys and some other mages under a large tree. “Let’s go! We need to grab a few things before the party.”

Ronan has been interning for Elemental during summer breaks. After everything that happened with me, the curse, and the pack, Ronan developed an interest in security work, and Rhys took him under his wing. While he had the option to train to be an enforcer, Ronan accepted a job offer from Elemental and will be starting full time in a few weeks.

Like her brother, Rory wanted to be strong enough and have the right skills to help if any other threats pop up to our pack and the people she cares about. She’ll be starting enforcer training on Monday, much to the displeasure of her twin and parents who are worried about her getting hurt. Now that women can shift, they can become enforcers too, which I think is pretty badass. I fully support Rory and know she’ll do great.

Rory waits for me to nod before she lets go of my arm. She starts skipping over to her brother before abruptly turning back. Rushing over to Emmy, she links her arm with my bemused cousin and drags her over to her twin.

Emmy smiles shyly at Ronan when she stops in front of him. While they’re not mates, at least as far as we know, Emmy and Ronan have been dating for the last year. The relationship isn’t conventional for wolves, but it sure makes two of my favorite people happy. So, I’m all for it.

Ronan slings his arm around Emmy and whispers something into her hair, making her blush. As they walk away with Rory, my heart feels like it’s going to burst with how cute they are. I hope Rory finds someone soon who makes her as happy as Ronan and Emmy are because my best friend deserves all the love in the world.

Saint captures one of my free hands and uses it to pull me into his front. I crash into him with an oof. He tilts my face up to him with a finger under my chin before his lips land on mine for a kiss so sweet it makes me ache. He pulls back to smile down at me. “Love you, little shadow. What do you wanna do before the party?”

“Love you too, Saint,” I say through a smile of my own before shrugging. “I was thinking we’d just head straight there and help Uncle Vale and Aunt Abbie with the set up.”

“You wanna get anything from our room first, baby girl?” Malachi asks as he and Bastian join us.

Now that the Wyldhart brothers will be training for their alpha and beta rolls full time, Vale decided it was time for us to have one of the alpha and luna wings. Our new room is a suite of five bedrooms, a living room, and a small kitchenette. While we’ve spent most nights together in Malachi’s room for the past three years, it’s nice having a space that’s just ours.

As I’m enveloped by their scents, I take a moment to enjoy being surrounded by the four of them. Nothing calms me down, provides me peace, or makes me feel as loved as being with all of my mates. A giant puppy pile with all of them is one of my favorite places to be.

Realizing I haven’t said anything, I shake myself out of my daze. “I don’t need anything. I was just planning to wear this dress. I stashed a pair of sneakers on the patio, so I’ll change once we get there.

Bastian laughs, the carefree sound making my heart squeeze. Over the past few years, Bastian’s dropped the mask he wore for so long. Now, when he’s laughing or smiling, it’s because he’s happy, not because he thinks that’s what people want from him.

“Sounds about right for you. I’m surprised you wore the heels in the first place. Let’s get to it, then.” I start walking over to the designated portal spot on WHU grounds when Bastian calls, “By the way, have I ever told you how much I love you, pretty girl?”

I spin back around to grin at him. “A time or two. I love you, too, Bastian.” He hurries to my side and plants a quick kiss on my lips that’s over far too fast for my liking. Then, he captures one of my hands in his, swinging it as we walk. Saint grabs the other one before Malachi or Xander can, much to their disgruntlement.

It’s slow going moving through all the students and families, because pretty much every wolf wants to talk to us. Over the years, I’ve grown closer with a lot of the pack, so I’m happy to chat with them as the sun starts dipping low in the sky.

After thirty minutes or so, we make it to the portal spot. Saint opens up a portal to the Wyldhart courtyard. I step out into a flurry of activity. Abbie, Vale, Molly, James, Kit, Fi, and various pack members are running around stringing up lights, laying out tablecloths, arranging chairs, and more to get ready for the party.

We jump in to help wherever we can. Before I know it, the last of the decorations go up and people start trickling in.

Xander walks up to stand behind me where I’m watching everything from the edge of the patio. He wraps his arms around my waist and rests his chin on the top of my head. “I know parties aren’t your scene, but is this one too bad?”

I snort because as much as I protested it, I’m actually enjoying it so far. “Nah, it’s not bad. It’s actually pretty nice having all the people I love in one place for once.”

Our busy lives make it pretty challenging to gather all of us together, so I’ll enjoy having everyone here while I can.

Chuckling at my response, Xander is quiet for a long moment before rasping, “Love you sweetheart.”

Even though it’s been years, it still makes my heart skip a beat every time he calls me sweetheart. With a sappy smile on my face, I tell him, “Love you too, Xander.”

We stand there for a long moment, just watching the party without feeling the need to say anything.

I spot Ava talking to a group of boys her age, and I can’t believe that my little sister is seventeen. She’ll be a senior in high school next year, and she’s already started applying to colleges. Ava wants to become a vet that specializes in horses, and I’m so excited for what the future holds for her.

After finishing up eighth grade at boarding school, she decided to come back to high school in Wolves Hollow to be closer to all of us. She’s thrived here and has no shortage of friends and male admirers. I scowl as one of the guys Ava’s talking to puts his hand on her lower back, way too close to her butt. While I know she’s already started dating, it’s still weird to see guys trying to make a move on my little sister.

Luckily, at least for me, Annabel runs over to Ava and grabs her hand, distracting her from the boys chatting her up. Ava bends down to talk to her before laughing and letting the eight year old tug her in the opposite direction. Shooting an apologetic smile at the guys, Ava happily follows the girl who has become a little sister to both of us.

In the three years since we freed her from the facility, Annabel has blossomed and has as normal of a life as she can. Her family has settled in with our pack and started a new life in Wolves Hollow, too. Sure, they all carry the scars of what happened to them, but it doesn’t stop any of them from living life to the fullest, which is all I want for the little girl who stole a chunk of my heart in a matter of minutes.

“I think Dad wanted to talk to you when you get a chance,” Xander tells me, tearing my focus away from Ava and Annabel.

I look around and spot Vale sitting on the wall where we’ve had many heart to hearts. He’s staring out at the forest contemplatively. Figuring now is my best shot to talk with him before he’s pulled away by someone needing something, I reluctantly step out of Xander’s arms.

Before I can get very far, Xander snags my hand and pulls me back to face him. He swoops in for a quick kiss that leaves me wanting more. He smirks at my frown before striding off to join up with his brothers and Saint.

Shaking my head at him, I wander over to Vale. I sit on the wall and swing my legs to the other side. “Xander said you wanted to talk to me? Is everything okay?”

Vale glances at me in surprise. He must’ve not heard me approach, too lost in his thoughts. He chuckles at my worried expression. “Nothing’s wrong, Bee. I just wanted to check in with you and see how you’re doing.”

I blow out a relieved breath that there’s no crisis I have to solve. “I’m actually doing pretty good. This party is a lot better than I thought it would be. It’s… nice being surrounded by people who care about me. Things were pretty lonely after Mama died, and I never thought I’d have a family again, let alone all these people.”

My chest aches as I think about all the years that led up to me finding my mates. There are good memories with Ava and my mom sprinkled through those difficult fourteen years, but they’re hard to look at with all the pain surrounding them. It’s gotten easier to remember those times as the years have gone on, though.

Grabbing my hand in one of his, Vale gives me a comforting squeeze. “You were never truly alone, Bee. There were so many people who loved you, even when you didn’t know it. And we’re all so endlessly proud of you. Abbie, the Wards, and I have watched you grow into a strong, compassionate, and confident young woman who can do anything she sets her mind to. You should be proud of all you’ve accomplished and the life you’ve built.”

I duck my head at his kind words. The lump in my throat makes it hard to respond, so I don’t say anything for a moment.

“You think there’s any chance Mama, Papa, and Dido ever peek at what we’re doing, wherever they are?” I eventually ask. My voice comes out more vulnerable than I intend, but I can’t help but think about my parents and the Phoenician queen who gave up everything to save me.

I imagine all the big events in my life will be bittersweet like my graduation is, the joy tinged with longing and wishing they were here to see it.

Vale wraps an arm around me and pulls me into his side. His voice is choked up when he says, “I have to believe so. I have to believe that Evie, Connor, Leo, and Wyatt are living the happily ever after they never got up in the clouds somewhere. I hope Dido’s doing the same with her mates, too. They’d all be so damn proud of you, Bee. I hope you know that.”

My chest squeezes uncomfortably, hoping Vale is right. Life has had its ups and downs. Through it all, I’ve tried so hard to be the type of person they’d want me to be. I don’t know if I’ll ever know if I’m succeeding, but I have to hope that I am.

I don’t say anything as we watch a shooting star streak across the inky sky in comfortable silence.

I hope you guys are proud, I whisper to my parents and Dido in my mind as I stare at the constellations my mom loved so much. You guys don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’ve found where I belong and am surrounded by so much love it’s hard to believe at times. I hope you have a chance to be as happy as I am… I love you.

* * *

I hope you enjoyed Freed Wolfsbane!